skid house question

[Kyle]

I have a fish house on skids which is on a skid trailer. the trailer was made with side runners specially for trailering skid houses. I am wondering for those of you who have or have had skid houses, what was the easiest way to trailer and detrailer it? I just bought the house and have not tried yet, but I am not sure if using a quick jack and jack stands to slide the trailer underneath it is a good idea, or if I should mount a winch to the trailer and attemp to winch it on? Has anyone ever used an Ice Anchor to pull the house off the trailer? My house is an 8x12, so its large, and not easily movable by hand, plus I need to be able to do all of this when I'm alone...

[Kyle]

Any ideas would be appreciated...

[Eelpout08]

if it slides on the trailer easy enough i would say a winch on the front of the trailer to pull it on, then you could ancor into the ice and just drive ahead to get it off.

[Gordie]

Find a old set of camper jacks and give those a try you would have to probally mount some kind of attachment to your house and weight might be a issue but probally not.

You can also winch the house off the trailer but this takes a bit but once it is done its a slick way to do it after your house is on the trailer you haver to run the cable under the trailer and then under the house to a hooking point on the front of the trailer then when you winch in your house comes off backwards. I have seen this done before on a couple trailers works very well and both of those trailers had small roller built in along where the skids went I think there was like 4 or 5 little 3/4 inch round rollers bulit in.

hope this helps

[Kyle]

What would you use as an ice anchor? I have seen some online, but would a large threaded bolt work? Whats easiest?

I mounted a winch on the trailer, and will be building a ramp for it to slide on nicely. If I can figure out what to use for a solid ice anchor I think I will be set!

[WhiskeyPete]

Winch on the front of the trailer. Rollers on the bed. Roller ramps. Drill a hole and use a 4x4 and chain for an anchor to unload. This is an 8x20 fish house and HEAVY. I load it by myself and can unload alone as well. We built another trailer for my buddy's 8x20 and didn't tilt the trailer but his is much lighter. We used it for our hunting shack this year and can load from bare dirt without a problem! Rollers are the key. The tilt is nice, but if you support the rear of the trailer with jacks you won't end up with a bent trailer! I have mine on the ground in the yard now, but after turkeyday I'll load it and try to post pics of the system I have.

[MuleShack]

I used to have a 8 x 12 many years ago and we winched it up on the trailer, and then hooked another truck to the back side to pull it off of the trailer when we hit the lake.

[nytelyter]

i have a trailer designed just for my skid house and after many attempts in unloading aand loading i have a great way to accomplish this. i use a hi-lifter (farm)jack and four cement blocks and i am on or off in less than 10 minutes.

first thing is after i have a place to drop it is putting cement blocks or you can use whatever type of dunnage you may have. under the rear skids. then as you jack up the fishhouse from the front the skids will top out on those blocks. now i have the jack holding up the front of the fishhouse high enough to place the last two blocks under the front skids drop the shack on them now the shack is off the trailer. and then, slowly slide the trailer towards the front two blocks.

now i do have to say that i do have what looks like a swather trailer it is triangle in shape. for a square trailer i would bring along 4-6 long enough to cross over the trailer.

after you get the trailer wheels close to the front blocks, again jack up the shack pull the blocks from in front of the wheels and reset them behind the wheels again resting the shack upon them. pull the trailer out and then with the jack lower bothends back to the ice and start fishing. if you have any questions e-mail me [email protected] and ill send you my phone number and can maybe go intomore detail. ... paul

[Kyle]

Thanks! My trailer is made from angle iron and is also in a triangle shape. I have the winch now, so I think once there is enough ice to get the house out, I will modify the trailer to make it easier to get the house on an off.

any ways to keep the house from getting stuck in the ice, and not haveing to chisel it out and re-adjust once every week and a half?

[bturck]

Kyle I would suggest 4x4 blocks under each of the corners. If it gets real sloppy you might have to put 2 under each corner. Once you've moved the house off the blocks you can retrieve your blocks and you're on your way. I would block it even if I'm going to take it off the same day. No fun trying to chisel a house out in the dark and not tear up the runners....good luck.

[LightningBG]

Drill a hole and use a 4x4 and chain for an anchor to unload.

100% agree. Take a 4x4 that is maybe 18 inches long, put a very strong eyebolt in the center, attach chain.

To use, drill a hole with your auger, push the 4x4 down under the ice and turn sideways, attach chain to house.

To remove, push the 4x4 down under the ice to straighten, pull up through the hole.

(this also works great if you get your truck stuck on the ice.)

[olbaidhh]

Quote:

100% agree. Take a 4x4 that is maybe 18 inches long, put a very strong eyebolt in the center, attach chain.

To use, drill a hole with your auger, push the 4x4 down under the ice and turn sideways, attach chain to house.

To remove, push the 4x4 down under the ice to straighten, pull up through the hole.

(this also works great if you get your truck stuck on the ice.)

OK I got the part about this working to get the house off the trailer... great idea... but how would it work if your truck was stuck on the ice?

[Kyle]

Great ideas guys! I appreciate the advice! Im not sure I am following you on how this would work if your truck gets stuck on the ice?

[sparkydm]

I have a 6x8 house built very light. I have a winch on the front of my car hauler to get it on the trailer. To get it off, I stuff pieces of conduit or pipe under the skids and roll it off.

[LightningBG]

OK I got the part about this working to get the house off the trailer... great idea... but how would it work if your truck was stuck on the ice?

Sorry,

Just gives you an anchor point to hook up a winch or come-along to.

I always always always carry a come-along in the truck. I use a 8000lb come-along which only cost about $30. Works great to pull out of slush or through a drift.