The Collapsible Smitty Sled

Do you have a flipover ice shelter or a tonneau cover on your truck? Have you wanted to build a smitty sled but didn’t quite know how to do it? I love the smitty sled and it has changed the way I ice fish by making it so easy to haul my gear on foot.
For details on this build visit the link below:
www.stringtheo...

[@iratherbfishin]

Nicely done man 🎥🎣👍💪

[@stringtheoryangling]

Thanks 👍

[@jameymann4576]

I would buy this as a kit in a heartbeat...my 2600 is heavyyyyyy...lol. Nice build 💪

[@stringtheoryangling]

I dragged my 2600 maybe 50' before deciding to put some skis on it! They are way too heavy to haul without it.

[@5199John]

Nice build! Thanks for sharing!

[@stringtheoryangling]

Thanks for watching!

[@nathanmciver6496]

Nice design!!!

[@stringtheoryangling]

Thanks a lot! You think you might build one?

[@powercamo1]

Great design. I am doing that to my Clam Voyager.

[@stringtheoryangling]

Nice! When you do, send me a picture! Love to see other anglers setups.

[@stevey3491]

Love it, will make one for sure

[@stringtheoryangling]

Send a picture when you do! I love to see everyone’s builds.

[@thelocatorsoutdoors3479]

Very informative! Great video! Excellent review

[@stringtheoryangling]

Glad you think so!

[@xxgg]

This is great!! Now got any great ideas on having wheels as well? For those of time or us who would need to walk on the road/parking lot to the ice? I tried to think of wheel that can clip on the skis, kind of like how snowmobile can add wheels to front. Any awesome ideas that is not bulky, but compact? easy? simple? As for your design... if snow/ice form on that little push button thingy... or inside the tubes.... oh boy. Yes, parts are expensive. Than I thought of seeing someone build a smitty sled using one of those small folding tables with metal legs which some even allow for height adjust. I figure that would actually be cheaper overall. Bit heavier but... than again... it would rust too.

[@stringtheoryangling]

Thanks for the comment! To answer your first question, I have thought about wheels but where I live, we usually have plenty of snow that I never cross a parking lot without it. The worst part of the drag is the concrete from my garage to the back of my truck, and its short enough that I don't worry about it. I just wax the skis when they need it and keep going. I do worry that ice and snow will build up on the legs but it hasn't happened to the point where I haven't been able to retract them with some effort. The only time I've had major ice build up is when I drilled too close to the shelter with my auger and sprayed the legs with snow and slush. I ended up chipping the ice off with my scoop and everything was fine. Since then, I make sure to set up so I'm not spraying ice and snow over everything in my shelter. Coffee table hinges are a popular idea as well. They will work to carry the weight of the typical two man flipover but they can't handle very much side-load at all. Don't try spinning it around in heavy snow or going sideways across a slope!

[@ripptydevibes2581]

Whats the review on this design after 150 miles of towing it? I would imagine those pole mounts to the sled will get ripped out unless you backed them with steel plate on the inside of the sled. With my experience towing 2-300lb smittys, I would be very concerned those legs will just completely rip off of there eventually, unless you used some type of large backing plate to keep the legs from ripping off the sled. Pulling the sled by hand, this would be a 100% good design.

[@stringtheoryangling]

So far so good! I have been pulling it by hand so not much experience towing it behind anything. The sled plastic is surprisingly durable and hasn’t shown any signs of cracks or pulling through the plastic. If I was doing some serious towing behind a sled or atv I would add backing plates for security but I’m not sure it’s really needed. I have a track sled this season that I would like to take out if we get any snow! It’s a brown Christmas here in Alberta!

[@ripptydevibes2581]

@@stringtheoryangling Well I hope you enjoy your season! We are still waiting on ice in northern Pennsylvania, also no snow but plenty of RAIN is our new December pattern LOL. I think im about ready to scoot further north, if its gonna be COLD I need some snow and ice a little longer than we've been seeing around here!

[@stringtheoryangling]

Come on North! There’s plenty of ice up here, 10” on most lakes around here now plus no snow! Great for playing hockey on the lake.

[@fjin1]

Best idea so far on YT

[@stringtheoryangling]

Thanks!

[@nismomaniak]

I wonder if you could do the leaf blower and umbrella trick to get it self propelled. Hahaha.

[@stringtheoryangling]

They move pretty fast in the wind if you’re not careful!

[@nismomaniak]

@@stringtheoryangling perhaps a sail then?

[@brentbeckwith5910]

What is your clearances between the tubes? I have looked at a couple metal supply houses, they have square tubing, just not with rounded corners. And the fit is way too tight

[@stringtheoryangling]

Check out the article on the collapsible smitty sled that’s on my website, it has all the info you are looking for. Thanks for the comment!

[@connorerhardt1767]

Was thinking about doing the table hinge style but this looks much more reliable. My only concerns are that the skis will drag on the pavement if there not elevated but if they are off the ground do they hit your ankles all day while you sit there?

[@stringtheoryangling]

These legs are very strong, much stronger than the hinges. The way I have the skis mounted they do drag a little bit on the concrete from my garage to the truck. I thought that next time I would make the uprights a bit shorter and elevate the ski off the concrete when they are retracted. That would solve the dragging problem. The skis may hit you in the ankles or cut up the back of your boots if they sit up higher. Often I’m in enough snow that I don’t think it would be a big issue but not always. I don’t mind dragging the skis personally, I wax them each fall and if I wear them out they are easy and cheap to replace.

[@connorerhardt1767]

@@stringtheoryangling i think im going to go with the hinges just for weight and i want to make a way to quick disconnect the ski at my feet. Im usually on very little snow and have to drag across 100-300 foot of parking lot to go to 2 of my spots so i would shred those skis if they rested on the ground. If my sled didnt sit 10 inches tall and was a little taller i think your idea is much better!

[@cjstorm8567]

Awesome

[@stringtheoryangling]

Glad you liked it!

[@zbassr2106]

When can I order one and how much shipped to Minnesota?

[@stringtheoryangling]

Unfortunately due to the variability of each sled and ski combination it would be very difficult to put together a kit to sell. I don't have anything available for sale right now but maybe in the future!

[@lancerudy6584]

I want to buy one😊

[@stringtheoryangling]

I am looking into putting a hardware kit together for sale. Check back on the website soon!

[@TW14137]

Nice setup, great mod, and good vid,(however, it would be much more enjoyable to watch without the music)

[@stringtheoryangling]

Thanks for checking out the video! I'm starting to lean towards less music too. As I create more video content, I am starting to develop my style. In the future I think I'll ease off the music and see where it takes us!

[@marcyounker6379]

I could see the arms getting iced up frozen on certain days especially when towing with snowmobile or atv

[@stringtheoryangling]

For sure! It does happen, especially when there’s a bit of slush on the ice. The gap between the upper and lower leg is pretty big to accommodate some ice buildup and when it’s really bad I will chip it off with my shovel or ice scoop.

[@glenndaugherity6187]

The original “Smitty Sleds” weren’t designed to be pulled by a snowmobile or ATV they were designed to be pulled by hand through snow by folks that didn’t have the advantage of motorized power. Most folks just build the Smitty with cross braces and set there shack or jet sled on top of that. But his looks pretty beefy to maybe withstand pulling at some kind of speed. He did a great job.

[@spookstuur]

If you’re pulling it out with a machine, there is no point in using the Schmitty aspect. This is mainly geared towards pulling it by hand

[@lanningjw]

Can you make me one for my otter. Jim

[@stringtheoryangling]

I am currently working on a hardware kit if there’s interest.

[@lanningjw]

Yes there is interest in a kit. It's concerning that you took 9 months to answer

[@stringtheoryangling]

Sorry, Jim. I’m learning that not all comments get notifications and sometimes they just get lost. Keep an eye on the website for kits, I’m working on integrating a shop function but it’s not easy for someone new to programming!

[@lanningjw]

I have a retired guy in Plymouth MN. That does metal fab.

[@stringtheoryangling]

@@lanningjw That’s great!

[@chrisbenedict4927]

Where did you get the double button springs?

[@stringtheoryangling]

Hi, I bought mine from Grainger Supply, which is a Canadian distributor of industrial supplies. If you are in the US, you could also order from McMaster Carr. There are links to both on my website, which is linked here: www.stringtheoryangling.ca/the-collapsible-smitty-sled/

[@frankclay6883]

How much did the legs cost to make? Not including the Skis. Would you be willing to make and sell sets?

[@stringtheoryangling]

I spent around $120 CAD for the aluminum, bolts and misc hardware. I have been asked if I would sell sets and I am looking into it. The design does need a little refinement, hopefully I will have something ready to sell next season. Keep an eye on my website for a shop to open up! Thanks for commenting!

[@timeintheoutdoors]

Great info….please ditch the music.

[@stringtheoryangling]

Yeah, I regret going so heavy on the music! It was one of my first videos! I’ll do an update of the collapsible smitty sled this season and go through it in more detail.

[@jaycannavo2730]

Would you consider selling the sled?

[@stringtheoryangling]

Like as a one off to a local angler? Perhaps. These sleds are impossible to get replacement tubs for in a hurry because of where I'm located (Western Canada). I would have to order a new tub in the summer and have it shipped with a local retailers shipment next fall. Its a process! I have been thinking about developing a kit that I could mail out, just add skis and your own flipover. But I haven't dedicated enough time to a new design. In the future I hope to offer a kit you can buy right from the website, stay tuned!

[@Bru_Dog1]

what happens when they get wet and freeze?

[@stringtheoryangling]

I sometimes have to chip away larger chunks with my ice scoop but there’s enough clearance in the tubes that ice will break away when you collapse them. It was only a problem once when I sprayed the legs with water from drilling holes to close to the shelter!