How to build A very fast snow sled on a budget

Here you will learn how to build a very fast snow sled out of household or easily obtained items for less than $20.00

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 pair of old snow skies
• 2 2x4's the length of the skies
• 4 2x4's the width of the plywood
• 1 sheet of plywood (same length as 2x4's)
• 1 box of 2" wood screws
• rope

1. First you want to track down everything you need. Everything but the snow skies i had laying around the house. Depending on your region, you can find a pair of snow skies at a thrift store for about $7.00. Next you will need two 2x4's the length of the straight part of the skies. The 2x4's need to lay flat so only make them the length of the skies up to where the skies begin to slope up. Next you will need to cut a sheet of plywood the same length as the 2x4's. Don't use particle board as it will fall apart once it gets wet. Finally make sure you have a box of 2" wood screws or just what ever you have laying around. You will also need a good, long, sturdy piece of rope used to pull the sled.

2. Once you have all your parts you can begin building. Once you find your skies you want to get the bindings off by taking out the screws that hold them in. I live in Oklahoma so the skies were very easy to obtain, in fact almost every thrift store has a cheap pair. You should now have two skies that are completely flat.

3. Once your skies are clear of the bindings you want to attach your 2x4's to the skies. Lay the skies upside down on top of the 2x4's and screw them together. Make sure you the 2x4's flat and not on their side. First time we tried this the 2x4's were screwed to the skies standing on their side and at the bottom of the hill one of them snapped off. Good thing this happened because we hadn't figured out how to steer it yet and we were heading straight for a big tree. I used about 10 screws on each ski. Make sure the screws DO NOT come out the other side of the 2x4's.

4. 

   Once the skies are attached take the 4 2x4's and lay them cross ways on top of the 2x4's screwed to the skies. Space them out evenly across the skies. Place one at each end and two in the middle.

5. Once you have finished the 2x4's going cross way you want to attach your plywood. I made my plywood about 3 feet wide and the same length as the 2x4's. You can use any width you want just remember, once at the bottom of the hill you have to drag the sled back up and this isn't the lightest sled. Make sure the plywood is thick enough to support your weight but not too thick so you don't carry extra weight. Lay the plywood across the 2x4's and secure using the wood screws.

6. 

   Now your sled is complete. This is optional but recommended, you want to tie a long and sturdy rope to the sled so you can pull it back up the hill. This gets very heavy when you carry it. I know it doesn't look like much, but it will go very fast. This turned quite a few heads at the top of the hill, even more once we made it to the bottom and everyone wanted to try. The total cost for this project was only $7 for the skies due to the fact i had everything else laying around the house.

Tips & Warnings

• A few tips, in order to steer the sled drag your hand on the ground on the side of the slide in which direction you want to go. If you need the sled to go right drag your hand on the right side of the sled. Make sure you have a good thick pair of gloves when you do this or you will wear holes in your gloves after a day. The person up front might want to wear some goggles because snow and ice will fly in your face. This sled goes very fast and has lasted two years. Have fun and be safe.
• Please be very careful and use caution when using the sled. Once it gets going you wont be able to stop it, so make sure the coast is clear of little kids before you go. This took a big chunk out of my heel and we were just dragging it behind us.