Frabill Predator vs Guardian?

[Love2Cabin]

I need your guys professional help. I just bought a Guardian R2-Tec but am thinking about returning it and getting the Predator. I got a heck of a good deal at FF on the Guardian, it was $530 down from $800. The part I don’t like is that I thought it was going to have the 1.25” poles like the predator. The Frabill site and all the other sites say that the R2 has the 1.25” poles but it does not. I called Frabill and they said this was a mistake on their site and were sorry. I guess the biggest reason for wanting the Predator is looks. The Guardian will fit it my truck with the tail gate closed and cover down, the Predator won’t. The Guardian has R2 the Predator won’t but does have 900 fabric. I will be taking 2 kids sometimes so the extra 9 inch width would be nice with the Predator. Someone talk me into one or the other I can’t decide.

Thanks

[gonehunting]

Just my opinion but I would definetly get the predator due to the 1.25" poles. I believe putting the shelter up and down will be much easier with the new pole system. You can find the predator for some good prices also but hurry because they are being sold fast. With kids you will also enjoy the extra room.

[Ed Carlson]

No contest, the Predator is king in that fight, if you wish a heavy duty sled and shack.

But that said, the price you got the New Guardian R2 for is a real steal, and a great shack for that price for sure.

The previous Fortress R2 Tech and the Magnum R2 Techs used the same 7/8” pole system as the Guardian, and they held up very well...so I'm not overly concerned with it. Lighter is a bonus in the long run.

FYI:

Predator 1.25” frame.

Guardian 7/8” frame.

Pro 3/4” frame.

Commando 3/4” frame.

[Love2Cabin]

Thanks guys, I probably should go with the big one since I currently have a Trekker that I can pull out for early and late ice. I was hoping someone would talk me out of it and tell me to stay with the R2 and save me the trouble of the return.

[BartmanMN]

Fitting into your truck is important and with the R2 tec fabric, I'd say you have a nice house in the Guardian.

Bigger isn't alway better.

[Love2Cabin]

Now that's what I wanted to hear. Maybe I should keep the R2 and then when I find a really good deal on a Predator pick one up then. Not sure about your better half but mine might look at me funny if I try and explain why I need 3 houses. She already thinks I'm goofy for needing 2. This way I could have the Trekker for early and late ice the R2 for cold days and the Predator for when the kids come along. Perfect. Now I just need the ice castle to top it off.

[fishersofmen]

The only thing that I am disappointed with in my new Predator is there is about a foot of wasted space (as far as seating goes) on the right side when you are sitting in the unit. There is such a sharp curve on the tub that when you slide the seat over to the right it hits the curve on the bottom leaving a solid foot of seating space that you can't use. Its not the end of the world but when I take my 2 boys with me I put a bucket for one of them to sit on in the middle and it is actually a tight fit because of this. Anyone else notice that?? Only mentioning this because you mentioned the extra width so keep this in mind. Just wish they had designed it so you could slide both seats all the way over!!

[Love2Cabin]

I have that problem with the trekker and noticed that the Guardian has the same problem. I was hoping to use one of my seats out of the Trekker in Guardian to make 3 but not sure it will work. It looks like the Predator should have enough but will be tight. I was wondering if I could build some special bracket for the front seat to solve the slant problem. Anyone else build one yet?

[fishersofmen]

Yep I was wondering the same thing!! Anyone?

[Ed Carlson]

Somewhat unavoidable and is a bit of the nature of the beast, as the sled requires a steep curve to pull in a wider variety of snow and slop conditions. If the sled was too blunt in front it would blow slow badly, like a snow plow.

The larger the sled the more likely it will exhibit this sled trait. The smaller and shallower the sled, as in the Trekker and Trekker DLX, not so much so.

[walleye44]

I need your guys professional help. I just bought a Guardian R2-Tec but am thinking about returning it and getting the Predator. I got a heck of a good deal at FF on the Guardian, it was $530 down from $800. The part I don’t like is that I thought it was going to have the 1.25” poles like the predator. The Frabill site and all the other sites say that the R2 has the 1.25” poles but it does not. I called Frabill and they said this was a mistake on their site and were sorry. I guess the biggest reason for wanting the Predator is looks. The Guardian will fit it my truck with the tail gate closed and cover down, the Predator won’t. The Guardian has R2 the Predator won’t but does have 900 fabric. I will be taking 2 kids sometimes so the extra 9 inch width would be nice with the Predator. Someone talk me into one or the other I can’t decide.

Thanks

I am bias towards the R2 material.. I have a Canvas Craft magnum house & I love that Norpac material. Fishing -18 below & not getting condensation on the fabric with no dripping is priceless. Talk about a warm house. Canvas Craft does supply that R2 material for the Frabills. Very nice price on that house. Plus, if you can fit the house in your truck that is a bonus.. A little roomer house would be nice to, but you would have the same problem with fitting it into your truck. You could always look at Canvas Crafts Large single house. That is their 3 person house with the Norpac material. http://www.canvascraftinc.com/northlandersellsheet.pdf

[Love2Cabin]

Oh boy, now I really got a problem. I just went and sat in the Predator again and you are correct about the foot of wasted space. Might as well stay with the Guardian although it has wasted space as well just not as much. The problem is that I just found out I can get into a new Predator for $519.00. Wow that is a goos deal. Cheaper then then the Guardian just no R2. I don't know, I think I am leaning towards the Guardian now. Would be nice to hear from someone who has a Guardian.

[walleye44]

Stick with the R2.. You will be able stay out fishing more. Being comfortable is have the battle..

[CaptainMusky]

Oh boy, now I really got a problem. I just went and sat in the Predator again and you are correct about the foot of wasted space. Might as well stay with the Guardian although it has wasted space as well just not as much. The problem is that I just found out I can get into a new Predator for $519.00. Wow that is a goos deal. Cheaper then then the Guardian just no R2. I don't know, I think I am leaning towards the Guardian now. Would be nice to hear from someone who has a Guardian.

If you are that worried about the wasted space, it is simple to mod to make compartments, etc and you will regain all wasted space. I have an Otter Wilderness and I too ran into the similar complaint you guys did with the one seat.

I really wanted storage compartments and not stuff floating around so I devised a system that works well. I cut two 2x2's the lingth of the inside of the sled from the top. I bolted them to the sled with carriage bolts and then went from there.

I have 1/2" plywood on top and 1/4" as dividers for my compartments. There is no wasted space anymore.

If you do some searching here you will find pics of what some others have done. Lots of good ideas.

[swmndeerhunter]

fisherofmen, I have a Predator as well and know exactly what you are talking about. A solution would be by putting the bucket on the end with the wasted space and having your two seats next to each other. This should solve your problem of the wasted space.

[Love2Cabin]

Thanks for all the updates.

Still wish I could hear from someone who has a Guardian.

After sitting it that Predator I was convinced that I should keep the Guardian since it is only 9 inches narrower but now that I am looking at the Guardian sled it sure looks small in comparison. But on the other hand it is soooo cold out that the R2 should be a no brainer. Can you tell I am still confused?

[BartmanMN]

Your house is lighter, warmer, and almost as large. It may have a shallower tub, but who cares when you drive on the lake and hop out.

[Love2Cabin]

Good point, you are correct the only travel the sled will get will be in the back of my truck.

I'm sure the first time I go to load it I will be glad I have the Guardian.

Thanks

[fishersofmen]

fisherofmen, I have a Predator as well and know exactly what you are talking about. A solution would be by putting the bucket on the end with the wasted space and having your two seats next to each other. This should solve your problem of the wasted space.

Negative. The angle comes down to the bottom of the sled from the top like this (/). So if you put the bucket to sit on at that end you still have a foot of room to where you can't move the bucket over hence the bucket and 2 seats are still crunched together. Again this is a great portable I only wish the seating space was designed in a way to allow more room for a 3rd person.

[Love2Cabin]

I don't like the way Otter has that bar running the whole distance of the sled but it does sort of solve the bottom of the sled issue. I'm going to look into a bracket that goes from the front of the seld to the back of the sled for the front seat instead of the current bracket that goes to the bottom of the sled. A very cheap fix would be to just lay a piece of plywood across the front and sit on that.

[swmndeerhunter]

Are you trying to put the bucket in the sled? What I'm saying you need to do is put the bucket on the ice in front of the sled. In that case you can move it all the way over to the canvas. This is the only way to get rid of the "wasted space" in the design of the sled.

[Love2Cabin]

Ohh now that is even a better idea and I bet I guy could get a bucket pretty cheap. Thanks for the idea.

[walleye44]

My buddy just called Canvas Craft.. They have instock items 10 - 20% off. Just in case you were maybe interested. You would get the otter sled, but their seats the bar does not run the long way.

[Brad B]

I am surprised that no one said anything about a predator in the r2 tec fabric. they do make them they are just expensive thou ($999.00)

[Ed Carlson]

I think you will see some deals on the Frabill Predator R2 Tech's starting this weekend, so you may wish to price check on them.