fishhouse skis

[glojig]

wondering if anybody has tried some of the manufactured skis that you drive on to with your wheel house? looking to maybe get a pair want to hear if its worth it,just looking for anybodys 2 cents worth

[fitzman]

http://www.dakota-outdoors.com/accessories.htm

[vman11]

I saw this video when it came out and wasn't impressed. I think they would be better off leaving it on the wheels!

The lake in the video was nearly glare ice and by the look of the tracks the snow was rock hard. I'd like to know the benefits or see this work in a foot of fresh snow, not on hard ice-like snow.

[glojig]

i guess that is what i'm wondering about, does it make a difference when the snow gets deep. Has anybody seen them work and if so what did you think/

[Walleyehooker]

They look too small to me to keep the weight of a wheel house on top of deep snow.

[vman11]

They look too small to me to keep the weight of a wheel house on top of deep snow.

100% agree. I'm a see it to believe it guy and I'm not buying it yet.

[Smoker]

I made a pair for a friend of mine last year. The first time out it worked good but wanted to wonder from side to side.I put some 1/2 " angle on the bottom and worked great. You are not going to pull it though 2 foot of snow but it went from a 4 wheeler not being able to pull it in snow to no problem. I did make them to be strapped to the wheel and angled the back up a little. It looks like a over sized snow moblie ski.

[glojig]

thanks for the info smoker anyone else got any suggestions

[Marlonb]

I made a pair due to the fact that I broke a leaf spring on my house last year going across the lake. I drove across a old vehicle track and the fish house bounced over the frozen track and broke the spring. I thought the three foot ski would have more travel than a tire... more like a snowmobile and ride smoother across rougher terrain.

[Kaz]

I added these skis to my F/H and they work well...

[glojig]

kaz thanks for the pics. are those skis factory or home made

[Kaz]

I had Mike Lindholm from Thief River make them.. Lindholm Welding in TRF. I also use them on my Polaris Ranger front wheels and have tracks on the back. That makes it a legal Snowmobile with a trail sticker for the trails.

[bturck]

Kaz is that ATV over on Oak Burr road? Be happy to take it for a spin for ya in a couple of weeks. Gotta keep those fluids circulating you know.....LOOOOL

[Kaz]

No, actually it's down at Sturgeon.. Never got it ready this year, I was going to fly home, but the wife is still not ready to be alone for very long... Next year.. Hopefully..

[bturck]

I figured you had it stored over at Sturgeon. I was kidding actually which I'm sure you knew. Hopefully 2011 brings good things for Diane. I'm sure its been a long pull for her and frustrating as well. Wish both of you the best in 2011. Bill

[fiskyknut]

I'll second that.

[bturck]

Hey Norm Happy New Year to you and all of you on the Forum..Keep it safe....

[fiskyknut]

Back at ya Bill.

Gosh we missed the brunt of last front and the way this new one is spinning now we may just only get grazed this round.

[glojig]

does anybody else have any more info or opionions about the skis

[Walleye Inn]

a buddy of mine made some similar to Kaz's a little shorter and wider the worked good last week pulling or houses off a local lake with 1.5 ft of slush and a foot of snow on top went right over the top had the pick up with chains on to pull it definatley easier with ski's

[Freewheeler]

Walleye Inn, What is the proceedure to let your house all the way down to the ice? Do you have to back off of them or take them off before letting her down all the way? As my house pins in the back shackle bracket[opposite of Kaz's] and front of fender is almost touching the ice when in the down position. Seems like the wheel would then put a lot of stress on the front toe of the ski if it could even get that far. Any thoughts? Or maybe they won't let you get all the way down?

[Freewheeler]

Kaz, Can you shed any light on this ski thing? Can you get all the way down to the Ice with your house, or is it up aways? Not so concerned with the front of the house as the back. Also wasn't to excited about backing off of them either. Would that be my only option? Thanks for any info you could throw my way on this before I pull the trigger.

[Kaz]

Freewheeler: I have three square tubes, two in front and one in the rear to keep the house about three inches off the ice so it won't freeze in. They bottom out brfore the fender hits the skis. The pivot point is a little behind the fender which helps give more clearnce. Without the skis on the fender did not touch the ice. You could also trim the fender a little if needed.. Hope this helps

[Freewheeler]

OK,thanks for that info. I don't have anything under the tube frame of my house so it sits flat on the ice.[no banking] Also front drop hitch sits atop a pair of widened out skis with ball hitch in the center pulled by a sled.[therefore no tounge weight] So you can see my reluctance to back up. Haven't seen any videos of anybody lowering there house all the way to the ice with the skis on so thats why I was asking. Mine only weighs 1100 fully loaded with gear and can be pulled with a sled. {its all aluminium] and only ten feet long with everything the big wheelhouses have. Snows getting a little deep for the the wheeler and its nice to stay up north on the rocks for a few days if you know what I mean. Maybe somebody else with the ski set up has a little info they might be willing to share with me. Pros or Cons