Wilcraft

[CaptSpike]

Anyone have any personal experience with one?

Spike

[Desperado]

Yup, quite a bit of time in one.

Fellow FM member Lve2fsh also owns one.

[Lve2fsh]

Yea I have one. Granddad left me some money and said have fun don't pay bills so I have one.

Mine was a new 07 model that was never used just a demo so I picked it up cheaper.

Probably the only one in Nevada right now and I did have some problems with the park rangers not wanting me to use it but I can now at all but one lake.

I was a little disappointed that more was wrong with it (since it was never used) but I was able to fix everything. My engine doesn't seem to run as well as it should and I am going to try a different carb this year. I think the idea is great and you would have a great time with one, mine just has a little lemon smell to it. Won't be able to use mine till mid December, can't wait.

[Lve2fsh]

PS I wasn't bashing the wilcrafts I think they are great just a little disappointed with mine.

[RylFlsh85]

So how well do they really handle out in the snow, can you put them thru quite a bit?

[harvey lee]

I used one for a year plus and in heavy snow, its tough to get around. On early ice, fantastic. The speed is fine but I thought that they might increase the size inside.

If I were to purchase one, it would be for early ice or in snow of less than 4-5 inches.

Now, they may have improved them in the past 3-4 years also so things could have gotten much better in the deeper snow.

[Ed Carlson]

Wilcraft also added the option of the J-Wheelz upgrade kits. Wilcraft is also the official distributor for the J-Wheels kits for ATV's and UTV's in MN now.

This J-Wheelz upgrade eliminates the concerns of deep snow and also adds a huge amount of extra flotation, stability, and mobility on open water. They can truck on across water like a Coot on the run. LOL!

On deep soft snow, with the aid of the J-Wheelz, the added traction and surface area functions like tracks, but with a tiny fraction of the weight or the cost.

WilCraft will be demoing them here in Fargo this weekend at the "Hard Water First Ice Expo" here at Gander Mountain.

Get that deer "Hang'n high" so you can stop in and check them out.

[CaptSpike]

So what is the general opinion? We usually only get 3 months of ice fishing in. Would they be worth the investment? Can you hunt deer out of them? How do they handle the various conditions? How about out on the trails if you were to go hunting?

Can they tow a medium otter behind them? Is access on and off the lake a challenge?

How far can you get on a tank of fuel?

Does the shelter block out the wind or can it sneak in? How does the shelter mate up to the body when it is flipped? Typical flip houses you can pack snow around to keep out the wind. How does this system work?

Looking for any and all info pro and con on these. I have a wheelchair bound friend that is interested in them. Would like it to be more versatile than just a ice fishing house.

What else do people do with these?

Spike

[fishwater]

What else do people do with these?

I always though that a mower attachment would be pretty sweet!

I had one for a couple of years. I have mixed feelings about them. They are pretty slick for early ice, hard to deny that. You can push the limits on rivers, or get out first on the lakes and fish lakes long after the access has melted away. I had some big issues pop-up, essentially mine was underpowered and the tranny wasn't on par with the abuse I put it through. They've made many improvements; the newer ones are probably significantly better. The J-wheels would be a nice addition assuming enough power and a beefier transmission.

If you do get one, I highly recommend that you use a covered trailer for transport. For hunting, they could be perfect for handicapped individuals. You would probably need to check with your states DNR about the legality of hunting from them since they are generally considered an ATV. I know Tom was working on getting laws supporting hunting out of them in the Midwest states.

[Desperado]

Snowmobiles, fourwheeler, and wilcrafts are each a different type of machine; each has conditions where it will do better than the other two.

So, that being said; I'll try to answer some questions that have been posed here.

They aren't a snowmobile, but 4 to 5 inches is a pretty low threshold to set for a machine that has 11 inches clearance. I would say more like 10 inches of snow before you gotta start considering driving conditions; after that it really depends on the snow.

I ain't gonna lie to ya; I have gotten one stuck in the snow several times (it was always at least knee deep). I've also gotten snowmobiles buried in the snow. And I can say that the Wilcraft is the easiest thing to get unstuck; just retract the wheels and pull it like a three man Otter.

Access on and off the lake is hardly ever an issue.

Canopy blocks the wind as well as or better than most flipovers.

One tank of fuel on clear hard surface; about 20 miles. I often carry an extra gallon with me.

hunting depends on your state's regulations. We don't dear hunt with them in Minnesota (yet); unless your handicapped, then you can. But we do duck hunt with them anywhere that it's legal to shoot from a "duckboat".

Yes, you can pull a two or three man sized Otter sled or Fishtrap type shelter.

Lve2fsh, Harvey, and Fishwater all had machines with 8HP motors and Comet 30 series clutches;

not baggin' on these guys, they bought what was available back in '06 and '07.

BUT; as they've alluded to, improvements have been made ('06 was the first year of full production)

NOW: All machines in current production (2009 and newer) have 10HP or 12HP motors and Comet 40 series clutches. It has helped a lot in the conditions where they've felt need for more HP and beefier tranny (the heavier duty clutch helps the most, that's where the extra beef was needed for the tranny)

[Desperado]

Spike

I do know a couple parapalegics and one quadrapalegic who are using them.

The one being driven by the quadrapalegic was custom built for him and his needs/abilities. There are some special modifications/adaptations on it to allow him to steer, shift the gears, apply the brakes, and apply throttle.

[Lve2fsh]

NOW: All machines in current production (2009 and newer) have 10HP or 12HP motors and Comet 40 series clutches. It has helped a lot in the conditions where they've felt need for more HP and beefier tranny (the heavier duty clutch helps the most, that's where the extra beef was needed for the tranny)

Desperado thats interesting news. Mine has always felt underpowered but I run mine up to 7000 feet above sea level and even my atv needed a smaller jet in the carb to run right. And you are correct when they get stuck you raise the wheels, get out and slide them out, lower the wheels and take off. I had thought about sticking a bigger motor on it but didn't think the tranny would handle it.

Would love to trade mine in on a new one.

[Desperado]

Would love to trade mine in on a new one.

Cool; I'd take that statement, from any owner of any piece of equipment, as a resounding customer endorsement.

[Lve2fsh]

You may have misunderstood my comment on trading mine in. I would actually like a brand new never used one which mine was supposed to be but wasn't and one that would preform like advertised.

Still not bashing them just the one I have.

Hoping to get out before christmas on the ice.