Spare HDPE toboggans?

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Phaestos

Full Member
Sep 8, 2012
374
0
Manchester
Hey guys,

As I'm embarking on my first sub-zero trip, I'll be needing a pulk or toboggan for my kit. Preferably anyway. After hearing the success of the HDPE toboggans used in previous years, I've been looking to them as a preference. I am, however, aware of the cost/awkwardness of obtaining one for new, so was wondering if anyone had one they'd be willing to part with?

Cheers,

Matt
 

Shewie

Mod
Mod
Dec 15, 2005
24,259
24
48
Yorkshire
I have my sheet which I've not done anything with, I mentioned it to the Sub Zero crew and somebody was showing an interest.

If they don't want it you're welcome to have it for what I paid. Let me chase it up and I'll get back to you
 

Teepee

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jan 15, 2010
4,115
5
Northamptonshire
Hey guys,

As I'm embarking on my first sub-zero trip, I'll be needing a pulk or toboggan for my kit. Preferably anyway. After hearing the success of the HDPE toboggans used in previous years, I've been looking to them as a preference. I am, however, aware of the cost/awkwardness of obtaining one for new, so was wondering if anyone had one they'd be willing to part with?

Cheers,

Matt

Ringing round plastic suppliers will be your best bet, there's loads up your way too. Ask for an offcut of either PE1000 or the cheaper PE500. It needs to be at least 4mm thick, preferably 5-6mm and 400mm wide, ours were all 3040 mm long but you could reduce that by 250-500mm to if your kit doesn't include a tent stove.

You can make a pulk out of this stuff too but it will cost more and I wouldn't recommend tackling that unless you have plenty of experience with bending HDPE :)
 

Grey Owl

Tenderfoot
Nov 26, 2006
93
1
50
Canada
voyagetothebay.cauc.ca
I've got 2 fully constructed and thoroughly field tested 3m sleds, as well as parts for a third sitting in the shed. Could likely let one go, or loan out. But it seems as though the shipping might be a little cost prohibitive.

Just make one up, it'll be worth the time and effort.
 

Dave

Hill Dweller
Sep 17, 2003
6,019
9
Brigantia
Hey Phaestos

It's a project I've been thinking of doing over this winter too.

I want something similiar to the 'Snowwalker Toboggans'

I bookmarked some good info here, for when I got around to it.

http://www.wintertrekking.com/community/index.php?topic=1232.0

http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/showthread.php/28437-Toboggans?

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=104802

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=100981

The difference in price betwen the UHMWPE and HDPE is huge.

This was the supplier I was looking at:

http://www.directplasticsonline.co.uk/HDPESheet/Natural/6mm/
 
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Teepee

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jan 15, 2010
4,115
5
Northamptonshire
Nice links Dave :) Mine are a near clone of Hoops on Wintertrekking.

I've found in the UK that we call UHMWPE; PE1000 generally .It's all HDPE anyway. Phoning around got me UHMWPE for much less than your link for HDPE. ;)

The very best stuff to get IMO is Tivar. It's green and impregnated with Molybdenum Disulphide to make it slippier than a Vaselined Eel.
 

Dave

Hill Dweller
Sep 17, 2003
6,019
9
Brigantia
Nice links Dave :) Mine are a near clone of Hoops on Wintertrekking.

I've found in the UK that we call UHMWPE; PE1000 generally .It's all HDPE anyway. Phoning around got me UHMWPE for much less than your link for HDPE. ;)

The very best stuff to get IMO is Tivar. It's green and impregnated with Molybdenum Disulphide to make it slippier than a Vaselined Eel.

Hey thats great! Thanks for the tip. I could see you'd done a lot of research into it.
I didnt know it was all HDPE though.

This link for UHMWPE are about 3x as expensive as HDPE on the directplasticsonline site.

if you know of a cheaper supplier though, dont keep it to yourself. :)

I'll research that Tivar, thanks. I wonder of a used tivar snowmobile ski would make a good sled/pulk? if you could get one 40cm wide.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Used-Afterm...-Ski-PX301-Project-X-Tivar-Skin-/310626944146

these look good, the skins which go under the skidoo ski, but only 10" wide. Now if you could get a used one 16" wide......

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ski-Skin-Sk...pedition-More-Models-04-to-2011-/200968640169
 
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Teepee

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jan 15, 2010
4,115
5
Northamptonshire
Looks a bit small TBH but interesting that they sell it for Snowmobile Ski's.

No secrets on the suppliers mate, I used Locate Supplies after googling plastic suppliers as it was local and I could go and pick it up in the van. I think some of the Manchester lot got theirs locally. Locate Supplies are Peterborough or Scunthorpe. They do Offcuts too but dely on these is a nightmare as they are so big.

SBA plastics in Leicester are also good.
 

Teepee

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Jan 15, 2010
4,115
5
Northamptonshire
Can't you attach hdpe runners to a base of a cheaper material to bring costs down?

By the time the runners are attached, the hardware would probably equal the price for the better quality plastic. This stuff won't glue at all. Add in the flexibilty needed at low temps and it all quickly narrows down to HDPE for bang for the buck.

Runners also add surface area and a gap for ice to build up in.

Ski's and runners are used on pack ice for sleds though.
 

Phaestos

Full Member
Sep 8, 2012
374
0
Manchester
Holy moly that's alot of info! Cheers for the links guys. My big issue is space. I live in a one bedroom flat, which is not ideal for large scale project's like these, hence the desire for a pre-fabricated one. If there's no alternative however, I'll have to look into a way of accommodating space for the project :L
 

Toddy

Mod
Mod
Jan 21, 2005
38,937
4,570
S. Lanarkshire
"The very best stuff to get IMO is Tivar. It's green and impregnated with Molybdenum Disulphide to make it slippier than a Vaselined Eel." Teepee

:lmao: :rofl:
Brilliant imagery there :D....tea/keyboard interface moment :yikes:

M
 

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