Hub Q's

[RoldGold]

In an attempt to get my wife out ice fishing I bought a hub style house so the whole family can go out. I'm used to a flip over where heating and carrying gear is not an issue. So I'm wondering what would be the best way to carry the house and gear. Do you end up pulling 2 sleds? Is there a type of sled that works best? ...? Also, what does it take to heat one of those? I bought the Cabelas Ice Team 5 sided, with the thermal cap. It's 82" in the center and has a 9' diameter. I have a little Buddy heater now, but given my wife's intolerance/pure hatred of cold, I don't know that this will be enough. Thanks!

[pushbutton]

"family comfort day" out on the ice is usually a couple sleds. I have a medium and a small. The higher sides of the mediums are nicer for holding in the chairs and floor mat type stuff. Suppose you could get by with two small though, maybe even one medium if you are carrying the hub. Have never used the cabelas, but would probably step up to the regular buddy for that size of house. You do not always need the high setting, but it is nice for that initial heat up, or for on cold days. Suppose you could just get another small one as well.

[fishwater]

but given my wife's intolerance/pure hatred of cold,

Given that you'll likely need two sleds anyhow, I'd opt to get a big buddy. Between the little and the big buddy, you'll have your BTU outputs covered for even the coldest days.

[DTro]

I'm able to get everything into an Otter Medium Wild Sled and still have room for a cover when pulling behind a snowmobile.

[pushbutton]

That is a pretty bare bones set up for the family though….here kids, play with the propane tanks and let daddy fish

[DTro]

oh for sure, but you could easily pile a few chairs on top with some toys thrown in, etc.

I've done a 4 adult outing with this setup. Just took a little "engineering" when packing it all up.

[Northlander]

I use a Otter Magnum sled, the one for the Lodge House, and it gives me plenty of room for all the gear needed for 2 adults and a few kids. I tow it behind my Otter with the Otter rear hitch mounted on the back of my house and a quick flip tow bar on the sled itself. Pulls like a dream with a sled or wheeler.

Could easily pull both by hand with a deer dragging harness.

[PurpleFloyd]

Smitty sled.

[Skymech]

DTro, I also have a medium Otter sled that I use for early and late ice. I'm wondering what cover you have for your sled? I have a Clam Bigfoot XL4000 that overhangs the similar to your picture. I've never bought a cover because I didn't think it would fit with my hub. Sorry don't mean to hijack this thread. Thanks

[dan z]

I don't see a auger. Is there room for one and the cover?

I'm able to get everything into an Otter Medium Wild Sled and still have room for a cover when pulling behind a snowmobile.

[DTro]

DTro, I also have a medium Otter sled that I use for early and late ice. I'm wondering what cover you have for your sled? I have a Clam Bigfoot XL4000 that overhangs the similar to your picture. I've never bought a cover because I didn't think it would fit with my hub. Sorry don't mean to hijack this thread. Thanks

not sure, it came in a wild package deal with the hitch, runners, and cover.

[DTro]

I don't see a auger. Is there room for one and the cover?

If I'm using the cover, I'm towing it, and I have a rack on my snowmobile for the auger.

[dan z]

Just covering bases thanks

If I'm using the cover, I'm towing it, and I have a rack on my snowmobile for the auger.

[DLD24]

I just use an otter sled and use a big buddy heater to heat it...Most times you don't need the high, but its nice to have it when its -20 ha or a wife that hates the cold ...

[fsnrod]

You could probally go fishing on a lake where their's a road to the fishing hole.

[MN BassFisher]

I used a Large Otter Sled for my hub, Auger, buckets, fish finder. It was always a puzzle making it fit, but it did! I used the big buddy heater as well to heat mine and it worked great. I would sometimes bring the 20# Propane Tank and a hose for those colder days/structure fishing where I knew I wouldn't be moving a lot.

[NCLaker]

So if your going with the wife and possible other family, I would recommend you go somewhere you can drive to so packing stuff in a sled is not an issue (I assume you have some sort of truck). That way she can stay warm in the vehicle up until you are ready to wet a line. If she want to run off the lake for any reason a lot easier. Makes things a lot easier all around.

If you pull it with an ATV of snowmobile, you risk her getting cold before you even start fishing. And is a lot more involved for someone like her that is not yet into these additional aspects to ice fishing.

[RoldGold]

Thanks for all the replies!