01-04-2021, 04:05 PM
I have learned a few things as well: The set up:
Snowdog with reverse-2 snowdog sleds with 1 seat in each sled-2 Otter sleds for gear all with rigid hitches. -5'X8' Northstar trailer with sides and attached folding rear ramp. I have owed this set up since December 16, 2020.
1st trip out 12-19-2020. Mill Hollow- Three sleds. Three people and all gear. This was a steep pull in places and I wondered if we were going to make it a few times as we were climbing. It did slow down to I am guessing about 5MPH pulling the steep parts but you have to realize we were pulling close to 1000 pounds. So not too bad in my opinion. Unhooked all but the driving sled at the dam. Made a test run down to the lake as I was breaking trail from all the fresh snow. Got on the lake and made a test run around the lake just to get the feel of things. found some slush, That was a very uneasy feeling for the first time as I felt like I was sinking and bogging down a bit. Machine did fine. Went back up and got the rest of the train. Fished all day with great success. all fish were 6 feet down in 12FOW. Caught mostly rainbows with a few skinny tigers and some pretty Brookies. At the end of the day with all the weight we had we had to walk along the side of the machine pulling back up to the dam. Lesson learned is that the factory seats can slide and fall off on hard stops and jerky take offs. But we did get a great feel for seat placement.
Seat fix--- In the driving sled I installed the factory swivel seat all the way to the back of the sled. I drilled down through the frame of the seat and right through the metal frame of the sled then attached with 1/4-20 hardware. This placement allows for either driving in the sitting position or the standing position. I would like to thank MACMAN for giving me a great deal on the factory swivel seat and sharing the rest of his knowledge. In the second factory sled, I placed the standard factory bench seat forward enough to place two 5 gallon buckets behind it. This allows for either the buckets or a passenger to stand behind the seat and hang on to the backrest comfortably. I drilled and installed with the same hardware.
2nd trip out 12-27-2020.ECHO-- Launched from the boat ramp with 5 sleds, 4 people and all gear. I guessing we were close to 1500 pounds. Pulled great straight across the lake to the West side. Sure was nice to get away from the City on the East side. Was able to get set up then fro back to pick up 4 more buddies and all of there stuff. There was a couple of inches of fresh snow when we got there on the ramp. When we left it was all melted. No trout for anybody but all the perch that you could stand. Very few nice ones but son caught a 13". fast all day. Lesson learned this day was going up the ice covered boat ramp was impossible with a load. Have studs, but have not installed yet.
3rd trip out 1-2-2021. Smith and Morehouse--3 sleds, 2 people and gear. Parked by dam. Road and launched from boat ramp. Pretty much 6 inches of slush with 5 inches of snow everywhere we went. Definitely bogged down unless you could stay on top. Pretty much had lake to ourselves all day except for maybe 4 other groups that set up near the dam and boat ramp. Fished on West side until noon with all rainbows. Moved east side in 20FOW for the afternoon picked up a few grayling and a bunch more rainbow. lost count on the day but Would guess it was 60ish each. Lesson learned this trip is that slush sucks. had to run beside machine to get it going then jump in and stay on top. Also when you get in snowmobile tracks it can turn you sideways and you can dump your passenger
Did make it right up boat ramp with everything with no problem.
Snowdog with reverse-2 snowdog sleds with 1 seat in each sled-2 Otter sleds for gear all with rigid hitches. -5'X8' Northstar trailer with sides and attached folding rear ramp. I have owed this set up since December 16, 2020.
1st trip out 12-19-2020. Mill Hollow- Three sleds. Three people and all gear. This was a steep pull in places and I wondered if we were going to make it a few times as we were climbing. It did slow down to I am guessing about 5MPH pulling the steep parts but you have to realize we were pulling close to 1000 pounds. So not too bad in my opinion. Unhooked all but the driving sled at the dam. Made a test run down to the lake as I was breaking trail from all the fresh snow. Got on the lake and made a test run around the lake just to get the feel of things. found some slush, That was a very uneasy feeling for the first time as I felt like I was sinking and bogging down a bit. Machine did fine. Went back up and got the rest of the train. Fished all day with great success. all fish were 6 feet down in 12FOW. Caught mostly rainbows with a few skinny tigers and some pretty Brookies. At the end of the day with all the weight we had we had to walk along the side of the machine pulling back up to the dam. Lesson learned is that the factory seats can slide and fall off on hard stops and jerky take offs. But we did get a great feel for seat placement.
Seat fix--- In the driving sled I installed the factory swivel seat all the way to the back of the sled. I drilled down through the frame of the seat and right through the metal frame of the sled then attached with 1/4-20 hardware. This placement allows for either driving in the sitting position or the standing position. I would like to thank MACMAN for giving me a great deal on the factory swivel seat and sharing the rest of his knowledge. In the second factory sled, I placed the standard factory bench seat forward enough to place two 5 gallon buckets behind it. This allows for either the buckets or a passenger to stand behind the seat and hang on to the backrest comfortably. I drilled and installed with the same hardware.
2nd trip out 12-27-2020.ECHO-- Launched from the boat ramp with 5 sleds, 4 people and all gear. I guessing we were close to 1500 pounds. Pulled great straight across the lake to the West side. Sure was nice to get away from the City on the East side. Was able to get set up then fro back to pick up 4 more buddies and all of there stuff. There was a couple of inches of fresh snow when we got there on the ramp. When we left it was all melted. No trout for anybody but all the perch that you could stand. Very few nice ones but son caught a 13". fast all day. Lesson learned this day was going up the ice covered boat ramp was impossible with a load. Have studs, but have not installed yet.
3rd trip out 1-2-2021. Smith and Morehouse--3 sleds, 2 people and gear. Parked by dam. Road and launched from boat ramp. Pretty much 6 inches of slush with 5 inches of snow everywhere we went. Definitely bogged down unless you could stay on top. Pretty much had lake to ourselves all day except for maybe 4 other groups that set up near the dam and boat ramp. Fished on West side until noon with all rainbows. Moved east side in 20FOW for the afternoon picked up a few grayling and a bunch more rainbow. lost count on the day but Would guess it was 60ish each. Lesson learned this trip is that slush sucks. had to run beside machine to get it going then jump in and stay on top. Also when you get in snowmobile tracks it can turn you sideways and you can dump your passenger
Did make it right up boat ramp with everything with no problem.