Might have to look into that theory. I like the idea of not sliding backwards if I stop while headed uphill. But I often turn my sled around and let it go first down the hill so it wont run up the backside of my legs.
But I often turn my sled around and let it go first down the hill so it wont run up the backside of my legs.
I do too with the use of a long tow rope. The alligator tread on the skis are slick downhill and grabs uphill. I haven’t tested the narrow skis in deep snow.
I made a smitty sled before the season. It’s so much better than pulling the sled. I bought some cheap DH skis at a thrift store. I used 2x6’s fur the uprights and 2x4’s for the cross bars. I wanted it to be able to break down to fit in the Forester when I wasn’t taking the truck. So I just got 3 inch long lag bolts and secured them to through the cross bars at the end. Then drilled a hole in my uprights. They sit down in there and it works fine. It pulls apart easily.
The other thing I did was trying to figure out a way to secure the sled to the base without tie down straps over the top. But I also wasnted it easy to disassemble and not modify the sled too much incase I had to pull the sled without the skiis for some reason. I am not quite sure I like this after a season of using it but it works great.
I attached those little bungie’s with the knot and ball on them to the lip of my sled side. Then I put these hooks through the uprights. So I set my sled on the base and then pull the bungie down and through the hook. The ball holds it in there. It’s easy to take off and put on. BUT when I have weigth in it and I am dragging it uphill the sled wants to slide off. It’s nothing that has been anything I can’t handle though.
The thing I need to do is shorten my skis. I have a heck of a time turning it. Even with a little bit of snow it wants to keep going it’s direction. So I need to dull the edges too.
I can post pics or show you my sled anytime.
“I wanted it to be able to break down to fit in the Forester when I wasn’t taking the truck.”
A Forester guy, hunh? I knew there was a reason I liked you. We’re on our third.
HAHA yea I got into turbo’d subarus when I was stationed in Japan back in 99-03. Awesome in the snow and fast enough to keep me happy. I’ve been working on them since then too. So if you ever need any work done let me know. I’ve done everything from changing the oil to rebuilding the engines. I was always into the lower faster ones but with my son and I also into mountain biking a lifted forester made more sense. I put a ski rack on in the winter for my smitty sled skis.
Craig, The 195 skis will fit in the back of your pick up, any longer won’t fit… I think I have 190 or 195’s on both of mine… The wide downhill skis are much better for me, because I’ve been known to take too much gear and they give me more flotation… Smittys are the best, but they do have limitations… One, look towards a solid hitch bar, it will save you if you tow it with a machine or go down hill… Two, they make it easy to increase the gear you take, so if you’re pulling them by hand and go uphill, I’m sorry they get to be a bear to get out of holes… Three, if you tow them with machines you will likely want to beef them up into robust models and they get heavy, reply to item two… In general I think the 2x6 and 2x4 model makes a great smitty that will serve you well.. I would recommend that you make sure to counter sink the hardware heads into the skis so they don’t stick out at all, then you’ll love the smitty. If you don’t you’ll hate it… Good luck… J
Yeah, this time we got the 2.0 turbo. Hard to keep your foot out of it, and I’m not quick enough to flip through the paddles very well either. Makes me feel young and foolish sometimes. It’s such a dog off the line though that I don’t do much stoplight racing 
. Do you know how I can get any kind of hole shot out of it? Doesn’t launch like a 'Cuda for sure, though the power-to-weight may be better. Oops, I think we just took it way off topic and a moderator might get after us [pirate].
Okay, to get it back on track here (pun intended) what length ski will fit in the back of my 2014 Forester?
Get a ski rack and put them up top. Or cut them shorter. My buddy cut his skis pretty short. I left mine the full lentgh thinking it would float even better. But it does NOT like to turn.
Sounds pretty similar to the design I’m thinking of trying. Really simple, cheap and easily stowable. Thanks for the tips
Feel free to make two at once.[;)]