How Do You Load Your Portable?

[Pat K]

I use a 6' piece of 2x8 to load my Yukon onto a Toyota Tumdra. Set it up as a ramp, pull the tub up as far as I can then pick up the end and push it into the truck. Then I push the plank under the tub for the trip home.

[PiedmontAngler]

You guys that are looking at the hitch mount should look at the online catlog for Marine Genrl. There is a hitch mount thing called Icehouse Sled Rack listed under shelter accessories. Brake and tail lights and all. Just saw it today. Certainly got my interest. I hate lugging my full double tub into the back of the truck. Maybe thats why my back always hurts.

[RonWBasser]

When the front is resting on the tailgate (almost vertical), I put my foot behind/under it to keep it in place. Then I maneuver around to the back and lift and slide.

Me too, not the easiest but not that bad.

[servocam]

I hear this same issue from friends of mine - not easy pushing that heavy loaded up sled in the back of their trucks. I told 'em to just buy an electric winch.

Anyone ever try that (was also suggested above along w. manual).

[JimBuck]

I am also curious if anyone has installed a manual winch in the truck? I've got an suv so it's a bit different for installation but I'd love to see someone's winch setup.

[herefish101]

I built a ramp with a bracket on one end(for the tail gate) and teeth on the other so they grab the ice or snow, then i pull the shack up to the truck front first grab the back and push it right in fully loaded, piece of cake. The ramp is 6 foot long so i just slide it in along side the shack, and your off to the next spot. THE RAMP IS THE WAY TO GO, FOR SURE!

[Big A]

Some good old muscle power...

only time i was ever in a pinch with getting it loaded up, I was able to have a passing fellow fisherman give me a quick a hand.

and yes.. that random act of kindness was returned several times last year. I rarely get the chance to fish somewhere where I am LITERALLY the only person around... so its nice to find a lending hand when needed and offer it when you see that it would be appreciated.

[Fredd]

I have an Otter one man, so I can load with ease in comparison. Looking at the hitch extender, maybe a guy could set that at a lower height than the tailgate and then teeter it onto the gate. The other thought would be to lay a 2x4 on the ground with kicker blocks that would keep the sled from sliding. If you had a longer lever (the 2x4) it would lighten the load as you pry up on the 2x4 against the ground.

[bigfish24]

i have a 99 k1500 with a 8 inch lift and i have no prob getting my portable at all.

[JimmyJames]

I use my incredible power of my mind and levitate it right in.Kinda freaks people out but it's the easiest way to get it done.

[minnbowhunter]

I use my incredible power of my mind and levitate it right in.Kinda freaks people out but it's the easiest way to get it done.

Hey, can you lift my perm. house out that way for me? It's worth a case of cold ones to me.

[Esox_Magnum]

I have an 01 GMC and load my Eskimo 3 man by myself loaded with gear plus 20# propane tank without much trouble, and I'm only a little guy at about a buck 45. Lift the back of the tub on the tailgate and lift the front slides right in.

[wolfman-k]

I've been debating the winch and/or pulley thing for 3 years now, I have to decide and do it. I'm getting too old to try and load my double-wide by myself. Meantime, I am using two 6' 2X4s as a ramp.I wish I could justify a smaller portable, but I don't have the storage space, no garage!

[deadeye]

I just use my back to do all the lifting LOL.

If I had a pickup again I would use a pulley up front and a couple 2x4s. Its cheap and with the pulley you just pull on the rope and up the sled goes. Brains over brawn.

[magicstix]

minbowhunter, I'm in the same boat with back since Aug., its getting better but slowly. no surgery, just therapy/ cortizone shot.

I load mine the same: empty most everything, put front up and then the back, slide in. then load the stuff back into sled and push in, done it this way for ever. I might try the ramp though. And I know what you mean by short truck/ tall truck problem. been there. The short truck becomes the ice fishing vehicle, even better yet backing up to a small snowbank,

great.

[Surface Tension]

I have an Otter lodge. I lift the front up and put it on the tail gate. Then go to the rear and lift then slide it into the truck. 50% of the time the front will slide off the tailgate and you start over.

A truck has 6 stake pockets. On each of my pockets I have a rope tied to make a loop. Those loops in handy when you need to tie stuff down. On one of the center stake pocket loops I put a snubber. Now when I put the front on the tailgate I attach the snubber to the Otter tub. Loading goes much smoother.

[Fishinguy40]

I built a ramp with a bracket on one end(for the tail gate) and teeth on the other so they grab the ice or snow, then i pull the shack up to the truck front first grab the back and push it right in fully loaded, piece of cake. The ramp is 6 foot long so i just slide it in along side the shack, and your off to the next spot. THE RAMP IS THE WAY TO GO, FOR SURE!

HereFish, I would like to see pics if you have them. I have been thinking of doing something similar, building a ramp but with something that will grip between the bed and the tailgate when it is down. I have an extended cab and short bed, so the ramp would be short and that means a steeper angle. I have visions of laying a ramp on the tailgate and then the entire thing sliding off as my porty is half way up

[icefishing21]

I use an atv ramp and just slide my frabill preditor up it. Works great and very easy!

[Swill]

makes a guy thing he should downsize when fishing along and bring less gear! But wait, that goes against everything that I all about. My handle should be Gear PIG

[BartmanMN]

Yeah, I saw guys pulling huge shacks yesterday by themselves and I was thinking, thank god I have a FT Guide for early ice. It did not look easy for them pulling X2's and large Frabill's by hand over long distances.

[icerube]

I think a rope and pulley off the front of the truck box is a great idea, just a little extra pull would help alot. I can sympathize with you Magicstix, I went down with two herniated disc a few years ago, The pain was so great I thought it was game over, just take me out back and shoot me. Was told I needed surgery. Glad I did'nt, after physical thearpy and a cortazone shot most of the pain went away. I also got a inversion table, now when the back gets sore i'll hang like batman for a while and it straightens me right out. Good luck!!!

[shnelson]

Yeah, I saw guys pulling huge shacks yesterday by themselves and I was thinking, thank god I have a FT Guide for early ice. It did not look easy for them pulling X2's and large Frabill's by hand over long distances.

I bet those guys you see have legs the size of a competition body builder!

These early ice outings are killing me, my predator feels like I'm dragging 200lbs of dead weight behind me . I was pretty successful going out alone with it last night, I took out one of the seats and reduced my gear as much as possible, was able to pull it up into the truck without pulling any muscles.

[fishinJohn]

Wow, I read every post and did not see this method: I park the truck so the tailgate is very close to a heep of snow formed by the plow. Viola, instant ramp. If you are quick about it you can do it when parking on a road. It's not always an option but more often than not it is. Just slide it in pulling the rope, fully loaded and barely disturbed.

[thehawk]

I have a wild outdoor 2-man flip over and by the time you get all that gear and other "stuff" in there it has to be 200lbs or more. I use my minivan at first ice cuz I cannot drive it out there and it is easy to load up. I put the nose up on the back end and slide it right in, it is heavy and sometimes takes two trys but she gets in there. I don't think I could load it in my suburban by myself, just too high off the ground. man, do i need a four wheeler