HSO @ Ice Show 2011 - December 2, 3 & 4

[Powerstroke]

I had a great time today! It was great meeting some new people. I didn't find anything that I "needed" at the show, but there was some pretty neat stuff.

[IamZombie]

Any HSO merch at the show?

[DTro]

As the show was coming to an end for the day today they made an announcement that attendance records were broken for both yesterday and today!

Lots of people, wow!

[Matt C]

Absolutely awesome today! What a crowd! I can't believe how many people where packed in there @ noon. I think we all felt like sardines in a can.

Great to meet some of you, and hopefully a few more new people today joining us!

My eyes are still recovering from the LED's

[g_anoka]

As the show was coming to an end for the day today they made an announcement that attendance records were broken for both yesterday and today!

Lots of people, wow!

I was there today, and I can believe that. Personally I think it is time for online advanced ticket sales, and maybe time to move it to the metrodome.

[Chris Barlage]

Great show this year. It was really nice meeting everyone today. Had a really good time. Great idea to have a booth this year Rick.

[IamZombie]

I'll be down there tomorrow.

[leech~~]

I was there today, and I can believe that. Personally I think it is time for online advanced ticket sales, and maybe time to move it to the metrodome.

My same thoughts as I was standing in the long walk way line, looking down at the ticket area I wouldn't be at for 20 more min's and all the people out on the floor already 15min after it opened! But had a good time.

[pushbutton]

Yeah, got there early and wallowed along in the zoo lines too. Mental note to self...."go later in the day." Still a good time and was nice to meet some of the members and staff!

[Transporter]

I think I attended my last yesterday. Far too many people for someplace that size, way too hard to look at things in the midst of a sea of people. After $7 or $8 to get in, 10 bucks to park, fuel expense I didn't really get the sense of alot of great deals. I can get a $20 off coupon from Babela's and buy most anything on sale at the show for the same or less without visiting an overcrowed venue. Another thing I noticed was far too much redundancy, same stuff different vendor everywhere you turned.

[Gus]

If you are only going to score a deal, yeah it might not work out too much better by the time you figure in the expenses of going. But where else are you going to find all those manufactures with all the new toys znd gizmos in one place? Where else are you going to be able to look at just about every wheel house manufacture out there? It's a great place to do research, compare products, compare build quality, differences in materials. I don't go every year, but every year I do go I come out ahead in one aspect or another. I think of it more as an ice fishing trade show than a deal show. Maybe I have to go to too many trade shows for my job which gets me thinking like that... I dunno. I did have a good time this year and really enjoyed seeing all the gear.

[Rippinlip]

We stopped in for a brief visit Saturday around noon.

4WheelinMamam and I said hi to Crappiesniffer and seen the place was filling up fast so we moved on.

Thanks for being there guys!

[Capt. H (Ret.)]

Geez!! the place was packed!!! I went to purchase a new Otter Cabin and was real disappointed with the one of the salesmen at the Otter booth. I wanted to know if the Cabin would fit in the back of my pickup (5 1/2 foot box)with the tailgate closed and the salesman said "I don't know" and that was that. I would have thought they would know the answer to that question as I am pretty sure they make the size to fit pick-up boxes. At least he was honest and there was no way I was going to spend that amount of money without knowing.

I've been an Otter fan for years but that salesman got me to looking at other brands and I like what I saw.

Sorry about that!!!!

Mike

[leech~~]

Geez!! the place was packed!!! I went to purchase a new Otter Cabin and was real disappointed with the one of the salesmen at the Otter booth.

Mike

Mike what time were you there? I went by the Otter booth on my way out at about 2:30 PM on Sat and it was a sea of sales people there. I think I even seen Northlander there but he was so cleaned up from the last time I had seen him at the Twig swap. I wasn't sure it was him!

[Northlander]

Ya Leech it was me all "cleaned up". LOL.

If anyone has questions on a Otter ice house or any other fitting in a truck of any size just do the math. A Otter Cabin at 65" long collapsed is just shy of 5 1/2 feet wich is 66". It should just fit. I know a Otter Lodge just fits in my 6 1/2' bed. The lodge is 76" long collapsed and of course a 6.5' truck bed is 78".

If you need any more size info on the Otter houses check them out on their HSOforum at www.otter.com

Im sorry you didnt get your question answered like you wanted. Next time you need help at the show look for me and Ill help ya out as much as I possibly can.

The guys who really have the truck bed size questions are the guys buying them huge Otter Resorts. You need a long bed for one of them babies.

[Capt. H (Ret.)]

I stopped by the booth at about 12:30 p.m.. There were plenty of salesmen and the guys who seemed to know alot about the shelters were busy. Everyone but the fellow I talked to.

The Cabin did not have the size posted on it just information about the material it was made out of etc. I was ready to drop about $900 with the extras I wanted. I owned an Otter Lodge but sold it last year because it was larger than the truck box and I have to have it in the box.

I like to move around but it looks like I'll be in the wheelhouse this winter if we get some good ice.

Thanks.

Mike

[bird--dogger]

I wanted to know if the Cabin would fit in the back of my pickup (5 1/2 foot box)with the tailgate closed and the salesman said "I don't know" and that was that.

The Otter Cabin will fit in the back of a 2009 & newer 1/2 ton Dodge crew cab short box with the tailgate closed. If that is what you are refering to. I had the same concerns last year. Fits perfect.