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Vehicle/Wheelhouse Size

bowhunt

By bowhunt
in Ice Fishing Minnesota

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bowhunt

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All,

I am looking for a little advice.  I currently drive a jeep grand cherokee with the V8, and I am planning on buying a wheel house in the next year.  I wanted to get your thoughts and experience with what size wheel house would be a good choice for towing with my jeep.  My current plan is to go with an all aluminum house like a yetti or firebrand to keep the weight down, and for size maybe a 6.5'X14'.  If you have any experience pulling a wheel house with a smaller vehicle I would appreciate your input.

Thanks,

Bowhunt

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pikeandchester Enthusiast

pikeandchester

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I have a 2006 Jeep Liberty that I occasionally use to tow my ice castle mini toy hauler 6.5 x14 weighs about 3000 pounds. Actually does fine at highway speeds on dry pavement but snow and ice gets me a bit nervous. Thick ice, long trips and I use my pickup. Best advice I can give is to follow your vehicle owners manual and depending on your situation, sleeping more than 2 people, fishing more than 3 for example, get as big a house as your budget and vehicle allows.

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bowhunt Collaborator

bowhunt

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Does anyone have thoughts on towing a 6.5' wide house vs. 8' wide house with a smaller vehicle?  I am sure the space you gain inside the house would be really nice, but I am guessing the wind resistance when towing would be significantly different.

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Wanderer Grand Master

Wanderer

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My only suggestion is keep your tongue weight within your vehicles capability and make sure you have working trailer brakes.  

Your V8 has enough power to pull whatever house you want but your weight rating will dictate what’s safe.  You don’t want the house dictating what the vehicle does, if you know what I mean.

You might want to check house width at the wheels just to see how well it does or doesn’t match up with your vehicle.  If you plan to get off the plowed roads you’ll definitely be breaking 2 trails at once with an 8 foot wide house.  Probably with the 6.5 too but I don’t know that for sure.  It makes a big difference going through drifts.

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pikeandchester Enthusiast

pikeandchester

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I have a 2006 Jeep Liberty that I occasionally use to tow my ice castle mini toy hauler 6.5 x14 weighs about 3000 pounds. Actually does fine at highway speeds on dry pavement but snow and ice gets me a bit nervous. Thick ice, long trips and I use my pickup. Best advice I can give is to follow your vehicle owners manual and depending on your situation, sleeping more than 2 people, fishing more than 3 for example, get as big a house as your budget and vehicle allows.

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bowhunt Collaborator

bowhunt

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4 hours ago, Wanderer said:

My only suggestion is keep your tongue weight within your vehicles capability and make sure you have working trailer brakes.  

Your V8 has enough power to pull whatever house you want but your weight rating will dictate what’s safe.  You don’t want the house dictating what the vehicle does, if you know what I mean.

You might want to check house width at the wheels just to see how well it does or doesn’t match up with your vehicle.  If you plan to get off the plowed roads you’ll definitely be breaking 2 trails at once with an 8 foot wide house.  Probably with the 6.5 too but I don’t know that for sure.  It makes a big difference going through drifts.

Thanks for the feedback, you made some really good points.  I talked to another guy today that mentioned making sure the wheel house had trailer brakes.  The other thing I hadn't thought much about was the width of the wheel base.  I think all of the houses have a wider wheel base then my Jeep, but if I keep the weight down I think that should help.

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jigginjim Grand Master

jigginjim

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still breaking two trails with a 6.5 ft as the tires are outside the edge of the house. I like the extra room I have in my 8 x 16 ft castle

 

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wahoo Community Regular

wahoo

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I tow my 6.5 x 12 Toy Hauler Ice Castle with my Jeep Rubicon Limited.  V-6.  No problems, rated for 5000 lbs.  Your vehicle should be fine. Inly negative with a Wrangler/Rubicon is it does feel wind a bit because of squareness and firm suspension.

Just for long distance (to thick ice)I would use the 3/4 ton diesel, but more for comfort, and believe it or not, better rule mileage.  The Jeep pulls as well as my GMC 1/2 ton.

As to size. Really assess what you need.  I fish nearly every day, but have never bunked in it.  Also, I fish by myself, or a friend and never have more than 3 in the house.  It has the stove/oven, is comfy, etc., but I could truly get by with a smaller house which makes a difference when backing etc.  I'd much rather tow and back my 16 ft boat than my (now gone) 23ft boat.  Same to me on a fish house.  

But, they are comfortable.

Good luck.

Wahoo

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