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

[prosty41]

Long day of making my otter xl into a smitty. It's a tank but it turned out good. Still have to finish the auger caddy but maybe my design will give others ideas.

[rdhammah]

WOW! you added like 20+ pounds!

[prosty41]

I did. But, the sled is really big and when I put gear in it, it's too heavy to pull by hand even without the smitty. So, the sled is only mobile when pulled by wheeler. I choose sturdy over light due to the initial weight.

[Ice Scratcher]

Long day of making my otter xl into a smitty. It's a tank but it turned out good. Still have to finish the auger caddy but maybe my design will give others ideas.

If you are planning on using a machine to pull that you are all set for the most part.. If pulling by hand, I would want the skis to be a lot longer if you get snow. The longer the ski, the easier it is to pull even on bare ice, longer skis also float the load on top of snow better.

The best Smitty ski IMO has at least these two things, around 6ft, and light colored, dark skis always melt in and can get stuck if you let it freeze back up..

<°)))>{

[Ice Scratcher]

IMO the point where people go wrong is placing cross member supports way to close to the tips of the skis.  If there is too much weight forward, they can't do what they're supposed to properly. 

I wrote about the same thing in this thread..

http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=290154.msg3034778#msg3034778

<°)))>{

[prosty41]

If you are planning on using a machine to pull that you are all set for the most part.. If pulling by hand, I would want the skis to be a lot longer if you get snow. The longer the ski, the easier it is to pull even on bare ice, longer skis also float the load on top of snow better.

The best Smitty ski IMO has at least these two things, around 6ft, and light colored, dark skis always melt in and can get stuck if you let it freeze back up..

<°)))>{

I had to use a machine even before the smitty due to the load weight so hopefully it works

[prosty41]

Auger caddy done. I was very worried about stability but it is very stable. We used a
Sawsall to cut the plastic cover to make it seat perfectly. I'm still going to fashion brackets or some other type of locking mechanism to the top

[smitty0312]

Looks good Prosty!

[prosty41]

Thanks Smitty-Thanks for the original inspiration!

[Dunn13]

Got mine finished up and love it! I went with the floor flanges and pipes for support underneath the plywood. I threw some stain/poly on it for a little water resistance. The one thing I really wanted to add was a comfy chair. I picked up the foldable boat chair at Cabela's and got a swivel mount and quick release mount off of Amazon. I was able to try it out in our snow and it pulls like a dream! Got most of my gear in there for a trial run except auger and a couple 5 gallon buckets.

[prosty41]

Nice smitty! Is there room in the tent for someone  else to set up a chair and fish or is it solo only?

[prosty41]

Additional smitty sled that I helped my buddy make:




After looking at the ramp on my trailer, I realized my sled would have some trouble clearing the ramp ledge. We build the runners and bolted them to the ramp. Works pretty slick and protects the skis from the grate.

[Dunn13]

Nice smitty! Is there room in the tent for someone  else to set up a chair and fish or is it solo only?

Plenty of room for another person to fish as well. Any more than two people and I'd leave the sled outside. I'm going to get another detachable mount and put it on a 5 gallon bucket so I can use my comfy seat but save space if needed.

[prosty41]

Nice job! Looks cool

[NYSporty]

I'm building a smitty Jr its gonna be cool Stay tuned.

[Ice Scratcher]

I'm building a smitty Jr its gonna be cool Stay tuned.

I've had similar thoughts, for my kids to ride sledding..

Looking forward to your pictures..

<°)))>{

[NYSporty]

I've had similar thoughts, for my kids to ride sledding..

Looking forward to your pictures..

<°)))>{

Aw no it has my  Marcum camera and elite 7 in line bolted together with milk crates. I'm going to get the skis tomorrow.

[joechicago]

A friends old skis in my garage will do the trick. Cool idea.

[UFCreel]

How to determine where to mount the risers on the ski's?

[hardwater diehard]

How to determine where to mount the risers on the ski's?

I mounted the back end of my rear riser about 12"(using 2"x6" which are 12 inches long) from rear of ski ...front riser 12" back from front of ski bend was my starting point then I eyeballed it back some I believe ..keeping in mind my sled/shelter tub size and keeping the weight to the rear of skis ....think my skis  are 5'5" or so.

[UFCreel]

Thank You

[CoachWalleye74]

I purchased my Original Smitty Sled Kit today.  Excited to get it delivered.  Great idea!

[rdhammah]

I purchased my Original Smitty Sled Kit today.  Excited to get it delivered.  Great idea!

you're gonna love it

[UFCreel]

Finally finished mine. Just have to get rope and some longer bungees.

[smitty0312]

Finally finished mine. Just have to get rope and some longer bungees.

Looking forward to seeing it.......post a picture

[NYSporty]

Got my Smitty Jr done.

[appleye]

Finished a Smitty sled this week made out of old pallet wood. Found a set of skis in trash at the lake last spring. Turned out quit well. Pulls like a dream, went a couple miles today. No photos as it doesn't look as good as some of the others on here but it is sure functional! Thanks for the inspiration.

[NYSporty]

They aren't made to be pretty it's all in the function.

[Idahogator]

They aren't made to be pretty it's all in the function.

And the mechanics of that function is easily conveyed with a photo or two of/from the bottom.     

But, what little is shown really looks great.       

[smitty0312]

Great job all around guys........keep up the great sleds.......