Leveling Drag

This Leveling Drag looks funny, but it actually works great.  It's 10' long and 4½' wide.  The main frame is made out of 2x4's, with four 2x4's set at an angle that scrap off the high spots and fill in the low spots on the trail.  There are cutting teeth in the middle that are raised and lowered with an electric actuator, a white plastic scoop on the back that collects excess snow, and a comb that is connected to the drag with hinges so it follows the trail surface. 

The track setter uses a fiberglass rod for down force, which also flexes to the sides to allow the track setter to track smoothly on curves.  It's mounted on a square tube on the drag so it can be quickly and easily positioned anywhere across back of the drag.  The orange rod on the track setter can be seen from the Skandic and allows quick and accurate adjustments of the down force on the track setter.

When pulling this drag, the front tended to lift off the ground, so I made a "Z" Tongue to connect to the Skandic.  This pulls the drag from a lower angle and keeps the front on the snow.

The runners on the sides stick down into the snow to keep the drag tracking straight.

This drag not only levels the trail, but because it works the snow 6 times (4 angled 2x4's, a 2x4 under the scoop, and the comb) it packs the trail very tight.

This drag works best:

  • On a tightly packed trail with 2-3" of new cold/dry snow

  • After several snow falls and groomings that result in a soft trail

"Z" Tongue

Front View

Runners

Track Setter Up

Track Setter Down

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