A little progress. I changed the width to 42" to better match the stance of the skis. This is just cut and mocked up. I'll add a lot more 2x2 structure. Haven't scored the plywood for the floor yet.

 

It seems like I get only minutes per week to work on this off-season project, but in the last week I scored a free crate lid from the same company to use as the floor. It's one sheet of 11/32" plywood sheathing with 1X4 frame and supports. I also grabbed a 38"x82"x1" steel tube frame from a neighborhood Earth Day cleanup that will be used below the floor and create the rear bumper. I cut 12" off the legs of the 4 vinyl stacking chairs ($20/set) and painted 2 of the frames purple. Arctic Cat tail light $6 shipped to my door.

 

Greetings,

Niece job so far on the cutter. keep me posted on progrees with pic of completed job. You may have convinced me to try one also.

 

At this stage, I thought I'd mock up my hodgepodge of scavenged parts and convince myself that it's going to come together. I grabbed a steel headboard from a dumpster that makes a great roll bar. I'd like to slide the axle a few inches back to the roll bar position. I'm rethinking the windshield...considering not thermoforming a curve and framing a flat windshield and hinging it across the hood to fold down for storage (like a Jeep CJ). Obviously there are some details to work out, but I think I'm headed in the right direction. Just about $80 spent so far.

Thanks, dakota...stay tuned.

 

your cutter a beauty:

What axle did you find for skis. Like the rool bar, I might look for another one and enclose the top to keep grandkids warmer and dry. I would be pulling behind the atv with tracks which throw a fair bit of snow. Some time when you find time could you give me all the measurements of your? Thanks again and great job.

dakota239

 

Here are the dimensions of my cutter, which I'm now calling the Prowler EXT. All the angles are 45's except for the back, which is approx 72-degrees. It's 42" wide. The axle is from a 1972 SnowCo boat trailer, 45" wide with 3 leaf springs (turned upside-down). My 1971 MirroCraft Ski-N-Troll now rides on a 1993 galvanized trailer. I'll attach the springs to the skis using steel channel. Weighed all my pieces and parts tonight, totals just over 200 pounds. 4 children should add 200-250 pounds of passenger load. Not bad, conidering I've towed 700 pounds off the bumper before (ZR and rider).

 

Thanks for the reply. Is all the plwood you have sides etc. of 11/32' plywood? Be great to see her all painted up. You must have cut the boat axle down some . Thanks again.

dakota239

 

Seems be 11/32 plywood. Trailer axle is unmodified. Trailer frame is 45" wide for 14 foot aluminum boat. My plan is to solid gray stain ($4 oops gallon) the whole body then paint black. Alsopicked up a purple leopard print polyester shower curtian for panel upholstery.

 

i would put some sort of skag on the skis or that thing will slide all over in corners

 

Yes, 400LE it will have the some kind of wear bar. Not as easy to find el cheapo skeg as it used to be. I'd get them for $3 in the early 90's.

 

Going on vacation with the family to the UK tomorrow, so not much progress this week or for the next two weeks. Just an update on some parts and such. Below is a pic of one of the fenders off the 1972 SnowCo trailer. I'll grind off the spring mounts and weld them onto flat stock which will be bolted onto the ski and to which the skeg will be bolted from the underside. Also salvaged two shocks from a discarded stair stepper...looked like vintage Cat ski shocks to me. The other pic is my sled hitch I'm going to use. It's a vintage clamp-on bumper hitch my grandfather had. I took it apart, flipped it upside-down, and bolted it back together. I will have to add some sides to bolt it to the tunnel under the bumper. By the time I'm done with it, It will look like it should've always been there. The factory bumper on the ZL's and ZR's of this era were a joke, the OEM light duty hitch is a bigger joke, and the price of the heavy duty hitch is laughable. Last thing...I picked up a $5 OOPS gallon of purple porch paint from Lowe's (think 70's Cat logo purple) so looks like it will be more purple than black.

 

I suggest some 1/2" round stock for the skegs.
You can bend it fairly easily and just weld bolts to it to mount it on the skis.

 

this post is a few years old. how'd the cutter turn out??? i'm making one myself too!