Select two nice, tall, straight Maple trees about 6" in diameter at the stump. Dependin on how long you want your sled, cut those raskels off at the proper length with about 4' extra. [Leave about 2' on each end.] Strip'm of their bark and limbs. Taper the butt ends so they won't dig in while bein pulled. Cross braces can be more large limbs notched to match up with notches chopped in the top of the skids or runners. If you don't want to use limbs for the cross braces you can use 2x6's. After nailin or bolting those braces tight--drill a hole in each butt end. Draw through those holes a large bolt or steel bar. By loopin a log chain around those bolts you can make a very strong and durable "hitch" capable of pullin almost anything you want to move with the sled.

For a more elaborate sled---a bob sled isn't much harder to build and it's steerable. For those young whippersnappers who don't know what a bobsled is---it's actually 2 sleds with a "pin" inserted through two Heavy Braces so the front or "steering" sled can pivot. The front sled is usually much smaller than the remaining back one.

We used to use'm years ago on the farm to move ear corn and other feed to the animals. Almost any sized box could be nailed on top to hold the feed. We also used'm for haulin firewood in from the woods to the buzz saw. Pulled by either a team of horses/mules or tractor-they would go where a wagon/trailer [with tires] couldn't.

Is your name written in the Lambs Book of Life? If not, what are you waiting for? He could come tonight or He could call for your soul tonight. Don't be left behind and facing eternity away from Him. Matt.24:44

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), May 20, 2001

Answers

yes a sled is very handy on the farm helps to keep from lifting things to high you can roll things onto the sled you would never be able toget in a trailer or wagon likw a downer cow id never get one from the field to the barn without it and so handy for loading wood the sled needs a tounge in it for steep hills especialy in slick conditins it will climb the tractor tires or knock the horse off its feet,we use steel strips to sole our sled runners makes them last a long time plan to build a pipe sled when i get around to it

-- George Darby (windwillow@fuse.net), May 24, 2001.