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Pimp or replace the jet sled?

SNIPERBBB said:
Never used my sled for deer but hauled the crap out of beaver and coon with it over rough ground. Eventually wore a hole in the back corner of it and had to put a patch on it. I keep thinking there's gotta be a way to rig wheels on it that are easily removable
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I've just come up with an idea for this as I was driving that in theory is rediculously simple with no drilling.
 
woodsdog2 said:
Have you done any modifications to your jet sled? I have one I use for trapping and it holds up well. I also use it to load and unload the deer into my pickup when I'm alone. I was thinking about beefing up the rope connection points with some fender washers to prevent stressing that area out and the rope pulling through eventually but don't know if its worth it.
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I had mine as full as I could get it with wet dirt and pulling it around with my riding mower....on a slight incline in the yard the tractor lost traction and I giving it hard snatches and the factory holes and knots and ropes held up just fine ....I can only guess but at least 3-5 hundred pounds....unless mine is just a fluke I don't think any modifications required on the holes and ropes other than something to protect your hands. I used some old rubber air hose to make the handle.
 
woodsdog2 said:
And?
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My thought is to take the wheels and axle off a deer cart . The trick is the attachment. The attachment point is the drag rope on each side. I think you can use cable, rope or tubing to attach the axle to drag rope. Make the legs of the attachment long enough so that the axel of on the back third part of the sled. The sled should then be able to just rest on the axle. Fancier versions could be made.
 
Most public here that I hunt will have a road system that leads to parking areas that have trail head leaving from there. What I do is leave the game cart (academy brand) and the sled at the truck. If I end up needing to drag something I'll take note of how the trip back to the truck is.... Normally it will consist of a mixture of terrain like u talking about @iamcorey..... Mix of swamp/mud and high ground and then down the limestone road... The sled fits on cart... Just carry some extra straps or rope and u can get the loaded sled strapped to the cart.... Less than 100 bucks for 2 useful tools. During this off season I'm gonna figure out the best way to attach them together and make something to make it as painless a process as possible, try to add buoyancy enough to make the sled float a deer easily, and modify/make a little storage pouch to attach to the cart and then that part of my hunt system I'll be complete.
 
DroptineKrazy said:
Otter Sleds and Jet Sled both sell a runner kit for the bottom to greatly increase the lifespan of the sled. It is made out of a much harder plastic.
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I added the wear strips to the bottom of my sled for ice fishing and deer hauling.
The strips reduce ground contact, have a much lower coefficient of friction (slippery) and last a lot longer than just the bottom of the sled.
They are replaceable if they wear out.
I haven't test the buoyancy of the sled, as you need to drill holes through the sled bottom to attach the runners.
 
JC3 said:
I added the wear strips to the bottom of my sled for ice fishing and deer hauling.
The strips reduce ground contact, have a much lower coefficient of friction (slippery) and last a lot longer than just the bottom of the sled.
They are replaceable if they wear out.
I haven't test the buoyancy of the sled, as you need to drill holes through the sled bottom to attach the runners.
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You could just seal over holes you had to drill
 
I think about a hybrid of the roll-up sled idea for packability, along with bump-outs and snap-in grooves in the bottom for cheap, easily replaceable plastic rollers on the bottom like these.
1610130805295.png

I imagine though that mud/snow whatever will pack those cavities enough on average to negate any improvement from rollers, but trying to combine them still occupies my mind.
 
I should be working, but here I am anyway lol. I don't have a jet sled but have been interested in them. I was thinking that perhaps you could bolt some hdpe runners to the bottom (similar to the runners they sell just much thicker like an inch thick for a 1/2 inch axle size). If they are thick enough you could drill an appropriately sized hole in each that the axle could slip through. Pop off a wheel and thread in the axle when you want wheels, just as easy to remove the wheels and use it in sled mode on the runners.
 
woodsdog2 said:
Have you done any modifications to your jet sled? I have one I use for trapping and it holds up well. I also use it to load and unload the deer into my pickup when I'm alone. I was thinking about beefing up the rope connection points with some fender washers to prevent stressing that area out and the rope pulling through eventually but don't know if its worth it.
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I'm sure my jet sled is strong enough to use the diy axle & wheel set for my kayak. It's portable, easy on & off & not attached permanently. Buried now, I'll try it when the snow melts.
 
The pimpest version of jetsled I've seen on here was by @seuss79 in this thread. It included wheels and a bicycle!

That said, I have the runner kit on mine. It came with rubber gaskets/washers to try and limit the water intake, but I've never had it in water really, so can't say that it is water tight or not. But it GREATLY reduces wear. If I had to do it over again, I probably would have changed a bit where I put it. I could really use some additional protection for getting it in the back of the jeep. On the back it gets a lot of wear, when it's getting lifted into the back. I've thought about adding some carpet or looking for additional strip of polyethylene without having to buy an entire kit.
 
thedutchtouch said:
I should be working, but here I am anyway lol. I don't have a jet sled but have been interested in them. I was thinking that perhaps you could bolt some hdpe runners to the bottom (similar to the runners they sell just much thicker like an inch thick for a 1/2 inch axle size). If they are thick enough you could drill an appropriately sized hole in each that the axle could slip through. Pop off a wheel and thread in the axle when you want wheels, just as easy to remove the wheels and use it in sled mode on the runners.
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Only problem would be is if you want the sled to still be floatable in water
 
five said:
The pimpest version of jetsled I've seen on here was by @seuss79 in this thread. It included wheels and a bicycle!

That said, I have the runner kit on mine. It came with rubber gaskets/washers to try and limit the water intake, but I've never had it in water really, so can't say that it is water tight or not. But it GREATLY reduces wear. If I had to do it over again, I probably would have changed a bit where I put it. I could really use some additional protection for getting it in the back of the jeep. On the back it gets a lot of wear, when it's getting lifted into the back. I've thought about adding some carpet or looking for additional strip of polyethylene without having to buy an entire kit.
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do you feel like the runners make the sled drag better across the ground?
 
I have and take with me on most every hunt a sled and cart. I did add fender washers to increase surface area I am pulling against and added flexible conduit to the rope to make it easier on the hands. After harvest I simply decide which one will be better and take it in for transport. I always use the sled to help load and keep all the blood off my other gear for transport home. The sled is much easier than using nothing but not as easy as the cart on hard surfaces. In crop fields or boggy areas where the wheels sink I prefer the sled.
 
I was thinking rather than wheels or skids, maybe something like this that is collapsible you could carry with you or even just two stout sticks and you lash the sled and its load to it, then pick it up and move through the tough stuff.

1610138416806.png

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I think runners are a must if you want your sled to last. Instead of using a runner kit I used snowmobile hyfax on both my otter and jet sled. Way harder material and little more ground clearance. I drag them over concrete and gravel all the time and I'm amazed at the lack of even scratches in the hyfax.
For the rope attachment I put a piece of 1/2" x 3" wide hardwood from one side to the other on the inside of the sled. Rope breaks before the sled ever gets damaged.
 
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