drop down ice house questions

[JimW]

Selling my hunting shack two get a drop down house.

1. Have a honda ridgeline. It is rated for 5000 lb tow. Looking at a camper type (like a salem ice cabin 16ft or an ice castle 16 ft v-nose) both companies claim tow easy. Both say 3200-3400 dry. Any concerns towing? Is camper style easier than v to tow?

2. How do you operate toilet? (Bucket under seat) I see they sell baggies for toilet, do you have to baggie after each use? I have seen someone post about using kitty litter? Does paper go in bag? If you use kitty litter does it get too heavy? Do you pee outside or do you baggie that too? Seems like sometimes it is hard to pee outside as there is too many people.

3. Seems like most don't have much storage. Do you tend to keep stuff in tow vehicle when fishing 2 keep more room for fishing?

4. Is oven used that much?. Model I like has 2 burner stove no oven but has a fridge. Seems like fridge would be good especially for items that u don't want to freeze like eggs, salad.

5. Do the electric jacks work well in cold? Seems like they would be easier than hand winches.

6. How hard are they to get on and off lake? Do you get stuck often. I do have a plow on my truck so I can plow my own spot if needed.

7. Do you tow them out with a wheeler before you can drive your truck out or do you wait until you can drive out there?

Thanks for your input. Some questions may seem silly but I have never had a drop down house.

jim

[JimW]

Ttt

[Hawg]

Sorry Jim, I think the answer is way too long. Better find a friend with one. You'll be fine.

[SwivelDigger]

1. Not sure what a ridgeline will tow..... I have a 16+v that depending on where I'm going is pulled by 1 ton diesel , a dodge Durango with 360 horse hemi or a Dakota with a V-6...about 3100 dry weight house. V nose is easier to pull. Aerodynamics.

2. Common sense, the smell will tell you what to do

3.probably more storage in them than what you think.

4. Depends on what you want to cook. Cooler works good in winter. Fridge would be better for summer

5. The electric jacks work fine on mine,easier on back but winches are quicker.

6. Don't really get stuck, but I watch where I go. If you have a plow you're good

7. Yes you can. (I do)

Sent you a pm

[Eric Wettschreck]

1. Don't know about the Ridgline for towing. A V will tow easier than a flat front.

2. #1 outside and #2 in the bucket bag. Bucket bag goes immediately into the back of the truck and hopefully freezes. Wife and other wimmin use the bucket bag for everything.

3. You can never have enough storage. Cupboards are your friends. You can also not have too many coat hooks.

4. Ovens rarely get used. Here's a thought for you.......instead of a 2 burner stove, get more counter top space and just set a Coleman camp stove on it when you want to fry bacon and fillets. Fridge would be ok iffin you plan on using it in the summer. Myself, I'd go without and use coolers but that's just me.

5. Jacks work fine in the cold. Warm or cold they're slow but easier to operate than winches.

6. Just like anything else, iffin you go into the deep stuff you have a better chance of getting stuck. Bring a shovel or plow a road. I don't have a big heavy house and I rarely get stuck but it happens.

7. My house is lightweight and I've towed it with my wheeler on 6" of ice. I wouldn't recommend this with a heavier house.

[Capt. H (Ret.)]

Excellent response!! It's the little things like the coat hooks that you mentioned that are overlooked.

[outkast7222]

2: I use the bags with powder in them, I do both into the bag and one there is brown in it I seal it up. The powder eliminate urine odor. TP also goes in the bag.

3: Between the storage under my dinnete's and all the overhead storage I end up with more than enough room for things I don't need.

4: I have no need for a fridge and use the oven almost every trip. Even those short day trips. I have AC and in the summer a cooler inside the house will hold ice for a week.

6: Never been stuck with the truck. Dang close but use common sense.

7: I pull my 8x16 full loaded Castle easily with a 4x4 Polaris 400 2 stroke. It's no problem on bare ice up to about 4" after that use the truck or stay home.

[JimW]

Thanks guys all good info. Someone is looking at my hunting shack today so maybe I will have my fish house soon...

[barehooks_jr]

For the toilet (for the wife and the 4 and 2 year old) I use a camping port-a-potty and use RV antifreeze. Even in these -30 temps it works like a charm. I have not had an issue with the smell or anything else at all.