That Darn Heavy Sled

[TruthWalleyes]

So after lugging my gouged/roughed up otter sled with nearly 150# of gear across a snow covered lake for the first time this year on Sunday i've decided it's time to build some runners to help glide through snow. I've done that enough over the years, it's time to think smarter and not work harder.

Would like to make this out of aluminum pipe, but not able to weld aluminum, i'll probably go with 1" steel pipe (CAD shows squre tubing) which will end up holding up better anyway. Probably bungee my otter on top of the runners. WHen it goes into the truck, i'll flip the runners upside down and put the sled in between the runners to take up less space in the truck.

A guy could go get one of those 'flyer' sleds, but they go for a minimum of $90 and up. Should be able to make this one morning over christmas break on the farm. I'm expecting to reduce the weight to pull my sled significantly.

I am considering using square tubing and putting hyfax on the bottom of the runner as well. WOuld like to avoid fasteners and go all weld to reduce loose bolts/problems down the road.

Thoughs?

Anyone else make their own?

We're getting close to truck travel time, but i always tend to venture beyond the beaten path and don't like to do so with a 5,000# truck, so pulling the sled is the best option then.

[fishnowworknever]

Gotta make sure those runners are plenty wide (I don't think 1" will work for the runners. I'd go with 3"+ or slap some old ski's on there) otherwise you'll just sink in the lighter/fluffy snow up to the bottom of the sled anyways.

[TruthWalleyes]

That was the idea, to put the weight on a small surface area that is in contact with the ice. My simple mind is thinking that would give me the least friction. 8" clearance between bottom of sled and bottom of runner will allow me plenty of clearance for most situations. WHen snow cover exceeds that, it'll plow some, but it shouldn't be as bad as if it was just the sled.

[BoxMN]

Maybe consider thinner re-bar for the gussets, to try to eliminate as much drag as possible?

Close in the front angle, so you have good place to tie rope/strap.

Consider how you might also be able to attach downhill skis under the "ski" part - never know when something like that might work in place of hyfax. I know a lot of guys use old skis they get for free.

Looks cool! I think somehow being able to collapse it flat would be cool, using pins or bolts, but know you want it fastener free.

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with

[CaptainMusky]

Truth, How about something like this design. Pretty simple and shouldnt be super heavy.

[fishnowworknever]

I see what you're getting at Truth.

that should work just fine. Post pics!

[castmaster]

nm

[mrklean]

Truth, How about something like this design. Pretty simple and shouldnt be super heavy.

Very similar to what i pull my spear house with works great as long as the snow isnt fluffy

[TruthWalleyes]

As drawn, the gussets probably are overkill and do start to contact snow at a depth of 4"

I'm considering using angle iron for the skids on the runners, so that the edge is the running surface. 3/4x3/4 or 1x1. Sounds nice, but theoritically it will be double the surface area of square tubing and round tubing will have slightly more surface area than the square tubing as far as what is contacting the snow/ice. Not sure at this point which will actually slide the best.

The gussets will be last to go on, and their design will hinge on the structural strengh of the sled at that point.

[Eric Wettschreck]

My opinion...........Overbuilt for hauling an Otter. Which adds weight. Then again, you're a big fella.

Get rid of the middle "Joist/runner/what ever you want to call it". The gussets can be tri-angles cut from 2" flat. If it were me I'd make the ski's wider for when you're in deeper snow so it floats on top and not digs in. 3" flat would work and will still slide nicely on the ice.

Also, if you were willing to drop the $$$ for aluminum maybe thing aboot going thin gauge stainless. Just a thought, and will never rust. I can weld stainless, and often do, at my place if you're not comfey welding it.

[PurpleFloyd]

If you were still in the Mankato area I could help you build one of these things. Actually as handy as you are I am sure you don't need a wood butcher to assist you anyway.

[Chad Holst]

I did the same thing last year. I went to the local ski shop and asked to see the ugliest, oldest, nastiest skis that had. Ended up with a pair of cross-country skis, cost me $5.00. the hardest thing was breaking the Bindings off. (old and rusted) the skis however were clean as could be and worked just fine.

Same basic design as the guys above, i used a sheet of plywood, which squared and firmed everything up.

I drilled 3 holes on each ski, front, middle, back. ran 3 2x4's "posts" that were 8 inches high up. made a 2x4 box to connect the 6 "posts" together, screwed in the plywood. Added some hook screws to attach line, cords, bungies to. I would have a heart attack pulling just my sled through any type of snow...let alone all the gear. Now i can put the auger, the 20lb propane tank, my 4 man clan and a hub on it, along with 4 fold up chairs, the kitchen sink and aunt norma...and still pull the gear across the laake with one finger.

This is 100% the way to go, regardless of style of house/sled you have. I gave another one to a friend made with down hill skis, and they worked just fine too. i think the cross country ski's worked better, he thinks the down hill skis are better. Regardless, both are better than anything else ive seen, including the expensive clam runners, etc...

I wouldnt mess with aluminum, hack away some wood. Cheap, fast, and strong.

I'll post pictures when i get home and get her out. friday night maybe.

[TruthWalleyes]

I would like to see those pictures.

If you can put aunt Norma on the sled and pull with ease then I'm pretty well convinced.

I'd much rather go the quick, cheap, and easy route if it gets the same results. Plus, if there's no complicated welding I don't have to buy Eric a bunch of PBR lol. . but I can still stop over and drink a few.

BTW Eric, dad is in high spirits after his 8 hr surgery Tuesday

Mille lacs houses are full the 11th and 25th. I'm open any other weekend though if you, Tom, and the mic golden drinker in the house want to go.

[TruthWalleyes]

I'll be in Roch tomorrow, is the ski shop you went to in Rochester and would you share the establishment. Headed to mayo then to Preston for deer hunting

[hydro]

Captain Musky and Purple Floyd have the right idea. Get a pair of skis from the thrift store and screw it together. I've built several of these and they work great. Just add enough height to clear the snow and you are good to go.

[DTro]

Google "Smitty Sled"

Tons of info

[Eric Wettschreck]

BTW Eric, dad is in high spirits after his 8 hr surgery Tuesday

And that's a whole stinkin lot more portant than building you a sled. None the less, Iffin there's some weldin to be done bring her on by. I'm thinking between a couple dozen cases of PBR we can have something built that you won't have to pull. By the time we're done with it it will be self propelled, remote controlled, GPS compatable, and maybe have explosives on it.

If you see Marv tell him we wish him the best and dammit, give me a call when he needs a bit of help around the place.

[amateurfishing]

I could not agree more, the "custom" smitty sleds are perfect, all you need is 1 pair of dirt cheap old ski's and the rest is up to you. Let your imagination run, sorta like pimpin out your shack, what do you want it to hold and design from ground or ice (ski's) from there. I always watch the c list for free ones and have couple pair laying around just in case I ever get the itch to upgrade my first one. so far its done wonders, its a great way to add carrying extras like propane, tanks, augers, etc. like others have stated. don't overthink the simplicity though, and I have mine built so it can be broken down for storage after the season. your main concern should be width of skis as the wider they are, the better they will work for your purpose for gliding over the snow for the weight you want it to carry.

[ilovehardwater]

I'll try to explain what I did when I had my otter cabin. I purchased some old fish trap poles for 1$ on a popular auction site, they were the top and back/bottom poles. Round aluminum conduit would work well I'd imagine. I then cut the ends off leaving approximately 8-10 inches of strait pipe. I then fastened 2 probably 10 inch long pipes that were a bit bigger in diameter made from some type of alloy vertically and the same width as the fish trap poles on the sides of my sled,this allowed the the fish trap poles to slide up and down inside the larger diameter fastened alloy poles. The fish trap poles were my runners.I had 2 holes drilled horizontally through the mounted alloy poles, one at the top and one a few inches from the bottom. I only had one horizontal hole in the runners that the cotter pins would hold the runners in place while up or down. They could be retracted or pulled out to cut through snow/slush with ease and only took a few seconds to deploy. It worked well on freshly fallen snow and slush. they cut right through the snow and glided on the ice with ease. When there is crusty/deep snow it is best to just use the sled as is and glide over the snow and not use the runners. The total cost was probably 20$ I will try attaching a pic. BTW I have been fishing with Truth years ago and he is a BIG,BIG man!!

[ilovehardwater]

Hmmmm,for some reason my pic did not upload.

[low277]

"Smitty Sled" is what I have also heard them called.

[fishingstar]

I have two or three pairs of kids down hill skis anybody can have. pm me if interested.

Dan

[TruthWalleyes]

Hardwater, i'm in owatonna now, but if'n you want to fish sometime tetonka would be a good half'way point.

Sounds like the smitty sled is the way to go and i was trying to re-invent the wheel by doing otherwise.

I'm thinking between a couple dozen cases of PBR we can have something built that you won't have to pull. By the time we're done with it it will be self propelled, remote controlled, GPS compatable, and maybe have explosives on it.

Hmmm. Marv's got most of that stuff on his tractors (That he won't 'need' till spring lol)

We would just need to come up with a new otter sled drive train and explosives

[Naturboy]

These skis are just held on by compound angles and when I lift one side of the sled they come off. Pulls the load a lot easier.

[NKLCOLT1911]

i am totally building one of those.