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Whitehorse, YT
Canada
223 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2007 : 3:38 PM
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I received a request to post some more details on the sled I built for hauling gear over snow, instead of in a backpack. A buddy of mine came up with the design, I supplied the muscle. 
The sled itself was from Canadian Tire, the waist belt is from Coast, it's a thermo-formable Osprey belt, the webbing was from Coast (put together on a sewing machine), the PVC pipes, nuts, bolts from Home Hardware, and the climbing rope and caribeeners from my buddy's basement.
Shot of the full sled, from bow to stern:
The harness with caribeeners, rope (runs through pvc tubing), and duct tape to ensure a lifelong hold:
Close up of main sled body, highlighting the ingenious webbing solution:
Top and bottom view of webbing attachment points:
 
Close-up of PVC tubing structure:
The black tube is bolted to the sled at two points (not shown).
I also came across the following plan for a home built model that uses the same sled but a different harness system and strapping system:
http://www.krabach.info/snow_sled/snow_sled.htm
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 opinionated-stove huggin'-fleece wearin'-arse burnin' hill virgin
Here
Canada
4642 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2007 : 4:36 PM
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Hey thanks for posting.... Nice job! 
I have just recently completed my own.
Last year I was inspired by Hoosierdaddy, a guy I know from NWH, to build another pulk.
Years ago I built my first pulk and it was a failure. Although I had followed some instructions that I had found online, I discovered the hard way that clevis pins and grommets make for very poor connectors. I had learned that a reasonable amount of torque applied to some of these connections can tear right through thin plastic and nylon belts. I had also learned that PVC pipes that were cut too long have an uncontrollable amount of flex. The last thing I found unsatisfactory was the runners on the bottom of my sled did not glide as well as a flat bottom sled (I don't know why as I would have figured the opposite).
So with time to kill this year, I set out to build a better model. I wanted something that wasn't a kit but yet still encorporated the best features of one. With some kind advice and design ideas from Hoosierdaddy, I have finally completed my Pulk V2.0.
Here are my pics
Shot of the full sled
My harness system
 
Pole connectors
  
Cargo straps (shockcord)
  
Side stabilizer fins
 
Rear brake
 
Be great to see other people post their designs...comon darrenbell, you know you want to!  |
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Whitehorse, YT
Canada
223 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2007 : 5:55 PM
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Wow - love the sexy pole connectors.... and fin stabilizers!! I need to look in to those for traverses!
I feel a modification coming on. |
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Penhold, Alberta
Canada
2009 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2007 : 01:40 AM
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OK HB; but only because of all the pressure!LOL.
 sled bought for $32.00 in Mackenzie(1/2 that anywhere else)
 poles are 1/2" EMT(aluminum)and pole mounts are made with galvanized metal.
 before bending the tubing, I inserted a short piece of all thread(ready rod)for strength.
 pretty basic harness, works good though.
I like your side stabilizers HB. I don't know why,but I seem to be able to load 40lbs. of gear into this sled and it seems like I'm pulling very little at all.
Really nice job on both your sleds guy's. David; how did you mount your pole cross bar to the sled?
DOH!! never mind David, I just read the rest of your post.
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Edited by - darrenbell on 01/24/2007 01:44 AM |
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ass wigglin, cheese lovin, 4x4 drivin, apostrophe hatin, hiking chick who loves camping on snow
spaceship..
Canada
7209 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2007 : 05:59 AM
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Pretty fancy looking setups 
So Darren does this mean I get to throw my pack on your sled for winter trips? If so, Im in! |
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Penhold, Alberta
Canada
2009 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2007 : 08:59 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Shadee
Pretty fancy looking setups
So Darren does this mean I get to throw my pack on your sled for winter trips? If so, Im in!
By all means Shadee. You can put as much as you like in the sled, being as you'll be pulling it. |
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opinionated-stove huggin'-fleece wearin'-arse burnin' hill virgin
Here
Canada
4642 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2007 : 10:22 AM
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| Most excellent! Anyone else not afraid to pull their own pulk?...Whip it out and show us what you've got! |
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 Cycling guru, Wig wearing, James Bond wannabe, answers to the call of "Eurobabe"
Langley
Canada
1231 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2007 : 10:32 AM
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| Those look pretty cool... nice job guys! |
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Medicine Hat, Alberta
Canada
22 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2007 : 11:00 AM
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Nice work on all the sleds.
When I was young (gosh so long ago) I remember building sleds to pull behind the snowshoes. Since then I have built close to 10 pulks/sleds for my use and for frieds. Easiest way to build is to go the Canadain Tire route.And also the cheapest. My latest sled is also the Canadian Tire version went with the 68 inchs long sled by HOI used mainly on open areas. But also have a 48" version for bush travel.
Do like the differnt belts that some used here. I had a fanny pack that I addapted to pull with for the large sled. Smaller pulk I simply ran extra cord from the poles to enable it to loop over neck and under the arms when pulling.
Will post pictures later |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
1321 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2007 : 12:19 PM
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Cool sleds. If you know how much they weigh, that would be interesting. Do they track ok on moderate sidehills?
Have you figured out when the extra weight of the sled is worth the ease of pulling... break even point etc.? |
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Whitehorse, YT
Canada
223 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2007 : 12:41 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by swebster
Cool sleds. If you know how much they weigh, that would be interesting. Do they track ok on moderate sidehills?
Have you figured out when the extra weight of the sled is worth the ease of pulling... break even point etc.?
I'd say my sled weighs a good 6 pounds. Easy to pull with a large MEC duffle stuffed with extra gear due to temps and pulling was a lot better than wearing a pack with an equal amount of gear. The benefit being you sweat more evenly by pulling the pulk vice a pack on your back.
Mine doesn't track that well on moderate sidehills, and for that reason, I'm going to add that fin stabilizer mod, that should help a lot. |
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Montreal, Quebec
Canada
1 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2008 : 11:31 AM
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Does anyone have any experience pulling a pulk on a tracked trail? Does it damage the tracks? Do ski areas mind you pulling it?
tx Mark |
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mission, B.C.
Canada
33 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2008 : 2:31 PM
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This is my pulk          
Poles are 1/2 emt ,the sled is the orange beast from Ace hardware $23.99 solid construction .after looking at the other ones available this was the best !
Backwoods Bill |
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Victoria, B.C.
Canada
110 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2008 : 10:48 PM
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| Now how well do these run in the snow? With a pack on your back? Downhill? Side hills? We need some field reports! |
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Hope, BC
Canada
7098 Posts |
Posted - 02/04/2008 : 10:56 PM
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You could make an adapter for a hiking dog to pull it too.
Nice work guys! |
Edited by - AcesHigh on 02/04/2008 10:57 PM |
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Canmore, AB
Canada
1238 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2008 : 10:07 AM
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FYI, Canadian Tire currently has a sale on their 48" HOI. Can't go wrong for $8.49!
I'm going to pick one up this week for a winter camping trip in a few weeks. Depending on the thickness of the plastic, I might consider using 4 attach points on the sled to distribute the load towards the harness. (2 on each side merging into 1.) |
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Calgary
165 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2008 : 12:29 PM
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Very good website at http://www.skipulk.com/ which has a free 35 page download on his years of experimentation with pulks. He sells a setup with fiberglass poles which you fit onto certain types of sleds but supposeddly you can ski down blue runs with the pulk behind you.
Most cheaper homemade setups will not handle well on hills or slopes and poles can break in crashes, etc.
Another idea that has been used for ski mountaineering where there is a lot of elevation gain is to put your pack on a crazy carpet(put grommets along sides of carpet) and pull it to your campsite. Roll up the carpet and attach to pack on the way out. I would probably duct tape my pack inside a heavy duty garbage bag as well.
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mission, B.C.
Canada
33 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2008 : 6:04 PM
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The 48" is quite thin but would probably do in a pinch the sled that I built is quite thick with reinforced sides,after my trip i will let you know how well it did!
Backwoods Bill
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Canmore, AB
Canada
1238 Posts |
Posted - 02/06/2008 : 07:44 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Backwoods Bill
The 48" is quite thin but would probably do in a pinch the sled that I built is quite thick with reinforced sides,after my trip i will let you know how well it did!
Backwoods Bill
Let us know! I'm thinking of using a pulk for a camping trip in a few weeks.
Most of my traveling will be done on a frozen lake so I'm not too concerned about it's stability and durability. |
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mission, B.C.
Canada
33 Posts |
Posted - 02/21/2008 : 09:35 AM
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The pulk worked well on the lake and when you have clear trails but not if you have switch backs1
Hope this helps
Backwoods Bill |
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Penhold, Alberta
Canada
2009 Posts |
Posted - 10/31/2009 : 4:35 PM
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Being that winter is fast approaching I thought I'd share some gear pics with everyone.
First, the harness set up for my sled/pulk.
 I sewed the rings and clips on the sides myself.
I picked this set up at Canadian Tire and I think the shoulder harness will work much better than just the waist belt. The problem with only using a waist belt is that it will be pulled down tightly around my hips and this set up should be more comfortable while hauling a heavy load.There is ample strapping to adjust this harness over my outer wear.
Second: My latest stove for my ice fishing tent. I wanted to do an open air burn to get rid of any oils and other nasty stuff before lighting it in my tent.
 This stove is 8x8x16 inches and will have 3 pipes when in use
 front view, I added a wooden knob to keep from burning my fingers
 I added a damper to the first outlet pipe to control burn times better
 door open during the burn
 smokin' like a stove should!
The first burn lasted 1.5 hrs. before I got bored and put it out. Remembering that it was at full burn rate, meaning both the door inlet and pipe outlet were both wide open. This would be greatly extended(burn time) by choking off both inlet and outlet. I would expect I should be able to get a 3-4 hr. burn time when I fill it up good and reduce the air flows in and out. I'll let you know once I've tried it out this winter. |
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Topic |
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Homemade Sled (Pulka or Pulk or Sledge)
