Grey Wolf Fish Houses

[Huntin&Fishin]

Does anyone have any thoughts on the Cherokee Grey Wolf fish houses? They are by far the most reasonable priced new grank down style houses on the market, but you can't find any information on them. Good/bad/thoughts any information would be appreciated.

[jgrimmz]

A good friend of mine research the hybrid style fish houses last year and was very impressed by the Grey Wolf line. He researched online and at camping shows and found theirs to be a reasonable quality for the price and the best value he came across 

[Getanet]

I don't know anything about them, but if you do a search for "fish house for rent" on C List there is a guy in Buffalo renting his out for $100/day during the week. Might be worth taking one for a test drive if you're serious about buying one. There is also a guy in the metro renting them in case that's closer.

[Huntin&Fishin]

Good thought getanet. It's crazy the prices all the crank down houses are going for but cant find much info on the grey wolfs. They look nice online

[slammer]

On 12/6/2018 at 8:31 PM, Huntin&Fishin said:

Good thought getanet. It's crazy the prices all the crank down houses are going for but cant find much info on the grey wolfs. They look nice online

You are right about the prices.  A wheelhouse is basiclly the same thing as a camper.  As I see it your paying about $5-10k for the winches and the holes in the floor!

[Cret Jigs]

Generally ... the Grey Wolf's are nice but just heavier than most Ice castles ect... Looked at them and agree, very nice!  Just heavier

[H20fowlr]

I rented one and went through 30#’s of propane a night.  17’ , I hand it well banked and it was about 15 degrees with not much wind.   It towed well, but fenders bolts came loose on both

 sides   I was the 3rd person to use it.  I rented numerous brands before buying, I ended up with Ice Castle.  I have used a 20lb or 2 weekends, no banking on my 21 ft high ceiling Ice Castle.  My suggestion is rent a few.  Will help you with brand and style.

 

 

[Wanderer]

How long ago was that rental experience with Grey Wolf @H20fowlr?

 

I haven’t looked at Grey Wolf’s closely so I can’t comment on them.  Just wondering if they’ve made improvements for efficiency since you rented.  30lbs a night is obscene for a 17’ in 15 degree temps.  I thought 30 lbs in 24 hours for our 40 foot camper in the winter was a lot!

 

Again, I’m not waving the BS flag...  you were the one it happened to.

[Parmer]

I looked at grey wolf and Glacier. And ended up with an ice castle. Glacier was nicer quality, but the toy hauler lay out I didn't like. Bunks were super high and close to the ceiling. I thought the grey wolf's were more cheaply made than the ice castle IMO.  I got a great deal on my ice castle last spring. Now the same model is Going for 2500 to 3000 more.  30 pounds of propane in a night is crazy. I was on mille lacs last weekend 2 nights and didn't even go through one 30 pound tank. 

[duluthjim]

I own one.  They are made by forest river.  This would be my second one.  I did like the Glacier better but the price was a lot more.   I like the quality of the Grey Wolf as compared to the Ice Castles.   my last one was only 15' and it would go or 4 to 5 days on a 20 lb tank.  I noq have a 16' V front and it is taller than my last one.  I used it for deer season.  It seems to use a 30lb in 5 nights.  that was single digit temps, but of course I didn't have the holes open on the floor.   I do keep mine cooler (about 60 degrees) when I am fishing.   I have lots of room in it compared to my last one.   I thought it was the best price point/quality/layout that I could find.  Mine is a 2018 model.

[H20fowlr]

Yes it was me that it happened to.  It was last year .  It is the exact house that Matt Hasselbeck and Rex Ryan were in during the Super Bowl week.  I was the next one that used it.  It was RV model with the electric fireplace.  They need better sealing around some of the vents.  

 

I thought the first tank was not full , but when I went through the second tank in a day It confirmed the issue.  

 

As I said this towed very well.  I also thought the layout was decent, and it was easy to drop and to lift.   I am sure I could seal up some of it to help, but I haven’t had to do that on others.

 

[Wanderer]

18 minutes ago, H20fowlr said:

  I am sure I could seal up some of it to help, but I haven’t had to do that on others.

 

 

Shouldn’t have to worry about that on new wheelhouse!  Makes me wonder if something else was wrong with it...  anyway, thanks for the reply!  Kinda cool though you got use a semi-famous house. 

[Huntin&Fishin]

21 hours ago, duluthjim said:

I own one.  They are made by forest river.  This would be my second one.  I did like the Glacier better but the price was a lot more.   I like the quality of the Grey Wolf as compared to the Ice Castles.   my last one was only 15' and it would go or 4 to 5 days on a 20 lb tank.  I noq have a 16' V front and it is taller than my last one.  I used it for deer season.  It seems to use a 30lb in 5 nights.  that was single digit temps, but of course I didn't have the holes open on the floor.   I do keep mine cooler (about 60 degrees) when I am fishing.   I have lots of room in it compared to my last one.   I thought it was the best price point/quality/layout that I could find.  Mine is a 2018 model.

 

Duluthjim, is your floor insulated? I looked under on and it seems like normal insulation with poly wrap holding it up, not spray foam ljke many others. Have you had any issues with the house?

[Wanderer]

Just a note about another Forest River made house - True North.  Does not have an insulated floor.  I was planning on getting ours insulated this past summer but ran out of time to do it myself.

 

Generally happy with the house.  It looks nice and functions well, with a few hiccups I ironed out.  But the overall quality put into it was minimum necessary.  

 

An example: ours is a toy hauler but only had load range D tires on it.  It really shoulda had E’s to be used as intended.  I put a new set of E’s on it after 1 year.

[duluthjim]

I am not sure if the floor is insulated.   My last one was not.   When I pull up the hole covers I see foam so maybe.    I plan on taking it to leech lake tomorrow so I will let you know as it is supposed to be really cold,   I can let you know how the floor is and how much propane I use.   I hunted in it for 6  weekends with no issues.

[fishingstar]

what is the weight on them? I have heard they trailer very well but they are heavier. I was looking at a used 16'

the seller said I could not pull it with a wheeler. 

[Huntin&Fishin]

9 hours ago, duluthjim said:

I am not sure if the floor is insulated.   My last one was not.   When I pull up the hole covers I see foam so maybe.    I plan on taking it to leech lake tomorrow so I will let you know as it is supposed to be really cold,   I can let you know how the floor is and how much propane I use.   I hunted in it for 6  weekends with no issues.

I look forward to hearing back. Good luck fishing? What model do you have?

[papadarv]

I do not own one, just reading comments, non insulated floor, leakey vents, 6 days in 30# tank propane deer hunting (seasionably warm this year) also two 20# in one day, 30# per night on rental, 16' so heavy can't use 4 wheeler. But it's really pretty inside. Like everything, if you own one, have a large loan to pay off, you love it. Just like the drill, Milwaukee, DeWalt. Rigid, the one you own is best. There may be better options on the market, look behind the wall and under the floor before impulse buy.

[Wanderer]

3 hours ago, fishingstar said:

what is the weight on them? I have heard they trailer very well but they are heavier. I was looking at a used 16'

the seller said I could not pull it with a wheeler. 

 

I think your seller is um, wrong.  Again, not a Grey Wolf but a sister house by the same company, mine is 8x21 and weighs 5885 lbs dry.  I just picked up a wheelhouse dolly last weekend and pulled it around my yard with my old Sportsman 500.  Low gear of course.  I put chains on the wheeler for hitting the ice but have yet get out there.

 

My point: the biggest concern would be tongue weight.  A dolly takes that concern away.

2 hours ago, papadarv said:

I do not own one, just reading comments, non insulated floor, leakey vents, 6 days in 30# tank propane deer hunting (seasionably warm this year) also two 20# in one day, 30# per night on rental, 16' so heavy can't use 4 wheeler. But it's really pretty inside. Like everything, if you own one, have a large loan to pay off, you love it. Just like the drill, Milwaukee, DeWalt. Rigid, the one you own is best. There may be better options on the market, look behind the wall and under the floor before impulse buy.

 

Having a “camper” on a cold, windy lake will expose every weakness of whatever unit you go with.  If you’re more casual about your trips, less expensive models will suffice.  If your more extreme or “very attentive to comfort details” you will want to spend more money.

 

As with everything, you get what you pay for - unless it’s on sale at a blowout price! 

[slammer]

What kind of siding do these houses have?  Grey wolf has a model with the smooth fiberglass siding. Is this an upgrade?  Are they built any better than the ones with the ribbed siding?  Better insulated?

[papadarv]

20 hours ago, Wanderer said:

 

 

Having a “camper” on a cold, windy lake will expose every weakness of whatever unit you go with.  If you’re more casual about your trips, less expensive models will suffice.  If your more extreme or “very attentive to comfort details” you will want to spend more money.

 

As with everything, you get what you pay for - unless it’s on sale at a blowout price! 

Thank you confirming ownership love comparing a Wheel House to a "camper" I've owned 2 RV Campers and 2 RV Motor Homes. 99% of the campers in the snow belt are in storage Nov to Apr as they are designed for summer weather use. I covered & stored mine early Dec.

As for "you get what you pay for" eleite successful marketing strategy is to convince buyers this is true, and they are quite successful. Example the 3 person seamless insulated Otter flip 4 years ago sold for $460, same unit tub, poles, chairs, today with some Oh-Wow new features is $1195. And due to price people are buying them. You still need a ventless heater to stay warm.

Edited December 30, 2018 by papadarv

[Wanderer]

6 minutes ago, papadarv said:

Example the 3 person seamless insulated Otter flip 4 years ago sold for $460, same unit tub, poles, chairs, today with some Oh-Wow new features is $1195. And due to price people are buying them. You still need a ventless heater to stay warm.

 

Man, I shoulda bought one 4 years ago!!!    I’d like to have a nice new Otter but I’m not the guy who’ll pay the $1195 for one unless I have gift certificates covering oh, at least half of that.  I DO agree prices on high end gear are inflated but you don’t seem to get higher end features as standard equipment without paying for it.

 

Very few Big Bang for the buck units out there anymore.  Manufacturers have the pricing game pretty fine tuned IMHO.  Maybe a start up company will have some market introductory pricing to get a foothold but these established manufacturers know exactly what they’re offering at exactly what price.

 

Now if we all had some Papadarv ingenuity and took matters into our own hands, we’d buy a frame or maybe a shell and fit it out to our needs and desires. And save a ton of cash. 

[papadarv]

10 hours ago, Wanderer said:

 

Now if we all had some Papadarv ingenuity and took matters into our own hands, we’d buy a frame or maybe a shell and fit it out to our needs and desires. And save a ton of cash. 

Yep did that. Base frame, added some steel, 6 holes, custom design hubs, clean casual inside so I'm thinking less expensive model, 982 pounds fish ready and less than $1 per pound to build, yep that's less expensive. First trip Lake of The Woods. No bunks, no microwave I choose to stay in a cabin on 2 to 4 day trips. Under 5 min from stop truck, drill 6 holes, slush, bank & lines down. Under 1 min for lines up and in truck moving. 

[Wanderer]

I drove around a Grey Wolf today on a lot.  The smooth fiberglass exterior type with bay window in back.  I couldn’t see a price on it.  The axles, tires and jacks are the same as my True North.  Seemed like a nice unit but basic.

 

What I have seen in the past couple days of shopping is what I find to be amazingly high prices!  I’m looking for a small toy hauler like a Scout or Tackle Box.  Hard to say exactly what they run cuz all the online stuff wants you to call or email for a quote.  What little I am seeing puts them at about $10k.  

 

Well, that’s got me thinking like papadarv...

[Huntin&Fishin]

I feel since early fall the IC brand has jumped 1000 to 2000 on average. Hopefully in late spring the demand drops and so do the prices a bit

[duluthjim]

On 12/29/2018 at 9:28 AM, Huntin&Fishin said:

I look forward to hearing back. Good luck fishing? What model do you have?

I have a 16gr.    They are 3400 lbs empty.   Says you can put 2000 lbs cargo in it.   left for leech sat morning.   turned heat on at 8 am sat.   first night it was windy and below zero.  banked it well.   Not sure if the floor is insulated or not but was comfortable in my slippers.  Floor didn't seem cold.    Sunday noon I moved spots and only planned on staying until sunday evening so I didnt bank it.   Ended up staying as my son caught a 26" walleye at 530 pm and didn't want to leave.  The floor was quite a bit colder without the banker.  It was windy and cold overnight.   Didn't shut the heat off until monday afternoon.   It was still on the same 30# tank that I started with.  I had 6 holes open while fishing.  Hole sleeves helped alot.  The only issue I had was when leveling it I could not get the door to latch.  It is very picky.  I solved it by putting a block of wood under the door area when I lowered it.   I have a bay window in the rear so I was wondering how cold that would be but it was fine.  The windows seem good.  My last one had RV windows in it and they would frost up and you could feel the cold from them.  These windows are like a house window.    Oh just remembered that when I went to pull the brace leg down on the table for making it into a bed that the brace was stiff and I ended up pulling the screws out of the table..  That was disappointing but just moved it over a bit and screwed the screws back in.   I thought it worked well and towed well even on the icy roads.   I really wished they would have put a fan in the bathroom...

[GWE]

On 12/9/2018 at 9:39 AM, Cret Jigs said:

Generally ... the Grey Wolf's are nice but just heavier than most Ice castles ect... Looked at them and agree, very nice!  Just heavier

You may want to check your homework. The Grey Wolf house in a 16 or 17' is 5-600 lbs lighter than an Ice Castle.

[Rick]

Welcome to FM @GWE

 

Thanks for the info.

[Jmnhunter]

Time to revive this topic but any updates on the Grey Wolfs? I've seen some good prices on new ones right now; my biggest concern was how the frame is finished (I believe powder coated) and how long that lasts along with the axles. If i remember right, the stubs were bigger than 2" vs the Ice castles. Thte only thing I dont like is the interior finish vs my old ice castle that had the nice wood finish. I do like how the Wolf's are advertising 1,000 lbs less than Ice castles. any other quality issues?

Edited August 24, 2020 by Jmnhunter

[opsirc]

son  and i bought one this past year, like it so far, the only thing was the bathroom setup was not the best. we only use a 20 for about a 24 hour period. we had no problem towing.