BigGameHoundsmen.com

I'd use chro-moly steel if I were you. You could get away using .035 wall thickness for everything but the hitch, which you would probably want to use .045 on. It's pretty easy to weld using a wire feeder. The whole thing, excluding ski's would weigh around 15 pounds. Check out wicksaircraft.com for prices and sizes.

Thanks guys,

I've never welded that chrom moly stuff, anything special about it vs regular steel? I can ask my source about if he can weld it or not. I am curious if I could use regular steel with it if I had to do a gusset or something. Stuff is spendy, but I imagine it'd be the good way to go if I can weld it myself or a friend could. Any suppliers with square tubing/strap?

It's really easy to weld with .023 ER70S-2 or S-6 wire. Just set your welder at about 14.7 Volts and te wire speed at about 135 and go from there. You can check aircraftspruce.com and onlinemetals.com for square tubing one of them should have it for sure, as far as strap goes, I've never used that but if you run a search for it you could probably find it. The stuff is so light that you could probably use square or round tubing for gussets and tabs to set your dog box in and not even have to use strap if you can't find it. It's some pretty cool stuff and you'll find yourself wanting to build everything out of it after a while!

Update:

I bit the bullet and I am building one from steel. Working out the details of it, I will post photos of the final project.

On another note, what is an affordable wire feed welder that a guy could pick up for a reasonable price. I am thinking of using my fur money to purchase one this spring, so I can do my own fab work at home.

Good ideas on these boxes! Thanks for sharing the pics.

Thomas, I used 4130 cromoly steel for my frame. Thats aircraft steel and it's lighter and way tougher than most steel. Mine was a scrapped out helo frame and it's lasted me a little over 20 years.

I used the old style sled ski's with the springs.( the dogs ride better than me) I added 2" by 1/4" nylon strips to each side for more flotation and to combat snow sticking. I second the comment on having the same ski width as the sled. I also have a spring in the hitch to take the jerk out and a special hitch that has part of helo linkage that swivels thru a wide range.

I'll try to get some pictures over to you.

Robin,

Awesome to know that is what you used. I have photos from when I picked Pepper up. The only thing about your setup that would not work well for me is the height off the ground (because my sled hitch is pretty high). This will be my rough draft this time around. Maybe next time I will use chrome moly if I get my own wire feed welder.

Thomas
I had a aircraft mechanic show me how to weld the tubing with a torch. It's real easy once you see the few tricks to it. I built two frames at the time, mine and one for a buddy. Both are still in use(abuse).
It would be real easy to run the height up to where it matches your sled hitch. Stability has never been a problem on mine and my tundra has only a 31" ski width, a lot narrower than most of the play sleds.

My box is very light as it's made of recyled Alum road signs. I've replaced a few of the steel pop rivets but the box is the same age as the frame, still going strong.

After the season is over, I will have to come over and reap what I can from ya Robin. I did like your frame alot, if you don't mind I can post photos of it easy enough for others.

I sure don't mind you posting tne pictures Thomas. I don't have any of the bare frame.
I have some recent pics of the whole outfit but have to figure out the new photobucket download thing. RS

Just call me Robin and I will walk you thru it. Its really simple. Look for the link that has the tag [img.][/img] without the period. And copy and paste it to the forum post.







I do not have any good hitch photos of it.

I had a hard time getting the picture the right size for a forum. Heres a test pic of the whole outfit with three in the box. Sorry you can't see the vents on the far side of the box.

Looking really good there Robin, awesome back drop.

Thats looking up river from the wilderness boundry on the Northfork John Day.

My trailer is still in town Thomas, I'll try to get a picture of the hitch I came up with next time I'm in there. RS

Robin,

How did you attach the nylon strips to your skis? I have the damn near same skis, I think I can buy the nylon here. Just curious how you had done it so it doesn't wear out. I think this will be a better fix than buying skins.