Author Topic: My Homemade $15 Sled! AKA The "Smitty Sled"  (Read 819563 times)

Offline Uncle Al

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Re: My Homemade $15 Sled! AKA The "Smitty Sled"
« Reply #1920 on: Nov 17, 2019, 10:50 AM »
I went from bungee to ratchets, and like them better as you can make them as tight or as loose as I want. Not limited to how much one can pull on the strap.

Offline missoulafish

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Re: My Homemade $15 Sled! AKA The "Smitty Sled"
« Reply #1922 on: Nov 17, 2019, 05:13 PM »
Doing the same this year JJ.....  Tried bungess, tried ratchets, tried posts in the cross braces to sit the sled on. They all have pros and cons. Going with a boot and a wing nut now...

Offline Uncle Al

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Offline bart

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Re: My Homemade $15 Sled! AKA The "Smitty Sled"
« Reply #1924 on: Nov 17, 2019, 05:51 PM »
 FlipTite tie-down straps are another great option, easy peasy!

https://www.fliptite.com/



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Offline SirCranksalot

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Re: My Homemade $15 Sled! AKA The "Smitty Sled"
« Reply #1925 on: Nov 17, 2019, 06:04 PM »


They lock in place but I never trust the lock or a cam strap. I always back it up with a couple of 1/2 hitches---quick and easy!
Keep yer stick on the ice!

Offline smitty0312

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Re: My Homemade $15 Sled! AKA The "Smitty Sled"
« Reply #1926 on: Nov 18, 2019, 03:49 PM »
I like ratchet straps myself......tight lines
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Offline fishinnut

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Re: My Homemade $15 Sled! AKA The "Smitty Sled"
« Reply #1927 on: Nov 19, 2019, 11:27 AM »
Looking for some ideas. I see the use of lift hinges on skis to attach to shanties and smitty sleds. Anyone combine the lift hinges with skis to make a smitty and lighten the load (loose the 2x8, 2x10 supports)? Plan on doing that but need ideas for cross pieces that will fold up easily for storage and be secure while in use. What you guys got?
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Offline smitty0312

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Re: My Homemade $15 Sled! AKA The "Smitty Sled"
« Reply #1928 on: Nov 23, 2019, 03:57 PM »
Looking for some ideas. I see the use of lift hinges on skis to attach to shanties and smitty sleds. Anyone combine the lift hinges with skis to make a smitty and lighten the load (loose the 2x8, 2x10 supports)? Plan on doing that but need ideas for cross pieces that will fold up easily for storage and be secure while in use. What you guys got?

The "Original" Smitty comes apart......the bolts act like pins and can come out so you can take the sled apart for easy storage in car......I carried a cheap hammer in my bucket so I could knock them apart....tight lines
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Offline kc_

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Re: My Homemade $15 Sled! AKA The "Smitty Sled"
« Reply #1929 on: Dec 07, 2019, 06:07 PM »
Looking for some ideas. I see the use of lift hinges on skis to attach to shanties and smitty sleds. Anyone combine the lift hinges with skis to make a smitty and lighten the load (loose the 2x8, 2x10 supports)? Plan on doing that but need ideas for cross pieces that will fold up easily for storage and be secure while in use. What you guys got?

This is what I did on one of my sleds.





Offline kc_

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Re: My Homemade $15 Sled! AKA The "Smitty Sled"
« Reply #1930 on: Dec 07, 2019, 06:08 PM »
I added a couple of springs so when you pick up one side the ski drops down.

Offline meandcuznalfy

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Re: My Homemade $15 Sled! AKA The "Smitty Sled"
« Reply #1931 on: Dec 08, 2019, 08:22 PM »








Finally got some time to start working on my new sled, just a bit of welding, add rod holders and some paint and it'll be ready to go.

Offline SpitzoMT

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Re: My Homemade $15 Sled! AKA The "Smitty Sled"
« Reply #1932 on: Dec 08, 2019, 10:43 PM »
Nice work Lyle.....It looks great !!
        

Offline meandcuznalfy

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Re: My Homemade $15 Sled! AKA The "Smitty Sled"
« Reply #1933 on: Dec 08, 2019, 10:48 PM »
Thanks Wayne. Just got a few things left to finish and it'll be ready for ice when we get it.

Offline scunningham63

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Re: My Homemade $15 Sled! AKA The "Smitty Sled"
« Reply #1934 on: Jan 02, 2020, 07:37 PM »
Shout out to Smtty and all the posts. I built my own Smitty sled. I am no carpenter, however it turned out pretty good. I am to stupid to post a pic.  I found some skis for $4. The were marked $2 on each ski. The store couldn’t decide on charging me $2 or $4. I gave them &4 lol. Now for some ice in PA and hopefully some snow so I can try out my sled. 

Offline rdhammah

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Re: My Homemade $15 Sled! AKA The "Smitty Sled"
« Reply #1935 on: Jan 02, 2020, 08:52 PM »
almost 2000 responses! That's got to be a record
Keep your eyes open on trash day. I have picked up 2 pr like that. Also, if you got a local Yard sale or bargain site on FaceBook, someone might be giving away skiis. I got 3 pr that way, Try a ski shop. when customers buy new skiis, they sometimes just junk their old ones

Offline DTro

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Re: My Homemade $15 Sled! AKA The "Smitty Sled"
« Reply #1936 on: Jan 03, 2020, 06:42 AM »
If anyone ever wondered if waxing the skis is worth the trouble, you might want to check this out.  Half the pulling resistance with a fresh wax. 


Offline missoulafish

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Re: My Homemade $15 Sled! AKA The "Smitty Sled"
« Reply #1937 on: Jan 03, 2020, 07:05 AM »
How often are you needing to re-apply?

Offline Rugburn

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Re: My Homemade $15 Sled! AKA The "Smitty Sled"
« Reply #1938 on: Jan 03, 2020, 09:56 AM »
This is what I did on one of my sleds.






Love the collapsible Smitty kc. Going to build some aluminum hinges and framework for my kenai. Hope you don't mind if I copy you..... ;)

Offline kc_

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Re: My Homemade $15 Sled! AKA The "Smitty Sled"
« Reply #1939 on: Jan 04, 2020, 06:28 PM »
Go for it Dave. I went back to just using a jet sled under my flip over. If it gets deep again I still have my original smitty.
When you run and gun as I do it is a pain in the azz to take the sled off the smitty and put it back on everytime you make a move.

Offline SizeMatters

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Re: My Homemade $15 Sled! AKA The "Smitty Sled"
« Reply #1940 on: Jan 17, 2020, 10:00 AM »
New truck, short bed.  Old Smitty was too long.  Found a set of short skis that just fit the truck bed and put together the classic Smitty.  Gave the old one to my buddy. 




Offline Iceassin

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Re: My Homemade $15 Sled! AKA The "Smitty Sled"
« Reply #1941 on: Jan 17, 2020, 11:00 AM »
New truck, short bed.  Old Smitty was too long.  Found a set of short skis that just fit the truck bed and put together the classic Smitty.  Gave the old one to my buddy. 




Short box here too. Cut off 3" from back of skis. There...now it fits.😉
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Offline Big Sky

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Re: My Homemade $15 Sled! AKA The "Smitty Sled"
« Reply #1942 on: Jan 18, 2020, 06:49 AM »
I couldn’t find any mention of how you are all securing the bolts for the crossbars.  Everyone looks flush so is it simply a pressure fit into the crossbar hole with the bolt then going into a larger hole on the bracket of the ski?  Or are you counter sinking a nut on the bottom side of the crossbar so it still lays flush in the ski bracket?

Offline Iceassin

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Re: My Homemade $15 Sled! AKA The "Smitty Sled"
« Reply #1943 on: Jan 18, 2020, 07:08 AM »
I couldn’t find any mention of how you are all securing the bolts for the crossbars.  Everyone looks flush so is it simply a pressure fit into the crossbar hole with the bolt then going into a larger hole on the bracket of the ski?  Or are you counter sinking a nut on the bottom side of the crossbar so it still lays flush in the ski bracket?

The last question you asked...Carriage bolts, nuts countersunk. Tight hole on the cross member...loose hole on riser for easy install/removal.
"Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice."
 


Offline lynng

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Re: My Homemade $15 Sled! AKA The "Smitty Sled"
« Reply #1944 on: Jan 18, 2020, 07:48 AM »
I couldn’t find any mention of how you are all securing the bolts for the crossbars.  Everyone looks flush so is it simply a pressure fit into the crossbar hole with the bolt then going into a larger hole on the bracket of the ski?  Or are you counter sinking a nut on the bottom side of the crossbar so it still lays flush in the ski bracket?

I used T-Nuts on the bottom of the crossbar; counter sunk a washer on top. I also added a strap on the end as there is a lot of torque when you turn and some have reported splitting the crossbar or riser. Also, be sure to mark your crossbars; front/ back and forward. The holes will not line up if you don’t.








Offline Big Sky

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Re: My Homemade $15 Sled! AKA The "Smitty Sled"
« Reply #1945 on: Jan 18, 2020, 02:35 PM »
Thanks guys.  Helps a lot. 

Offline Iceassin

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Re: My Homemade $15 Sled! AKA The "Smitty Sled"
« Reply #1946 on: Jan 18, 2020, 03:48 PM »
I used T-Nuts on the bottom of the crossbar; counter sunk a washer on top. I also added a strap on the end as there is a lot of torque when you turn and some have reported splitting the crossbar or riser. Also, be sure to mark your crossbars; front/ back and forward. The holes will not line up if you don’t.








If you have a drill press, you can set up a jig to the drill holes in the same spot, avoiding the need to mark and match. I also cut the notch in the risers just "a little" wider than the cross members.
"Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice."
 


Offline MartyMarPlv

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Re: My Homemade $15 Sled! AKA The "Smitty Sled"
« Reply #1947 on: Feb 18, 2020, 08:07 PM »
This is what I did on one of my sleds.





That’s genius, great idea!

Offline SirCranksalot

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Re: My Homemade $15 Sled! AKA The "Smitty Sled"
« Reply #1948 on: Feb 19, 2020, 07:15 AM »
I'm not sure what we are looking at here----how does that black support lock into place? And how does the piece with 2 bolts pivot from being perpendicular to the longer piece to become parallel with it. Maybe I am just being a bit slow here in the AM---been known to happen before!
Keep yer stick on the ice!

Offline Uncle Al

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Re: My Homemade $15 Sled! AKA The "Smitty Sled"
« Reply #1949 on: Mar 04, 2020, 09:56 AM »
If anyone ever wondered if waxing the skis is worth the trouble, you might want to check this out.  Half the pulling resistance with a fresh wax. 


my smitty sled was getting hard to pull with my 2man clam,  My wife gave me some canning wax, parafin, and I melted the wax onto the ski's, used the iron to spread it around, then scrapped the excess, if that's what it's called, with a straight edge and now have a very easy pulling smitty sled. The canning wax works, I only used half of one of the bars that came in a box of four. Got plenty left for the next time. Wife says the canning wax can be found at dollar stores.

 



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