Thanks for the comparison. I have an XL Jet Sled that i've attached to a Smitty sled for ice fishing and fully loaded at times i've likely got well over 100# in it and it pulls great. 2 thinks I would recommend changing. The first thing I'd change is to run the rope up (from the bottom) through the tips of the skis that way as you pull the tips are pulled slightly upward and lifting them up onto the top of the snow. The second thing is that I pull mine with a deer drag harness, it's so much easier to just use your legs and your hands are free as well. Love the video, stay safe!
What a great video! Thank you for taking the time to put this all into perspective. Yes, I believe we need a Smitty sled! The Gospel of John, sooner than later, Reader.❤️
Thanks for the in-depth video, I was debating which would be easier to pull and you helped me make my decision. I have a set of skis that I haven’t touched since the 1990s so looks like I have a project, thanks again
In the Canadian Military with our winter toboggans, we have our harness with a wide belly strap an a loop that hangs behind your neck and hangs over the fronts of your shoulders. It then gets tied to holld the belly strap in position .
So there is alot of variables here. After building dog sleds for years. In deep snow ie deeper than the lift on Smitty sled u will bog down and have a anchor your normal jet sled will perform better in that situation. It will be a tough haul but doable. Smitty will perform better in low snow areas. Weight is definitely a big issue and deciding factor
There is the option for longer wider skis that would help. I've used a smitty sled for the last three years and would definatly not switch back. Near the start of your video shows one of the big problems with a plastic sled-----It heats up in the sun, melts snow under the sled which freezes to the bottom when it gets colder. Trying to pull a sled with frozen snow on the bottom is awful. The ptex on the bottom of skis rarely have this problem.
Good job in testing and great video! I built a much nicer smitty sled and attached the ropes to the ski tips. Mine pulls very nicely compared to those horrible Otters.
We build 2 smitty sleds for our 2 penguin black sleds using old kids skis thst were perfect for the job - so much easier to pull with a load, including a gas auger, through deeper snow...
Having the rope through the skies going from the bottom up(having the knot on top of the ski) and having a shorter rope makes a HUGE difference when pulling the Smitty. I would guess our Quick Flip 3 with all of our stuff in it weighs approximately 300 lbs, and once started my sons 6 year old son can pull it by himself(we didn't let him go too far, but used him to test it and he could pull it). Also, another BIG problem with the traditional Smitty sled is it pulling Square due to the flaw in the build. I made my own collapsible design where I fixed this problem. Thanks for video! Every time I go out on the ice since building my Smitty Style sled, I hate seeing soo many people struggle, so I find myself sharing how much easier life can be with a Smitty:)
Chris, thanks for your comments. Could you explain a bit more about the problem of it pulling square and how you fixed it? Do you mean that it can become out of square? The way mine is designed, I left a 1/2" lip on each side that the Otter sled rests between. If I bungee the otter sled to the ski setup, it doesn't have much opportunity to get out of square that way.
Tnx for making the video! It helped me alot om my DIY sled, and now i know that the smitty sled is alot better the more weight you add! Especialy if you wax it! :D
Just a heads up, if you wax the skis on your Smitty sled....will blow you away how easy it moves over snow....you will be close to 1/2 of what you're getting in your videos...
I Hope it is okay but I added a link to your video from the Smitty sled Video that I just posted. I referenced this video, so thought I would add a link giving you the credit for doing the work. Please let me know if you would like me to remove the link. Thank you for your work on this video.
Use water skis... they are wider. 2 tandom skis would work best. Look at the Salvation Army. 10$ each. Take the boots off each and bolt on. They're also curved more.
Something is very wrong with your plastic sled. Look at your chart at the end of video - 40lb of cargo needs almost 40lb of pulling force i.e. it is like climbing a vertical wall. There is another video in youtube where using plasctic sled with 40lb cargo, even in a bit deeper snow, needs only 10 lb, i.e. four times less.
Thanks for the comparison. I have an XL Jet Sled that i've attached to a Smitty sled for ice fishing and fully loaded at times i've likely got well over 100# in it and it pulls great. 2 thinks I would recommend changing. The first thing I'd change is to run the rope up (from the bottom) through the tips of the skis that way as you pull the tips are pulled slightly upward and lifting them up onto the top of the snow. The second thing is that I pull mine with a deer drag harness, it's so much easier to just use your legs and your hands are free as well. Love the video, stay safe!
Exactly the type of video I was hoping to find. Well done sir 👍.
Awesome idea for this experiment buddy! Love it
Great experiment showing the comparison between a pulkb and Smitty sled with different weights.
Cool Video,with my big Otter sled once I installed skies yes,what a difference.fully loaded without skies i thought I'd have to keep 911 handy.
What a great video! Thank you for taking the time to put this all into perspective. Yes, I believe we need a Smitty sled!
The Gospel of John, sooner than later, Reader.❤️
you were right having drilled the tips of the sled helps with lift and easier glide . Great job on that test hopefully will help some people out
Thanks for the in-depth video, I was debating which would be easier to pull and you helped me make my decision. I have a set of skis that I haven’t touched since the 1990s so looks like I have a project, thanks again
In the Canadian Military with our winter toboggans, we have our harness with a wide belly strap an a loop that hangs behind your neck and hangs over the fronts of your shoulders. It then gets tied to holld the belly strap in position .
So there is alot of variables here. After building dog sleds for years. In deep snow ie deeper than the lift on Smitty sled u will bog down and have a anchor your normal jet sled will perform better in that situation. It will be a tough haul but doable.
Smitty will perform better in low snow areas. Weight is definitely a big issue and deciding factor
There is the option for longer wider skis that would help. I've used a smitty sled for the last three years and would definatly not switch back. Near the start of your video shows one of the big problems with a plastic sled-----It heats up in the sun, melts snow under the sled which freezes to the bottom when it gets colder. Trying to pull a sled with frozen snow on the bottom is awful. The ptex on the bottom of skis rarely have this problem.
Exactly what I’ve wanted to see. Thanks for the testing video!!!!
Great video! Attaching the ropes to the front of the skies does help. Likewise, waxing the skies also helps a lot. I use mine for big game hunting.
You definitely wouldn't want to pull a moose out of the woods in the tub sled.
this makes me consider putting downhill snow skis under my otter flip over shack sled instead of the hyfax kit
Its basic common sense
Good job in testing and great video! I built a much nicer smitty sled and attached the ropes to the ski tips. Mine pulls very nicely compared to those horrible Otters.
I can fuk wit dat
We build 2 smitty sleds for our 2 penguin black sleds using old kids skis thst were perfect for the job - so much easier to pull with a load, including a gas auger, through deeper snow...
Having the rope through the skies going from the bottom up(having the knot on top of the ski) and having a shorter rope makes a HUGE difference when pulling the Smitty. I would guess our Quick Flip 3 with all of our stuff in it weighs approximately 300 lbs, and once started my sons 6 year old son can pull it by himself(we didn't let him go too far, but used him to test it and he could pull it). Also, another BIG problem with the traditional Smitty sled is it pulling Square due to the flaw in the build. I made my own collapsible design where I fixed this problem. Thanks for video! Every time I go out on the ice since building my Smitty Style sled, I hate seeing soo many people struggle, so I find myself sharing how much easier life can be with a Smitty:)
Chris, thanks for your comments. Could you explain a bit more about the problem of it pulling square and how you fixed it? Do you mean that it can become out of square? The way mine is designed, I left a 1/2" lip on each side that the Otter sled rests between. If I bungee the otter sled to the ski setup, it doesn't have much opportunity to get out of square that way.
Thanks for this video, I have been thinking about making a smitty sled.
Tnx for making the video! It helped me alot om my DIY sled, and now i know that the smitty sled is alot better the more weight you add! Especialy if you wax it! :D
Great video! We’re doing a sled for our 2 man frabill now
Just a heads up, if you wax the skis on your Smitty sled....will blow you away how easy it moves over snow....you will be close to 1/2 of what you're getting in your videos...
Good to know! I'll give it a try.
What kind of wax should I use?
@@kennysacht7946 bees wax. I would think candle wax would work also
Candle wax does work. I put about 30+ pounds of weight on mine and it pulls with hardly any drag
If anyone plans in building one. Take in account how wide most skidoo skis are. It will make walking on a sled track way easier
Yup its a workout dragging weight behind you. That's why the beasts of burden ( horses. Ox. Etc ) hold a grudge against us . Lol .
I Hope it is okay but I added a link to your video from the Smitty sled Video that I just posted. I referenced this video, so thought I would add a link giving you the credit for doing the work. Please let me know if you would like me to remove the link. Thank you for your work on this video.
great test
Use water skis... they are wider. 2 tandom skis would work best. Look at the Salvation Army. 10$ each. Take the boots off each and bolt on. They're also curved more.
What the hell do u know
bolt the otter onto the smitty!!!
Long tow rope is key.....
Something is very wrong with your plastic sled. Look at your chart at the end of video - 40lb of cargo needs almost 40lb of pulling force i.e. it is like climbing a vertical wall. There is another video in youtube where using plasctic sled with 40lb cargo, even in a bit deeper snow, needs only 10 lb, i.e. four times less.
Your test is not right as your not taking the fact that they way deferent before
Yes, and have you calculated wind resistance and speed. Jokes aside, good vid.