aluminum or steel fish house frame

[FirstIce]

Thinking of a new house in the future. Any recommendations? Pro's or Con's?

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

There are a couple of new aluminum frames that are popping up on a popular selling site. I took a look at one of them (can't remember the name) up by Rice, and I'm not that impressed. It just doesn't seem heavy duty enough, even though they have a ridiculous weight rating claim. For now, in aluminum I would go with either a Soderbloom's or Yetti frame only. Let some other people be a guinea pig.

[Gordie]

with steel you have rust and with aluminum you have Oxidation take your pic both are not fun to deal with.

IMO I would go with steel simply because a steel built frame can handle the vibrations that the roads of this state have to offer. in another words vibration is aluminums worst enemy. I have seen enough aluminum trailers that are in need of repair to know what I dont want.

and if they do require repair the steel frames would be cheaper and easier to have repaired than the aluminum counter parts and I'm speaking as a welder who has welded up both.

[Hawg]

+1 with Gordie

[Jigging Joe]

Aluminum doesnt bend, it cracks. My expierance with aluminum trailers is that they require alot of washing so they dont oxidize and I have had to have some cracks re-welded. Steel is heavier but in my opinion worth the extra weight because it can hold up to the stress a fish house frame goes thru.

The major disadvantage is they rust, some friends of mine built frames out of stainless, their the same weight but alot more expensive but will last forever.

[wayne123]

I would go with a aluminum frame in a second if cost was not a concern. Make sure whoever builds it has experience with aluminum.

[IceFisherMan1]

I think a lot of people have the wrong idea of aluminum. It sounds like everything negative said about aluminum in this thread is not all correct information or just things some have heard from others. The biggest problem is when people take a steel trailer plan and make it out of aluminum. Aluminum requires a specific design only for aluminum. Everything can change this from the thickness of the metal to the amount or angles of the metal. So when designed proper aluminum will be just as strong as steel. Also I am not sure if there is other fish house frames you saw in Rice, but the aluminum ones I saw were constructed very well. Also the torsion suspension system is far superior to a leaf spring set up.

[BEAU651]

I had an aluminum house built by one of the bigger aluminum house manufacturers and sold it after one season. I had cracks in fenders, cracks in frame on tongue and who knows where else. It was built to have an atv in the back and very happy I never hauled one as I would not be surprised if the house likely would have been far worse. I was very dissatisfied with the manufacturer and the end result. I would go with a steel frame and us a good product to seal it. No matter what you do with the aluminum it oxidizes too.

[LindellProStaf]

I have always wondered why anyone cares about a few extra pounds in a stronger steel trailer. With driving a full sized truck and all of the gear we bring out on the ice it is a non-issue to me.