Biggest Ice Fishing Sleds In 2023 (Maximize Load Capacity)

UPDATED 08 FEBRUARY 2023

by Robert Ceran

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Are you frustrated by the small size of the majority conventional ice fishing sleds? In that case read on!

In this article we’ll cover the 5 largest ice fishing sleds currently available on the market.

We’ll not only give you the specs of these extra large models, but will also walk you through their key strengths and weaknesses, to help you choose the right one for your purposes.

What are the biggest ice fishing sleds on the market in 2023?

Model	Image	Price	Dimensions	Volume	Capacity	Weight
Otter Pro Sled Large			85” x 44” x 17”	510 L	740 lbs	75 lbs
Pelican Trek Sport 94 Utility Sled			94” x 37” x 17”	480 L	700 lbs	50 lbs
Shappell Jet Sled Magnum			70" x 44" x 15"	410 L	600 lbs	39 lbs
Otter Pro Sled Magnum			75” x 38” x 15”	350 L	510 lbs	42 lbs
Pelican Trek Sport 75 Utility Sled			75” x 31” x 15”	300 L	500 lbs	33 lbs

The table above shows the key specs of the 5 largest ice fishing sleds on the market.

All of these sleds have a maximal cargo load capacity of over 500 pounds, which means you need to tow the sled behind a motorized ice fishing vehicle when it is fully loaded. 

Now let’s take a closer look at each of these models.

Otter Pro Sled Large

This is the largest sled made by Otter, and similar to the other models on this list it needs to be towed by a motorized vehicle when fully loaded. 

This means it’s a great option if you have a snowmobile or ATV to tow your ice fishing sled on the ice. 

And while the Otter Pro Sled Large has the largest load capacity of all the ice sleds covered in this article, it’s actually a bit shorter than the Pelican Trek Sport 94 (though it makes up for this with its greater width).

Due to its extra capacity, you can be sure that this sled can easily hold your ice auger, bucket, rod holders, and all the other ice fishing gear you need for a successful hardwater fishing trip.

When buying a super sized sled like this, you also need to consider how you will transport it on land.

In most cases this means stowing it on the back of a pick up truck, since these models are too large to fit inside a car.

So depending on the size of your pickup truck, either the Otter Pro Sled Large, or the Pelican Trek Sport 94 could be a better choice for you.

But for both of these models, you’ll probably want a pickup truck with an 8 foot bed in order to be able to transport them.

This sled is made of hardened Polyethylene resin, and comes with a raised front, which helps with snow resistance.

It doesn’t come with a tow bar, which you’ll need to buy separately, but has built-in hitch pockets. The warranty is 2 years.

Dimensions: 85″ L x 44″ W x 17″ H

Weight: 75 lbs

Pelican Trek Sport 94 Utility Sled

The Pelican Trek Sport 94 Utility Sled is the largest model manufactured by Pelican.

It comes close to the Otter Pro Sled Large in its capacity, but has the added advantage that it also comes with a tow hitch included in the package. The tow hitch can be folded back over the sled during transportation.

But keep in mind that with 94 inches of length, this is the longest sled covered in this article, which means you need to make sure your truck is big enough to carry it.

With a width of 37 inches the Pelican Trek 94 is narrower than the Otter Pro Sled Large, and weighing in at 50 lbs, it is also significantly lighter than the Otter.

In terms of build material, this ice sled comes with hardened RAM-X polyethylene construction, which is extremely durable, and ensures that it can have a lifetime of many seasons (assuming normal usage).

It also comes with divider templates that fit into molded divider slots, which means you can subdivide it into compartments as you see fit.

It has a slightly raised front for snow resistance, and the runners are made of HDPE, which have low maintenance and an extended lifespan compared to other models. 

Since this model is built to be towed by a motorized vehicle, it comes with rear deflectors on the back of the sled.

Finally, the Pelican Trek Sport 94 comes with a travel cover, which means you can protect it during transport. 

Dimensions: 94″ L x 37″ W x 17″ H

Weight: 50 lbs

Shappell Jet Sled Magnum

While the Shappell Jet Sled Magnum is slightly smaller than the two previously discussed models, it still comes with a capacity of 600 lbs, which is enough to handle most angler’s ice fishing equipment.

A key advantage of this sled model is that, due to its slightly smaller dimensions, it fits on the back of a 6 foot pickup truck.

And given that the majority of pickup trucks have 6 foot beds, this gives the Shappell Jet Sled Magnum and edge over the competition in terms of portability.

Weighing in at 39 lbs, it is significantly lighter than the two previous models.

This sled is made of hardened Polyethylene, and comes with molded runners. A tow hitch or tow rope is not included, and so needs to be purchased separately.

Dimensions: 70″ L x 44″ W x 15″ H

Weight: 39 lbs

Otter Pro Sled Magnum

This is a slightly smaller version of the Otter Pro Sled, and comes with the key advantage that it fits comfortably on the bed of a standard pickup truck.

Together with the Shappell Jet ice fishing sled (reviewed above) and the Pelican Trek Sport 75 (reviewed below), these 3 models are the top choices for most ice anglers due to their size compatibility with a standard truck. 

Apart from its size, it comes with the same build and features as the Otter Pro Sled Large, and is one of the top models on the market. 

Dimensions: 75″ L x 38″ W x 15″ H

Weight: 42 lbs

Pelican Trek Sport 75 Utility Sled

While this is still a very large sled, the Pelican Trek Sport 75 is the smallest model covered in this review. 

And with 33 lbs The Pelican Trek 75 is also considerably lighter than the other models.

But similar to the two previous models, it comes with the advantage of fitting comfortably on the back of a standard pickup truck, which is crucial for most people.

Dimensions: 75″ L x 31″ W x 15″ H

Weight: 33 lbs

How to choose the best ice fishing sled

Now that you’ve seen our list of the most spacious ice fishing sleds on the market, how do you choose the right one for your purposes?

Let’s take a quick look at the most crucial factors that you should take into account.

Towing

When buying an extra large ice fishing sled you’ll need a motorized vehicle to tow it on the ice.

So if you want to be able to use one of these sled models, you either need a snowmobile or an ATV that can haul heavy loads around on the ice (especially if you plan to use your sled fully loaded).

And because of this, you also need to make sure that you get a compatible hitch with your ice sled in order to tow it behind a snowmobile.

The Pelican sleds covered in this review come with a hitch included, while the others do not, which means you have to purchase one separately. 

Transport

If you’re getting a super-sized ice fishing sled you also need to make sure that it fits on the bed of your pickup truck.

The two largest models covered in this review (the Otter Pro Sled Large and the Pelican Trek Sport 94) are both too long to fit on a standard pickup truck, which means you’ll need a pickup truck with an 8-foot bed to transport them.

The other three models, however, do fit on a standard pickup truck (though not on a short one). In any case, make sure that you choose a compatible size with your vehicle.

Durability

Ice sleds are expensive, so investing in one that will endure for many years is essential.

So make sure the sled you choose will survive for many ice fishing seasons as long as it doesn’t get too much abuse.

Polyethylene sleds with a reinforced bottom are typically the strongest and most rugged, as well as being relatively lightweight.

If you’re in the process of assembling your ice fishing gear, check out our article on what drills to use for an ice auger.