Howdy All,
Had a chance to buy and try a Pelican Snow Trek 45 toboggan.
I bought it from Canadian Tire for $23.98, regular price $39.99. Toboggan size 45" long x 20" wide x 8" tall. Weight, about a couple of pounds. Material: some type of plastic. Colour: Black.
I did not get to take this for some week long back country winter epic adventure, but the weekend outing gave me enough valuable information to be able to recommend this toboggan.
The size is not large enough for an expedition, but for 72 hours of winter gear and food it will suffice. By using the toboggan to carry the majority of the weight it allows the traveler to be aware of their surroundings and remain mobile. The narrow width of the toboggan aids in travel in wooded areas where wide toboggans may get hung up on trees close to the trail.
The toboggan will slide on the minimal amount of snow or open lake ice as well. The gravel embedded in the hard pack snow did put a few scratches in the bottom, but nothing major. Also, the plastic slides on the snow and does not attract snow. I thought about waxing the bottom but so far that is not needed.
Modifications to make in the near future: 1) add a fabric cover, 2) reinforce the haul point & 3) add an improved haul harness and rigging. Once I am finished I will post pic's here and on my blog.
For $24 this was a great buy. For anyone who may need to bugout in the winter this may be a piece of gear you may want to add to your supply. With a BOB on your back and a toboggan towed behind you, you will have more than 72 hours worth supplies to live off.
Cheers,
Mountainman.
HEY GC
I have one of them as well and like it. Since health is keeping me from my fav.. much fav camping times, I is a wee bit bummed out. On my tobbogan, I have the parts to modify the sled like the military big brother, so will be installing some piping to go all around for added strength as well as a folding handle to assist in up and down terrain. Just fold it back into itself when it is not needed. I am just using pvc pipe with some hardwood dowling for inside the fore handgrip/rail. This is the handgrip that will fold out and be in front of you or allow you to lower it into the slope as needed.
Last year I did a quick setup and it worked not bad, my setup now, although not finished has two layers of piping around the edges, above and below the plastic for strength. Simply drill holes, add washers, lock nuts and hex head bolts on top, go down from the top, through the plastic and through the next pipes. Sounds complicated but was not. Another option would be to use a handle setup from a lawn mower or some such device, that way it is rigid and strong. I just drilled a hole and put longer bolt through so the base was connected to the pull bar very simply this way.
At an army surplus there was a tobbogan cover in olive drab used this for the top. Since it had way lots of loops and handles and strings, it is so easy to work with. It did get caught up in the pines a few times though, so maybe a simpler top with edging reinforced and attached to the sides would be better though.
My tobbogan sits, my snow shoes sit, my pack sits, all is not right in my world 🙁
2 things;
GC, did you pull yours with a rope or did you splurge and buy the snowmobile tow attachment? We were looking at a larger one that has a ice shack attached directly to it. We were thinking that if we were walking across the fields and a snow storm came up or if it was night time; such an addition would provide us with some shelter.
This is a cadillac and very expensive but if we had the extra funds it would be tempting. I don't ice fish or else that could factor into buying it. So for now,it would be a pipe-dream.
Other Item;
Wilderness, I'd be curious if you could post pictures of your sled with the attachments.
thanks,
Dang,
The kid pulled it. It was good for him. Building character. 🙂
Yes, the rope was used. No, no snowmobile attachement that would mean the need to invest in a snowmobile, lol. Not in the budget.
Yes, I have considered the clam shell ice fishing shelter. Even the missus was not offended at the idea when we sat in a cadillac model at Bass Pro Shop. The benches inside could be converted to beds. Yes, on a long winters walk an instant shelter on the Prairie has many merits, but alas it also is not in the budget at this time. I don't care too much for ice fishing either.
Of course, if anyone has pictures of their toboggan (stock or mod) many on here would be very interested in seeing them.
Mountainman.
Another great thing about having a toboggan in the winter is the ability to pick up and carry firewood through out the days travel.
--Seamus--
"Today's mighty oak is just yesterdays nut that held it's ground"
speaking of firewood - is this thing burly enough to carry logs cut down to maybe 6' lengths? or several 18" rounds?
BetterSafe,
As the toboggan is only 45" long I would not recommend hauling 6' logs in it. This is not a logging truck. However, placing a load of 18" rounds or split firewood wood that fit inside the walls of the toboggan I do not see why that would not work.
MM.
Howdy,
I have started to modify my toboggan. New anchor point is now installed. In the coming weeks I will build and mount a cover.
Here are a couple of pics:
I have a bit more info at my blog.
Cheers,
Mountainman.
I was at Calgary Wholesale sports today and they have an ice-fishing sled for sale... $50 normally $250!!
It is the style with a lid and several small hatches that allow access into the interior. We were looking at it and are pretty sure we can mount a piano hinge to one edge as there is alot of plastic flange to work with. I'm going back tomorrow to pick up at least one. They are not advertising it on their website from what I can see as I tried to find an image. They have many boxes on the floor so I think they miscalculated an order?
Howdy Folks,
Well, I now have a covered wagon, err.... covered toboggan.
Here are a couple of pic's of the finished product.
Or visit the link below to see the images at my blog.
http://mtnmanblog.blogspot.ca/2013/03/project-pelican-45-toboggan-part-two.html
I am very satisfied with the finished product. With the cover added this toboggan can easily carry enough gear for winter camping. And best of all, the gear is protected from the weather.
Cheers,
Mountainman.