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Sled build #6196507
03/23/18 01:12 AM
03/23/18 01:12 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,255
Homer, Alaska
Family Trapper Offline OP
trapper
Family Trapper  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,255
Homer, Alaska
Well I finally made use of 3 of the 4 pieces of UHMW I purchased on the big UHMW steal of the century a few years ago. ;0)
Finally had reason for three sleds and we made good use of them. More on that in another post.

Thought I would put a little of the mods I made. No big secret on the basic build.
1. I had taken my sheets to a local welder and had him put them in his break. Be sure to over break them. They do tend to relax a bit for a few days. I actually leave ratchet straps on them to keep from bending back out too far. I had him do three brakes lines to develop the 90 degree finish. We broke more than 90 degrees hoping for a finished 90.


I suppose there is a multitude of different cuts and configurations you could make to piece up the front. I just chose one and went with it. They all work. Some I am sure better than I chose. But no complaints so far. I found the ratchet strap to really help to pull things into place.




Where I strayed from what seemed the conventional approaches to things was the front and rear hitch assembly.
Rear.
Since I wanted to be able to pull one to three sleds from one machine I did the following.
I inserted a piece of aluminum flat bar I bent by heating up with a torch. No problemo! I used clamps to place the aluminum and then heated the base of the sled as I sucked it up with ratchet straps. Really made for a nice secure rear end hitch.




The rear hitch was just a minimal cutting and welding project. The pivot was in the front hitch so nothing complicated in the rear.



I do hate loosing hitch pins so I welded on a nut to secure when not in use.







I used a piece of 20 inch long one inch angle iron for the skeg. I welded on hard surfacing rod on the bottom edge to hopefully keep the edge more robust. Then sharpened it to a pretty sharp point . Seemed to do okay. Your seeing an installed skeg from the top as well as a second set ready to go on sled two in this photo.


If I had had more time I would have liked to put some sacrificial uhmw runners on the bottom and put at least two skegs on each sled. You can't have too many. As you will see in an upcoming post on my trip.

I didn't want to use up any of my uhmw on hitches so I chose to weld my hitches together using 3/4 pipe. All went well. I did bend a hitch pin when we slid backwards on the ice and ended up in a train wreck.
Don't have any good photos of the finished hitch end attachments. Also I will be placing some kind of light plastic material over the large hitch opening to keep snow from coming in the sled. Perhaps putting apiece of conveyor belt like Howler as well.



So for what is worth maybe someone can benefit from my trials and errors. ;0)

Re: Sled build [Re: Family Trapper] #6196525
03/23/18 02:44 AM
03/23/18 02:44 AM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421
Yukon
Y
yukon254 Offline
trapper
yukon254  Offline
trapper
Y

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421
Yukon
Really like that rear hitch Len. The whole thing is built to last, very well done. Think the one northway built me was the first one in our neck of the woods, but a guy started making them in Whitehorse this year.....they dont go cheap! I heard he's getting around $1700 for them.


do unto others as you would have them do unto you

www.grizzlycreeklodge.com
Re: Sled build [Re: Family Trapper] #6196527
03/23/18 02:52 AM
03/23/18 02:52 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,255
Homer, Alaska
Family Trapper Offline OP
trapper
Family Trapper  Offline OP
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,255
Homer, Alaska
Holy Cow. I think we got the UHMW sheets delivered to us in Alaska for $198. Don't think I have more than $50 dollars more in hardware and pipe for mine. So around $250 for the sled. Happy Happy. Wish I had bought the whole darn pallet of uhmw when I had the option to buy it. haha. Could have went into the sled building business.
Hey and I didn't have to pay freight to get it to the bush! See my other bucket list post

Re: Sled build [Re: Family Trapper] #6196752
03/23/18 10:58 AM
03/23/18 10:58 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,321
Fairbanks, Alaska
Pete in Frbks Offline
trapper
Pete in Frbks  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,321
Fairbanks, Alaska
As much fun as the construction project obviously entails.... I'm happy we have Dave Doudna and Northern Sled Works right here in the Greater Fairbanks Metropolitan Area!

Pete

Re: Sled build [Re: Family Trapper] #6196754
03/23/18 11:03 AM
03/23/18 11:03 AM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 7,954
On Georgian Bay, Ontario Canad...
H
Hutchy Offline
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Hutchy  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 7,954
On Georgian Bay, Ontario Canad...
Here is mine. Built last year. Amazing compared to my last one. Very similar to yours. Basically an alaskan seldworks crossfox clone. UHMW is very pricey even here, and I pick it up myself. Have made many toboggans, etc for hand hauling, but this was my first tow behind sled one. If you had a crack at that material for 50 bucks a sheet I would have indeed bought the entire skid!

Looks good! And i like the blue




Re: Sled build [Re: Family Trapper] #6196886
03/23/18 01:16 PM
03/23/18 01:16 PM
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,561
western alaska
Malukchuk Offline
trapper
Malukchuk  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,561
western alaska
Nice sled FT. Take a piece of unistrut and bolt to the inside rear of the sled. This will help keep the gas jugs from bouncing around and flipping over. I have one on my sled it really works. I can get a picture if you need it.


Water is good for two things, Floating Ships and making Beer.
Re: Sled build [Re: Family Trapper] #6196892
03/23/18 01:23 PM
03/23/18 01:23 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,336
Alaska
P
piperniner Offline
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Alaska
Y254:

If it's Yukon Yamaha in Whitehorse - he is a dealer for Northern sled works and is not making them - hence the high price.

Black UHMW is most often re processed and not UV protected. But if you build them yourself, guess it doesn't much matter in terms of savings.

Re: Sled build [Re: Family Trapper] #6196960
03/23/18 02:41 PM
03/23/18 02:41 PM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 7,954
On Georgian Bay, Ontario Canad...
H
Hutchy Offline
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Hutchy  Offline
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Posts: 7,954
On Georgian Bay, Ontario Canad...
My supplier carries only virgin and UV protected UHMW. the white he uses is not UV stabilized.

I like the blue tho

Re: Sled build [Re: Family Trapper] #6198315
03/24/18 07:30 PM
03/24/18 07:30 PM
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,172
AK
T
Tradbow1 Offline
trapper
Tradbow1  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,172
AK
U can also buy it in a roll. Anyother place to check for use northern folks is dump trucks hauling snow. They will line the front, side cheeks and bottom to help snow release from the box. They may sell u a piece off the roll. Worth checking anyways!

Nice build Len!

I think Jr had eye loops in the bottom for tie down points. Was pretty slick! Maybe he will post some pics?

Last edited by Tradbow1; 03/24/18 07:32 PM.
Re: Sled build [Re: Family Trapper] #6198556
03/24/18 10:15 PM
03/24/18 10:15 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,255
Homer, Alaska
Family Trapper Offline OP
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Family Trapper  Offline OP
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Posts: 2,255
Homer, Alaska
It would be nice to have some way to tie things down to the bottom.
One thing that I can't recommend enough on such a sled is the use of Heavy duty bungie material and carabiners to strap things down. I buy my bungie in bulk at the Gear Shed in Homer but sure AIH has it as well. About 5/8. Slipping it in and out carabiners is a real time saver and things are always tight.


Re: Sled build [Re: piperniner] #6198682
03/25/18 12:43 AM
03/25/18 12:43 AM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421
Yukon
Y
yukon254 Offline
trapper
yukon254  Offline
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Y

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 4,421
Yukon
Originally Posted By: piperniner
Y254:

If it's Yukon Yamaha in Whitehorse - he is a dealer for Northern sled works and is not making them - hence the high price.

Black UHMW is most often re processed and not UV protected. But if you build them yourself, guess it doesn't much matter in terms of savings.



No its another guy....Wicked Sleds I think is the name of his company.


do unto others as you would have them do unto you

www.grizzlycreeklodge.com
Re: Sled build [Re: Family Trapper] #6199171
03/25/18 02:17 PM
03/25/18 02:17 PM
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,857
Northwest Territories
M
muskrat411 Offline
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,857
Northwest Territories
Jason Bundt an RCMP in Dawson also makes them I have his number.

Re: Sled build [Re: Family Trapper] #6199610
03/25/18 10:44 PM
03/25/18 10:44 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,259
Mt.
g smith Offline
trapper
g smith  Offline
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Posts: 1,259
Mt.
FT ,that is a lasting piece of equipment and you won't regret doing it your self .something special about your own dooins.


You can ride a fast horse slow but you can't ride a slow horse fast .
Re: Sled build [Re: Family Trapper] #6199702
03/26/18 12:35 AM
03/26/18 12:35 AM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,331
north Idaho
decoy Offline
trapper
decoy  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,331
north Idaho
dooins :-) grin


Hunt with your Kids, not for them.
>>>----->

Re: Sled build [Re: Family Trapper] #6200751
03/27/18 09:43 AM
03/27/18 09:43 AM
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,172
AK
T
Tradbow1 Offline
trapper
Tradbow1  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,172
AK
Len, i believe it was a uhmw runner inside and on the bottom. With a eyebolt/ring setup bolting both together. Heads obviously recessed but i dont remeber the specs on it. Its been a few years since i saw Jr’s sled.

Re: Sled build [Re: Family Trapper] #6206874
04/03/18 02:46 PM
04/03/18 02:46 PM
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,116
AK
F
FL cracker in AK Offline
trapper
FL cracker in AK  Offline
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F

Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,116
AK
Those sleds are amazing. I can attest. Len's got it together on those.


Psalm 34:6
Re: Sled build [Re: Family Trapper] #6226460
04/25/18 02:15 PM
04/25/18 02:15 PM
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 552
Fairbanks Alaska
AKHowler Offline
trapper
AKHowler  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 552
Fairbanks Alaska
Great build Len. Nice play by plays.
Here is a few of my modifications I done to my sled builds. What works for me may not work for others. Just some ideas. These 1" full length runners really make the sleds track well and also pick the sled up off the rocks. I also put skags on all my sleds to track on the ice or hardpack. For those of you that have never had a load pass you on glare ice, you won't understand the importance of the short little skags.


My rear hitch is pretty simple and has pulled many miles with a ton of weight. This UMHW is some amazing stuff.

I made these load bars to hold gear in place without having to use bungees or straps. They are moveable for different applications. They also hold the spread of the sled.

The last is and maybe the most important is the snow shield up front with does what the name suggests. It keeps the snow and overflow from you track from filing your sled and soaking your gear. It also is used to carry the load bars when not in use when I carrying firewood and other large gear.


Last edited by AKHowler; 05/09/18 10:07 PM.

Alaskan #9 Trap Company
JR Pederson
PO BOX 58226
Fairbanks AK 99711
cell# 907-378-7291
pedersonjr@yahoo.com
Re: Sled build [Re: Family Trapper] #6226570
04/25/18 04:43 PM
04/25/18 04:43 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,255
Homer, Alaska
Family Trapper Offline OP
trapper
Family Trapper  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,255
Homer, Alaska
Just a side note. ;0) The welder in the photo above won the Homer King salmon derby. $56,000 with side bets. OH MY!!

Jr I like those matts on the bottom. It would really keep the bolts from eating away at the totes on the bottom. I need to get some of that belting.

Re: Sled build [Re: Family Trapper] #6226890
04/25/18 11:12 PM
04/25/18 11:12 PM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 11,810
MT (Big Sky Country)
A
Allan Minear Offline
trapper
Allan Minear  Offline
trapper
A

Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 11,810
MT (Big Sky Country)
Thank you both for the information on building your sleds fella's !
Family Trapper I believe the rubber on the bottom of JR's sled is just work station matts the one's I've seen are 4'x 4'
I hope I can get a sled built before next winter thank you for sharing your thoughts and ideas.
Allan


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