Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 31

Notice the chains between the second and third shanty. The chains can be quickly hooked and unhooked in order to change locations.

A simple modified chain will allow you to pull more than one shanty behind an all-terrain vehicle.

Tow bars can be expensive and often aren’t readily available with many models, particularly models that are more than a few years old. While I’m not recommending that these tow bars replace a tow hitch for someone pulling a shanty behind a snowmobile at 60 mph, they are great in a pinch or when you need to run two or more shanties behind one unit. A few dollars of stainless steel hardware, two 18-inch pieces of small diameter chain, four carabineers and 3 feet of tubing are required. 1. Look for the best flat spot in the sled that has few ridges or gaps, typically 1/3 of the way from the top of the sled. Drill two, ¼-inch holes on the outside edges as if you were installing a tow hitch. The front of the shanty often has these holes drilled for use of the pull rope. If you are planning on using a factory tow bar or know that you will be having your shanty towed behind another, drill the holes in the rear. If you will be towing a friend’s shanty, drill the holes in the rear, as he will need to do the same steps on the front of his shanty. 2. Place large eyebolts in each hole that you drilled but not before placing an oversized washer on the front of the eye bolt. Also, use an oversized washer on the rear with a nyloc nut. On larger models or ones that will go through extreme conditions, you may find it better to use a piece of aluminum bar stock on the inside of the shanty for reinforcement.

Poor man’s tow bar and chain

Large eyebolts on the front of a shanty allow it to run in-line with another shanty or to attach a rope for pulling by hand.

3. Get chain heavy enough to carry your load, yet not so large that it looks like a tugboat anchor. Common sense goes a long way in getting the best size. Approximately 18 inches long in length works best, because it is long enough to not smash into the shanty in front of it, yet short enough to not cause it to sway out to the side too much when moving. 4. A clear section of aquarium tubing that is big enough to accommodate the chain works best. An old section of garden hose will also work in many cases. Regardless of which is used, use a utility knife to slice all the way down the tube, allowing the chain to be tucked inside. A few wraps of electrical or duct tape will ensure it stays on the chain. The tubing keeps the chains both stiff and approximately the same distance from the shanty, even on turns. Clip the carabineers at each end of the chain. You now have a way to tow more than one shanty with one machine. While I have been doing these two modifications to my shanties for years, I will quickly admit that I do them a little different each and every time. The end result is much the same. Often, I end up using something I have on hand to save a few bucks. Put some thought into it before you start.

For more on ice or winter fishing, go to www.fishandboat.com/ice.htm.
PFBC website: www.fishandboat.com Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • January/February 2013

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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013

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