Issue with my Yetti

[Iambjm]

I went to Upper Red last Tuesday and traveling up Hwy 38 out of Grand Rapids I hit one heck of a pothole. I stopped in Bigfork to check things out because we heard a loud crack when we hit the bump. I walked back to look things over and noticed the my diamond plate fender had broken completely in half. I came back home on Friday and then took off for Mille Lacs, when we got set up on Mille Lacs I noticed the other fender was also cracked in 2 places.

The good news: I went to Milaca to pick up some things from the unclaimed freight place there and decided to stop just up the road on 169 at a new Yetti dealer (he also sells cars there). I showed him my fenders and he called the company and told them about it. Now I didn't buy my Yetti from them and he did something he certainly didn't have to. He took 2 new fenders off of one of his units and replaced mine with the approval of the Yetti company. We always hear about the bad experiences we have with businesses, I have nothing to say but good about this dealer, and while I was waiting I checked out some of his finished units and I was very impressed. The fit and finish of them was excellent! I even checked one out that is the next size up from mine and it's got me thinking. I am not even completely done with this one and I am dreaming about a bigger one.

[MJ1657]

It is nice to hear stories like that. Sounds like a good place to do business with.

[leech~~]

Sounds great and nice meeting you on Mill Lacs last Sat. I know the guy you are taking about. My buddy has purchased 3 or 4 used cars from him. My buddies daughter got rearend soon after buying one of the cars and he brought it back up to that guy and he more or less cut the whole back end of the car off and rebuilt it for all most nothing! He has also replaced parts on his cars for very cheap. I'm not sure how he makes a living being so "nice".

[traveler]

Yeah, but how did you do on Red?? I've been up there pretty much every week since Dec 20 (1st time out with my new wheelhouse) and it's been great...right up until last thur-friday, when we got pretty much shut down. Had to happen sometime I guess, hope you had better luck for your inaugural trip!!

Agreed, nice job by that dealer! I took a roadtrip last spring looking for a Yetti (or similar wheelhouse). There were/are no Yetti dealers up in my neck of the woods. I don't recall if i hit the dealer that helped you, but I saw several and liked them. Ended up buying one semi-local up here; Soderbloom Mfg. by Cromwell, he makes an all aluminum very similar to the Yetti. Love the house, hate the doors (same doors as a Yetti) I had to put additional latches/locks on both doors, they're OK now. I especially had trouble with the side door...i think maybe the flex in the all aluminum box flexes too much maybe, had it keep popping open on me, even after adjusting it as best I could. Don't much like the chain door release on the back doors either. I guess it's the price you pay for such a light, easy to pull trailer. I'll take it:) Super easy house to move/raise/lower/pull.

So how did you like yours first time on the ice?

[FirstIce]

Sounds like the Yetti house can take a beating, if all that happened was a cracked fender

[low277]

Sometimes the support of a local dealer is more important than the brand of the product that he sells.

Sounds like you found a very good dealer who is willing to help his customers.

[Iambjm]

Yeah, but how did you do on Red?? I've been up there pretty much every week since Dec 20 (1st time out with my new wheelhouse) and it's been great...right up until last thur-friday, when we got pretty much shut down. Had to happen sometime I guess, hope you had better luck for your inaugural trip!!

Agreed, nice job by that dealer! I took a roadtrip last spring looking for a Yetti (or similar wheelhouse). There were/are no Yetti dealers up in my neck of the woods. I don't recall if i hit the dealer that helped you, but I saw several and liked them. Ended up buying one semi-local up here; Soderbloom Mfg. by Cromwell, he makes an all aluminum very similar to the Yetti. Love the house, hate the doors (same doors as a Yetti) I had to put additional latches/locks on both doors, they're OK now. I especially had trouble with the side door...i think maybe the flex in the all aluminum box flexes too much maybe, had it keep popping open on me, even after adjusting it as best I could. Don't much like the chain door release on the back doors either. I guess it's the price you pay for such a light, easy to pull trailer. I'll take it:) Super easy house to move/raise/lower/pull.

So how did you like yours first time on the ice?

I was on Red the 16-20 and we did okay, went home with our limits and threw several back and missed a few. I was with Portavilla that trip with a good friend of mine. Went back last Tuesday evening and fished through Friday morning and left just as the snow started. Only caught a 17 1/8 and two 20's, the shack about 50 feet from me was doing pretty good. So I was there when it shut down. My husband is disabled and I had my great dane with me so I couldn't really get out and move around, but it was good for him to finally be able to go ice fishing after 8 years of sitting at home.

I think most of the wheelhouse manufacturers use the same doors. I had the same problem with mine popping open, but noticed ice had built up down at the bottom. I used a hammer and screwdriver to get it off and then it stayed shut. So far I really like mine, but it is a tad small for 2 big people and a 130 pound dog.

[Iambjm]

Having cable issues, I am going to contact the company but I am looking for anyone else with these issues. When traveling with the yetti it is suggested to slacken the cables slightly, but when I do the cable jumps off the top pulley. The last time I went the cable slipped off the pulley and sat crosswise on the pulley and cut it. So I fixed it, then hit Red again and the dang cable snapped again. I sat out on the ice and fixed it again, decided to leave it even looser and pulled it off the pulley completely. I got home and walked around to un-hook it and sure enough there is the cable riding crossways on the pulley again. The other night I forgot to open both tanks of propane and the first tank ran out, the heater went off and it got cold enough in the Yetti for the dang locks to freeze up!! Took us a half hour to defrost them and get out so I could turn the gas on again.

[mmartin]

Having cable issues, I am going to contact the company but I am looking for anyone else with these issues. When traveling with the yetti it is suggested to slacken the cables slightly, but when I do the cable jumps off the top pulley. The last time I went the cable slipped off the pulley and sat crosswise on the pulley and cut it. So I fixed it, then hit Red again and the dang cable snapped again. I sat out on the ice and fixed it again, decided to leave it even looser and pulled it off the pulley completely. I got home and walked around to un-hook it and sure enough there is the cable riding crossways on the pulley again. The other night I forgot to open both tanks of propane and the first tank ran out, the heater went off and it got cold enough in the Yetti for the dang locks to freeze up!! Took us a half hour to defrost them and get out so I could turn the gas on again.

I have a Yetti and have the same problem. I have been leaving a lot of slack when traveling and just remember to put the cable back in the pulley when I raise or lower it.

[Redlineracer12]

I have a Yetti and have the same problem. I have been leaving a lot of slack when traveling and just remember to put the cable back in the pulley when I raise or lower it.

Ditto, same problem. It's easy if it's just the top pulley that falls off since you can press the cable up against it and start cranking to get it started on the pulley again. However I haven't figured out how to get it back on the bottom pulley when it comes off other than to take the bolt apart... not fun.

I'm about ready to switch to straps and I haven't even been fishing with this thing yet

[Redlineracer12]

Bump for an update, my cables are getting worse (fraying where they rub on the pulley while traveling). I spoke to a Scott at Yetti and they have an update for this common problem. Apparently they have replaced the pulley with a wider stainless steel roller that keeps the cable in place better. They are shipping it to my house (I'm about 130-140 miles away from their place or I probably could have had it installed). I can throw up a few pictures and review after I get the new rollers put in.

So far very satisfied with their customer service!

Here is a link to the PDF for install instructions that has photos of the upgrade:

www.shineyphotos.com/yetti/YettiPulleyUpgradeInstructions.pdf

[Iambjm]

Thanks for the update, I haven't had a chance to contact them yet (been dealing with health issues since Feb 26th)but I certainly will give them a call tomorrow as I have had the front cable break once and the side cable twice. It's a bear repairing that cable when it is 10 degrees and you have a 20 mph wind.

[Redlineracer12]

Got the replacement pulleys today in the mail and installed them. Overall not a tough job. 7/16" wrenches to remove the bolts keeping the wheel assemblies on the axle, slide the wheels out away from the house. 3/4" wrenches and channel-locks pliers to remove old pulley.

Here is the pretty new pulley. I'm excited to try it out on the road now!

[aczr2k]

We'll have to make the call also to prevent future trouble.