Additional equipment for a snowmobile
Such a device for movement as a sled is a long narrow sleigh.
They are used for riding by a team of dogs or reindeer.
They are one of the most popular means of transportation in snowy regions among residents of the far north.
If you have a snowmobile, sometimes it is necessary to transport large or heavy cargo.
Therefore, a snowmobile sled is an excellent device for transporting large loads or passengers. You can purchase them or make them yourself .
There is no universal means of transportation that would be suitable for any type of driving in snowy areas.
Therefore, for lovers of fishing, hunting, and walking in the snow, several types of sleds are offered.
For example, for driving on rocky terrain, a sled with reliable metal skis is required; if the snow crust is deep, plastic skis are recommended. And passenger sleds must be equipped with a shock-absorbing system.
Classification and materials of manufacture
- draggers;
- cargo;
- passenger;
- homemade.
Drags are the most affordable and easy-to-use type. They are a plastic structure, the bottom of which is equipped with protrusions used as runners.
Other types of sleds are divided into open and closed, all of them (except the drags are equipped with skis). Volokushi are the most popular type.
Their advantages are considered to be a convenient design, low weight, the center of gravity is very low (and this means stability during movement and no risk of overturning).
Another advantage of the device is good glide, since the risk of freezing of the plastic case is reduced to a minimum.
With the help of such sleds you can move both on frozen and slightly melted snow.
The disadvantage of this type of sled is its inability to carry passengers, because the bottom is constantly in contact with snow and the front corners of the body are prone to damage.
The inability to move on slightly melted snow, or on snow mixed with stones, is another disadvantage of this type of device.
Freight . The sled type is equipped with skis and a shock-absorbing unit. Among them there are those that are designed for transporting large loads.
The main advantage of such a device is its large load capacity; wide skis ensure maximum stability.
Their disadvantage is considered to be their large weight, since the structure itself contains metal elements and components that are prone to constant freezing, so the snowmobile driver is forced to periodically knock off snow and ice with a mallet.
Passenger . The sled type is a plastic tank equipped with sprung skis. This type can be open or closed.
The best type is an enclosed sled, as it can protect passengers from any weather conditions or exhaust fumes from the snowmobile.
The closed type of the structure is equipped with a plastic canopy. High-quality passenger sleds have shock absorber suspension. The number of passengers varies depending on the number of seats - from two to eight.
The plastic passenger sleds are equipped with a trunk, soft seats, an excellent shock-absorbing system, a durable steel frame, seat belts, and high sides with a snow guard.
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Necessary materials
What are skis for a snowmobile sled made of? Let's consider the construction of a simple version of a snowmobile sled from a metal pipe. In order to make such a design, you will need:
- profiled metal pipe 20×20, wall thickness - 2-3 mm;
- round plastic pipes for making skis;
- Metal sheet;
- plywood sheets 10-15 or more millimeters thick.
A sled with a metal frame is much more reliable and durable than structures made from plastic pipes.
Their disadvantage is their greater weight, but they will serve for a long time and without failure. The only thing that may be needed when operating such a design is periodic replacement of plastic skis, which will wear out over time or may be damaged when hitting rocks and roots.
DIY production
Homemade sleds are very common.
They can be made using polyethylene pipes that are heated and bent. Holes (windows) are made in them, and the seats are made of boards. Sledges are also made of wood. They are capable of transporting up to 800 kg of cargo.
They are strong and durable, but not aesthetically pleasing. You can weld a metal frame, then make a wooden deck.
Sleds for a snowmobile have the following composition: a platform, runners (which are connected to each other using racks), a trailed structure, and it is possible to install an additional wooden box that can be removed.
Selection options when purchasing
- Be sure to consider the depth of snow cover and the number of potential obstacles. Let the material be thick to carry the load safely. It is always important to choose the type that is suitable for the snowy conditions.
- The size of the sled should ideally match the size of the snowmobile. In this case, it will not interfere with control or overweight, and will also provide comfortable conditions for transporting most of the necessary cargo.
- Choose scrapers with smooth edges to prevent possible injury.
If you have problems selecting drag wires, you can contact our experienced technical specialists who will help you decide. Just contact us by phone or email and expect feedback. You can buy sleds from this section right now.
approximate cost
Prices for such devices vary depending on the type, quality and materials from which they are made. The approximate cost of a sled for a snowmobile starts from 8 thousand rubles.
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Sleigh-drags for snowmobiles and motorized dogs
Sleds are ideal for outdoor snowy adventures. They are specifically designed to attach to snowmobiles to create additional storage space for supplies while fishing, camping and hunting in snowy areas. Most cargo sleds are made of plastic, wood, or aluminum. They are specially designed to be lightweight and streamlined so that they can be pulled by vehicles using a trailer on snowy roads. Other larger models are intended for rescue or commercial use.
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Photo gallery
Below we have selected the most common options for snowmobile sleds; they are very useful and practical for residents of the northern part of our country. You will see both homemade cargo trucks and those for transporting a small group of passengers.
Brands
offers a wide catalog of products to suit personal requests and satisfy most needs. We bring to your attention a large number of products for a snowmobile or motorized towing vehicle from the well-known manufacturer Rival, which has more than once been confirmed as one of the best. Choose drag sleds of different sizes, shapes, materials, with pads, bumpers and a drawbar up to 400 mm - there is a lot of scope for choice here.
Kinds
- With a bump stop. This is a device that can protect cargo or people from fast-flying dirt, snow and water during fast driving. Most importantly, it is made of frost-resistant material, so you don’t have to worry about the safety of the drags.
- Without bump stop.
- With overlays. This is additional protection for the bottom of your sled, which will significantly reduce the wear of the spare part, as well as sliding on smooth turns and roads.
- No overlays.
Homemade snowmobile sled made from plastic pipes
Polypropylene or PVC pipes can serve as material for sleds. The design will be lightweight and suitable for any snowmobile. The connection of individual elements is carried out with a soldering iron. The load-carrying capacity of the structure will be small, since the plastic tubes will not withstand heavy loads.
Pipe blanks are cut to size according to the drawing
First you need a drawing. It's simple. The design consists of two curved runners that act as skis. Vertical posts extend from them, which support the main platform.
According to the dimensions of the snowmobile sled indicated on the drawing, blanks are cut from the pipe with your own hands. Prepare shaped elements for soldering. Heat up the soldering iron. From the shaped elements you will need tees and 90° angles. On skis you will need to bend the edges. This can be done by soldering 45° corners. However, the disadvantage of this method is that the soldered fitting has an edge with which the skis can cling to obstacles on the track. You can go another way. Avoid soldering the corners and bend the PVC tubes to the desired angle, after heating them with a hairdryer.
You can give the pipe the desired angle using a hair dryer, heating the area required for bending
After cutting the tubes, begin soldering. First, clean the edges of the workpieces. Nozzles are inserted into the soldering iron. Install the fitting and pipe section. When the plastic softens and begins to melt, the blanks are removed from the hot nozzle and joined together. All elements are collected in a similar way.
Advice! If you have no experience in soldering plastic pipes, it is best to practice on unnecessary scraps to avoid defects in the main structure. The fittings are joined to the pipe using a soldering iron.
The skis are assembled first. They consist of three paired pipes. Tees are soldered at equal intervals along the runners. Racks made of pieces of pipe are attached to the central outlet of the fitting. Their upper end is connected with jumpers using tees and pipes. They form the platform of the future sleigh.
Stands with jumpers are soldered to the runners from pieces of pipes and tees, forming a sleigh platform.
A rectangle is cut out of plywood according to the size of the platform contour. To make the seat soft, the blank is upholstered with an old blanket or foam rubber, and covered with leatherette on top. The platform is secured to the jumpers with overhead clamps or bolts through pre-drilled holes in the tubes.
Important! The plastic structure cannot be used to transport heavy loads. Lightweight homemade sleds for snowmobiles will be a joy for children and can support one adult.
Cargo homemade sleds for snowmobiles
A special feature of cargo sleds is their resistance to heavy loads. This is achieved by using durable materials, such as metal. Skis are made wide. Due to this, the runners do not fall into the snow. Improves maneuverability and stability when the snowmobile moves at high speed. Shock absorbers are sometimes provided between the runners and the platform frame. They smooth out impacts on bumps. The sled bounces less, which reduces the likelihood of damage or loss of cargo.
Shock absorbers smooth out impacts when riding a snowmobile on uneven terrain, thereby improving cargo safety
The snowmobile sleds shown in the photo are made from metal with your own hands. The platform is covered with plywood. The sides are welded from tubes. They won't interfere with cargo sleds. It is convenient to secure the transported cargo with straps over the sides.
How to make your own snowmobile sled from metal pipes
In general terms, the assembly of metal sleds follows the same principle as in the case of plastic pipes. The only difference is the technology for connecting the workpieces. If plastic was soldered, then in order to make sleds for a snowmobile from steel tubes with your own hands, you will have to weld them.
All elements of the metal sled are welded by electric welding
First, a rectangular frame is welded from the tubes. It consists of racks and a platform. Skis can be bent from a thick-walled plastic pipe or a stainless steel strip with a width of 20 cm or more can be used. The runners are attached to the frame posts. A plywood sheet is laid on the platform. A drawbar is welded to the front of the frame for hooking onto the snowmobile.
How to make a snowmobile sled
Assembling the sled is not that difficult. There are many simple designs that you can create in your garage. It is important to immediately determine their purpose. This will determine what type of sled to assemble for your snowmobile: passenger, cargo or drag.
Tools and materials
The choice of material will depend on the design of the sled. Basically, plywood, boards, and metal profiles are suitable for such work. Skis are made from stainless steel sheets or use thick-walled plastic pipe.
A universal set of tools will help you work with different materials
The list of suitable tools depends on the materials used for the work. However, when assembling a sled, a combination of wood, metal and plastic is often used. It is optimal to have a universal set of tools that allows you to process all materials. From complex equipment, the list must include a welding machine, an angle grinder, an electric drill, and a grinder.
