Smitty Sled

[CatDaddy]

I do a fair amount of walk-out ice fishing trips and now that we have snow my gear is hard to pull in the Otter sled. Amongst a few other mods, I'm contemplating something a smitty sled similar to the video. Ability to breakdown would be preferred I would think....

Anyone else run one? Other non-motorized ideas to make my 100 pounds-in-a-tub easier to pull?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARUH_VBW_k0

Or maybe something like this...he uses coffee table hinges.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7kvajOfH6g

 

[Auggie]

I made this smitty sled with remnant 2x4 and 6x2's with maybe $5 of nuts and bolts. It pulls apart and 4 inch bolts stick out of the bottom of the 2x4's. I drilled holes in the top of the 2x6's. The 2x4's just drop into place in the aformentioned holes and are held by gravity/friction. Each of the legs are painted a different color and matches the appropriate 2x4 end. I found the skis in the farm in a shed last fall.

 

[CatDaddy]

Auggie - does it make as much of a difference as I think it will with regards to drag?

 

[Rowdie]

I'm done dragging shit, if I can't use 4 wheeler, or have some young bucks helping me, I don't go.

 

[CatDaddy]

Rowdie - you solved my problem. From now on, my 10 and 14 year olds will be hitched to the front like Clydesdales!

I answered my own question on the effectiveness of Smitty's....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4PRt4OIokw

 

[Davey Crockett]

It depends on how you fish but the very first one I ever made is my favorite. It's the smallest but the bonus is that it's the lightest and can haul it even in the backseat of a small car. Hard to explain but basically a flat floor with side walls that folds in middle so Its a sled to skid the gear out then set it up on end with wings for a wind block. It does everything that I was looking for in a walking sled. I 'll try to get some pics loaded. Made my skis out of some menards flooring.

 

[Rowdie]

I'd kill for a 14 year old boy and you have one more to help.
Make em play football and wrestle and pulling a sled will be easy for them.

 

[Auggie]

Auggie - does it make as much of a difference as I think it will with regards to drag?

Pulling with the smitty makes a world of difference as there's much less friction. I haven't pulled it through the snow yet. I've only been going a few hundred yards at a time with it on ice and gravel and it pulls much nicer. I ordered a hub and will pair the smitty with a jet sled. I can get everything in the mini-van so I won't have to switch car seats all the time.

 

[mikef]

I was thinking of buying the factory skis for a clam sled. Does anyone have experience with these? Thx

 

[Auggie]

I was thinking of buying the factory skis for a clam sled. Does anyone have experience with these? Thx

The hyfax strips you bolt to the fish trap help some with pulling straight, but the strips are more so to protect the sled and do not reduce pulling stress.

 

[mikef]

The hyfax strips you bolt to the fish trap help some with pulling straight, but the strips are more so to protect the sled and do not reduce pulling stress.

Ok. Thankyou. I might as well drag the snowmobile along then

 

[shorthairsrus]

Two feet of snow and a heavy load = shitty smitty. We use to drink those in da 80s

 

[Auggie]

Ok. Thankyou. I might as well drag the snowmobile along then

I would still put the strips on the sled. It increases the life of the fish trap sled, especially if you end up parking a bit from the ice and have to drag the sled on a gravel road. It even makes a difference in the otter sleds.

 

[Auggie]

Here are some better pics of the smitty with my hub house. I bought each son a small bucket for their rods and stuff and make them carry it to and from. Then they sit on the buckets. This is no where near as mobile as the voyager fish trap, but this fits in the van, easily loads/unloads, and pulls easy.

 

[CatDaddy]

Thanks Auggie! I decided to go with the coffee table hinge idea - just got them in the mail and found some downhill skis at the thrift store for $4. Gonna get going on it today!