Weight sled I built
 

A member was asking about some easy do it yourself equipment. I built this sled basically to show that something can be built entirely out of everyday items that almost everyone has access too. After the fact I wish I would have done a simple strap setup for pulling the sled but the handle works well for some things too. I guess it depends on preference. It is a fairly simple design that could be switched aorund slightly to accomodate two spots for plates or even just a taller main center one.

Figured I would post up the sled I built today. Got a few hints from a picture I saw and I came up with htis:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...Tamiyauy/2.jpg
Materials, roughly 30 dollars

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...Tamiyauy/1.jpg
Two 2x6
One 2x4
Two 1.5"x3' flat steel
Box of 3.5 inch coated deck screws
Package of 1.5" screws
One 1.5' diameter 6" Galvanized pipe
Floor Flange

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...Tamiyauy/4.jpg
Two 2x6 at 3'

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...Tamiyauy/3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...Tamiyauy/5.jpg
I cut a 35 degree angle for mine, whatever works I guess.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...Tamiyauy/6.jpg
Four 2x4 at 20"

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...Tamiyauy/7.jpg
2x6 at 20"

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...Tamiyauy/8.jpg
Mark your centers on two of the 2x4 peices and place your 20" 2x6 in the middle

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...Tamiyauy/9.jpg
Assemble with a second 2x6 on top of your frame.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...amiyauy/10.jpg
Should look about like this

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...amiyauy/11.jpg
Cut your steel peices to length for the bottom of your runners for protection

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...amiyauy/20.jpg
Layout the holes and center punch them, doesnt have to be perfect I guess but Im picky

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...amiyauy/19.jpg
Drilled and countersunk to fit my chosen screws, attatch to bottom of runners.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...amiyauy/26.jpg
Taped the rails to the side plates of the sled to keep them in place while pre drilling holes for the screws

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...amiyauy/27.jpg
Screws in place

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...iyauy/12-1.jpg
Center up the Flange and screw it in. I also added another 20" 2x6 underneath the center frame to support the side plates but probably isnt necesary.

Ok so now comes my chosen rigging and handle setup. I spent a ridiculous 52 dollars on this junk, half of which I could have probably found in my garage but again Im very picky and I wanted this to look decent and everything match.

Two 1" coupler
Two 1" by 6" pipe
Two 1" floor flanges
Tape
Four 1/4x20 bolts, one is about an inch longer than the others, youll see why below
Four 1/4x20 nylon lock nuts
Eight 1/4" washers
Four slightly larger diameter washers, same 1/4 ID
Two sections of 10' chain, I chose some chrome 820lb load bearing, way overkill but hey it looks tough right?
Two master links
Two big I bolts with 2 nuts, 2 washers, 2 lock washers per I bolt.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...amiyauy/13.jpg
Materials for the Handle.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...amiyauy/14.jpg
Bolts and nuts for assembly of handle.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...amiyauy/15.jpg
Something like this

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...amiyauy/16.jpg
I threw in some nylon spacers I had laying around just to space the chain out and make everything line up perfect, not necesary at all I guess.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...amiyauy/17.jpg
I wrapped my handles in tape, the end caps are the 1" couplers which I really only added so that when you drop the handle on pavement it doesnt get all messed up.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...amiyauy/18.jpg
Handle done

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...amiyauy/21.jpg
layout and drill the holes for the Ibolts. I chose to use two load points because I used wood for the construction of the sled. I didnt want all of the force placed on one bolt and one point on the 2x4. Probably wouldnt have mattered but hey, piece of mind right.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...amiyauy/22.jpg
Self explanetary, nut, lock washer, washer, then same on other side.. Obviously measureing top of I bolt to the 2x4 to ensure they are both the same so you have even pull.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...amiyauy/24.jpg
I bolts installed

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...amiyauy/25.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...amiyauy/28.jpg
Connect chain sections to your I bolts with the master links, i had to use 4 master links total since the small ones wont go over the I bolt and the big ones wont go through my chain so I had use 2 on each side like a reducer.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...amiyauy/29.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...amiyauy/30.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...amiyauy/36.jpg
Done staining

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...amiyauy/37.jpg
Always nice to step back and admire a finished project while enjoying a yummy protein shake... Wish it was a Heineken.. :)



Not sure why I included a step by step as Im sure there are alot of home made sleds that far surpass mine but I just figured I would throw the specs in. Maybe someone will think its cool and make one someday.

gr8 job Marc, it is a very cool sled!

Looks sweet. I built a low box for box squatting out of plywood, though my project wasn't as polished :)

You should market those man, I would buy one!

Elite FTS Makes one for a good price that could be had for only 50 bucks more than it costs to make this thing and ship it, so Im thinking there wouldnt be much of a market haha It was pretty time consuming too but for someone who has some materials laying around and what not its a fun weekend project.

I bought a new sled off Ebay a few years back and I think it was about $80 shipped, though I may be a bit off. This was a custom job, and I don't see any currently on Ebay.

Yea If I had a welder I would be all up for building and shipping sleds for like 75 bucks. Its really so somple to make the steel ones that I couldn't see charging any more than that. Another thing I would like to build would be the Prowlers. A friend of mine who owns the gym I train at just bought the Elite FTS E.Prowler and that thing is sweet.

sweet sled!!! pass the heinekens, and lets pull that 'ish around

that sled is awesome i may build one this weekend.