Ice safety = thickness

[JakeJ_Mn]

I have a new 8x20 wheelhouse - 1/2 ton quad cab with a Boss plow. Haven't had it on the ice yet. Looking for some advice from others as to how much ice is needed. It seems to be different for most, but my thinking is 14 to 16 inches would be safe. Want to try Mille Lacs, but maybe need to go further north. What do you think? Thanks.

[vman11]

You'll have to trust this analysis by the Army Corp of Engineers

http://www.crrel.usace.army.mil/ierd/ice_safety/safety.html

Read through it and read their assumptions - should give you a pretty good idea. Ice thickness varies for many different reasons, always keep that in mind.

[Norm1980]

on a larger lake like mille lacs just ask at which ever resort you go out through they will probably be able to give you the best advise.

On local lake i would say use your best judgement you probably have a lot of $$$ invested already no need to push it. If there isn't any other houses the size of yours wait. If you see 3 or 4 other large houses out on the ice i would say go for it. Otherwise i wouldn't feel safe until there was 20" with that large of a house. Still all ice can vary nothing is ever 100% when your dealing with ice

[barndogger]

Shanty towns on Millacs and with the cold snap it would be fine.

[panfishpounder00]

i'm on 15" on no probs up here... lots of bigger wheel houses with diesels parked in front!

[eyebjim]

You should be fine with Mille lacs. I was up last weekend and there was a good 19 inches (measured)on the flats. There should be at least 20+ by now. There were many 1 ton desiels out there pulling wheel houses as big as yours.

Personally I would wait for 12 to 14 inches to drive on with your rig.

I usually go out on 10 but I have a dakota 4x4 and a 6.5 x 12. You probably have me by 4000 lbs.

On bigger lakes like mille lacs I like to have at least 15 inches cause the lake moves around a lot and cracks open up.

You can drive on 10 or 12 but if you happen to drive into a crack your likely gonna hit bottom. With 15 or more you are more likely to just get stuck in the crack.

I had to help two people out when they got stuck in cracks last weekend. If the ice was thinner I know one of them would have been on the bottom probably both. The resorts are real good about bridging but you have find the bridge and use the bridge.

I prefer to avoid cracks:-).