Frabill Sidestep Shelter

[HardwaterHero]

Looking to get a sled shelter and saw this one online. Has anyone used one of these? If so, what were your thoughts? Pros/Cons

[PurpleFloyd]

No real cons. The side doors are a big improvement over the front door. It's the only flip over configuration I would consider.

[leech~~]

I like the side doors as well but they need to improve on their pole and button system which is about the same as the Clam had a few years ago.

[HardwaterHero]

Thanks for the heads up on the poles. i have yet to stop in and physically sit in one, but it did seem like they were behind the ball on some of the newer shanty improvements. I am just amazed at the $$ value in these sleds. $700-900 !!! i may just keep my Eskimo pop up

[kerryd15]

The pole system isn't the smoothest, but they do have multiple slots to take the slack out of the fabric. First thing to do is- on the cross bars at the top, just in from the corner, put a hose clamp or zip tie to use as a stop for the support poles. Put the support poles to the outside of the "stop". Somehow on my first journey out with the new house I pointed the side into the wind, anchored it by the rope. Wind came up, fabric flapped against the top support post knocking off. That support never touched the ice as it sailed down the hole in 18 foot of water! Lesson learned! Three seperate trips to a lake 40 miles away and i managed to get it back.

The room up front is awesome. put the heater, electronics, smaller person on a stool up front. not having to step over holes everytime you want to get out- priceless. I put a couple eyebolts in the back to anchor the house with- back to the wind. Then you can use both doors. It is a taller house with square corners so it catches the wind more. I have the fully insulated, won't go back to partial. I never used more than the 2 cylinders on my big buddy in a day of fishing. I quit bringing the 20# tanks along. I had it on the ice almost every weekend and sometimes twice a weekend. I carry an old 2x12 ramp to load and unload by myself without emptying the fish house. Buy the travel cover- it has a heavy duty strap built in that goes across the middle to keep everything tight and a zipper door in the top to get at stuff inside while its packed. I have been very impressed with it so far.

I am in NO way affiliated with the company.

[fishersofmen]

I like the idea of not having to stumble over everything that is set up in front of you. I have a predator that is a few years old and love it although I do wish it was insulated.

[Rikkus]

I will be using the Frabill Thermo Ambush DLX this year, bought it this summer.

After last year's brutal temp's I wanted a Thermo canvas. I looked at other brands. And, I didn't feel comfortable when you could see light through the stitching. Some only had thermo tops. The Frabill canvas appears to be well built.

SHopping around, the Frabill Ambush with the side doors was an immediate advantage I saw. The front wall being more vertical than other ones I saw is something that I like. It is the roomiest of all the flip overs I researched. As one gent recommended, getting the cover is a must. Unfortunately, the runners weren't available when I bought mine. After assembling mine, putting the runners is going to be rough.

One of the pitfalls is that there is an extra swing bar that isn't on the typical flip overs. This takes only an extra minute for setup up. But it doesn't allow you to fish with the flip over half way up, using it as a wind break. For me it doesn't matter, especially with all of the other built in features.

Reading what one guy said about the tip cross bars, I could see that one happening. They don't seem all that stable. I am going out right now and ordering a couple extra's. Two across the top of both sections, versus just the one may be a good idea.

[MN BassFisher]

I fished out of one in CO last year and it was luxury! Super roomy and the side step doors are a great addition. It was very heavy though and I'm a fan of the lighter shacks for mobility.

[splakeshaker]

I love the concept. I hope it's the future of flip overs. I'll get one in a couple years After the bugs are worked out. I hate fumbling over my gear and kicking snow in my holes to get out.