Wheelhouse, Build your own or buy complete?

[Hardyboy]

Im going to be in the market down the road here for a wheelhouse and i have some pretty solid ideas what i want. My question is build it myself from the ground up or buy one NEW thats already to go. I know i want an 8x16,vfront, i know if i go small ill wish i had the room with a growing family. Im not afraid of building and im pretty handy but is it worth it to build? Throw out your opinions one way or another from your own experiences. Thanks guys/gals.

[Eric Wettschreck]

If you have access to the stuff, and the ability, ( 2 very big if's) I say build it yourself. This way, it's custom to exactally what you want. If you've spent time in other shacks you know what you like, and don't like. Plus, for me, there's really nothing cooler than using stuff you've built from scratch.

If you don't have the stuff or the ability, buy one the way you want it.

[Eelpout08]

+1

Nothing is more satisfying to me than building something myself. But it is not always possible without the space or time to build it.

I do think that if you dont count your labor you can get one heck of a nice shack for what you pay for a pre-fab one.

[Toba]

I was too thinking about this same thing and wondered about purchasing a shell and finishing that instead of buying a completed house. What have people found to be most cost effective?

[Iambjm]

I was too thinking about this same thing and wondered about purchasing a shell and finishing that instead of buying a completed house. What have people found to be most cost effective?

I am very close to finishing my wheelhouse project. I know if I went and bought one it would cost me about $8500-9000 dollars for the same model. I got mine $1300 off because it had hail damage and though I haven't totaled things up yet but I bet I have about $1800 into it (it's amazing how fast things add up) I did have a few bloopers but that came from total inexperience. I have decided I don't think that I would do this again due to my age, lack of tools, and that it took me so long. You can see pictures and read about it here:

Outdoor Women's Challenges

[dougger222]

I built a 6.5x12 house off a wheeled frame about 12 years ago with my Dad. It was great bonding time however his idea of built was a lot more heavy duty than mine. Ended up putting about $6,000 into it and 300 hours. Instead of doing the easy flat roof for example we went with a vaulted ceiling with cedar shakes and 1ft full cedar overhang. Within a few years the 2Klb rated axle stubs bent. It's been repaired and it's bent again. Get a lot of finish carpenters and fisherman with jiggle sticks that want to look inside.

A few years ago built a 11x17 ski house for Lake of the Woods and suspect I put about $5K into it. It's nothing really fancy but it gets the job done!

Today of all days bought the frame for my third fish house build. This time decided to build perhaps the last house. 8x18+V Shack Rack double axle hydrolic frame. Going to go more lighweight this time but plan to do a rear cargo door, spray foam, seamless aluminum exterior, and custom cabinets. My thoughts are $10K+ when it's done but it could go more. The same house when done would be in the high teens from a quality fish house manufacturer.

Planning to build a house very similiar to a fellow FM'er who did a very nice write up a year or so ago.

[bottom-bouncer]

I built my wheel house two years ago. I say build it yourself if you have the time and ability. Mine is 14 x6.5 with 3 foot v. biggest thing was time I have about $7500 and 300 hours I purchased the frame and did the rest myself including the spray foam. It is very rewarding doing it yourself I have thought about selling it and building another and then I think back to those late nights in the driveway trying to get just a little more done. what ever you decide good luck and enjoy the experience and remember there are alot of people on here that will give you advice if you get stuck.

[Gordie]

If you have access to the stuff, and the ability, ( 2 very big if's) I say build it yourself. This way, it's custom to exactally what you want. If you've spent time in other shacks you know what you like, and don't like. Plus, for me, there's really nothing cooler than using stuff you've built from scratch.

If you don't have the stuff or the ability, buy one the way you want it.

+1

I have built a few myself and it is alot of work but in the end its the way we wanted them nothing better as Eric says.

Another thing to do is sit down price out evreything on paper from start to finish on the one you would build then compare to what is out there. dont forget to add your time thats worth something cause thats what you mostly pay for with complete rig is somebody elses time..

[mabr]

Im curious for those that built there own, did you consider balancing the trailer out during the build? I used to have a ultra shack,and it was the best and easiest house ive ever felt as far as pulling.

Ive seen at Franks RV where they are made that they dont put the axle on until the house is built on the frame. He told me they mount the axle like 4 inches off level giving a tounge weight of 250lbs if memory serves me correctly. Sure was nice being able to pull it with wheeler with ease and not worry about bottoming out suspension.

[Hardyboy]

Well thats the type of info i was looking for! From what i understand the Miltona frames are sounding like the best ones going so im thinking that will be the base. Im not starting yet but when i do i will post pictures of the process.

[Gordie]

Im curious for those that built there own, did you consider balancing the trailer out during the build? I used to have a ultra shack,and it was the best and easiest house ive ever felt as far as pulling.

Ive seen at Franks RV where they are made that they dont put the axle on until the house is built on the frame. He told me they mount the axle like 4 inches off level giving a tounge weight of 250lbs if memory serves me correctly. Sure was nice being able to pull it with wheeler with ease and not worry about bottoming out suspension.

I found that center of axel on a house should be set roughly 6inchs on ther rear side of center to get close to the optimal tounge weight but of course it can vary due to how you want to build the house and just where everything will be placed. but the ones that I have done have all been close to 6 inches rear of center.

[low277]

+1 on building your own, I am in the process of building mine. You can do it at your own pace, if you don't want to spend a lot of cash you can finish the inside later or as time/money permit.

Building it for me is as fun as using it when I am done.

[randallt]

I was going to do this a few years ago and the advice I got was to buy the empty shell and finish inside myself. I began getting prices of shells and was asked by two different dealers to give them plans and they would give quotes for finished and unfinished. The finished was cheaper than I could buy the materials. this was at the end of the season so Ice castle was wanting to move a lot of extra supplies, so check that out before you decide.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

Some of the prices I've seen on the new Ice Castles would be tough to beat building your own house. I'm not quite sure how they do it profitably, but they must.

[Rube]

Built my 6.5 X 12 with a steel frame. The fabrication of the frame was time consuming and not cheap-I used my own welder (wire). Got the steel from discount steel in the cities. When building your own frame be sure to consider where you want your holes!! Do not go cheap on the springs and axle set up.

You will want to keep a list of your material cost when you go to license it- as a home made trailer. Granted if you only use it for a fish house I don't believe it requires a license.

Anyway- if I did it again - it would have a V front.

Good Luck