Some recent AK photo's

[starlite9]

Originally Posted by Captain Crunch

Mark.....show 'em the log/lumber hauler ya built.

I like that one that Rance has!

I built my unit in two sections, so that it could be extended to whatever the load length is, more like a logging truck and trailer. When empty, the rear sled hooks to the front one like a set of doubles for towing back empty.

I made the ski width the same as the snowmachine so that it has less drag when I was breaking trail out to the cabin.

It was also designed to be pulled behind by Track rig if I was using that to haul larger loads inside the unit also.

The Downside to the design is that I first used the ski's springs, and with a heavy load, it tended to "bounce" and cause surging on the snowmachine. So I corrected that by removing the springs and welding in steel tubing to replace them and that works out very well, although I hauled a massive amount of freight with the original configuration.


YouTube - Pulling a load of lumber


YouTube - Freight sled


YouTube - Pulling the sled empty


YouTube - Hauling cabin building supplies

[Captain Crunch]

Thanks Mark....nice post

That rig Rance...I wonder what keeps that flat surface tracking straight behind the sled...maybe runners on the bottom

[starlite9]

Originally Posted by Captain Crunch

Thanks Mark....nice post

That rig Rance...I wonder what keeps that flat surface tracking straight behind the sled...maybe runners on the bottom

I would figure that with that much weight pulling on it, it would tend to track straight unless you were on a side hill.

I was going to build a sled like that, but it would require having a groomed/broken trail all the time verses breaking as you go with what I ended up going with on the design I ended up with.

I am building a sled for hauling logs, but it will "Pick up" the logs verses carry them on top. It has a frame that has skis, but I put a boat crank winch on top, so you put the sled over the log's butt end, put a chain around it with two wraps, and crank it up off the ground, lock the chain into a bite and go. Very easy to use and load. But it would still require making a pass by the tree the day before so that the snow sets up a hard pack trail for the next day's load. Made one for a friend a few years back and he loved it but didn't take any photos of it.

[Nephler]

Nice Mark
I really like the ingenuity in the haulers.

[starlite9]

Originally Posted by Nephler

Nice Mark
I really like the ingenuity in the haulers.

Well there isn't a big market when you want something to do a job like was needed, so you either do without or make what you need...

There are a few commercial choices, but you are limited in that scope if you have a need just outside that arena.

I wanted to haul all sorts of lengths of lumber and supplies to the cabin site at the time, and I needed some kind of flexibility to take different sized loads, on either my snowmachine which was faster or the slow track rig that could carry a lot inside at the same time.

I can haul any length logs on my current sled, but it requires a lot of effort, that is why I am building one that straddles the log instead, a fully one person operation to load and tow. May even build a rear version like the lumber sled so the log is not dragging on the other end verses teflon coated skis.

People want to live in the wilderness, but have no clue to what extent of an effort it takes to get there.

[Rance]

It's teflon sheeted bottom but is so dang heavy it tow's nice. The swivel log bunk works real nice, but I'm just going straight across the lake so doesn't do much. It is nice because I can park at an angle at the back of the trailer and slide a log right out on it. No need to get lined up straight or arm wrestle logs any more than I have to. Just loaded everything up for another round of ten. That dang sled is the hardest thing to load alone! 28 degrees and sun trying to come out. Should be a good day on the lake. Bringin the camera.

[ASpilot2be]

Here are a couple photos from today:
UPS MD-11:


UPS 747-400


My ride

[Nephler]

Took about a 3 hour hike out on Palmer Hay Flats today. Another wonderful day to be outdoors.

Moose on the Hay Flats.

[Grannysroost]

Good job guy....

[warptman]

The dogs are out this afternoon, a bit windy here.





The Kuskokwim.


We don't have nice roads, we have ice roads!