Santa sleigh

chuck machinist · Nov 25, 2023

I want to build a Santa Sleigh to pull behind my Case DC-4 for the neighborhood. I want to use 10" tires with a front turning set of wheels. Big enough to put Santa and Mrs Claus in. Any help would be appreciated Chuck Machinist

Hemmjo · Nov 25, 2023

Have you done any searching on the internet.

chuck machinist · Nov 25, 2023

I did , but I did not search hard enough! Thanks for the Ideas! I want to build one and then rent it out. CM

John in Mich · Nov 25, 2023

Years ago I built one on an old tiltbed 6x8' snowmobile trailer bed. I had room to mount some 3' tall evergreen trees. Behind the passenger seat i had a small generator to run lights on the slay and on the trees. Be creative and have fun.

rustred · Nov 25, 2023

Use a farm wagon. Then u could put Santa and Mrs.
Clause and all the helpers on it. Mr and Mrs. In the front
seat and the elves in the back doing their thing in the
work shop.

db4600 · Nov 25, 2023

Up the road in Freeport theres a young family that has a
zoo. In a younger life I was employed as a Reindeer
handler because they were running three teams and
sleighs every weekend from Black Friday until new years.
There might even be blackmail photos of me in an elf
costume when Rosedale hired them to bring in Santa. The
point is we were running more parking lots at nurseries,
malls, and Minnesota Zoo than snow covered laws or
fields.
They employed the Amish to fabricate their three sleighs
with knock off wheels that tucked under the frame. Two
wheels in front and a steer tag wheel in the rear.
I know youve been to the Midwest and I know youre a
talented fabricator and I heard you once wrote a letter to
Santa so I got faith in you completing this endeavor.

This isnt their sled, but a very similar design.

Paul swpa · Nov 25, 2023

Those pictures below look pretty neat. Looks like they built the sleigh then mounted it on a boat or jet ski trailer. Would be easy enough to do if you have the trailer handy. Simply screw the bottom down on the wood bunks to secure it (or bolt it).

Stephen Newell · Nov 26, 2023

I think I would be inclined to make a low profile cart and just strap the sleigh to it.

chuck machinist · Nov 26, 2023

(quoted from post at 05:56:30 11/26/23) Up the road in Freeport theres a young family that has a
zoo. In a younger life I was employed as a Reindeer
handler because they were running three teams and
sleighs every weekend from Black Friday until new years.
There might even be blackmail photos of me in an elf
costume when Rosedale hired them to bring in Santa. The
point is we were running more parking lots at nurseries,
malls, and Minnesota Zoo than snow covered laws or
fields.
They employed the Amish to fabricate their three sleighs
with knock off wheels that tucked under the frame. Two
wheels in front and a steer tag wheel in the rear.
I know youve been to the Midwest and I know youre a
talented fabricator and I heard you once wrote a letter to
Santa so I got faith in you completing this endeavor.
<img src=https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cvphotos/cvphoto167492.png>

This isnt their sled, but a very similar design.

Well It is too late to have it ready for this xmas, so ill take these ideas and start building one for next year! OH! and its is about time to tell that story again before XMAS! Thanks for the pic! Chuck Machinist

RobCons · Nov 26, 2023

I made one 8 years ago and donated to our town for use with our Christmas tree. I based the dimensions on our golf cart. No wheels but they could easily be added. We use it every year at the tree. Santa comes out at the tree lighting and people stand in line for pictures. The sleigh has been a really big hit.

Kansas4010 · Nov 26, 2023

I would lean towards making a passable
sleigh and strapping it down to a two wheel
trailer. Especially when you mention
renting it out. My concern with a four
wheel wagon is how long before someone that
rents it turns to short or tries to back up
and hits the tongue and screws up the front
axle. The other thing is a regular two
wheel trailer is more roadworthy. I can
imagine someone renting your sleigh and
taking it home several miles away probably
not even thinking about driving slower.
That's just my two cents.

DPittman · Nov 26, 2023

Morning Chuck. Our family built one for a Christmas parade bout 20 years ago and keeping it short it
was 5-6 weeks work for a 20 minute parade. Had it built on a hay wagon, built the sides from old
paneling I had laying around, red and white paint, some lights run off a generator and the whole thing
turned out pretty good.

We went so far as rigging up reindeer on two tractors that were set up on a reciprocating assembly to
give the appearance of dashing through the snow .

Tremendous amount of work but good memories, it was disassembled and never put back together
because no wanted to do the work again plus we got in trouble for having a Santa Clause on our float
when they already had one on the fire engine. Good luck

Geo-TH,In · Nov 26, 2023

When I was a kid in the 1950s we had a pony and a one pony open
sleigh.
We also had a buggy with springs and a buckboard that had no springs. Not sure if a buckboard is the correct term for a wagon.
My dad must have found an Amish person upgrading his wheels.

chuck machinist · Nov 26, 2023

Good point . Well taken advice! CM

Cdog2cool4u · Nov 27, 2023

Depending on how complex you wanted to make it. I can see it being feasible to start with a trailer frame from harbor freight or northern tool and build the sleigh off of that.

https://www.northerntool.com/products/ironton-40in-x-48in-steel-utility-trailer-kit-1060-lb-load-capacity-37560

Santa sleigh

chuck machinist

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Hemmjo

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chuck machinist

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John in Mich

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rustred

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db4600

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Paul swpa

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Stephen Newell

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chuck machinist

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RobCons

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