Towing a wheelhouse.

[gurkster]

I got a new to me wheelhouse this year and so far really love it. I have only fished local lakes with it so I haven't towed it real far. I see on the tongue that it says 55 MPH only. How fast can you guys drive while towing it? Is it trailer sway or some other reason that 55 is the max speed listed? It seems to pull decent, but on local roads and such I anly go about 55 - 60. Thinking of taking a ripi north with it and just wondering what to expect as far as speed, towing issues, etc. I will pull it with a full size RAM pickup and it is a 6.5' x 16' Ice Castle.

[vman11]

I try to stay around 55-60mph with mine...I even think my sticker says do not exceed 50mph. Pretty hard not to do that.

I have gotten above 60 before, but I do stay away from freeways and take back roads wherever I can.

[broken line]

We tow our Ice Castle (6.5 X 16) at regular speeds and have not had problems. It does depend on what gear you have inside of it (more weight) and the wind can make a difference as well.

[SDS]

i pull my 6.5x14 at the speed weather permits me to traval, 55-65.

[heat checker]

I'm not trying to steal this thread, but will a v-front help stabalize the house at highway speeds?

[bottom-bouncer]

I tow mine 65-70 all the time you will be fine just make sure the bearings are greased and try to keep your gear towards the front of the house! you would rather be tounge heavy. to much wieght in the back of the house will cause trailer sway.

[gurkster]

Thanks guys!

[MuskieJunkie]

If it's an ice castle like the one I've used with angle iron frame (not tubular steel) and loaded with gear you won't be able to go over 55/60.

It is horrible on the highway, it sways all over and at times you can actually see the wheels bounce off the ground. Distributing the load helps.

[wplatehunter]

I don't go over 60 with ours, and if I do it starts to sway. By putting more weight in the front helps.

[The_King48]

Lol lots of different relplys.... I can pull mine as fast as 80MPH, but I usually tow it about 60 to 65 MPH just for fuel mileage.... Make sure there is enough weight in the front of the house and u will be fine.... The tounge should be heavy not sag ur springs on ur truck much.. I have 2 30lb propane tanks on the front and that seems to give me enought tounge weight.. You will know real quick if there isnt enough tounge weight....

[Fuzzbient]

I have a 6.5 x 12 tubular frame that I built on this year and just got back from a trip up north with it. I pulled it with a trailblazer at speeds up to 70mph on the freeway with no problems at all. I did keep good tongue weight on it with the propane tanks and gear up front. Speed seems to be less of an issue than road surface for me. Hitting highways with lots of bouncy surfaces causes it to bounce on the springs a bit, but it's still pretty stable even then. Wind seems to make a difference as well. A strong head wind or side wind can impact it noticeably.

[bak2MN]

I have a 8X18 Ice Castle and run it 65 to 70 no problem at all.

[toomanyjigs]

wow i didnt think that they were that touchy good to know i really want to build one this summer if the budget allows, i was also thinking of one of those scamp campers with drop down axels would be nice and use the nylon straps for boat wenchs same as on our boat trailers so they woulndt rust ,how is on gas hauling the big toy to the lake?

[bak2MN]

Depends on how hard I run a have pulled 17 mpg cruise set at 60 on the way to LOW one time. Pull with a Titan. Pull harder and faster about 10 to 12.

[GSB Ice Man]

I have a 14' Ice Castle with a 3' V front. I pull 220 miles one way when I go to URL, average speed = 60-70 mph. I have never had an issue, I guess the one-ton diesel tends to forget its even back there.

[minnbowhunter]

I have an older Ice Castle with no suspension. Pull it with a Chevy Suburban. I load it heavy in the front, my truck will level itself. 70 mph is no problem as long as the road is not too rough. never had it sway on me. If there is too much weight on the rear any trailer can become uncontrolable.

[jd524]

I got a new to me wheelhouse this year and so far really love it. I have only fished local lakes with it so I haven't towed it real far. I see on the tongue that it says 55 MPH only. How fast can you guys drive while towing it? Is it trailer sway or some other reason that 55 is the max speed listed? It seems to pull decent, but on local roads and such I anly go about 55 - 60. Thinking of taking a ripi north with it and just wondering what to expect as far as speed, towing issues, etc. I will pull it with a full size RAM pickup and it is a 6.5' x 16' Ice Castle.

I'm sure your wheelhouse manufacturer put the 55 mph advisory due to the tire rating. Your house is probably equipped with ST "special trailer" tires. Per industry standards the max speed rating for ST tires is 65 mph (at max cold inflation pressure) with some manufacturers rating at 55 mph.

Many ST tire manufacturers claim it is o.k. to go 65-75 mph as long as you increase the max cold pressure inflation by 10 psi. Another option would be to put LT tires on the house.

[TyGuy02]

also make sure your ball is on the correct side of the u-hitch. I noticed with mine it goes low and high. When I originally had it going low the house sat unlevel. So I flipped the ball around and now everything sits level. Goes down the highway much easier now.

It guess if a person doesn't have a "cheater" to get the house back on you might have to keep it lower though to make it easier. Just something I've learned this year the first year using a wheelhouse

[fishguyd]

If the house is constructed correctly (axle placement)and has a solid frame (tubular)it should pull no different than a camper--thats all they are right? All of mine will pull at any speed desired loaded or not, If i was to have problems with any trailer pulling the first place i would look is where the axle is placed--to far forward or backward will cause any of the problems many of these threds are mentioning, Boat trailers are the same, get a cheap cpmbo package from a dealer --you better check the winch position on the trailer--it will throw off your toungue weight/ boat position / wieght distribution on the trailer and again cause mamy of the problems relating to these threads.