Hi all. Joined this forum specifically for informed input on this topic. I am an Antarctic researcher. We use ATVs on lake ice and sometimes tow sleds behind. On sheer ice, the sleds fishtail like crazy. We are considering switching to wheeled trailers with studded ATV wheels. I think this will work much better than the sleds. Anyone here have experience with wheeled trailers on sheer ice (many I assume).
Thanks
-Peter
We do this often when fishing for the same reason you’re interested. Portables fish tail all over the place, but a trailer doesn’t at all. Stays right behind you and you don’t have to worry about it trying to pass you up when stopping. Only downside is taking the portable in and out of the trailer when moving spots.
I on sheer ice my trailers with wheels always have the tendency to fishtail but I would think a few studs would take care of that problem.
Personally I wouldn’t rely on inflated tires In that situation. If the tire deflates or goes flat due to cold temps you would be dead in the water until it is fixed. And who wants to change a tire in the arctic. I’d fabricate large solid hitches like on Otter sleds/fish houses. A sled would be more reliable and versatile. No tires, bearings, axles etc. Plus you will have clearance issues in deep snow, mud, or Penguin crap or whatever you have in Antarctica with a trailer. My thoughts, but I’m just a ditch digger, so what do I know. Sounds like you have a cool job peter.
Personally I wouldn’t rely on inflated tires In that situation. If the tire deflates or goes flat due to cold temps you would be dead in the water until it is fixed
Wouldn’t that also apply to the ATV?
-J.
Adding Hyfax to your sled will help it track behind an ATV, but even with Hyfax if the ice is completely glare it will still fishtale. To further fix the issue you could also add small studs to the bottom of the hyfax at the rear of the sled which should completely fix the fish-tailing issue but you will no longer be able to pull the sleds by hand if you intend to do that once you reach your destination.
Will
I don’t have experience with wheeled trailers on the ice, but I have pulled a pulk (sled) a fair number of miles. Pulling a simple sled across multiple miles in the wilderness isn’t an easy task. The tend to chase you down hills and will get sideways on a hill if you’re not going straight up or down that hill.
Fins added to the back and bottom of a sled will allow you to climb a hill and have the sled track behind you, rather than the sled trying to pull you sideways down a hill.
If you can’t find a wheeled option that works for you, I’d think adding fins to your sled would prevent the sled from fishtailing.
Here’s a website showing a sled with fins.
To further fix the issue you could also add small studs to the bottom of the hyfax at the rear of the sled which should completely fix the fish-tailing issue but you will no longer be able to pull the sleds by hand if you intend to do that once you reach your destination.
Funny you mention this. I have this done with one of my spear shacks to help it track straight, works like a charm. One self tapping screw on each ski and it works great. Prior, the house would angle itself and the hitch hit the tire when I used the brakes.
Instead of atv wheels on the trailer/sled, mount snowmobile skis. The steering carbide runner should help with tracking as well as pull easier than putting studs in sled runners. Skis will also work well when you do encounter areas that does have snow. Just what I would do.
I’d be more concerned with the wheels in deep snow.
If it were me I’d take a couple hardened steel rails and fasten them to the underside of the sled similar to ice skates to make it track better.
Are you pulling the sled with a rope or a hitch?
Peter,
How big of trailer? Any pics?
If you are pulling sleds with runners rather than a toboggan or tub type you can do what dog mushers do on glare ice in some of the longer races that sometimes face these conditions. The Kuskowim River has these conditions not infrequently for there Kusko 300 race. A device named a skate is used here. Think of a hockey or speed skate. Not necessarily as long but metal and sharp. In that race this device is often bolted to a runner with a spring type arrangement to keep it up except when it is needed. Then it is stepped on and the fishtailing ceases.
In your situation you could bolt this on semi permanently. The skate is the best answer. The exact way to do it on your towable is up to your imagination.
Show us ssome pics of what your are towing.
Looking to build something like this but will be a custom build with ATV tires and studs. Want to transport people and cargo. The people is why we are looking at getting aeway from the sleds. Not a lot of snow to deal with on our lakes. Can always find ice to ride on if needed.
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I have used both a sled and cart with wheels, both slid quite bit on glare ice with the sled having the most movement. On snow pack the cart tracks very well with little fish tailing, the sled still had more movement then I cared for.
Myself, I wouldn’t want to be riding in either on glare ice unless it’s at a very slow MPH.
I have made a special hitch that mounts on the tongue of my quad that attaches springs to the tongue of my Smitty sled completely stops the sled from fish tailing on glare ice.
I am a fabricator designer and in charge of product development for T3 Trailers.
If you would like any ideas or help you can reach me through our website http://www.t3trailers.com
The hitch idea may save you some money.
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