Snowsled

Description

When snow is thin or non-existent, or you need to cross large areas of hard packed snow and ice, then wheels may be the answer. (Please don't be tempted to drag a pulk over snow-free ground; it will ruin the bottom of the pulk and significantly increase friction).

The wheeled pulk system was developed for these situations, using a pair of 7-1/2" (19 cms) pneumatic wheels that give ground clearance of about 8-1/2" (22 cms). The wheels can be hinged up when hauling on snow is again possible. The system is attached to the pulk at the beginning of a journey (bolted under the upper flange) and left on for the duration.

Requirements

When wheels are needed, a rigid hauling shaft must be used. Whereas on snow, the shaft is free to pivot in a vertical plane, for wheels it must be fixed. This is achieved by placing another pin in the system, as shown, through an extra pre-drilled hole (but see note 1. below).

A required part of the system is the base board support inside the pulk which may of course be needed anyway because of a higher load being hauled.

Load adjustment

Careful packing of the load is required to arrange,

1. That the centre of gravity is over the wheels,
2. that the heaviest parts of the load are over the wheels and,
3. that there is a small positive load at the harness when the hauling shaft is attached. This can be achieved by balancing the loaded pulk before the shaft is fitted. The shaft, when fitted, will then provide sufficient ‘nose’ weight at the harness.

Total weight of wheel system (pair of wheels, wheel and cross supports) : 3.15 Kgs (7.0lbs)

Maximum design loading when using wheels + base board: 20kgs (44lbs)

Note 1. This hole is not usually pre-drilled unless wheels are ordered, or it is requested to be done on purchase. However, it can subsequently be drilled by the user, but is awkward – please phone to discuss.

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