drop-down fish house frame

[forcedtowork]

I am lookin at getting a frame made by miltona blacksmith, for those of you that have one what are your thoughts? Does it come powdercoated? Pro's/con's? Thanks in advance. I am looking at having a 6.5' x 14 ft made, square front.

[chad austin]

To each their own, BUT...

If I were you I'd invest the little more cash to get the V front if you plan on pulling any distance. My brother and I bought a used house last year and granted it's a heavy house it pulls very hard especially with a head wind. We are now in the process of turning it into a V front.

The guys that have the miltona frames on the forums seem to like the quality and the price but I can only speak of what I've read on here.

[low277]

I bought a 6.5 x 12 with a V front from Miltona Blacksmith this fall and I am very happy with the quality and price. I have had several welders and fabrication guys look at it and comment on the good quality for the price.

Hopefully soon I can post some pictures.

[dougger222]

I was days away from pulling the trigger on a 6.5x18+V from them until I stumbed across a 8x18+V Shack Rack frame. It will be a lot easier to get the house up and down now.

Recall two axle options a 3,500 and 6,000 lb. I was going to pull the trigger on the bigger axle.

This outfit makes a lot of frames, they really know what they are doing.

[adamr]

My first shack was a square front and i dont miss pulling that d am thing at all hook a parachute behind your pickup and drive around because thats what youll have.

[chad austin]

until I stumbed across a 8x18+V Shack Rack frame. It will be a lot easier to get the house up and down.

I have an older 8x18 shack Rack that my Ultra Shack sits on. It's a 1995 and the frame has zero issues other than being a square front but that will be changing soon.

[forcedtowork]

I have the money for a v-front, what I don't have is the carpentary skills for a v-front. Plus if I am not going with forced air furnace I really don't see the advantage. I also only have about a mile to tow it from the place it will be stored at to the lake. I used to have a square from 7 x 12 and a small SUV and never had any problems towing longer distances.

[Muckpetey]

How much are the v fronts from th Milton a blacksmith? I checked his HSOforum and he didn't have the v fronts listed?

[forcedtowork]

not sure on the cost of a v-front, I never asked. The cost for a 6.5' x 14 ft he thought would be around $1450 for what he called the "caddaliac frame"

[eagle_3464]

I looked at his frames and wasn't impressed with the flex front to back in the frames. He said the house build on top will stiffen it up. To me if it is flexing, that will be hard on the structure built on top. Therefore I had him quote 2 x 4 frame rather than 2 x 3. Quote price for a 6.5ft x 14ft V-front was $1550 and I believe the steel is unfinished. I think I am going to price steel and components to build myself.

[fsnrod]

If you don't plan on pulling it on long trips a square front would be okay but otherwise a v front is the way to go. It doesn't take anymore skills to build a v front just a little more planning.

[eagle_3464]

I don't really need a V-front where I am but I am going that route anyway. What if you ever want to make a trip to LOW, Red, or Mille Lacs? You will wan the V-front then. What about resale down the road? You will sell easier with a V-front.

[low277]

I paid around 1100 dollars for my 6.5 x 12 with a v front from Miltona Blacksmith. I looked at quite a few frames before I bought mine and I think it is a very good value for the money, I did not look at any aluminum frames as there were not any close to where I live.

Miltona Blacksmith might not be a flashy operation, but I am pleased with my frame. I hope to get another one this summer.

[Grainbelt]

Very good frames at a good price. They come without a finish on them. I bought one 7 years ago and still use it year round.

[forcedtowork]

Grainbelt, did you paint your frame then, or did you leave it the way it is? If you did paint it what did you use for paint? I want to do this right the first time since I have approval from the wife.

[Gordie]

I suggested to my brother to use the duraliner stuff for the fish house frame. Sticks really great and is very durable. its been on for two years and looks like the day we put it on. I have also used it on steel flatbeds for trailers and trucks

[Grainbelt]

Forcedtowork, I painted it and painted it again using industrial epoxy. It is a steel frame in Minnesota so it needs touching up every 2-3 years. I am leaning toward a bed liner product the for next time, which is soon. It sounds like many have had good success going that route.

[smeese]

I sprayed the bedliner on the bottom of my entire fishhouse bottom....it took 4 cans for a good coat on a 12X6.5 plus a V front.....seems like it will hold up well, I will probably do a coat over the outside of the frame too pending time before thicker ice arrives. I wish I had sprayed the floor top before carpeting, but it could still get done....