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Nobadays
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# Posted: 11 Oct 2020 12:42
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Well not positive how well this will work but it has been a fun project!
For winter we have a 50 gallon fresh water tank in the loft with a faucet over the kitchen sink and just put a 55 gallon barrel up there that we will be plumbing to fill the toilet. The last couple of winters we melted snow for toilet flushing and hauled water in 7 gallon containers in a sled from the spring, two miles away. Decided this winter to do things differently.
We got a 12v submersible pump to drop in the spring box so we don't have to catch water under the overflow pipe... think wet cold hand and slippery/icey rocks. Decided to build a water Hauling sled. I started with a pair of old steel snowmobile skis and a pair of cast iron barrel cradles. Picked up several old bed frames for steel angle iron and went to work.
In the pictures you can see where I'm at with it. The frame has gussets in the corners to help keep it from twisting horizontally. Also extra angle iron running crosswise to help support the 450+ pounds of water. The skis are set wide to match the ski track of our snowmobile. If pulled behind our Tracker it will make it's own tracks... that said we will keep a wide trail packed down.
I still need to carriage bolt some 1/2" plywood to the iron cradles to better support the barrel. Add some eyelets to hook straps to yo hold the barrel down. Adjust the skis so the toe-in slightly so it will track well, and figure out a hitch system. Still not certain if I will pull from the ski tips or from the barrel frame... leaning toward the frame.
Any suggestions welcome, especially from those who have done something like this before... even just using old snowmobile skis for sled runners... and tips?
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 11 Oct 2020 13:53
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Ah, a water buffalo, I am wanting to do the same, but with wheels. Tow behind my Kawasaki Mule, use it to gather water from my solar well, transport it and with a transfer pump, pump it up to the 55 gallon drum on the roof of the shower unit. I was thinking of even a water pump from Harbor tools for small fire extinguishing. I was going to use a plastic barrel from plastic mart and about 100 gallons. I just need to get tank picked out and build a purpose built trailer just for it. Not certain on gas powered pump, but will leave space on the tongue if I decide to go that route. Side rack with hooks to wrap hose on or a reel system on the back. I'm probably way over thinking it, just a simple set up like you have would be great.
Towing from ski loops might be the most stable, filled with water and top heavy, I see it trying to flip backwards if towed by the short frame, pulling it by the skis will keep the nose from flipping up and if it did start, a tug gets it back in shape. Now what would be cool is a second barrel and a second trailer tethered to first so it can articulate sideways and up and down, be super stable to boot.
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Nobadays
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# Posted: 11 Oct 2020 15:07
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Yeah... we haul water now using a 125 gallon tank setting on a 6x10' trailer. I would love a purpose built trailer just for that tank. I get tired of taking the tank on and off that trailer... I use the other trailer for lots of things.
Good thinking on the towing idea... i was trying to keep the tank low, but high enough it didn't drag in the snow to much. Wide enough to not tip over sideways very easily, but backwards might be possible... the weight is shifted toward the back some. I think filling it full will be necessary to keep the water from sloshing around.
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paulz
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# Posted: 12 Oct 2020 11:04 - Edited by: paulz
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Nice job Nobs. I agree with towing from the skis. Maybe triangulate the loops back to the frame? I've built lots of things from bed frame angle iron. Tough stuff, and usually free.
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mj1angier
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# Posted: 12 Oct 2020 11:10 - Edited by: mj1angier
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Might want to add a slanted metal "belly" guard in the middle. I could see snow bunching up in front unless its a well packed trail
Edit: it would look like a toboggan sled under barrel-
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Aklogcabin
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# Posted: 12 Oct 2020 11:10
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Nice little sled. I would suggest the tongue be fastened to the frame. The ski tips will move up n down with the trail. Put some ears on the outside corners with a solid tongue. I like the pintel hook for a hitch. With that weight the smaller flat hitch on the snogo will be stressed and not ossolate. I’ve broken them before. Best yet is near the center of the ski where it pivots.
You can pull a lightweight drag once n a while to help the trail. You could probably make one.
Good luck. I always enjoy your posts.
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Nobadays
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# Posted: 12 Oct 2020 15:47
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Thanks!
Yeah been thinking I might need a "skid" under it if pulled in deep snow..... but... I always pack down a wide trail at least on my mile of road. A trail drag as AKlog suggests might be the ticket as well.
I talked over with a neighbor who happens to be a good fabricator.... spent his whole career keeping 8 rock crushers and 4 cement plants running.... he felt, like AKlog, that I need to let the skis do their thing which is ride up and down on the trail. Went ahead and welded two ears to the frame, three inches in from the outside, slanted slightly inwards so the two bars of the hitch will intersect about 4 feet in front of the sled. Plan to drill ho.es in the ears to attach the hitch arms... this will allow them to pivot up and down. Just back from where the two hitch arms should intersect I will cut them off and sandwich them between two flat plates where they will be bolted to the outside corners. This will allow them to swing back and forth to a certain degree. Out the center of the other side of the flat plates will be the actual hitch togune. I'll post a picture of the hitch I am loosely patterning after.
I should get the hitch assembly done today or tomorrow.... pictures to follow!
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NorthRick
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# Posted: 12 Oct 2020 16:21 - Edited by: NorthRick
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Ditto the advice to hook the tow hitch to the frame and not the skis.
I'd suggest you try and find some plastic ski skins for those metal skis. Metal really likes to stick to snow and ice. Ice is also much more likely to stick to metal than plastic. Ice stuck to the skis creates an unbelievable amount of drag.
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Nobadays
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# Posted: 12 Oct 2020 20:29
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Not sure what plastic ski skins are but I'll do some searching.
After reading AKlog's post again.... I thought about that "solid tongue" he mentioned. Then I thought about the plan I had... and thought about backing the sled up. The loose jointed tongue i had in mind would be a bear to back. I took a look at the tow bar we use to tow our Tracker and then redesigned my sled tongue.
Here's how it turned out...pics... btw, because it's wide to match my snowmobile skis, it really isn't too high/top heavy I don't think.
Still need to make a cradle from plywood to carriage bolt to the iron barrel cradles. Then it's just strap down the barrel and wait for snow.... and I have patience! Snow can hold off for another month if it wants to... unlikely, but it can! Supposed to be around 13* - 20*F tonight! Brr! But a slight warming trend coming.
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Aklogcabin
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# Posted: 13 Oct 2020 10:13
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You may want to add a hitch to the back of this sled to pull doubles. Or maybe just a eye bolt . You can use a clevis of sorts to hook two sleds together. Or your drag
That looks like a fine tongue.
You could also use a sled like that to skid logs. I’m planning on a build similar.
Btw I ride my snogo one armed when I can to reduce strain on my shoulders but you have a unique situation. Gotta say your a good man !
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Nobadays
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# Posted: 13 Oct 2020 10:40
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Thanks AKlog! I think it will serve its purpose. Good idea to put another hitch on the back... I have a homemade hitch that you can bolt onto a snowmobile back grab bar... uses an old steel door hinge for the hitch. I think I'll modify that and weld it to the back of the frame. Thanks!
Never thought about hauling logs on this rig but I think it might work well for that with the barrel removed. The cradle would keep the butt off the ground so I could drag a log out... hmmm! That said I hate(as does my wife) cutting wood in the winter! That's why there is between 5-6 cords all cut and stacked up right now.
Our Tracker... on tracks will be our primary vehicle this winter I think, but I do like to ride the snowmobile! It just hurts after awhile. A friend tried to buy our machine off us yesterday (combination trade/cash for a medium sized wood chipper - up to 4" logs) my wife was standing there and IMMEDIATELY said "NO, I'm not selling the snowmobile, I'm going to learn to ride it better this winter! " So it stays in the family!
Should get our Tracker back this week... but here is what one looks like on tracks... ours is white and a hard top. I'll post pictures when it gets home.
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Nobadays
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# Posted: 14 Oct 2020 13:49
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Project finished! Ended up using plastic from a leaky 275 gallon tote to line the cradles. I had cut up and thrown the plastic under the shed this summer. Trying to kerf and bend 1/2" CDX just didn't work. Too many "holidays" in CDX, even though it was kerfed it still wanted to break rather than bend... oh well. The plastic is about a 1/4" thick or a little more, thick enough the carriage bolts seated all the way.
Now to give it a try once the snow flies!
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FishHog
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# Posted: 15 Oct 2020 07:55
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Looks like it will work just fine. Nice craftsmanship
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Nobadays
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# Posted: 15 Oct 2020 08:18
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Thanks FishHog! I'm anxious to give it a tow... but hope the snow will hold off another month!
My Tracker has an 1 1/4" reciever hitch. I need to figure out how I'm going to attach the water hauler tongue to that hitch... probably have to take my ball off and bolt a plate on there to extend out with a hole to attach the tongue too... I think the reciever hitch ball mount might be too thick to get the tongue over. Might have to build a drop hitch as well.
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