My Homemade $15 Sled! AKA The "Smitty Sled"

[SirCranksalot]

A fairly simple question----do you make the holes in the support that's attached to the skis much bigger than the bolt dia? I have now made mine but I'm having trouble getting the bolts line up with and go down into the holes. There is a certain amount of 'slop' in fitting the X-beams into the supports. IMO, there needs to be so that it's readily assembled once you take it from the vehicle. That 'slop' seems to make lining up the bolts a bit of a prob. The dilemma is that if I make them too big the whole ass'y will be too loose fitting.

I think I'll need to label the beams 'back' and 'front' as well as 'right' on the end that goes right anyway.
 

[smitty0312]

A fairly simple question----do you make the holes in the support that's attached to the skis much bigger than the bolt dia? I have now made mine but I'm having trouble getting the bolts line up with and go down into the holes. There is a certain amount of 'slop' in fitting the X-beams into the supports. IMO, there needs to be so that it's readily assembled once you take it from the vehicle. That 'slop' seems to make lining up the bolts a bit of a prob. The dilemma is that if I make them too big the whole ass'y will be too loose fitting.

I think I'll need to label the beams 'back' and 'front' as well as 'right' on the end that goes right anyway.

I use the same hole diameter as the bolt for a snug fit......once you get it assembled in the risers......letter or number each joint so it can go together the same each time.....hope this helps you.....tight lines.

[hardwater diehard]

I think I'll need to label the beams 'back' and 'front' as well as 'right' on the end that goes right anyway.

I marked the underside center of the cross braces with an arrow ---> for forward and a Letter "R" rear "F" front brace. EZPZ

[SirCranksalot]

Thx, guys. I think I had trouble because I had inadvertently switched them around(I think) after drilling. Once I got them sliding up and down easily I maked them LF, RF, LR, RR so it doesn't happen again. I might take a rubber mallet along the first couple of times in case a little 'persuasion' is needed. 

[Lrains]

[joechicago]

It must upset these plastic tub makers to see their products carried onto the ice on homemade sleds

[Joe Wayne]

It must upset these plastic tub makers to see their products carried onto the ice on homemade sleds

I don't use my smitty when there isn't any snow. I just drag the plastic tub across the grass.

[Niki]

Hello dear sobratya.Ya live in Russia in Perm krae.Dumal that only we like tinkering with their fishing equipment for you is too rukami.A loggerhead rebyata.Ochen interesting ideas have been laid out on the forum.

[Niki]

 Hello dear sobratya.Ya live in Russia in Perm krae.Dumal that only we like tinkering with their fishing equipment for you is too rukami.A loggerhead rebyata.Ochen interesting ideas have been laid out on the forum.

[Spoondangler]

I finally built one, and they are as awesome as everyone on here says.  I used someone's 4 colors of spray paint to mark the cross bars location.  Used 2x8s which are perfect height, I don't need to bend over as much to get things out of the bottom of my sled.  Also the seat is at the perfect height to sit on it on the sled (I'm 6'2").  Used newer side cut skis which seem to work well (160 length). 
As smitty mentioned long rope is perfect, 16-18ft.
Also I found that you might wanna cut your notches for the 2x4s in the 2x8s before doing the diagonal cuts, so it's easier to clamp to your bench. This thread is a wealth of info for anyone wanting to build one, but I am sure the plans are great as well.  And of course, thanks smitty for the idea! Friends and fam are like "why is it a smitty sled?" And I do my best to explain!

[smitty0312]

I finally built one, and they are as awesome as everyone on here says.  I used someone's 4 colors of spray paint to mark the cross bars location.  Used 2x8s which are perfect height, I don't need to bend over as much to get things out of the bottom of my sled.  Also the seat is at the perfect height to sit on it on the sled (I'm 6'2").  Used newer side cut skis which seem to work well (160 length). 
As smitty mentioned long rope is perfect, 16-18ft.
Also I found that you might wanna cut your notches for the 2x4s in the 2x8s before doing the diagonal cuts, so it's easier to clamp to your bench. This thread is a wealth of info for anyone wanting to build one, but I am sure the plans are great as well.  And of course, thanks smitty for the idea! Friends and fam are like "why is it a smitty sled?" And I do my best to explain!


Great looking "Smitty" Spoon.......hope you will have a lot more fun experiences with it, thanks for posting pictures.......tight lines

[Lavman]

I have been noodling around in my head a plan to build a custom "fishin' box" for my ice fishing schtuff, well, last weekend I built it....kind of a beast but it has room for everything we need and then some. The portable tent would simply ride on top, there are eye bolts on the sides for tying stuff down if needed.
free picture upload

picture hosting

images

[Lavman]

upload a gif
image upload no resize

[Uncle Al]

I've had thoughts of making a big box like that but adding an Ontario style shanty on top, then I'll have a place to fish from instead of out in the elements, and also have all my gear covered.

[peteinvermont]

That came out great Lav. 

[BlackDogAlpha]

Spoondangler, can you buy just the seat for that tub or is that off a flipover? I would love to have the back support and not use a regular folding chair. Nice SSled too!

[Lavman]

I've had thoughts of making a big box like that but adding an Ontario style shanty on top, then I'll have a place to fish from instead of out in the elements, and also have all my gear covered.

That would be cool. One drawback is that if the parking lot where you are deploying from is bare ground the heavy box has to be carried to the ice - or wheeled. I gotta figure that part out. I think I can dream up a simple 2 wheel dolly with a long draw bar that will be easy to use.

[Lavman]

That came out great Lav.

Thanks Pete, Little Lav was pulling it around the yard Sunday with relative ease so my two mule team should be good to go on long hauls 

[peteinvermont]

Thanks Pete, Little Lav was pulling it around the yard Sunday with relative ease so my two mule team should be good to go on long hauls 

Just pack an extra bag of Sour Patch Kids and/or gummi bears to keep them moving across the parking lot and up the hill. 

[Uncle Al]

That would be cool. One drawback is that if the parking lot where you are deploying from is bare ground the heavy box has to be carried to the ice - or wheeled. I gotta figure that part out. I think I can dream up a simple 2 wheel dolly with a long draw bar that will be easy to use.

that's where sleds and quads come into play,

[Lavman]

that's where sleds and quads come into play,

Good point

[Lavman]

This is sort of what I have in mind. Something very simple, set the Smitty onto this and the two non-union mules can easily cart the whole sled to the ice then put this cart back in the truck and lock it up.

[Uncle Al]

You could add a long bar to the front with a wheel on it that would contact the ground when brought down into the towing position and at the same time lifting the front of the box off the ground allowing your non-union mules to pull the box to the ice. Somewhere on IS was a smitty sled with wheels, had lawn mower wheels and axle through uprights, wheels were only about a 1/2in. under ski's looked like it would do the job on concrete or dirt.

[NYSporty]

This is sort of what I have in mind. Something very simple, set the Smitty onto this and the two non-union mules can easily cart the whole sled to the ice then put this cart back in the truck and lock it up.

(Image removed from quote.)

That's cool you could pin skis to the axles and have the best of both worlds!

[Spoondangler]

Spoondangler, can you buy just the seat for that tub or is that off a flipover? I would love to have the back support and not use a regular folding chair. Nice SSled too!

The seat is part of that popover shelter, I love that the smitty makes it higher of the ground

[smitty0312]

That's cool you could pin skis to the axles and have the best of both worlds!

Consider this design......all-in-one....... http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=333848.0

[Lavman]

Consider this design......all-in-one....... http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=333848.0

Hmmmm, more food for thought! Thanks Smitty 

[SirCranksalot]

Or you could check out post 69-74 at this link.


http://www.lakesimcoeoutdoors.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=22047&hl=smitty%20sled&st=60

[Ice Scratcher]

Or you could check out post 69-74 at this link.

http://www.lakesimcoeoutdoors.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=22047&hl=smitty%20sled&st=60

Gotta be a member to see pictures there...

<°)))>{

[Lavman]

Gotta be a member to see pictures there...

<°)))>{

Yup, could not see pics, can you repost them here?