Bobsled run

Thomas · Dec 24, 2001

Re: Bobsled run advice needed

Cut back the brush pile little so you don't hit a stick and more snow,than slope the banks,and if you can water the banks down when the temp drops..weather station calling for 30's again tomorrow.

Your starting to scare me a tad Pete,for this is only third day of winter./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

If you get all of the bugs work out on the run,maybe the X-Game would be intrested in filming./w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

You gotta send picture for sure now.

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

TWINKLE_TOES · Dec 24, 2001

Re: Bobsled run advice needed

Pete,
But what to do?!?

Consider additional insurance? /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Al

MarkV · Dec 24, 2001

Re: Bobsled run advice needed

Bobsled run advise on a tractor forum, who’d a thunk./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif OK Pete, I vote for the first annual tractor bobsled races at your place next year. I’ll bring refreshment./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Now that I think about it, it may take a lot of refreshments for me to take the tractor down the run./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Happy Holidays Ya’ll

MarkV

HR_Mutt · Dec 24, 2001

Re: Bobsled run advice needed

(use the chainsaw to cut a swath through the brush pile) or to bring in lots more snow and build up the banks of the curve.
You ask an easy question/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif.A big tractor project/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif or park it and run a chainsaw/w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif Have Fun!
regards
Mutt

gordon · Dec 24, 2001

Re: Bobsled run advice needed

Thomas hit the nail on the head. Build it up to excess and then cut it back some. Make the curve more gentle than you think it needs to be. Remember when looking at it, sure does seem easy to make. But as speed it's a different story.

Then apply alittle water---let freeze---then you will be hauling serious butt. Take a bucket full of water, tractor bucket will work if you have to. Then use a brush and sprinkle it on the curve. Let harden and reapply. You will be the talk of the mountian./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

When I was a kid and lived in New England we built some great runs. Now this Christmas wont be white unless something drastically changes over night. Will get rain by the looks of it no snow. So have fun.

Merry Christmas
Gordon

Boondox · Jan 10, 2002

Okay, a photo at last. It was a cloudy day with flurries, so I couldn't get a shot of the entire course. But here is the Wife being chased by our pup.

Boondox · Jan 10, 2002

Another pic of two dogs in hot pursuit as the Wife exits the curve.

MossRoad · Jan 10, 2002

Alright! Action photos! Looks like a blast.

Thomas · Jan 11, 2002

/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif Looks like loads of fun.
If the corners become ice cover,you might shoot out into the pucker brush...higher the corner more speed.

I bet the pup loves every moment chasing you folks down the run.

Be safe and send more pictures..w/you this time going all out. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

RPM · Jan 11, 2002

Re: Bobsled run advice needed

Sounds like Boondox could use a sprayer - nice fine water spray across the bobsled run would ice it up nicely!!

Patrick

DaveM · Jan 11, 2002

Hi Pete,

Hey, that looks great and has to be a blast!

We don't have a lot of cleared land and our best hills are in the woods. I found a great sled last year made in VT. Have you seen one of these <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.madriverrocket.com/>http://www.madriverrocket.com/</A>? They're really made for use in powder put if your run was "closed" enough you might be able to use it there too. You kneel in them, sort of like kayaking and as long as your're in powder they're very maneuverable. Pretty exciting as you carve your way down thru the trees!

Dave

Boondox · Jan 11, 2002

Dave -- We tried a rocket, but you're right -- they're much better in powder! Wild ride, but absolutely no steering on packed stuff or ice! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

If this was not a tourist town I'd be willing to extend the bobsled run another half a mile thru the forest to the top of our hill, but liability concerns and the sheer idiocy of some unwanted visitors forced me to limit the run to an area I have visual control over.

I guess it shows that tourism isn't exactly my favorite institution, huh? /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Pete

DaveM · Jan 14, 2002

I hear ya Pete. Next thing you'd know someone from MA would be blocking your driveway and using your bobsled run. Heck, they'd probably use your sled too. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Dave

SmokyMtnMan · Jan 30, 2002

ok, i'm curious......i have just the right terrain and space for one of those here in mts. of western NC.....just don't have the snow yet...usually we'll get a couple of good ones though in Feb or early March...about all my bones can take anyway, but i'm wondering.......uh.......have you got a 'ski-lift' designed yet? some kind of rope tow.......good use for the Farmi Wench maybe?

hayden · Jan 31, 2002

I tried my winch on a sled run. My kids loved it, but it didn't make sense to me. Regardless, they had fun which is what counts.

The problem is how to get the winch cable down the hill so you can then winch someone back up. They ended up holding the cable and dragging is down behind them on the sled. I had to help pay out the cable to minimize the drag so they'd get a good run.

We've talked about a line that runs down the hill to a pully then back up. You could pull on the line to haul the cable down the hill, then winch is all back, kids and all.

John_Mc · Jan 31, 2002

good use for the Farmi Wench maybe? 

If I had a Farmi "Wench" I could think of better uses for her than pulling me back up the slope./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif Though my wife might not appreciate the "extracurricular" activity.

Boondox · Jan 31, 2002

With the curves built into the course, there's no way I could use the winch. Way too long anyway. So what I did was start the run near the road, bank off the pond's berm, then the chicken coop and log pile, and curve back toward the road at the end. So the Wife (Wench) sleds down and I drive the ATV down the road to pick her up. Works for us!

Pete

Thomas · Jan 31, 2002

By the sounds you could use a small rope tow setup,maybe in the lines of a small motor w/a gear reduction transmission.
The next I visit the old skiway I snap a photo of JD w/a belt running of the side pto to a tire rim that driven from the pto,and at the end of the sled or ski run another tire rim setup to return the rope.
Its a home made device and works will,except if one get tangle up in the rope. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif