Best flip over to fit in 5.5' truck bed

[92python]

What is the best bang for the buck as far as flip over 2-3 man houses with sleds shorter than 5.5 feet?

Last year I picked up a Fish Trap Voyageur. I had a different truck at that time. While I like the Voyageur it won't fit into the bed of my new crew cab truck. The sled is too long. I keep my ice fishing stuff in the back of my truck all winter so this is a problem. Looks like I will be downsizing.

I also have an old original Otter but it is a one man and want something bigger. I use an ATV to drag my house around quite a bit so whatever I get needs to be durable. Are the hyfax runners worth the cost and does it make the house track differently when being pulled?

Thanks.

[Matt Johnson]

There are a lot of options out there. Do you have a topper? Do you have a tonneau cover? Or just an open bed?

Some models won't fit under the tonneau covers of some trucks.

Otter

• The Otter Medium Cabin should just barely fit inside the bed of your truck. It runs about 65 inches in length. It's a 2-man model
• The Wilderness Walleye runs about 64 inches and is a 2-man model

Polar Sport

• The 2-man Polar Sport runs about 60 inches

Fish Trap

• The Guide runs about 60 inches in length. It's also a 2-man model
• The Yukon runs about 63 inches in length, and is intended to be a roomier 2 man model

Frabill

• The Ranger XL Twin runs about 63 inches in length, and is a 2-man model
• The Ice Cruiser 200 runs about 63 inches in length, and is a 2-man model

Eskimo

• The Quick Flip II runs about 60 inches and is a 2-man model

There are not many options for a 3-man portable flip-over if you're looking at fitting it inside a 66 inch bed with the tailgate closed. Most, if not all, 2-man models will fit inside the bed though.

I would personally go with the Otter Medium Cabin. It will be a tight fit, but you should be able to close it. It's a very durable fish house and it's perfect for pulling behind the ATV or sled. The hyfax runners are nice too. It will save on the wear and tear inflicted on the sled.

Or else the 2-man Polar Sport is very nice too. It's a little shorter and you won't have any trouble getting that portable to fit in the bed of your truck.

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[ivegottabite]

Matt,

Good to see you are always doing your homework. Don't let a different vehicle hinder your ice fishing experience. Looks like Matt has the bases covered for you. Check out his options and see what works best for ya

[JoeT]

Matt almost the same question, I want to buy a flip over this year, have a 20 year old Instant Tent great unit but well worn'n thinking about a Otter Cottage with the extra wide sled, can't slide it into by Tacoma bed because the dog kennel lives there all the time, so it have to go side ways, thing it will work

[Tyler Holm]

I have the medium otter cabin. I love it. I put the hyfax on it and love those also. I take the shak off and use the sled for various things in the summer and fall. I drag my sled across fields and over gravel and pavement and I hyfaxes are still it good shape. I use the sled to carry decoys over land or water during hunting season. I drag it everywhere on the ice and getting to the ice. That sled has endless potential.

If your just going to pull it on the ice, you may not need hyfax runners. The sled is a made of a very durable hardened plastic and can withstand every day use on the ice.

[hanson]

92python-

I would highly recommend the hyfax runners on a sled regardless of how you pull it. If you have to pull your sled by hand across a parking lot or down a boat launch to get onto the ice, it will help big time. And yes, they help with the tracking across the ice ans snow also. The biggest benefit in my opinion is your sled isn't getting beat up or worn down with the hyfax on.

Any thought to leaving your tailgate down with your house loaded? I would just get a bigger shack and leave the tailgate down. Load all your gear into the sled of your shack and put a travel cover on top.

[92python]

Thanks for the replies. I have a soft tonneau cover on my truck (Nissan Titan) so I need it to fit under the cover where no one can see it.

[Blaze]

Matt - you're a MACHINE! 34 minutes and you put that list together? Sheesh - that's pretty good!

I'd echo what Matt had to say - the Medium Otter would be my 1st choice also. My next choice would be the FishTrap Yukon. I bought a Voyageur 2 seasons ago and like it, but I do wish I would've gotten an Otter. I think they're in a class of their own if you're pulling with a sled or ATV.

Let us know what you decide.

[Matt Johnson]

JoeT,

I use a Small Cottage and a Magnum Lodge. The Magnum Lodge does not fit in the bed of my truck (I have a Chevy ZR2), I have to either set it on the tailgate partly, or else I built an attachment that goes into my trailer hitch that it can rest. However, the Small Cottage fits in there just fine. I'm not sure about sideways though. The measurements on the Small Cottage runs about 54 inches in length and 32 inches in width when collapsed. So you're looking at about 4.5 feet in length. If your bed is wide enough to fit that and you have space between your kennel and portable, then you should be alright. If not, the Otter Small Den is another great choice for a 1-man portable fish house. The Small Den runs only 29 inches in width when collapsed down and will give you a few extra inches.

First off, I would measure the distance from your dog kennel to the tailgate, then measure the width of space in your bed. If the width of your bed is more than 54 inches and the space between your dog kennel and the tailgate is more than 32 inches then you're set.

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[Kylersk]

I know this wont help you, but... When I bought a new truck, I thought about getting a full four door (super crew) truck.. But, once I realized my otter lodge would not fit in the back, I decided to get a supercab instead. =)

[Dakota Iceman]

I have a 2001 chevy extended cab 4x4 with a truxedo tonneau cover. My otter magnum lodge with travel cover will fit underneath barely. It sure makes it nice to go down the interstate here in south dakota at 85 mph with a 45mph wind and know all your stuff is tucked away safe inside with the tailgate closed, no canvas flapping in the wind ect... Also acts as a little box weight when getting around in snowy conditions and best of all....you can keep it there all winter and have it for those pit-stops on the way home from work for some of these stock dams. I typically pull the shack and my four wheeler in an enclosed 6x12 trailer but a guy doesnt want to be hauling that up and down the interstate back and forth to work all week so this offers a little more mobility and better gas mileage. Iceman out>

[Tripleplay]

I had the same issue last winter as I had just purchased an Avalanche. Ended up buying a Wilderness that I thought would fit based on the listed length----guess what, after assembling it didn't fit as the canvas on each end added length. (actually it fit if tilted in the bed but then I had to take out the back cover panel which defeated the purpose)

Thorne Brothers took it back no questions asked and I ended up with the Fish Trap Guide at 60". Fits great and the tailgate actually shuts. I don't think the Avalanche is quite 66" either if I remember right it was 64" or so with the liner.

I didn't get the hyfax but I will probably be adding before the season starts.

[gvg_uwec]

I have a 94' Sonoma ext cab with the short box and my Frabil XLTwin fits perfectly inbetween the wheel wells with the tailgate shut also.