Husband and I are debating renting a pulk from Piragis, or making our own using a 60" sled from Home Depot/Fleet Farm etc...

Has anyone ever had them break before? We were a little worried about that - cold + plastic = breakage usually....

thoughts?

I have an EMSCO one and it has held up fairly well over the pat couple of years. Look on this site for ideas . Pulk

quote OldFingers57: "I have an EMSCO one and it has held up fairly well over the pat couple of years. Look on this site for ideas . Pulk "

+1 on this design. Easy and cheap to make/modify to your specs.

quote Frenchy19: "

quote OldFingers57: "I have an EMSCO one and it has held up fairly well over the pat couple of years. Look on this site for ideas . Pulk "

+1 on this design. Easy and cheap to make/modify to your specs."

Perfect - this is pretty much EXACTLY what we were thinking of making!

quote MNLindsey80: "

quote Frenchy19: "

quote OldFingers57: "I have an EMSCO one and it has held up fairly well over the pat couple of years. Look on this site for ideas . Pulk "

+1 on this design. Easy and cheap to make/modify to your specs."

Perfect - this is pretty much EXACTLY what we were thinking of making!"

If need be, you can always borrow mine.

I would rent one. They are pretty cheap to rent and in my experience they are better pulling in the snow,less back and forth swinging due to a better harness.

quote flopnfolds: "I would rent one. They are pretty cheap to rent and in my experience they are better pulling in the snow,less back and forth swinging due to a better harness."

Mine has a harness as well as rudders installed in the back on both sides
Tracks like a train!

Nice! Well it looks like we have options! I'll keep you posted Frenchy19!

quote Frenchy19: "

quote flopnfolds: "I would rent one. They are pretty cheap to rent and in my experience they are better pulling in the snow,less back and forth swinging due to a better harness."

Mine has a harness as well as rudders installed in the back on both sides
Tracks like a train!"

Can you post some pictures? Specifically of how you connected the rope/pole to the sled and then the rope/pole to the harness.

My sled has a harness as well, but I still prefer the rented pirages sled over mine. When skiing I get more of a push and pull effect from my set up.

quote MNLindsey80: "Husband and I are debating renting a pulk from Piragis, or making our own using a 60" sled from Home Depot/Fleet Farm etc...

Has anyone ever had them break before? We were a little worried about that - cold + plastic = breakage usually....

thoughts?"

The old EMSCO sleds you could do anything to them and they held up. Had mine for 20 years. Some of the new EMSCO are more brittle. Maybe they changed back a little to better plastic again.

I was thinking of making one myself and have been looking for designs. I think I may have found an easier, cheaper option.......
https://www.facebook.com/70293109257/photos/a.177046304257.153498.70293109257/10154969897534258/?type=3&theater

quote Trapper7: "I was thinking of making one myself and have been looking for designs. I think I may have found an easier, cheaper option.......
https://www.facebook.com/70293109257/photos/a.177046304257.153498.70293109257/10154969897534258/?type=3&theater"

link

Thanks, I wasn't sure how to do that.

quote Pinetree: "

quote Trapper7: "I was thinking of making one myself and have been looking for designs. I think I may have found an easier, cheaper option.......
https://www.facebook.com/70293109257/photos/a.177046304257.153498.70293109257/10154969897534258/?type=3&theater"

link "

Looks like a good design, but it sure isn't light at 33 lbs.

quote flopnfolds: "Looks like a good design, but it sure isn't light at 33 lbs. "

That is what I thought. I like my total load to be 50 pounds or less,including my fishing gear in that weight.

quote flopnfolds: "Looks like a good design, but it sure isn't light at 33 lbs. "

These are a military style pulk sled I think. I agree that it isn't light but I am wondering if the canvas material is detachable which might save you quite a bit of weight. In most cases, I wouldn't use the canvas anyway. I called and asked about it but the gal I spoke to wasn't sure and she sounded busy so I didn't pester her about it. I will be going to Ely within the next couple weeks to check them out in person. $189 price tag on them.

I bought a kit from Chris at black River sleds.
Have used them a few times now and love them.
http://www.blackriversleds.com/

I bought a kit from Chris at black River sleds.
Have used them a few times now and love them.
http://www.blackriversleds.com/

Which would you guys get?



EMSCO

or

toboggan

quote MNLindsey80: "Which would you guys get?



EMSCO

or

toboggan "

EMSCO sled although I am biased as I have one and use it. As for a wood toboggan look at yard sales for one. I see them a lot. Usually they are the shorter ones. The good old 8 ft ones are harder to find at least around here.

I am repeating myself but
The old Emsco I would pick everytime. Some of the new Emsco sleds at least for a few years the plastic was very brittle and cracked easy. Maybe they fixed it.

Otherwise I have my original orange Emsco for 20 years plus and 100's of winter camping miles. It is worth it to see if they fixed the brittle problem.

I'm leaning heavily towards that Home Depot Emsco sled - Frenchy19 - what kind of fins did you add? can you take a photo and add to this post?

So excited for this trip, but hoping and praying the daily high is above zero!
Got our reservations in - so I guess we're in now...

I would go with an Emsco over a wooden toboggan, but I like the Paris Expedition a bit better than the worthy Emsco, but thats just a personal preference. I've seen them at True Value Hardware stores for around $35. Not sure if they have changed in the last few years or not.

Frenchy or others can disagree with me, but I'd suggest the fins are nice to have, but not critical. They are mainly important for keeping the sled tracking on hilly areas of portages, but then again most portages have little grooved paths like a luge course to help keep them in line. Tipping over was the bigger problem. I didn't add fins, mainly because I was not sure how and was pressed for time, but I don't think I missed them too much on the two trips I took my pulk. Just my opinion.

Never used fins and tracks great-the emsco

You are better off with no fins in my opinion. best not to pile the sled high- heavy stuff low lighter- per volume on top. most sleds can work but I believe the long plastic toboggan is easier overall. Never had one tip over.

quote DanCooke: "You are better off with no fins in my opinion. best not to pile the sled high- heavy stuff low lighter- per volume on top. most sleds can work but I believe the long plastic toboggan is easier overall. Never had one tip over."

I suppose with the long toboggan you can keep your load spread out more and lower center of gravity which is very crucial. Too many people pile high.

quote Pinetree: "I suppose with the long toboggan you can keep your load spread out more and lower center of gravity which is very crucial. Too many people pile high."

That's the theory, but in my case moving to a longer uhmwpe toboggan just tempted me to bring that much more stuff! They also just slide easier (lower coefficient of friction) and snake over logs and rocks easier.