Ice house Ice thickness question

[50incher]

I just purchased my first permanent ice shack and I am waiting to take it out. I would have to belive this thing weighs 5-600lbs and is on 6x6 skids. This is an 8x8 and I was wondering whatwould be considered safe in terms of ice thckness. I know it is 6-8 for a ATV which I hope to have hauling it out there with. Any tips for draging and setup for over the season would be great too. Thanks

[CrewJones]

i would wait untill someone drives out a rig that is unquestionable much heavier than yours. or about a foot for me to feel sure.

[Korynta]

8 to 10 with atv, 6 to 8 if u could slide it "should" be enough sense the wait is distributed along the skids, but id wait for someone else to try first.

[50incher]

Thanks, I guess waiting is better than going though. It would be back to portables then

[Pat K]

From the MN DNR site:

For New, Clear Ice Only

2" or less - STAY OFF

4" - Ice fishing or other activities on foot

5" - Snowmobile or ATV

8" - 12" - Car or small pickup

12" - 15" - Medium truck

Remember that these thicknesses are merely guidelines for new, clear, solid ice. Many factors other than thickness can cause ice to be unsafe.

[eyebjim]

Your house if 8x 8 is likely closer to 1200lbs. The skids help distribute the weight. Like others have said you should error on the side of safety if you are unsure of the ice/weight.

I would probably drive that rig out with a ATV with at least 6 inches of good clear ice. My house is about 2000lbs wheel house so all the weight is on 2 wheels and I take it out on 6 inches of clear good ice with the ATV. That's pushing it but your house should be lighter and have better weight distribution. Before you do anything like this I highly recommend you travel every inch of ice you plan on taking it to verify consistency of thickness etc by drilling and checking, do not cross wet crack etc. Waiting for 8 inches is good insurance. There is a link to a good ice thickness guide the us army put out that details all kinds of considerations you should be aware of. Google us army ice thickness and you will find it.

[broken_line]

i would wait till 8 or 9.. because its no fun watcing the ice crack and dip as you drive across it.. then if it snows and gets slushy then you mise well have a semi parked by your house from all the water weight..

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

Last year I had my fish house (from 2010 Fish House build thread) out for the first time on 7" of good clear ice, pulled by an ATV. It weighs a touch over 3,000 pounds. We drilled a ton of holes, so I knew it was consistent all the way to where we were going. The ice didn't sag or crack at all, even when we drilled the 6 holes in the house.

Having said that, the closer you are to 8" of ice the better

[JeffB]

My 8x17 wheel house is sitting on 7.5 inches of good clear ice right now. The ice never cracked or sagged a bit as it went out.

[GRAND DAD]

I had my 8x12 on 5 1/2 inches last weekend pulled it out with the ATV.