Frabill caboose

[hookjunior]

I'm seeing some of this for sale pretty cheap, just wondering if anybody knows if these could be converted to a sled style flip over? If so do you think it would be worth it? I'm just looking for a less expensive way to get a portable house.

[hookjunior]

Let me open it up a little more. Looking for suggestions on what kind of portable to get. I drive a 4 door GMC jimmy so I need something that will fit in the back and leave room for the rest of my gear. I want something that I can pull by hand, load and unload by myself, and set up easily by myself. I will be fishing in it solo most of the time but wouldn't mind having room for two. I'm also not looking to spend a fortune on one, I have a wheelhouse I spend most of my time in just looking to expand my arsenal and get in on early and late ice. Any suggestions?

[TallPaull]

I bought an Eskimo quickflip 2 and it fits in the back of my Ford Explorer - not sure of the length of the sled. I got mine used off Clist. Really like it so far. Haven't had it on the ice yet but I have "pretend" fishing trips in my garage every weekend as I make modifications to the unit. Can't wait for ice.

[MinnGuy]

Fishtrap Guide is a nice size for one and sometimes two. It fits nicely in an Explorer. Can be had on CList for a decent price I'm sure.

[Chode2235]

Otter Cabin, I put mine in the back of my nissan pathfinder.

[Crappie Kutch]

I was able to fit my frabill xltwin in the back of my izuzu rodeo! and all the clothes for two guys on URL for a weekend!

[MuskieJunkie]

I use to have a Caboose and would strongly recomend not getting one. I used it one time and then gave it away. There's a reason you always see them on clerance and never see them on the lakes. It's very heavy, clunky and time consuming to set up. Also you need your truck to use it so early ice isn't an option.

With that said, I saw them on clerance once for $75, at that price you could just use the seats out of it.

I would check online for a cheap used 2 man.

A Fish Trap Yukon fits in my 4runner pretty well.

[hookjunior]

I know I'm way off my original topic but I just found out I can get a bit of a deal on a new nanook thermal, just wondering what everybody's early impressions of it are.

[cold one sd]

I use to have a Caboose and would strongly recomend not getting one. I used it one time and then gave it away. There's a reason you always see them on clerance and never see them on the lakes. It's very heavy, clunky and time consuming to set up. Also you need your truck to use it so early ice isn't an option.

With that said, I saw them on clerance once for $75, at that price you could just use the seats out of it.

I would check online for a cheap used 2 man.

A Fish Trap Yukon fits in my 4runner pretty well.

I always wondered how a Caboose would work plugged into the hitch on my ATV. They look like a real pain to me.

[Jarrod32]

I have one; I don't use it much, but there is a time that it does come in handy. We take a trip up to Winnie every year and spend a few days fishing. I am able to take the Caboose, and save space in my truck. Folding it out and back up completely is a pain. But I can leave the legs unfolded, just bungee up the canopy and leave it partially unfolded for the week, going on and off the lake. That way, it only takes a few moments to fold/unfold. Then fold it up completely for the trip home. That is about the only time it is useful.

[Ed Carlson]

They are good for what they were designed for.

The first series had a flaw, the hex tubes were cut too short and the pins on the tube extensions would be pushed back into the hex tube...a real pain....Frabill quickly found the flaw and a easy to install replacement set of hex tubes cut longer were offered free to anyone whom needed them...as not all were cut too short..only a few.

For ATV use I found you needed to flip the offset on the receiver tube up, to get a bit more height and clearance...after that, it worked like a charm.

On heavy duty trucks with a strong suspension, we didn't even deploy the legs, just sat in it and it sealed up to the ice very well. Hit and run fishing on drive on ice, it was a very good get and go runner.

Another tip was with the 12' hose we kept the propane tank in the truck box and mounted the Mr. Heater Cooker under the platform facing forwards, hanging from eyebolts. This would speed things up on the run and gun and the heat went were we wanted it and the fish-able area ahead was increased.

We also ran a plug and wire from the trailer light plug in to the shack and ran the lighting off it too..a couple of truck box L*E*D clearance lights was all it took on the platform corners.

They are very Tweak-able rigs. And if someone wished, a wooden toboggan sled could easily be adapted to fit the skin and you could keep the platform as a gear hauler or other hunting use...mount a grill on it, add a front receiver on the truck...it is built heavy enough to stop a deer...go nuts. Seen that done too. It's a very adaptable rig.

If I were to redesign it today...I would use an all aluminum frame, and a expanded mess floor to lessen overall weight. Heat would rise more easily from a heater set under the deck, and the overall weight would make it less of a burden to deploy...yet be strong enough to hold up. I would also make the swing point multi-stage adjustable to fit SUV's and ATV's more easily and make folding up and gate access easier.

[fish-a-man]

i havent used one but they look kinda cool, it does sound like a pain to set up, but it looks like we found a guy that will fix all these problems and design a new portable

[Ed Carlson]

There no pain at all set up, fold down, flip legs, deploy top like any other pop-up.

Most of the time between moves we just flip the legs up if we even use the legs, and drive to the next spot with it already set. It actually is a simple rig, just a bit heaver than it really needed to be to do the job is all.

They fit a certain niche in the drive on the ice shack market, not for everyone, but for a few just what they need.

[Brad B]

Let me open it up a little more. Looking for suggestions on what kind of portable to get. I drive a 4 door GMC jimmy so I need something that will fit in the back and leave room for the rest of my gear. I want something that I can pull by hand, load and unload by myself, and set up easily by myself. I will be fishing in it solo most of the time but wouldn't mind having room for two. I'm also not looking to spend a fortune on one, I have a wheelhouse I spend most of my time in just looking to expand my arsenal and get in on early and late ice. Any suggestions?

I drive a chevy blazer (same as a gmc jimmy) and have went to using a cargo carrier with the z bar to haul my portable. I have had my brother in laws magnum size canvas craft house on it and it worked great. just another option to consider.

[jtk15]

I did the same. Have a Cheorkee, with a Guide. Rather than fight the childseats every outing, got a cargo carrier, and just strap it down with the cover on it. Its an easier load and unload, and no messen with kids carseats. I can fit it in the back if need be with a bit of room on the sides for auger and stuff, as that was how I used it for the last two years. This is a better option, as it can be a chore to load on my own as well. Two ratchet straps-and I dont have to lift in-which was tricky sometimes.

I would have to guess the Guide sized house was designed with these smaller suvs in mind among others.

[deadeye]

I got a four door blazer and my Team Wild 2 (basically a medium otter lodge) fits in there like a glove. Im not sure what they are going for at this point in time but I think I payed around 250 for it.