Smitty Sled, Hope this makes things easier!

One alternative to a harness is to use a traditional tumpline made from either harness leather or 1" webbing with a canoe tump attached to distribute the weight more evenly over the chest area. Tumps are easy to use: simply place the tump over the shoulders onto the chest and over the arms; the arms may wrap once around the tump to take some of the weight off the chest if desired. Alternatively, the tump can be slung over one shoulder only or simply held in the hand. In all cases, there is no issue with extricating oneself from the tump in the event of an emergency.

One other tip: the tump can be used to help brake when descending a steep slope simply by allowing the tump to fall under the runners.

Happy hauling!

Hauling a sled with a tump

Tumpline made from 1" webbing and a canoe tump.

I used a piece of PVC tube to make a sort of a tow bar so that it would pull evenly and not want to pull the skiis together. I also use alot of rope, im about 15 ft in front of my sled. I usually just put it over my head and around my waist. Turning isnt easy tho, and be careful when you stop that your sled doesnt run keep sliding and run into you!

I've seen that sled in action and it is impressive. I've seen nsfisher pull that thing with one finger! I created my own out of an old GT snowracer. I just took the seat of bolted on a piece of wood then attached a storage bin to the wood. Works great. The front ski turns left and right and also pivots up and down. Makes drifts a dream could use a loger rope though. Also I don't own a pop-up. Its only big enough to carry two persons worth of gear minus a hut. When I get a hut I will probably have to build a proper smitty.

Great sleds and great ideas - I have to chime in on the topic as well - I've been using this one for the last 2 years and it works great.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCXKm3_ayjQ

Good luck on the ice.

Love your sled Icedog, hope you don't mind if I copy your design. will build ready for next season.

Mine....comes apart into for pieces that fir in the back of my hatchback car...

Here it is packed to the MAX, with two huts.

It changed walking on the ice forever.

Craig,

Maybe you explained this already, but how did you cut out the 2 x 8 like that so the cross bars would sit flush?

I just notched them out Harold, Used a skill saw and chisel because that's all I had available. I also drilled a hole down the middle to receive the bolts that I put through the ends of the 2x4 cross members. These help keep things tight & square.

Very true! You see, my green bag and my big CLAM hut in the black bag, and the photo I took:-):

I just notched them out Harold, Used a skill saw and chisel because that's all I had available. I also drilled a hole down the middle to receive the bolts that I put through the ends of the 2x4 cross members. These help keep things tight & square.

Thx,

I have about the same wood butchery skills as you have then. I guess I was hoping for a slicker way of doing it.

Use a table saw or even a skilsaw. Make multiple cuts at desired depth. Or a router if u have. Then it's easy to clean with a chisel. If u don't have the tools Harold give me a shout and I can help with that. U aren't very far away.

Dave.

I just notched them out Harold, Used a skill saw and chisel because that's all I had available. I also drilled a hole down the middle to receive the bolts that I put through the ends of the 2x4 cross members. These help keep things tight & square.

Thx,

I have about the same wood butchery skills as you have then. I guess I was hoping for a slicker way of doing it.

Use a skill saw and make multiple cuts 1/4" from each other then you can CAREFULLY move it side to side to clean out the hole. Dont make it too snug last thing you want to do is be struggling to put the thing together with gloves in -30 weather.

Thx for the offer, Dave. I have a skill saw so I can manage that.

(BTW, have you posted pix of your creation?)