How to Build a Sled From a Pair of Old Skis and a Wheelbarrow (page 2 of 2)

Attach a wheelbarrow bucket to an old pair of skis to make a custom sled to hit the slopes in style.

By Timothy Dahl, Built By KidsMore in Outdoors

All About…

Seal Base and Risers

Use a water sealant to treat the wood risers and base. This will delay the wood from rotting and keep it watertight. Let it dry overnight.

Attach Base to Wheelbarrow

The plywood base serves as a solid foundation to the ski sled. Using the pre-cut holes in your wheelbarrow bucket, mark the plywood below and drill holes, then attach it to the plywood base using your existing wheelbarrow hardware or the correct-sized bolts. Ours were 5/16".

Remove Excess Bolt Length

Using a saw with a metal blade or an oscillating tool, cut down the bolts, leaving about half an inch.

Attach Risers

Stack two risers over the holes where the bindings on the skis were attached. Using your deck screws, you can try to tap into the pre-existing holes, but we ended up tapping new holes into the skis, which is probably a stronger bond. Use used 5 screws to attach each set of risers.

Place Bucket Onto Skis

Now it's finally coming together. Place your bucket (seat) onto the skis (runners) and check the alignment of the back of the skis and front of the skis to make sure they are even and straight. If you’d like to control the speed a bit, you can angle the toes of the skis in slightly.

Screw Down Bucket

Attach the bucket to the risers using your deck screws.

Add the Handle

Drill two holes in the front of the bucket and thread your poly rope through them. This will serve as both a handle to hold while riding as well as a way to pull the sled when you are climbing back up the hill.

Hit the Slopes

Sledding is fun, but it can also be a dangerous activity. Use this sled at your own risk; we recommend wearing a helmet. Each time you have finished sledding, check the sled for worn-out parts or cracks in the wood or skis, and make any necessary repairs before using the sled again.

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