sleds the good the bad and the ugly

what does everyone use for sleds?

I've got otter sleds really like them. I have the two smallest models and one large on that my fish house is mounted on. Tho only thing is I wish they made one as narrow as the small ones but aobut six feet long with built in hitch mounts.

mudtracker the otter sleds do not hold up to the abuse over long periods of time up here. I have one and I do like it for trapping, but at the same time it is REALLY beat up. I don't have any of the 4 corners left on the top of the sled they all cracked and broke off. THe hitch has held up amazingly well though, which suprised me.

My other sled is a siglin, tough to beat, but they are a bit hard on the pocket book off the bat. Here is a photo

looks like you have about a hndred feet of tie downs on that sled fish. Do you think the extreme cold is whats so hard on the otters up there?

I don't think it's the cold....I just don't think they are tough enough. I have a Brute sled and it has withstood 3 winters so far and I have hauled a lot of meat and wood in it.

I have an otter sled and it is because of the price on it. I have the magnum size and it is just right for my needs, trapping and hauling fuel

I have a trail boggan it is been an ok sled for 3 yrs then last year a kid wasnt watching and rearended me when I stopped at a beaver house split the back of the sled and bent the tow bars that run along the side end result is I now have plywood inside and out across the back and had to replace the bar this year when it broke with apiece of square stock works fine The tow hitches are cheap but do ok the width holds an action packer perfect but you get any more then three in the sled and you are out of room. the thing collects snow something awfull I am going to put something on the hitch to block most of the snow just havent got it done yet. I plan on getting a new sled next fall and am really looking at the ones made by the guy that makes the siglin. I want to go look at them when I go to fairbanks next month from there I can make a decison based on need. IMO there is nothing worse then getting a cheap sled that breaks apart on the trail or doesnt hold the stuff you need or do the job you need it to. Any good sleds are expensive especially out here so the next one I buy is going to be as close to being the right sled as possible but it seems like I still go thru a sled every 5 yrs or less

fish have you modified your siglin yet so the snow doesn't build up so bad in there?? When we haul wood with it, the snow builds up something fierce in the front. I got pictures from the Yukon last year where some of the people up there have modified their siglins so the front end blocks the snow.

Kusko any chance of you posting some pictures of the modifications?

I check and see if he still has them. Oh, and BTW, I have that Arctic GPS number at home if you want to see if they are still in business.

PM the number it too me when you get the chance.
A friend was telling me about the GPS store in Anchorage anyone know where it is located?

How about this store?

http://www.nlavionics.com/

Otterman : Coming from Diamond mall - head up old Seward past wiggys store on right. Go past the gun shop on the left, head up the hill past quality auto and start to look on your right, Its a small store with the gps sign on the front.

THanks piperniner I have been told if you need it for a GPS this place will have it gonna check it out this spring

Kusko I never have a problem with it filling up with snow, the hitch is a solid piece of the plastic so most of the snow is pushed down. Try putting more of the weight of the logs to the back of the sled, might keep it from digging.

Andy's sled fills with snow in the front even with the logs in the back. He has the same hitch as you do. Some how the snow is getting in there.

huh, I have never had a problem with that happening, I have hauled logs also, with no problem. Could be the machine he is using. I am sure it makes a difference how low the machine rides, as it probably affects the rate at which snow is deflected by the snow flap and the hitch. Wow, I don't know if that makes any sense at all.

On my equinox, I bolted in a front "flap" of a thin ptex material. It curved up the front and was about 2 feet above the sled. This really helped keep the snow out. That equinox would fill up with snow bad.

I picked up an otter in Nov. The medium version, built a nice hitch for it and the sled broke the second trip out. That sled pulled like a drag! It cracked all the way across. I took it back to Sportsmans warehouse and replaced it with the cheaper version (wilderness series) as they no longer had the one I bought. I actually think the cheaper sled will last longer as it seems the plastic is a bit more flexible and not as rigid. It also pulls like a sled and not a drag. Putting a GOOD hitch and attachment on a sled is important. I am not sure of the differences, but I like how it pulls much better. This is just a cheap fix for the winter. I don't expect the sled to last the year. I will build a new ptex sled this summer.

Have you guys tried the Snoschooner out of Soldotna?? The K300 has two of them and a few of my friends own them too. They are fiberglass, but super tough and light. My friends order theirs w/o a hitch and then build one for it. I can vouch that the K300's have lasted for the last 9 years. The only thing needed to be replaced was the runners.

Kusko,

Do you have picture?

Mike