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

[VTWoodchuck]

Wider skies are better they help to keep the sled on top of the snow

I thought so.  I can always bevel the edges with a file. Thanks!

[Svengalli]

I'm assembling materials for a "Smitty Sled" and I'm going to our local high schools ski swap soon to get some beater skis to use.  My question is do you guys that have built them like the wider downhill skis or the narrower cross county style better.  I like that the cross country skis don't have sharp metal edges to slice me or my car up but I can see the wide alpine skis floating better?

Personally I prefer the downhills on my two smitty's.  They do ride a little higher on the snow and I have found them more resilient than Xcountry.  I've never had a problem with the metal edges and I do lay a moving blanket under them in the back of my explorer but that's more to catch the ice and snow and prevent puddles/frozen carpet.

Although less drag is what you're after (by going to a smitty sled in the first place) it's also about having enough surface area to remain on top of the snow (the balance is about diminishing and eventually negative returns).  Xcountry skis will have less surface area but if they sink into the snow and have snow passing over their tips, tops and onto your risers than that drag is actually increasing.

[VTWoodchuck]

That's quite a mule train in that picture.  I wish that I could find a really old pair of jumping skis.  Those are about six inches wide although you'd have to cut them down shorter..  They are almost impossible to find nowadays because all the high schools here have eliminated jumping from the ski team events because of insurance costs.  I'll hope to find a nice pair of shortys at the sale   ; - ) 

[lefty2053]

Downhill skis are better.

[Corndog]

I used downhill skis with excellent results. Make sure you post pics VTWoodchuck. Always great to see the results of people's efforts.

[drstizo]

just wanted to say thanks for the great idea, finished up my smitty sled this weekend and can't wait to try it out

[fishinnut]

I have an idea to get rid of the drop in bolts that hold the cross pieces to the skis. Make the notches on supports on skis 1 1/2 inch wide instead of the 2 1/2 inch width. Next cut a notch near the end of each cross piece, leaving about 6 inches at each end. Notches in crosspiece should be 1 1/4 deep by 1 1/2 wide. Cross pieces should then friction fit into risers on skis. With some weight on the sled it shouldn't come apart and now when disassembling for storage there are no bolts to lose.

[drstizo]

some pics of mine

[Corndog]

some pics of mine

Nice!!

[Good_Time_Ranger]

Can someone give me the measurements of the braces that screw to the skis??  Thanks

[Corndog]

Can someone give me the measurements of the braces that screw to the skis??  Thanks

You can really make them any length, width and height you want. I went with some 2x12's, only because i had it already. I believe I went with 8" lengths. The width is 2" and the height was 12". If you look at some of the earlier posts, they may indicate what they used. I think some may go shorter and smaller due to weight issues.

[hardwater diehard]

Can someone give me the measurements of the braces that screw to the skis??  Thanks

Used a 2'x6' for the riser the base is 12inchs long with the top being 10 inches long (then just an angle cut between the two)...I used a 2"x3" for the cross braces to cut down on weight some ..instead of a 2x4

[IDbasser]

Well I jumped on the bandwagon and build me a smitty sled for flipover.  I put some water seal on the wood and waiting for it to dry.  Hopefully will have enough ice next week. 

[lefty2053]

Come on where is the picture?

[IDbasser]

was waiting for the water sealant to dry.  I will take pic later and post.  I will have to make another one now.  I ordered a clam kenai from dicks last night, $170 and free shipping.  Needed a one man for one of my kids to use when we all go.

[IDbasser]

Here is the picture of mine.  Looks like most of the rest.

[Corndog]

Here is the picture of mine.  Looks like most of the rest.

Nice job!

[lefty2053]

Nice. Didn't mean to rush on a picture,was just joking really.

[hardwater diehard]

Very nice indeed ..you will love how easy they pull though the snow.

[IDbasser]

Nice. Didn't mean to rush on a picture,was just joking really.

When I posted I knew I should have included a picture.

[miked77]

Found myself a nice set of downhill skis during a trip to Goodwill today! Less than 8$ with taxes in!  Gonna be a few weeks, but will be trying my second attempt at a smitty sled.  First attempt didn't go so well but putting more planning into this one.  Have slightly lightened my load since that first one so may help also.  Will post pics when its done!

[gso12]

Built myself one to hold my ever expanding collection of gear. After reading through all 52 pages at least twice. I built mine to put my 949 on the side of the tub now my auger an stuff has plenty of room. Thanx for all the great ideas!

[donnie_o8]

Getting ready to build one of these gems. Got a question? I see a lot of you hanging the bag type shelter on the side of your sled. Doesn't this cause one ski to dig deeper than the other because the weight being directly over that ski? Does it track funny that way? I am thinking of putting my bag across the back sideways on the skis but this could be another problem if entering though a gate or poles near a parking area. Be putting up pics soon as I get started.....Wife sayin sumtin bout Christmas lights . Suppose I better get it done its almost 50 out and we all know "a happy wife is a happy life".. Or I could go get in my tree stand....lol.

[lefty2053]

I have my Gas auger on one side of my sled and the tent on the other side with the over hang. Not a problem at all.

[donnie_o8]

I don't have a power auger to use as a counter weight on the other side of the sled. I see a few guys built that way but was just not to sure how it would pull with the" hut in a bag " on one side and nothing on the other. still looking into different ways to load stuff so we'll see what happens.

[rdhammah]

load the shelter in the middle of the sled

[Corndog]

Getting ready to build one of these gems. Got a question? I see a lot of you hanging the bag type shelter on the side of your sled. Doesn't this cause one ski to dig deeper than the other because the weight being directly over that ski? Does it track funny that way? I am thinking of putting my bag across the back sideways on the skis but this could be another problem if entering though a gate or poles near a parking area. Be putting up pics soon as I get started.....Wife sayin sumtin bout Christmas lights . Suppose I better get it done its almost 50 out and we all know "a happy wife is a happy life".. Or I could go get in my tree stand....lol.

As mentioned, just load it on the middle, lengthwise, parallel to the skis. But I'm sure you will have other equipment.

[lefty2053]

I don't have a power auger to use as a counter weight on the other side of the sled. I see a few guys built that way but was just not to sure how it would pull with the" hut in a bag " on one side and nothing on the other. still looking into different ways to load stuff so we'll see what happens.

Drinks,food tackle on the other side. Those tents are not very heavy. Mine is the Shappell Wide House 6500 28 LBs. The tent stakes go into a setup bag I have.

[mjmeyer]

You can also carry your auger by having long enough crossbars to scoot the tub off to one side and place the auger beside the tub on the ends of the crossbars.

[tomturkey]

I do not dismantle my smitty. I screwed a piece of 2 by 4 riser to the end of the cross bars on one side of the sled. I put 3 pair of screw in hooks to the out side. I hang my auger, spud and spreader s to keep my canvas from slapping o in the wind on the hooks.

The sled does have a tendency to tip over if I pull the shanty of the sled first but I take the auger off the top hooks first eliminating that problem with the heave spud on the bottom hooks.