How much weight is too much weight?

[tbulhead]

Making a smitty sled to fit in the trunk of a car.  If I add a 30 lb auger and a pop-up ice shanty 25 - 35 lbs, how much weight becomes too much weight for one person to drag out over the ice?  Before you know it all the weight adds up.

[Spider1]

depends on the person doing the dragging and how much snow and even how much clearance and conditions of the skis on the smitty. Even depends on how far your dragging. A fit guy can drag a lot of weight but add 6" of snow and he might want to go a bit lighter. You're the only one that can answer that question. You will find out what your limitations are.

[kevinmaine3]

Depends on how strong you are and the conditions..I've had a gas auger, shack, 2 people's worth of gear, beer,bait, heater and 20lb tank on glare ice and pulled with a pinky..
 had shushy conditions and could barley pull a shack hand auger,and heater, that was not a fun day..
Glare ice...bring it all!! 300 lbs easy..
Slush.. carry what you can..
Stick to sled trails if you can.

[Deal Ninja]

My otter lodge XT1200 weighs ~140 lbs. empty with the Hyfax runners and caddy in it.  Then I added beer, a 3 hp. Eskimo auger(now replaced with K-Drill set up), beer, a bucket of minnows, beer, a Mr. Buddy heater and 5 lb. propane tank, beer, a dozen or so tip ups, beer and handfull of jigging rods, beer, a snow shovel(when needed), two 5 gallon buckets, beer, foot mats, and other misc, gaff, etc. and beer.  Two inches of snow or less on the ice was doable.  More than two inches of snow was a bear.  A good bit of January and February last year, we had well over a foot of snow on the ice.  Luckily I had a buddy to help me drag almost every trip out.  Assembling the pieces/parts for an aluminum Smitty Sled right now.  Praying it works like everyone says they do.  Wish someone made lighter beer.  lol  We are not allowed any type of powered assistance on the ice in PA.   

[redneckdan]

My otter lodge XT1200 weighs ~140 lbs. empty with the Hyfax runners and caddy in it.  Then I added beer, a 3 hp. Eskimo auger(now replaced with K-Drill set up), beer, a bucket of minnows, beer, a Mr. Buddy heater and 5 lb. propane tank, beer, a dozen or so tip ups, beer and handfull of jigging rods, beer, a snow shovel(when needed), two 5 gallon buckets, beer, foot mats, and other misc, gaff, etc. and beer.  Two inches of snow or less on the ice was doable.  More than two inches of snow was a bear.  A good bit of January and February last year, we had well over a foot of snow on the ice.  Luckily I had a buddy to help me drag almost every trip out.  Assembling the pieces part for an aluminum Smitty Sled right now.  Praying it works like everyone says they do.  Wish someone made lighter beer.  lol  We are not allowed any type of powered assistance on the ice in PA.   

Jeez I can see the problem from here, why'd ya bring so many tipups?!

[Deal Ninja]

Jeez I can see the problem from here, why'd ya bring so many tipups?!

^^^^^^Great idea!My buddy and I are only allowed eight besides our jigging rods anyway.  Why carry extras?   

[upnortfishing]

A good rope can help out, long enough that you can step into the loop like a harness, a section of pool noodle with a slit cut in it will prevent the rope from digging in as you pull. If you're trying to pull with your arms behind you it won't go well if there is a good bit of snow.

[lynng]

I pull a lot of gear on my Smitty. Well over 200 lbs. I'm 70 and usually fish alone. As Kevin said, on ice you have to look back to see if it is there. On deeper snow the type and condition of the skis matter. I used to ski a good bit, so I'm familiar with the equipment. If you can find a pair of modern "All Mountain" skis in a 170 to 180 cm length it will make your sled float better. And wax them a couple times a season. Skis like this are designed to "float" a 200+ lbs. man in snow, so your pull will be easier. worst choice is a pair of cross country skis if you will encounter any snow. They are meant to be used on a packed surface. You can find down hill skis at a rental shop or even eBay. I paid $25 for the ones in the picture on eBay. Building this Smitty Sled was the best thing I've done to make my ice fishing more enjoyable.

I agree a long rope attached to the tips of the skis really helps.

[hardwater diehard]

14-16 foot rope is a must ...and step into the loop ...and "push" the rope ....Smitty's work great . I bring way to much gear...better to have than not have . Through deeper snow seems like they aren't effective ...then try w/o the Smitty ...you will be convinced of the genius of it all . I pull a Frabill Adventurer as well a unloaded Jet sled..then when I reach my area ...unload the Adventurer of some item into the Jet sled to keep things organized some . The Jet sled if not loaded too heavily does pull behind my Smitty via an eye screw and chain and carabineers . 

[SLAYERFISH]

It all depends on the size of the onions you are hauling-

[staggerin]

I pull about 300 lbs on my Smitty sled. Otter lodge, lx-9, tip ups, tip downs, big buddy beater, 20lb propane tank, otter rod locker, a grill , the cooler bait and the list goes on. I'm a rather large person so I can pull that just fine. I have found that loading heavy towards the rear of the sled, makes for an easier pull. That and a long pull rope. I took a 2" ratchet strap to use as a pull rope. It puts less pressure on the gut when pulling.

[Deal Ninja]

I've been looking for some kind of harness to wear attached to the rope to the smitty sled...something similar to the harnesses used to backpack climbing treestands to distribute the weight of the sled across my shoulders and chest as opposed to just pulling with arms.  Anyone make something like that for pulling something else that could be adapted to pulling the sled?

[Westsloper]

I pull a Quickflip 2 on a smitty with my Fatfish 949, auger, heaters, buckets, thermus, gear, ect. I'm guessing I'm pulling about 250lbs and hardly break a sweat. As long as the legs on your smitty are high enough to keep you from plowing snow you can pull a lot of weight with a smitty. Another thing that help is to keep your tow rope as low on the sled as possible, like the ski tips.

[spam]

I've been looking for some kind of harness to wear attached to the rope to the smitty sled...something similar to the harnesses used to backpack climbing treestands to distribute the weight of the sled across my shoulders and chest as opposed to just pulling with arms.  Anyone make something like that for pulling something else that could be adapted to pulling the sled?

I bought a harness for pulling deer out of the woods and tide it to sled rope it works great arms are free and it was cheap to boot 

[maddogg]

I've been looking for some kind of harness to wear attached to the rope to the smitty sled...something similar to the harnesses used to backpack climbing treestands to distribute the weight of the sled across my shoulders and chest as opposed to just pulling with arms.  Anyone make something like that for pulling something else that could be adapted to pulling the sled?

Maybe a tree stand safty harness would work.

[Cantgetenough]

As for the strap I use one off of a golf bag plenty strong and wont cut into you!

[Westsloper]

I've been looking for some kind of harness to wear attached to the rope to the smitty sled...something similar to the harnesses used to backpack climbing treestands to distribute the weight of the sled across my shoulders and chest as opposed to just pulling with arms.  Anyone make something like that for pulling something else that could be adapted to pulling the sled?

I just cut a peace of 4 inch nylon strap (about 5' length) put a metal grommet on each end and attach a rope from the grommet to the ski of my smitty. I put the strap over one shoulder, across my chest and under the opposite arm. I can barely even feel it!

[3300]

you can shave 20# offf the auger by switching to a drill instead of power head.

use the smitty skies in snow and use hyfax always on the sled for when it's not on the smitty skies. makes pulling so much easier. i might add them to my skies next.

[Adkrs]

I bought a harness for pulling deer out of the woods and tide it to sled rope it works great arms are free and it was cheap to boot 

I also did this. Works great

[32footsteps]

My brother and I have identical otter sleds.  Mine is on a smitty and his is not.  In my sled I have a power auger, pop-up hub, underwater camera, 20lb propane tank, a couple dozen tip-ups, half a dozen rods, a folding chair, minnow bucket, and usually a case or so of beer.  In his he has 4 rods, 5 tip-ups, a 6 inch hand auger, and sometimes a minnow bucket.  His is much harder to pull than mine is.  That's why I carry the beer.   

[Deal Ninja]

I bought a harness for pulling deer out of the woods and tide it to sled rope it works great arms are free and it was cheap to boot 

That was a great idea!!!  Perfect!  Thank you!

[3300]

I've been looking for some kind of harness to wear attached to the rope to the smitty sled...something similar to the harnesses used to backpack climbing treestands to distribute the weight of the sled across my shoulders and chest as opposed to just pulling with arms.  Anyone make something like that for pulling something else that could be adapted to pulling the sled?

some of us do it differently. my buddy simply throws the rope over one shoulder down across his chest and pulls. i added a length of pvc to hold the rope wider and then step in the rope so it is in front of me and i rest it at my belt line. hurts the back some tho, but i want my hands in front of me, not behind.
thinking i can use the pvc as an ice anchor if need be. i ran the rope in thru it twice so it isn't as free moving. i just used 1 1/2" or maybe it's smaller.

maybe this year i'll add a length of pex and try it over the shoulder.

[Fishhouse5]

Just bought the harness for pulling deer.  Also making a Smitty to make pulling easier.
Last few years used an old backpack.  Extra gloves, hat and socks inside.  Hook a caribeaner to the rope and the loop on the backpack.
My son uses his disc golf bag harness to pull his sled.  A longer rope helps too.

[P.Smith]

 I built a big  Smitty sled, was pulling my Eskimo Quick6, 20lb bottle, chairs, shovel, big buddy, all kinds of stuff on about 5 inches of snow Saturday. It pulled decent, but still wearing on me, so I started messing around and pushed it a little ways and quickly realized its takes a 1\4 of the effort to push. Went home built a push bar for it and went back out Sunday morning. Worked awesome!!! Pushed it about 1 mile one way and was good. My handle come out bigger than I really wanted but it allows for 2 people to push it which works great also !! I'm never pulling that sled again, I'll push it from now on lol

[Spider1]

good idea. If you can get a pic of it, I would like to see that.

[IFF]

Guy I know had some knee surgery and rigged his up so he could push his, help him stand upright and could shuffle along.  Pretty sure it made it easier on him rather than pulling on it.

[kevinmaine3]

I've always wanted to mount skis on a plastic shopping cart..

[da man cave shack]

Depends on the person and on the ice conditions. But if you always keep trying to be as lite as posdible in mind you should be ok.

[Buckmaster7600]

some of us do it differently. my buddy simply throws the rope over one shoulder down across his chest and pulls. i added a length of pvc to hold the rope wider and then step in the rope so it is in front of me and i rest it at my belt line. hurts the back some tho, but i want my hands in front of me, not behind.
thinking i can use the pvc as an ice anchor if need be. i ran the rope in thru it twice so it isn't as free moving. i just used 1 1/2" or maybe it's smaller.

maybe this year i'll add a length of pex and try it over the shoulder.

I use the PVC as well but I also added a shoulder strap off an old tackle box the I put over my neck and its attached to both sides of the pvc so if I stop it doesn't fall. I used this all last year and it works great. The other thing I did was used a pool noodle to slide over the pvc and that made it more comfortable on my ribs.

[hardwater diehard]

Maybe a tree stand safty harness would work.

I made one out of extra harness ...worked well but don't use that often ...Love my Smittys