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Posted

Hey Guys,

 

My wife and myself have been thinking of buying a camper every summer for the past 3 summers, but never have. I do some Ice fishing and love it... I looked at buying a 6X14  tandem axle cargo trailer last year and converting it to a camper. Now that I saw Yetti and a couple other companies selling toy haulers(with alumunium frames) , but I don't see a lot of good reviews on the frames.

We are looking at buying a 2014 Chevy Tahoe with a towing weight of 5,000.. I'm guessing this limits to me to what I could pull. I was looking to get a 8x14 or 8x16, but want something light enough that I could pull it and use it longer on the ice.

I would also use this trailer for elk hunting/camping in Colorado/Montana. The problem I'm seeing is that for something sturdy enough for what I want I would need to go with an ice castle, but I feel like the weight would be a problem... If I went with a tandem axle I'm guessing the Tahoe would have problems pulling it, but I like the option of having it:(.

 

I would need something that could haul 2 mid size atvs. a Honda Rubicon 450 and a Honda ex 400.

 

Whats everyone's thoughts?

Posted

Don't be afraid of the aluminum trailers.  All the builders have issues with their houses.  The weight savings are enough to sell me on one.  A lot of of your over the road semi trailers are built out of aluminum so it must not be that bad.

Posted

2014 Tahoe, with a 5,000lb weight limit?  What am I missing?  Or is this just what you'd feel comfortable towing?

Posted

I wouldn't be one bit concerned about a Yetti or Firebrand (aluminum) house.  There are thousands of them on the road, and I've heard of very few problems.  The only widespread issue I'm aware of is the first year houses, they had some problems with the pulleys.  You are getting a VASTLY superior (to Ice Castle) product with either one.  Seriously though...Ice Castle is garbage.

I don't think you'll be able to get 2 4 wheelers in a 16' single axle.  It's not just the space, the axles and tires aren't going to have enough capacity.   

If your Tahoe does have a 5,000# limit, you'll be pushing it with any tandem (especially with 2 4 wheelers in it).  The Ice Castle (only option unless you want to spend $35k+) tandem is anywhere from 5,500-7,000# depending on model.  An 8x20 tandem is going to tow a lot better than a 8x16 single axle...especially in any sort of wind.

Or, you could buy my house and end up with a tandem that is 5400#, and vastly better than an Ice Castle.

 

Posted

We are also looking a suburban's, which would tow up to 10,000.

Appreciate all he advice so far!

 

My worst concern with a 20" is going camping in Colorado and hauling that thing 12 hours. Also how much ice( I know its opinion) roughly would a person need to be safe with a 5400 pound shack and 5400 suburban?

 

information on house Lip Ripper? You can text me 641-840-2436

Posted

The tandem axles tow absolutely beautifully.  You can feel that there is some weight back there, but I've never had the sway and wiggles like the single axles.  Towing to Colorado would be no problem at all, other than your mileage isn't going to be very good.  

With my house, I've had it on 9" regularly, and set down on 8".  This is towed out with a Honda 450.  I prefer 15" to have the truck and house.

I'll send you a text shortly.

Posted

I have a 2016 ice castle and I tows like a dream. I put a weight distribution hitch on it,   brake controller with a 06 silverado 1/2 tonight with 240,000 miles. I pull her ato 75-80 when roads are nice. Used for camping several times. Been to mille lacs, red and going to lotw on friday. A lot of sway is caused by improper loading. I add a decent amount of torque weight in the castle...generator, cooler, bags, auger, spare tire...etc. 

20150918_183732.jpg

  • The title was changed to Buying an Ice Castle Fish House or??
Posted

Chevy - How did you mount the brackets on the Ice Castle tongue?  Do you have a top down photo?

Posted

I bought the Ice castle 8x16 tows great 2008 chevy 1500, no sway, I'm speed demon mine 60 as an average.   Wife and I looked at wheel houses at ice show for 4 hrs comparing prices and finishing, and additions.  castle sold me, better over all finish trim work. If your buying for a few years why not spend a bit more a buy quality?

Posted

We just picked up an 8X17 RV model and we love it!  It tow's very well, you know it's back there but tracks well.  I have found the fit and finish or our's is great.  Plus for the price we paid I can't complain.  Milaca Unclaimed Freight beat the best price we could find by $500 and they are very helpful with any questions.

  • Thumbs Up 1
  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

I have the 8x20 Ice Castle RV Edition.  Pull it with my F-150 with ease.  It's actually for sale if you're interested.  We want the slide out one.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • smurfy
      🤔 this from a guy that think a walleye taste good 😝🤣
    • SkunkedAgain
      You're a great steward of the lake. Thank you
    • leech~~
      Yes much better. Well expect for that slime touching those good fish! 😏
    • JerkinLips
      Went up a day early to take advantage of the nicer weather.  Thursday was a beautiful day on Vermilion; mostly sunny, very light breeze an 41ºF.  Glad I went up that day because the skid house was sitting in 3-8" of water.  Guess I shouldn't have left the house in water and bank snow around it on Monday.  None of the water under the house froze at all.  Decided it would be better to move the house to "new" ice toward the hole I drilled outside on Monday.  When I drilled holes in the new location I had about 1" of water on top of 4" of new ice, then 4" of water, and finally 25" of original ice; 33" total.  I would recommend bringing your auger extension since my Ion auger went past the base auger (32") up to the extension in this location, and you never know what you may find on clear ice (I would stay away from heavy drifts and tall banks because you will probably have lots of water come up on the ice in those locations.  With the house on 4x4 blocks, I switched to the extended bobber to easily see the far hole.  Works great.   The lake looked to be in very good condition if you avoid the drifts and snow banks.  Several pickups were driving on the open ice away from plowed roads and seemed to be moving fine.  I did see several wheel houses being pulled off the lake on Thursday.  Don't know if it was due to ice conditions, poor fishing, or both.  Today (Friday) looks very good to be on the lake (no new snow and all the loose snow has found a permanent home on shorelines or hard drifts/banks.  This weekend is another story.  4-8" of fresh snow on Saturday with 13mph winds.  Drifting is only going to get worse.  Next week looks good with no more snow and cold temperatures to freeze any water/slush that is on top.  The cold temperatures won't freeze the slush under the tall drifts/banks, so be careful.   Fishing was average.  caught a few early morning, a couple around noon, then went 5 hours without catching a thing.  Finally had a fair evening bite when I caught 4 between 4:45 and 6:00.  Finally gave up at 7:10.  Unfortunately all of the fish were quite small (9-14").  I may not find another decent walleye this winter.   Good luck fishing (only 23 days left for walleyes) and be careful around snow drifts and banks.  (Note: I removed all of my blocks and anchors from my original location, and plan to clean up blocks from other people's locations when all the snow melts).  
    • smurfy
      About that over 42 ft.   And Kettle, that block of ice is back in the hole and marked,  so i won't be seeing you today!🤣🤩
    • Wanderer
      Haha! I meant that a different way but good one!   I’m saying it looks like you got those crappies in 30+ fow. 😉 
    • smurfy
      🤣 I have multiple talents, I can catch fish with hook and line too! 😉
    • Wanderer
      Uff da!  Good thing you had enough line to reach em!  Nice catch.
    • smurfy
      Is this better Mr moderator. 😇
    • Wanderer
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