Digger Front Tow Hitch

[Fred_Bear]

Anybody use one or have any experience?

Considering getting this to pull my Fish Trap Pro behind the snowmobile, so the lightweight aluminum hitch is really attractive. I can't find anywhere local that has one so I can see it in person.

[CaptainMusky]

A buddy has one on his shelter. Not sure if it was a design issue or the shelters sled he was pulling that caused the issue but he got a serious death wobble when pulling behind a sled. Of course this was at speeds probably not recommended but it was quite interesting to witness from behind. He slowed down and it was fine.

I think the tow bar is a bit short which may lead to this characteristic. It is a quality looking piece though.

[BoxMN]

I sound like a broken record but I now have 4 Otter tow bars on my sleds/tubs, and after using some others and homemade ones, the otter are by far the most stable I have have used. You can set them up on any tub with 4 eyebolts and some some big washers and nylock nuts, in about 20 minutes. When you have all tubs set up for the same hitch/tow bar, it makes pulling in tandem or triples piece of cake, not matter how/when you hook up or tear down - just grab a tow bar and go.

Going to rig up a buddies on Sat morn for these bars (small, medium, magmun all use same size) so it will work out for a trip later in the year.

Good luck.

[dfeste]

Another fan of the Otter system here. For $20 they even sell an adapter so that you can hook the bar to any brand sled with just the two pins.

[Fred_Bear]

I sound like a broken record but I now have 4 Otter tow bars on my sleds/tubs, and after using some others and homemade ones, the otter are by far the most stable I have have used. You can set them up on any tub with 4 eyebolts and some some big washers and nylock nuts, in about 20 minutes. When you have all tubs set up for the same hitch/tow bar, it makes pulling in tandem or triples piece of cake, not matter how/when you hook up or tear down - just grab a tow bar and go.

Going to rig up a buddies on Sat morn for these bars (small, medium, magmun all use same size) so it will work out for a trip later in the year.

Good luck.

[CaptainMusky]

So if anyone has any experience with the DIGGER tow hitch (not Otter or Clam, sorry for the confusion), please chime in!

I already did.

[Myrt]

that's interesting, I've converted two thermal x's with hyfax runners to my otter tow system and they seem to work fine. (pulling with a Ranger, would that be the difference?) I like Digger products and Digger Don is a great guy, email him, he may send you one and take a return if it doesn't work.?

[CaptainMusky]

I already have the otter hitch and understand that is a good and heavy built tow hitch, but IT DOES NOT WORK ON MY SLED.

I'd have to take my hyfax runners off to make it work and that's simply not something I want to do.

Why would you have to take the hyfax runners off? I must be missing something...

[BoxMN]

Fred, just curious, and not trying to sound like a salesman here but I just don't understand how a "lighter" tow bar would work differently?... or is it that the V shape doesn't work and a T shape would? I guess I just can't figure out how a standard sized tow bar would not work on any sled. Nobody is trying to get you away from Digger, we just are trying to help you. Have a pic of your sled that shows it/the problem? Or maybe the Pro is just too narrow?...

Sorry to beat a dead horse

[Northlander]

I have used the digger tow bar and its a good system for most houses. The Otter tow bars can be mounted to most any sled with their conversion kit. Both are well made so go with what fits your sled better. Myself I have never owned a sled a Otter hitch wouldnt fit on.

[Fred_Bear]

The issue is a combination of the Pro sled being short and the width of the Otter Tow Bar.

The sled is short, so the hyfax runners need to come just about right up to the lip.

The otter conversion kit needs to go right through those runners. Same with the Clam "Universal" Tow Hitch.

[Fred_Bear]

The issue is a combination of the Pro sled being short and the width of the Otter Tow Bar.

The sled is short, so the hyfax runners need to come just about right up to the lip.

The otter conversion kit needs to go right through those runners. Same with the Clam "Universal" Tow Hitch.

I will say that with modifications I could make either one work... I'd just rather buy something that will fit my needs stock out of the box.

And the reason I like the idea of aluminum is because once I get to the spot I'll want to unhook and use the bar as my pull rope... The steel tow hitches are built tough which makes them HEAVY. Way more than I need for a 50 lb house with nothing but a heater in it. Also I won't be going over 50 mph and that's only in perfect travel conditions... I typically stay around 30 mph.

[Fred_Bear]

A buddy has one on his shelter. Not sure if it was a design issue or the shelters sled he was pulling that caused the issue but he got a serious death wobble when pulling behind a sled. Of course this was at speeds probably not recommended but it was quite interesting to witness from behind. He slowed down and it was fine.

I think the tow bar is a bit short which may lead to this characteristic. It is a quality looking piece though.

Thanks, CaptainMusky.

[CaptainMusky]

If you stay at those speeds you should be fine Fred Bear. He was going a little excessive ;-) On a freshly groomed trail on LOW.

[BoxMN]

Fred, here are some pics you asked about, figured I would post them here instead of PM. I have had these working on this sled for about 4 years now, no probs. I use nylock nut on backside, with either a LARGE washer or I even used some alum channel I had to give a wider area to spread any pressure out on. You can also use longer or shorter eyebolts depending on how far you want it in front of tub.

We just did my buddies Sat morn in about 10 minutes, in subzero while in back of his truck, so pretty easy. Maybe $15-$20 if you don't have the hardware laying around.

[Fred_Bear]

Thanks for the pictures and help box. Here's what I came up with today.

[CaptainMusky]

You are in business now. Cool.