Ski/Runner sled width
#6165698
02/21/18 08:57 PM
02/21/18 08:57 PM
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,500 Kenai AK
KenaiKid
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OP
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,500
Kenai AK
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I know some of you guys use sleds on skis/runners rather than tubs. My question is, what is the ideal stance width of the skis? Do you want them to follow in the tracks of the snowmobile skis, or be narrower than the machine? Does it make a significant difference in pulling or tracking? I’m building one to haul logs, and I’ve found plenty of pictures online but no dimensions.
Thanks for any help.
Boco couldn't catch a cold. But if he did, it would be Top Lot.
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Re: Ski/Runner sled width
[Re: KenaiKid]
#6169370
02/25/18 02:45 AM
02/25/18 02:45 AM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 135 AK, Northwest Arctic Borough
Caribou
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 135
AK, Northwest Arctic Borough
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Wen I build a Basket sled, I shod with a 2 inch wide teflon.
A 'flat sled' made of 2x4's ect, I use 3-4 inch width, depending on whats available. I haul fire wood with mine.
For ''tree sleds' in tandem, one at each end of a full length log of 16inch butts and 30 ft long, I make two small sleds with 4 or , preferrably, shod with 6 inch wide slides on my runners.
I make all my lumber sleds the samw width as my ski's , measured skeg to skeg, while my basket sleds are 28 inches wide.
Good luck!
Last edited by Caribou; 02/26/18 01:19 AM.
What would the Founding Fathers do?
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Re: Ski/Runner sled width
[Re: KenaiKid]
#6169948
02/25/18 02:55 PM
02/25/18 02:55 PM
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 148 North Slope
Nunamiut
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North Slope
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I have built a few in the past, and I like to use them when going out caribou hunting. I built my first two I think "30 wide and it was nice, until you had to navigate around some rocks on the trail where it got twisty. Thats how I broke my first one. I did so against my uncles instruction, and he was right. When I was living in Utqaigvik some whaling crews had sleds "36 wide and they pulled without a problem.
Here in the mountains I think the few guys that do make them, build them about "16-"20 wide so they pull better in the rocks and what not, and they track better insde your snowmobile tracks. The narrower stance works better for my rocky terrain.
If it was easy, everybody would be doing it!
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Re: Ski/Runner sled width
[Re: KenaiKid]
#6170282
02/25/18 08:29 PM
02/25/18 08:29 PM
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,500 Kenai AK
KenaiKid
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Follow up: here’s what I ended up with. My goal for the time being was just to build a bunk slled for the front end of the logs, and drag the tails. It’s basically what was called a “go devil” back in the horse skidding days. I needed to skid a bunch of 10-12” x 8ft logs out of the woods for a little sawmilling job last week, and this rig served the purpose. Eventually I’ll make another one for the rear end of longer logs. I could also eventually add a pivoting bunk like Yukon, if I decide I need it. Regarding my original question about ski width, I finally said “quit over-thinking it, dummy” and made the sled to fit the width of my hitch tongue from my tub sled, so I didn’t have to build another tongue. I can swap it between sleds, and it bolts on to some angle strut. The skis are 5” wide, milled out of birch, and a bit heavier than necessary. But stout . Width is 34” outside, 24” inside, which puts the skids just inside the snowmachine skis. But since I always pack my trails before skidding anyway it doesn’t really matter. I skinned the runners with aluminum flashing. She did the job. Now I just need a better snowmachine for hauling. Thanks for all the input fellas. Those are a pair of 10-12" 8 ft logs
Boco couldn't catch a cold. But if he did, it would be Top Lot.
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Re: Ski/Runner sled width
[Re: KenaiKid]
#6170614
02/26/18 01:26 AM
02/26/18 01:26 AM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 135 AK, Northwest Arctic Borough
Caribou
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Posts: 135
AK, Northwest Arctic Borough
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The tandem ''Tree sleds'' I reffered to would be exactly you pictured Kenaikid, but with a second sled tied at the rear of the trees. I see that short logs are easy to drag with the one, but if you were to be uilding, say, a log cabin, a second seld would help tremendously.
I couple my two small sleds together with rope teid through attachment holes in the wood. The rear sled is coupled to the front sled with a heavy rope, with the left ski on the front sled attaching to the rear sleds right ski, and the front skis left side being being attached to the rear right ski, so the roaps tha couple the two sled is an ''X''.......and the trees placed apon and tied down the two sleds.
Harder to write than imagine , Im sure...
Last edited by Caribou; 02/26/18 01:27 AM.
What would the Founding Fathers do?
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Re: Ski/Runner sled width
[Re: Caribou]
#6170623
02/26/18 02:07 AM
02/26/18 02:07 AM
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,500 Kenai AK
KenaiKid
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I know exactly what you mean Caribou.. we call it X-cabled articulating steering. I’ve helped build a few steel units for North Slope exploration with the same steering setup. Yep, if I get around to hauling long stuff I’ll definitely make another one.
Boco couldn't catch a cold. But if he did, it would be Top Lot.
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