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Building an XC drag...
Topic Started: Sep 28 2008, 10:24 AM (1,049 Views)
couchsachraga
Advanced Operator
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A likely not-so-quick question for those of you that have built your own home made drags - are there any things you've learned you'd like to share, especially is there a good angle to have the packer bar at. I know a curved unit like on a big groomer is preferable, but with the materials I'll be working with I don't know if that's possible.

I'm hoping to make a cross between a Ginzu and a Tidd Tech (in other words, fixed angle packer bar like a ginzu, with some sort of teeth I can lower independently, but the teeth will not be knives).

I've made home-made units before, but they were simple (bed springs with snow comb attached usually), as well as a retrofit if an old snowmobile trail groomer (works great, but it is really heavier than needed).

I have access to a bunch of metal 2x4's, and a bit of 2" tube.

I'll be pulling it with an Alpine I, and am looking to make a 6 or 7' wide implement.


I'm also hoping to make a "wing groomer" that I can lift up to the back of the Alpine when not in use (see Dooda's pages for my inspiration), perhaps with flaps that fold and lock down for added width when needed (and added weight on the remainder when not).

Any ideas of what you would do / have done / would do differently in the future would be greatly appreciated!
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tolson
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Advanced Operator
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I've built several drags like you're talking about. One is almost identical to the original Tidd Tech Trail Tenderizer, and a couple Wings like Warren's from Dooda (I got the idea from him!)

Check out http://www.timmshilltrail.com/grooming/drags/drags.htm.

The 4' Wing (red) I built for someone else who had some narrow classic only trails.

The Wing (black) is 4' wide with 1' flaps that fold up. Exactly as you descibed - 6' wide for low snow, 4' wide with the flaps up for deeper snow. I mostly use the Wing like a roller - when the snow is too deep to pull the Tidd Tech.

My experience - the Wing does an Ok job, but doesn't leave as nice a trail as the my Tidd Tech. It doesn't renovate (I tried that, but it got really complicated and HEAVY, and then it was like pulling a TT). It's great for deep snow when I would otherwise use just the snowmobile, and by keeping it lightweight, I can lift it with levers on the back of my Skandic and back up (to clean up intersections, etc).

I've modified my Tidd Tech quite a bit, but haven't updated the pictures. I removed the solid teeth and replaced them with spring loaded teeth like the Ginzu. The teeth are raised and lower like the Tenderizer by tilting the bed. Not ideal, but it works pretty good. I've been thinking about a fixed angle bed, but that makes raising and lowering the teeth much more complicated.

My Tidd Tech also has flaps (I call them wings) that fold up inside the profile of the Tidd Tech to cross a narrow bridge on my trails.

For a fixed angle bed, keep it pretty low. The Ginzu bed is a little too steep, and it tends to plow thru deep snow and load up pretty fast. The G2 seems to have a lower angle and the slow flows thru better. I'll measure the angle on our ski clubs Ginzu and let you know that angle as a guide.

The Wing would be easier to build, but I'd built the Ginzu type drag first. It's much more functional. Once you've got that working, think about when you'd use the Wing and build that if you see the need.

If you want updated pictures, let me know and I'll get the website updated.

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arly
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Advanced Operator
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We’re in the process of building a replacement for our YTS drag which we just posted FS here. We’re not doing anything radically different from Yellowstone’s original design but making it a tad wider, adding a electric actuator, having plastic (UHMW & HDPE) where it slides on snow, adding skags and a few other improvemts that fit our needs better. How’s your project coming along?? Our new one “should” will be built in the next month.

Hope you've got some snow!
Edited by arly, Dec 1 2008, 10:10 AM.
http://keweenawnordic.org/ [/url] keweenawnordicskiclub.blogspot.com [/url]
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couchsachraga
Advanced Operator
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For better or worse I've been spending time on trail clearing, and now grooming, instead of building.

I've talked to a lot of folks, and have a really good idea of what I want to build...it's finding the time and help to do so now. I'm really wishing I had a welder so I could slowly work away at it in the evenings. I have a socket (220) wired for one, but right now funds don't allow it (well, they might, but then I'd have no $ for the groomer!). Another friend who wants to build one as well, and is an expert welder, is excited about it getting started, but I've been unable to get him to agree to an evening or weekend to finalize plans and figure what we need to find / purchase still.

When we finally get started on it I'll post images, don't worry:) Until then I've got an old drag that's working pretty good, at least on my more level trails. It's terribly heavy though, so it limits where I'll take it.


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