Ice Thickness for Wheelhouse?? (14'+V @ 3740 lb.)

[Cobber]

Good morning, all!

So, it's our first winter with a wheel house- picked up a Team Lodge 14' plus V over the summer.

After doing all of our customization, finishing, etc- we have the house at a weight of 3740.

Wondering what everybody recommends/thinks for thickness of ice that I should look for, before I'm comfortable bringing it out and setting it for the weekend?

I know there are plenty of variables (ice condition, quality, etc.)- however I'm looking for a guideline on good, solid clear ice that froze without breaking up or snow.

 

Thanks for any help!

-Cobber

[Iceman13]

Cobber- personally I would wait for 9"-10" of ice to put out your house.  I have a 12' and wait until 8" but mine only weighs 2,200-2,500 lbs.  I am assuming you would be pulling this out with a wheeler or side-by-side?  I was out on Bitter last week and there were people putting their 8'x16' houses and even a 20' dual axel on 10" of ice.  That seems a little ballsy for me.  Another thing, make sure you have a dolly or not much tongue weigh on your wheeler.  I saw someone trying to pull a 20' hydraulic with a wheeler with no dolly.  His fenders were dragging on his wheels with chains.  Not much left of his fenders or his suspension.     

[BobT]

That's much more gutsy than I would be. But then, I wouldn't drive my truck out on 9" of ice. Too spooky. If you pull it out on 10" I'd use an ATV or something similar. I certainly would not use a truck to pull the house on 9" - 10" myself. That'd be like two trucks following each other close and would put a lot of stress on the ice. 

Just my $.02.

[Parmer]

I personally wouldn't go out on anything under 10"  using an atv.  I had my house out last year on 8-9 and I was nervous not knowing how much my 8x 12 weighs.

[Trout26]

I was out over the weekend in a guys 8x20 on 8 inches of ice he pulled out with a atv. Not saying I would do it but it held just fine its still there. Im waiting for 10 for my 8x17.

[WestCentralGuru]

I would say 10" to be on the safe side.  I have personally drove a half ton truck on 8 more than once, but that's pushing the limits.  The dnr guide says 8-12 for vehicles.  Your fish house is similar in weight to a car at 3700.  8" for a car.  10" for half ton and 12" for a one ton truck with clear black ice.

[Weathertite]

Saw a guy put out his New 8 x 16 on 8" of ice on Saturday , he set it down and punched his holes. spent the hour scrambling to move it back to shore and the rest of the day cleaning slush out of his new shack. But the decision is yours and I hope this helps!!

Mike

[Cobber]

All the replies are great- much appreciated and I'm still trying to nail down what I'm comfortable with seeing as everybody has so many variables.

I'll be pulling it with a Honda Rubicon ATV, coming in at around 500-600lbs.. and I've got a good trailer dolly that I've tested and handles the house very well without even squatting the ATV tires at all. Pretty impressive idea someone had there.

But, with an ATV instead of a pick-up, is the general consensus still staying around the 10" mark, or does that change things at all for people?

-Cobber

[BobT]

Something to keep in mind. A car has four tires so the weight is distributed over four areas spread apart. A wheelhouse typically has only two tires therefore the lbs. per square inch of pressure on the ice is much higher.