snowmobile rack

[Brian A]

Hi gang. Purchased a sled for ice fishing over the holiday break and just tested out the rack I made to hold my shanty and gear. Will probably add a hook for my auger, I have a new Nils 8" hand auger on the way!

just wanted to share a pic of it. In the pic, I have my Clam 2000 on it, it can also hold my fish trap. Nice thing is I can take the buckets off and just drive the rig into the back of my truck and leave everything in place while I drive home.

thanks

[ski7doo]

nice, dont punch the gas too hard, might get a lil squirley do a nice wheelie

[akjw7]

looks cool - good job!

what's it made of? more pics of it and how it's attached?

[Brian A]

I will dig up some more pics of it.  Its made from aluminum tubing. We use the stuff at work. I just made it from scraps of it that I have been saving up. The storage area under the shanty is made with cargo netting from an old car trunk wrapped around the aluminum frame.

I have a tow hitch and bracket that were original on the sled, it is an aluminum bar that made for a perfect mounting surface. I just bolted the rack to it with 4 bolts. I can take it on and off pretty easily so when I dont need it I can remove it.

As far as the weight factor that did concern me. But I weigh about 280 so that pretty much balances that lol

When running with a buddy on the back seat, it doesnt steer very well on glare ice but I guess thats to be expected.  With no passanger it does just fine though.

[powderburns]

great idea. Did you take a patent out on it?

[bluecaddisfly]

 do the buckets just hang? that would be annoying if theres any bumps.

[Brian A]

do the buckets just hang? that would be annoying if theres any bumps.

no they are secured with bungee cords to the side of the rack. I just dont have them on in that pic

[Bearsfan]

NICE. I think I'll do the same thing, THANKS forb the idea!

[CMMahy]

Great idea for a rack! beats towing a sleigh that gets all full of slush and water, plus easier to transport to the lake!. When you're riding with a buddy, you can soften the spring(s) on the front arm on the rear suspension skid frame, puts more of the sled's weight on the skiis, gives them some more bite for turning. Not sure what the Polaris skids look like, but it'll either be a pair of scissor springs where the front arm bolts to the tunnel, or a coil over shock in the very front of the frame. Sorry for the late, (early?) post, days are getting shorter and cooler and i've already got the hardwater bug 

[Out4Trout]

Good looking rack Brian, a lot easier than hauling a sled depeding on the conditions.

Here's some pictures of some racks, most are my buddy's sleds. They used pipe couplings or tube steel and split them to make "U" brackets for the augers to set in, then bungeed them down. The racks also hold our bait buckets.



This guy mounted is auger blade vertically on the side of his sled, but it's pretty scary looking.


I don't have an auger mount on my sled this year. I have a dog sled for fishing near the house.



Hard to beat an Otter sled for hauling in snow.


Hope this gives you all a few ideas for the up coming season.

[jayswimmer09]

nice set ups there!! out4trout