Retractable wheel fish house frame.

[eyeshole]

Hello to all you ice nuts. I am in the market to buy or build a new fishouse. I was hoping to get some input on these fish house frames you can buy for around $1500, or if you guys think welding up your own is a better option. If you are for the pre-made ones, which one is the best setup and why?? Thanks for any info.

[redhooks]

Hey eyeshole-

I'm in the process of welding icehouse frame right now(6x10 w/ 3' V in front). I was given an old trailer made of 2x2 tubing that I salvaged as my foundation but have been been buying more as it grows in size and weight. So far I've spent close to $500 in raw steel,hitch coupler,springs, winches, tounguejack, spindles and hubs-still haven't bought rims and tires yet. I'm also really lucky to have a friend with some old channel iron and plate steel to salvage as well. I think if a guy was going to buy everything new to weld from scratch it would be $700-1000 to do yourself. It's a great project but $1500-1800 doesn't seem so expensive if you don't have the time or equipment. Good luck!

redhooks

[End of the Line]

I prefer the frames pre-made with the torsion axles. Northern Tool sells them, built in Georgia, and a place in Perham, MN manufactures another very similar to them for a couple of other local manufacturers. Torsion axles shouldnt 'spread' like some of the leaf springs styles do over time and provide a better ride. The other thing is that they dont require as much room inside a house for clearance if you want an 8' wide house with wheels underneath which allows a more versitile layout. I have built a crank down house before from start to finish. This was before the drop down craze came to be what it is today. Going to build another this summer, except I am having the trailer built by someone else to save a bunch of time since I have been working with them to customize my frame layout.

If you have one built, or you're going to build one I strongly encourage you to build the inside layout on paper in the size you want. Then see what manufacturer will allow you to use this inside layout to work from their framework. You'll be surprised how many people bought it, then built it, and then decided to cut the holes only to realize that instead of the 8 holes they wanted there is only room for 6 and now you have to face the corner too! I build mine with the holes designed first since thats where I sit all day, then build the house around those. I dont like to sit in the corner facing the wall when my buddies are behind me! We all face each other when you fish in my house! See my house on the left.

[doser]

Have you got pics of the inside of that house? That house looks awsome. I'm looking at building a new one this summer and just want some ideas if you wouldn't mind? thanks