What kind of sled do you use when going in the BWCA?

My original sled was the orange expedition and it worked absolutely fine, but after a few years the toboggans really caught my eye and I bought a kit to build one. I now have mine equipped with a 6 foot tank and top bag and I really like the setup. Packing and unpacking takes a lot less time and I feel like it is very secure so don't ever worry about something falling off. I feel the biggest disadvantage to the toboggan style sleds are the tight turns on portages as they do not turn well at all.

Same as Gadfly. I started with a Paris Expedition and a couple pieces of PVC pipe. Later, when I got my hot tent, I got a second kiddy sled and hooked it on as a caboose. Worked great, but keep in mind some of the cheaper sleds are thinner plastic and can break easier if you fall/step on them or hit trees. Paris and Emsco tend to be the preferred sleds. Then I got a piece of UHMWPE and built my own sled. It was fun and did not take all that long. They do pull a lot better on flat areas, but tougher in tight corners. Regular HDPE works very well too and costs a good deal less.

Jaywalker: "Same as Gadfly. I started with a Paris Expedition and a couple pieces of PVC pipe. Later, when I got my hot tent, I got a second kiddy sled and hooked it on as a caboose. Worked great, but keep in mind some of the cheaper sleds are thinner plastic and can break easier if you fall/step on them or hit trees. Paris and Emsco tend to be the preferred sleds. Then I got a piece of UHMWPE and built my own sled. It was fun and did not take all that long. They do pull a lot better on flat areas, but tougher in tight corners. Regular HDPE works very well too and costs a good deal less.
"

Cool set up. Have a helpful link to consider a build?

I prefer the emsco beast. The new ones aren’t as tough as the old ones. I reinforce the front corners where I attach my poles. I also trim the lip off the outside edge as it tends to drag in deeper snow. I can fit a hot tent and all fishing and camping gear on the emsco.

The theory of the toboggan is good but the execution I have seen is poor. It’s made to have a lighter pressure on the snow because of the large surface area. What I have seen is people loading them up with all the extra stuff they don’t need.

yellowhorse: "

Jaywalker: "Same as Gadfly. I started with a Paris Expedition and a couple pieces of PVC pipe. Later, when I got my hot tent, I got a second kiddy sled and hooked it on as a caboose. Worked great, but keep in mind some of the cheaper sleds are thinner plastic and can break easier if you fall/step on them or hit trees. Paris and Emsco tend to be the preferred sleds. Then I got a piece of UHMWPE and built my own sled. It was fun and did not take all that long. They do pull a lot better on flat areas, but tougher in tight corners. Regular HDPE works very well too and costs a good deal less.
"

Cool set up. Have a helpful link to consider a build? "

It is not that hard, and does not require a lot of either tools or supplies. I just watched a couple videos and figured it out on my own. A lot of people add their own "flair" in some way. I used maple instead of the popular ash just because I liked the grain. Here are two really good videos about putting a toboggan together. They both assume you got a kit, but creating the pieces yourself is not hard.
BWCAcast BRS toboggan
Lure of the North

I also took a number of photos as I built mine. They are not in any order, but by looking at them you can sort of figure most of it out. Jaywalkers toboggan build I should point out I did not have a fully equipped wood shop - just a circular saw, drill, and grinder on my patio.

Lastly, here is the cheat sheet I used when I built mine to sort of help me keep on track. It's not really clear, but it might be of some help.

If you do want to try to build one, don't hesitate to ask questions here. There's a bunch of folks on this forum who have built them either from kits or scratch.

I also started with a Paris Sled, which I still have, but two years ago built a toboggan out of 3/16" UHMW. Really like the UHMW a lot better, it glides across the frozen lakes way better then the Paris. Portages are still an experience, but I'm glad I moved onto the UHMW.

Minnesotian: "
I also started with a Paris Sled, which I still have, but two years ago built a toboggan out of 3/16" UHMW. Really like the UHMW a lot better, it glides across the frozen lakes way better then the Paris. Portages are still an experience, but I'm glad I moved onto the UHMW. "

What do you think of the 3/16th thickness vs. the 1/4 that I think most people tend to use? Obviously its a bit lighter and easier to roll, but did you find any differences in building it, or any differences in pulling gear?

Accidental double post...

Jaywalker: "

Minnesotian: "
I also started with a Paris Sled, which I still have, but two years ago built a toboggan out of 3/16" UHMW. Really like the UHMW a lot better, it glides across the frozen lakes way better then the Paris. Portages are still an experience, but I'm glad I moved onto the UHMW. "

What do you think of the 3/16th thickness vs. the 1/4 that I think most people tend to use? Obviously its a bit lighter and easier to roll, but did you find any differences in building it, or any differences in pulling gear?"

It is slightly easier to roll it up for storage and the drive up. Easier to pull it into the bend at the front of the sled. I do tend to handle it a bit with kid gloves when pulling it over downed logs and rocks, but over all it has been great. I used stainless steel hardware for doing the through bolting and had to make sure when I was countersinking that I didn't go overboard with the drilling and leave myself with no meat for the screw to hold onto. Durability wise I think it is just fine.

I got the uhmw from Dan Cooke when he was making all of his sleds using the same thickness. Figured, if he was rolling with it, then it is just fine.

I checked out the wintertrekker site and am intrigued by winter tripping. What length toboggan works the best for a 3-5 day trip for 1-2 people with fishing gear included? I know that varies from person to person but what works well for you? How does one keep the toboggan from running up on their skis/snowshoes on the downhills?

My trips are always a minimum of 3 days and I fish on every one and the 10 foot works great for me. It took me a little bit to learn the best way for packing it but a tank and top bag have helped out a lot.
As for keeping the sled from running up on your skis/snowshoes when going down hills some people use rigid poles rather than a rope. I have a rope at the back of the sled and follow the sled down the hill or if its not too steep I just walk beside it.

Both HDPE and UHMWPE are widely available in sheets 4x8 or 4x10 feet, and with two quick cuts (often by the plastic supplier) you have 3 toboggan blanks of 15-16 inches. I made mine from a 10 foot blank, so after curling the front it's about 8 1/2 or a bit more feet of usable space. I think starting with the 10 footer blank is more common. The shorter ones certainly work, especially for people traveling as a group (shared equipment) and with light weight gear, but for me travelling solo with my oversized Snowtrekker, fishing gear, and a few luxury items, I need all the space on my sled.

I used poles when I used my pulk, but would not want them on my toboggan because it slides so easily and is pretty well loaded up - I just don't want that freight train behind me on a hill of any size. I leave a 10 foot rope with a loop big enough for my mittens dragging behind and use that to walk behind the sled. When the trail is good and clear, I sometimes just point it and let it go and let it run ahead a ways. Once or twice I jumped on top and took a ride!

Thanks for the good info Gadfly and jaywalker.

I used to run poles when I ran a smaller sled, but with the toboggan and the caboose fishing sled.............like others have said, it can be downright scary on the downhills.

I've even skipped portages the last few years and just do trips on the larger lakes.
It also allows me to upgrade to a large Action Packer box with no tip-over concern.
Otherwise it's 4 smaller AP boxes and a soft cooler strapped down. I do love my containers. :)

Duff: "
"

Like the toboggan stickers...



Tuscarora 2016

Two done, now some testing loading and pulling.

I use a Snowtrekker hot tent. I have a 9ft Snow walker Toboggan by Black River sleds. I use this in conjunction with an orange 5ft. Paris Company Expedition Sled. That was my original pulk. I now use it as an secondary sled and to take all the fishing gear out with and to gather wood. We normally go with 3 or 4 people.

I highly suggest checking out canoepaddler.net. I bought a 5ft tank, stove bag and toboggan top bag. His prices are great especially with the Canadian exchange rate being in our favor here in the states.

The 9ft would easily hold everything for 2 ppl for 3 or 4 days. Food box up front, 5 ft tank, then stove bag at the end. Most of the gear used for camp all fits in the 5ft tank and food box. The top bag holds all the ice fishing gear concentrated in one place which I love. Auger, ice fishing pole bag, tips ups, scoop etc. Depending on the trip I normally have an additional small duffel on the 9ft pulk which I use for items I may need and want to have access to them easily. This can be water, extra gloves, goggles etc.

The 2nd sled is nice as it also lessens the weight of the main pulk. The orange sled has most of our clothes in waterproof bags that are then put in duffels.

It is hard to pack light when winter camping, but once you have the right gear to it makes it a lot easier.

I dont believe the tanks are waterproof but this normally isnt an issue when winter camping. However I do bring a cheap blue tarp if I need to cover the pulk but it is mainly used at camp to set gear on so it is not lost in the snow. Now getting the rest of your crew to remember to set excess gear on said tarp is another story.

WIMike: "I checked out the wintertrekker site and am intrigued by winter tripping. What length toboggan works the best for a 3-5 day trip for 1-2 people with fishing gear included? I know that varies from person to person but what works well for you? How does one keep the toboggan from running up on their skis/snowshoes on the downhills? "

I tie a rope to the back of the 9ft pulk if going downhill and there is a person behind holding/guiding it from running into the person pulling the pulk. This method can vary based on how steep/curvy the trail is. Normally this method works just fine, but if it really steep you can always hand carry items down the hill or if its a straight shot just send it with all your gear on down the hill.

The portage methods described would never work efficiently on any route I have taken before. Toboggans probably work well on flat ground but if you have a portages with turns and hills good luck. With a harness and solid poles I can steer my sled by turning my hips and also ski the downhills.

I noticed the excessive amount of extra weight on some of the sleds. There has to be 15 plus pounds of just containers. Consider using lightweight bags instead of heavy bulky containers. I shaved off over 10lbs of gear weight by doing this.

If you have Some tight, curvy, and hilly portages a sled with poles is the best method.

Mnpat: "The portage methods described would never work efficiently on any route I have taken before. Toboggans probably work well on flat ground but if you have a portages with turns and hills good luck. With a harness and solid poles I can steer my sled by turning my hips and also ski the downhills.


I noticed the excessive amount of extra weight on some of the sleds. There has to be 15 plus pounds of just containers. Consider using lightweight bags instead of heavy bulky containers. I shaved off over 10lbs of gear weight by doing this.


If you have Some tight, curvy, and hilly portages a sled with poles is the best method.

"

Being a toboggan user I do prefer more lake travel but we have made 15+ winter trips where most of them included portages and we have always made it though fine.
I also agree with the comments about the containers. I have found using a toboggan tank with a top bag really helps reduce weight of containers and also helps secure everything down. Having a secure sled also makes a big difference on portages.

Here is what I do to beef up the front of the new emsco beast sleds. The older ones were really tough, the newer models are more prone to breaking the front corners when on tight portages.

This thread is why I love bwca.com.

Jaywalker's post contained great stuff....like the link to the kits. I did not know about them.

I really REALLY want to try this more. I've only gone twice but it was so fun.

Losta love for the toboggan these days, but I for one like the pulks. I pull with a rope like a toboggan and can pull two in tandem giving me the option to pull one on day trips fishing and such. I make these. Dan makes the covers.