I’ve never added Hyfax to my Otter houses. I’m looking for opinions from those who have? How easy is the installation process, and did the sleds seem to glide even better through snow?? Are there any downfalls from doing so?? I had heard at one point adding Hyfax might make the sled more prone to tipping should you catch a sheet polished ice turn slighly sideways and then hit snow.
Thanks for sharing your experience. 
Installation is super easy.
You make 60 mile round trip runs day after day. You need hyfax on your sleds. No question about it.
Do they glide better or are they tippy with hyfax installed? I can’t say I’ve noticed that.
I put them on my Otter years ago. They hold up well, and any wear isn’t happening to the sled. I think it pulls easier under some conditions. Less surface area in contact with the snow.
Ice already? Jeez….
Thanks guys!! I’ll check back this evening. The RR is calling my name, and I need to dig out some tackle!! 
I picked up a set for my new frabill portable since it seems the sled is not has durable as my old clam. I havent got them on yet but the directions seem very easy. I think you would notice a difference pulling on the bare ice but if there was any snow it wouldnt make a difference since they dont stick out very much from the bottom of the sled.
Chris, I have always run hyfax on my Otter’s for over 10 years now. Absolutely love them! I have a Magnum and cottage Otter. Here in Iowa there are years where we have little snow and years with a ton of snow. I feel the added protection on the bottom is worth it. I pull my shacks with an ATV and have no worries pulling my shack long distances across roads and other rough conditions. They also protect your tub on rough ice conditions.
Pretty easy to put on… I recommend putting them on with your canvas/bars taken off.
The only minor down side I have seen is the screws/washers holding the hyfax on tend to rust over time when you get water inside your sled. It doesn’t hurt anything but a simple fix would be to swap out the hardware with stainless steel.
I highly recommend putting them on and will definitely prolong the life of your shack.
Good luck!
installing the hyfax is super easy. only thing i’d recommend is installing them before you install the tent.
you can put the sled on a workbench or trailer to install the hyfax and not have to work on your knees. also helps to have two people, not necessary, but goes faster drilling and putting the nuts/bolts on.
Well worth it! I love that the wear on the sled is reduced. Makes things last longer!
HyFax or go home !!!
best investment to protect your Otter or any other sled..
I second the two person job comment. You’ll find your sleds track better and last 4 times as long. On one breezy day last year after installing the hyfax my sled actually pulled me home.
Can you use them on other than Otter sled ?
It can be done affordable to. I used the old Hyfax off my sled last year when I replaced them with new. Use stainless steel srews nuts and washers. Be sure to countersink screws on bottom side.
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Can you use them on other than Otter sled ?
Absolutely Fireline.
Thank you guys!! I do believe I’ll be adding Hyfax this season to our portables. Hey Andy…….Your experienced at this huh!! 
I guess you’ve got a reason to be here first ice now!! 
OK……Best place to get the Hyfax??
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OK……Best place to get the Hyfax??
If you want to get a new ice rod or two Thorne Bros stock the hyfax kits. 
Hey Chris,,,,
I do believe you can order direct from Otter Outdoors as well..
Thanks Men!! I’m on it!!
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Thank you guys!! I do believe I’ll be adding Hyfax this season to our portables. Hey Andy…….Your experienced at this huh!!
Search team will be ready at first Ice
This is a tuff one for me Chris, I have two old otter sleds that I have had for over 10 years one has hyfax and the other is plan old otter bottom. I have put both sled to a Superior pounding here on the big lake. The sled with the hyfax is in just a small hair in better condition from my other one? I have put many miles on both and there still going strong.
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This is a tuff one for me Chris, I have two old otter sleds that I have had for over 10 years one has hyfax and the other is plan old otter bottom. I have put both sled to a Superior pounding here on the big lake. The sled with the hyfax is in just a small hair in better condition from my other one? I have put many miles on both and there still going strong.
I understand Jon. Probably why I too have’t used them yet. Still as I’m looking at the new insulated house from Otter I figured it I’m going to do it this would be the best time to install.
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Thank you guys!! I do believe I’ll be adding Hyfax this season to our portables. Hey Andy…….Your experienced at this huh!!
Search team will be ready at first Ice
Sounds Great Andy!! BTW don’t skimp on your Ice rod this year come first ice!! I’d hate to have to show pics of what you snapped your rod off on………AGAIN.
FWIW –
I have an otter sled with somewheres between 3500-4000 miles on it. 90% of that is lake trout fishing in Ontario. The homemade Hy-Fax I put on it have kept it going. Several people I fish with had sleds with holes worn through from towing without hyfax. The main thing we discovered was that towing over snow and ice will virtually NEVER wear out that sled, but if you add portages and road crossings into the mix, the bottoms will wear pretty quickly.
T
I put the factory hyfax runners on my Eskimo QF II. Two people assembly would of been easier and I ended up heating one end of the runners to bend it to the shape of the sled better. On ice it makes it slicker but on snow it doesn’t help in my opinion. What it really does and makes it worth it is the saving of the bottom of the sled.
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I put the factory hyfax runners on my Eskimo QF II. Two people assembly would of been easier and I ended up heating one end of the runners to bend it to the shape of the sled better.
I have the same shack with Hyfax…..
How did you heat them to bend them??
I would like to do this also………
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I put the factory hyfax runners on my Eskimo QF II. Two people assembly would of been easier and I ended up heating one end of the runners to bend it to the shape of the sled better.
I have the same shack with Hyfax…..
How did you heat them to bend them??
I would like to do this also………
I used one of those cylinder type propane torches.
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I used one of those cylinder type propane torches.
Thanks Bear 
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I used one of those cylinder type propane torches.
Thanks Bear
I was wondering why you would need to heat the hifax to put it on one of the quick flip sleds, so I went to the Eskimo web site and found the instructions. Funny enough they are just the same as the instructions for my Otter.
Quote from the Eskimo web site
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PRO FISH 300/ESKAPE 300/QUICKFLIP 3 (69128) PRO FISH
250/ESKAPE 200/ESKAPE 400/QUICKFLIP 2 (69195)
To assemble the tracking kit to the sled, start from the front (sloped
end) of the sled.
1. Place one end of the plastic runner against the front lip of the
sled.
2. Drill a hole in the sled using a 13/64” size drill, use the last hole in
the plastic runner as a guide. It is best to have a second person
hold the plastic runner while the first person drills the hole.
3. Insert one 10-24 x 3/4” Phillips pan head bolt in the hole from the
bottom side of the sled placing a washer and 10-24 nut on the inside
of the sled. Tighten bolt. Be sure not to overtighten bolts, this
may cause the plastic to deform.
4. Using the end of the plastic as a lever, bend the plastic runner to
the contour of the sled until you are able to drill the second hole
in the runner. Keep the plastic runner centered on the rib of the
sled. Make sure that your fingers do not get pinched between the
runner and the sled.
5. Drill the second hole and insert the bolt through the hole from the
bottom of the sled as in Step 3. Do not overtighten the bolt, it
may deform the plastic.
6. Repeat Step 4 and Step 5 until all of the bolts are in place.
7. Repeat Step 1 through 6 until all runners are installed.
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I was wondering why you would need to heat the hifax to put it on one of the quick flip sleds
I bought the shack used with the hifax already installed….
My issue is that at the rear of the tub the runners extend about 3″ beyond the bottom….the ends then make it hard to drag it backwards…
I just want bend these ends to more follow the contour of the tub.
With only 3″ to work with I figured that some heat would be needed.
Cut them off with a sawsall.
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Cut them off with a sawsall.
But then it still will catch things (like the carpet in my truck).
Bending them up is no biggie 
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