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

[frozengator]

Thanks Matt, Smitty and all the others! I got my skis Saturday and will be building my own Smitty Sled, although it may need wheels, too.
Great ideas and designs here. I'll post my pictures when I have it together. It may never be truly finished after looking at all the modifications.
Mike

LOL I have so many ideas in my head, But smittys is the main design I like you want wheels for going across the parking lot. I just want to find a set of pneumatic probably 8" and I am too cheep to go by brand new ones. I think I will check out harbor freight soon. They have cheaper stuff there.

[Homemade]

Lots of great info on this thread. I particularly like seeing non-DIY types attempt and successfully complete a project they never would have but for the love of this "sport". You can do it. Smitty and others have given you the recipe, now go out and bake that cake! And post your results.
Basic practical tip: You can greatly increase the strength of wood joints by using a good glue. Wherever you screw -glue and screw. Wherever you nail -glue and nail.  Upright to ski -glue it then screw it.
Which glue should you use? I and every tradesman I've spoken to swears by PL Premium. It's a urethane adhesive, meaning it's weatherproof and VERY strong. Oh yeah, it's also widely available (Home Depot) and very inexpensive (<$5 a large tube). Hope this basic tip helps someone in someway. 
http://www.loctiteproducts.com/p/12/34/pl_ca_prem_adv/overview/Loctite-PL-Premium-ADVANCED-Polyurethane-Construction-Adhesive.htm

Unleash the inner handyperson.

[redrover]

Got some pics of my "Smitty" sled this weekend. Mine isn't made for quick assembly as once I put it together in Dec I have a place to store it put together until spring. Then I take it apart & store it for the summer. The red gear box, my son & I made 15yrs ago. For me this setup works great, the only problem being this winter, the ice was never fit the few times I had a chance to go. On a nice sunny day I will just use the red box. If the weather turns cold & windy, then I take the whole thing & hide in the Shappell.

[smitty0312]

Got some pics of my "Smitty" sled this weekend. Mine isn't made for quick assembly as once I put it together in Dec I have a place to store it put together until spring. Then I take it apart & store it for the summer. The red gear box, my son & I made 15yrs ago. For me this setup works great, the only problem being this winter, the ice was never fit the few times I had a chance to go. On a nice sunny day I will just use the red box. If the weather turns cold & windy, then I take the whole thing & hide in the Shappell.

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Redrover, that is very nice, thanks for sharing and hope it helps you alot(I know it will).
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[MattR]

Hey Smitty.... My sled was highly admired by 2 young boys so much that I let them use it to pull each other around for a while today. They were out fishing with their grandfather and got bored of catching only "small ones" as they put it..lol. Next weekend his grandkids agreed to help grandpa make a sled like mine. So not only is your sled design benefiting other fisherman, it will be helping 2 young boys bond with their grandpa while making their own sled. I even told the grandpa where I live if he needs a set of skis for the project.

Matt

[smitty0312]

That's a great story Matt, I appreciate the generosity you showed, 2 thumbs up. Thanks.

[wipike]

Got some pics of my "Smitty" sled this weekend. Mine isn't made for quick assembly as once I put it together in Dec I have a place to store it put together until spring. Then I take it apart & store it for the summer. The red gear box, my son & I made 15yrs ago. For me this setup works great, the only problem being this winter, the ice was never fit the few times I had a chance to go. On a nice sunny day I will just use the red box. If the weather turns cold & windy, then I take the whole thing & hide in the Shappell.

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A Smitty Sled ON a Smitty Sled?!



MADNESS!!

[vermonner]

I made a smitty sled for my smitty sled

[EddieRod]

  I guess I made this awhile ago but only used it once. I had a Frabill shelter that folds up and It was a pita, so sold it. Been in the shed since then. Might need it if we ever get some big snow. Will do some updates if taking out.

[redrover]

don't laugh until you try it!

[wipike]

don't laugh until you try it!

I'm not laughing at all, redrover.  I think Smitty's sled is absolutely brilliant - I watched Inception again last week, so the thought hit me when I saw the sled on a sled.  Made me chuckle is all.   

I've got plans for another one, possibly over summer.  Gotta figure out the new design.

[kb]

Kind of like a mothership

[frozengator]

I'm thinking one of those box fans, a D.C. Converter and a lot of duct tape!!!! 

[steve339]

I can't believe I just read ALL 28 pages of this thread.......but i'm glad that i did.  I have a Clam Expedition (with floor).  I dragged the floor once and only once......what a pain, not portable at all.  I've been taking the shelter (without the floor) in a Jet Sled with all the other gear, but now I may have a reason to take the floor.  Maybe.  The floor is bulky, but it is nice to be off the ice when you're going to be out there all day.

Smitty, thank you for the idea AND for staying with the thread and responding (for 3 years).

[allcaughtup]

I should have used crappier skis....mine runs me over its so fast..lol

[skulldugary]

Well,I did'nt want to be the only kid in the neighborhood to not have a SMITTY SLED.Got bored so I built one(like I need another sled),this is what I ended up with.No animals or humans were injured in the making of this sled....thanks Smitty...

[Reel_Force]

I got a plan for "My" Smitty... I have a Cabelas 5600 and made the basic wooden frame, now the only thing I don't like about this set up ya got to strap everything on top. So ... the plan - with the tax return ...  I'm gonna get me one of these.

http://frabill.com/trekker-shuttle.html

mount the skies underneath.

I'm gonna love the fact that I can pack everything except the auger in it. Just can't stand it, when I got to unload it from the truck, strap everything down, then unpack everything on the ice, then set the shelter up and move in.

I'll take some pics when I get everything.

[smitty0312]

Well,I did'nt want to be the only kid in the neighborhood to not have a SMITTY SLED.Got bored so I built one(like I need another sled),this is what I ended up with.No animals or humans were injured in the making of this sled....thanks Smitty...

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Very nice job skull, you can never have too many "Smitty Sleds".

[black hills tj]

Lots of nice sleds in here, just one question though, and it honestly probably isn't much of a big deal at all.  Whether you are using 2x6, 2x8, etc...most people are cutting them at a slant(less aerodynamic drag, right? ).  However, most of them have the slant angling towards the rear of the sled and up.  I would think if you got into a little deeper snow, and the skis did not hold the sled up above all of the snow, then angling them like this would push the sled down into the snow.  If you angle them the other way, depending on the snow and other variables regarding the conditions at the time, it would push the sled up.  I know, I know....totally overthinking it.  Just trying to be scientific about it

[skidly]

I tapered mine like that because more surface to join uppers to on ski the cross piece on top is narrower, besides .... makes them look fast !  lol

[brypauld]

So my youngest daughter age 10.... Her school/classes had a homemade sled building contest and today was the day of sledding....Needless to say, this morning I packed her and her "smitty sled" up in the jeep and took her to school..... Well, I just picked her up and she was very happy to show me her gold medal that she won for having the best homemade sled.... Out of 80 kids she said she won because she was the fastest and went the farthest  .. I had no doubt 
Thanks again Smitty

[justfine]

that s cool brypauld like all us who have built them already knew a gold winning idea

[couragedog]

THAT ROCKS!!!gonna build one !

[mjmeyer]

Lots of nice sleds in here, just one question though, and it honestly probably isn't much of a big deal at all.  Whether you are using 2x6, 2x8, etc...most people are cutting them at a slant(less aerodynamic drag, right? ).  However, most of them have the slant angling towards the rear of the sled and up.  I would think if you got into a little deeper snow, and the skis did not hold the sled up above all of the snow, then angling them like this would push the sled down into the snow.  If you angle them the other way, depending on the snow and other variables regarding the conditions at the time, it would push the sled up.  I know, I know....totally overthinking it.  Just trying to be scientific about it

Sounds absolutely correct! I need to make mine slant this way. Just like the upturned ends of the ski. Create lift instead of submarining.
Thanks!
Mike

[smitty0312]

So my youngest daughter age 10.... Her school/classes had a homemade sled building contest and today was the day of sledding....Needless to say, this morning I packed her and her "smitty sled" up in the jeep and took her to school..... Well, I just picked her up and she was very happy to show me her gold medal that she won for having the best homemade sled.... Out of 80 kids she said she won because she was the fastest and went the farthest  .. I had no doubt 
Thanks again Smitty

I love it! Glad she was king of the sleds!

[beeverfishing]

 

So my youngest daughter age 10.... Her school/classes had a homemade sled building contest and today was the day of sledding....Needless to say, this morning I packed her and her "smitty sled" up in the jeep and took her to school..... Well, I just picked her up and she was very happy to show me her gold medal that she won for having the best homemade sled.... Out of 80 kids she said she won because she was the fastest and went the farthest  .. I had no doubt 
Thanks again Smitty

[smitty0312]

THAT ROCKS!!!gonna build one !

Cant wait to see it.

[wipike]

Gotta thank you again Smitty, the sled is awesome.  Put 5.5 miles on it yesterday according to the GPS, all on foot.  Had one small mishap crossing a 2' gap (ski tip got caught, but I build it with short skis so it's my fault, not the design), but after "fishing" out the items that went for a swim, I was on my way again.  Honestly don't think I could have ever attempted that with a normal sled - for those of us without a four wheeler (yet!  Please, please, please Santa if you're watching!!)  these thing are a Godsend.

[newincudahy]

I have enjoyed reading this thread for a long time now. Great ideas and variations! Indeed Smitty cool deal! I thought of this thread when I saw this pic and had to share it.

[Duckiller]

I have enjoyed reading this thread for a long time now. Great ideas and variations! Indeed Smitty cool deal! I thought of this thread when I saw this pic and had to share it.
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what is the dirt bike lookiung thing behind ur sled