Building a sled

We made one last year. I used a pair of cross country skis. Near the front, and near the back of each ski we screwed on a block of 2 x 4. To these blocks we used screws to attach a piece of plywood, the outdoor kind. I painted it. I used it to haul two buckets of water to the livestock, but without a back lip, they'd sometimes slide off. A kid's small tobagon worked better for the water. But, the sled worked real well for the hay bale. You have to get out of it's way when going downhill.

i'd go to gander mountain or a sporting goods store and buy the big tobbogan type sled that the ice fisherman use.....they weight 10 pounds and slide slicker than snot on snow or ice and are near 3 foot wide and 4 foot long....mink

I have made them out of old alpine skis. The ones used when I was skiing all the time did not have as much side cut and were long. These will work best, So look for something around 20 plus years old. Some pro shops will give them away.

As Maura said you will need to attach a block of wood to the front and back of each ski used. I try to stay in the thicker part of the ski and use a hardwood block (usually Oak) and fasten it with no.12 screws. I then use carriage bolts to fasten the risers to this block. (Remember to drill pilot holes for the screws). With this method you can get enough height for your snow depth, though in New York 4 inch risers should be enough as our snow packs down so quickly. Also as long as you keep them parallel, you could use as many skis under your platform as you wanted. I would use at least half inch and preferably 5/8 inch plywood for the platform. You could make it as wide as you want with multiple skis.

We ride the ones I make and the better half has said she will supply photos if you wish. Keep in mind that this sled has been used by the kids for 5 or six winters. It is so fast it was christened the "suicide sled"

RW

Our Boy Scout troop has a sled made for pulling large loads on winter camping trips. Simple and cheap. Plywood cargo area about 3'x5', a few 4" blocks to elevate it above the skis, and a pair of old skis. It works great, and didn't cost a dime.

I did a search for work sleds and found this thread. I'm having the same problem and need something to pull along in the snow. The Otters are too expensive. In Texas I used plastic baby swimming pool and punched a hole through the top, tied rope to it, tied around my hips and would pull stuff around that way. It was easter for me than messing with the wheel barrow many times especially when I was flooded. that thing would slide right along in the mud with no problem.

I was hoping to come up with something of a sled or toboggan and attach a thick band to pull with my shoulders and hips. I wish I hadn't left that swimming pool behind! I think it would be too flimsy here anyway. I also want to make a smaller one for the 2 biggest dogs and let them earn their keep. I have a ton of rocks to move in addition to every day chores where one would come in handy.

I'd love to see pictures of some of these work sleds you guys have built. Can anyone share?

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Wow, it's funny to see this old thread! I actually hauled 24 bales of hay a very long distance today, over snow. I now use 2 plastic sleds, they were about $7 each (2 years ago). I can slide them with 4 bales of hay at a time, over deep snow if necessary, and it works pretty good. I fastened rope on them and can easily pull the entire deal with one hand.

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I cried because I had no shoes, until I saw a man who had no feet.

Glass factory I used to work at for 19 yrs had conveyers made outa chain around 8ft wide and, mine around 24ft long. I hauled hay outa the field, 2 doz bales at a time. It was neet not to have to lift them up no higher than an inch To git it on the top of the (wagon). I had 2 of them and built a cross piece outa a 4 X 4 that had them chained 4in apart. Then i could haul as much as on a wagon. I messed one up by hauling rock, and the weight caused the front to curl up for around 10ft. The other had a 5in hole in it that got hooked on a root and that ripped it a bit and also caused the front end to curl on it also. Now I got 2 sleds made outa wood I got from wood outa crates/ Ther is 2 4 X 4s for the runners then 2 4 X 4 cross pieces running crossways from those 2 runners to the floor which is around 6 X 8. They also are cut at an bevel, the 4 X 4s I use them usually at leasat once a week, especially during the winter.

Take a piece of metal barn siding and bend up the ends enough to go over the top of the snow. If you bend up both ends you won't even have to turn the sled around. Try finding something lighter or cheaper or easier than that. Pole barn siding is 3 feet wide.

Around here, a set of skis on a box won't work because the snow is deep and you have to get the box above the snow, making it a bit tippy.
Take the rectangle door of a refrigerator. Knock off the inner plastic (butter tray, etc). Measure down the side of the door about 16 inches and cut a V on each side. Bend the top of the door up so you have a ski shape. Weld the V together. I guess you could bolt something onto it to hold it in that shape, if you can't weld. Tie a rope onto the corners and you are ready. The smooth painted surface pulls good in snow and it is light enough to pull easily and wide enough to not be easily tipped. Sort of a big, wide sheet metal tobogan. Plus you can generally get one for free. If you planned to ride in it, understand that you can't steer it from inside and the edges can be sharp. I've moved a lot of firewood and hay bales with a refrigerator door.
For heavier hauling, with a horse, a pair of Postal Jeep front bumpers make great skis. Jam a 2x4 into the bumper's web and bolt a couple oak 2x12 across to join the runners.

I made one just like this when we were in NH, and I agree that you have to get out of the way when it's going downhill! I got bruises on the backs of my ankles, and was also knocked over a few times, and that was just on very small hills.

I have the materials to make another one here (because, like Daisy, I find the plastic toboggan doesn't hold enough, and tips over too easily). I plan to improve on my original one by using shafts -- either I'll pull it myself, or get harness for my wether and let him pull it. Also, it needs low edges on all sides of the platform, preferably with cleats so you can tie a load down.

I found that a pair of thrift shop skis made very good runners even in deep snow, by the way.

Kathleen

I am in a hurry, so I didn't read all the posts, but...

We have a mud sled we use - my father built it many years ago from scrap lumber. The entire thing is about 4'x6', and The "ski's" are just 2x4 size with a 45* angle cut at the front. It pulls easily over grass, gravel, and mud. I am thinking it may work for snow for you...

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Michelle

"I have learned that 99% of the time, when something is broken, one of the kids did it."

We currently have three "mud toboggans" on the place which we use. One is just a plastic kids toboggan I got at a yard sale ... works well for me (5' tall and in my 60s) to haul one bale of hay around or a load of firewood from the woodpile to the house.

Two DH designed and built (he's a retired engineer) and both have a base of sheet polyethylene ... really slick but tough. One has 2x6 sideboards and a front bar for the singletree (Haflinger mare pulls this one) and a hayrack built with sections of cattle panel so we can haul loose hay, which is how we feed.



The other is smaller, can be pulled by a person or the Haflinger mare and has a section of cattle panel bent up at the front and sides with the poly on the outside. Works well for heavier loads of firewood, hauling gravel, etc.

Does anyone use a roller or something similar to compact their snow paths? In the Maine woods they used to use a log drag to smooth and level pathways before yarding out timber. I've also seen pictures of large rollers used to compact snow on roadways for sleighs and sledges.