12-30-2014, 08:31 PM
Great thread Skunked. I too have often thought about changing from just a Jet Sled to a Smitty Sled. But I really struggle being convinced that it is easier pulling 60 lbs. of gear in a Smitty than it is pulling that same 60 lbs. of gear (minus the weight of Smitty’s building materials) in a Jet Sled. For that reason, I would strongly consider attaching the Jet Sled to the Smitty frame in a way that didn’t put holes in the bottom of the Jet Sled just in case I wanted to go back to using the Jet Sled alone.
Also, I don’t think I would attach my pull ropes to the tips of the skis. Pulling that heavy load from the tips of the skis would tend to pull the tips together causing the fastening hardware to eventually become loose. I would put eyebolts into the 2x4 cross members to pull on.
And, I am surprised someone hasn’t suggested that at the 90° points, where the uprights connect to the cross members, that there be metal 90° angle brackets for added support to prevent flexing.
Anyway, are Smitty sleds REALLY that much easier to pull through snow than Jet Sleds? I have just got to know.
Meanwhile, here are a few more pictures to give you some ideas. Some are pretty funny.
[url "https://www.google.com/search?q=ice+fishing+sled&biw=1280&bih=852&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=NQujVK6fMYelgwTcrYCQDQ&sqi=2&ved=0CE4QsAQ"]https://www.google.com/search?q=ice+fishing+sled&biw=1280&bih=852&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=NQujVK6fMYelgwTcrYCQDQ&sqi=2&ved=0CE4QsAQ[/url]
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Also, I don’t think I would attach my pull ropes to the tips of the skis. Pulling that heavy load from the tips of the skis would tend to pull the tips together causing the fastening hardware to eventually become loose. I would put eyebolts into the 2x4 cross members to pull on.
And, I am surprised someone hasn’t suggested that at the 90° points, where the uprights connect to the cross members, that there be metal 90° angle brackets for added support to prevent flexing.
Anyway, are Smitty sleds REALLY that much easier to pull through snow than Jet Sleds? I have just got to know.
Meanwhile, here are a few more pictures to give you some ideas. Some are pretty funny.
[url "https://www.google.com/search?q=ice+fishing+sled&biw=1280&bih=852&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=NQujVK6fMYelgwTcrYCQDQ&sqi=2&ved=0CE4QsAQ"]https://www.google.com/search?q=ice+fishing+sled&biw=1280&bih=852&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=NQujVK6fMYelgwTcrYCQDQ&sqi=2&ved=0CE4QsAQ[/url]
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