Favorite Portables??

[dirtking]

I agree Fish Trap Pro - the perfect one man set up!

[bigbucks]

I've got a Ranger too. I really like it & have fished three in it before, with only one hole a piece. You just put the third person in one of the front corners & have them fish accross to the other front corner.

The only trouble I've had is that the top zipper doesn't close right anymore, not sure if it got bent when I was trying to get it to move with ice in it or what. I need to try to fix it or get a hold of Frabill, just haven't done that yet.

Anybody else encounter that problem? If so how did you fix it?

[bigbucks]

For what it's worth I did just call the company. Since I bought my house at the beginning of last ice season, December 04, & it's past December of 05, they'll do nothing about it. Needless to say I wasn't impressed, especially since I told her it started to do it last season, but I just hadn't called yet.

[iceman06]

I've got a 4x6 mankato suitcase style house. I use it for both spearing and angling. It is a good one person house and I like it. It will last for many many years.

[hovermn]

I bought a fish trap pro at the start of the season and used it about 15 times. It's comfortable and is set up pretty well. I LOVE the gear tray, pockets on the sides and a buddy heater has no problem heating it. What I don't like is how low the door is. I'm 6'1" and have to practically trip threw the door to get out. There are no windows on the sides, just vents. Also, it can be a pain to pack all of my stuff into it, but is do-able.

A week or so ago I was in Gander and they were clearing out otter cottage packages, so I picked one up and used it for the first time yesterday. Holy cow, Batman! This thing's nice, and has a ton of room for one man and your stuff, including the kitchen sink! Windows on 4 sides, vents at the top, deep sled, very easy to pull and room for the girlfriend in a pinch. The door's very easy to get in and out of. What I don't like is that there's only the one pocket in the back, it didn't come with a pull rope, a couple of the poles are hard to get in and out and I'll probably have to buy a big buddy heater to heat it. The rope's a small thing, but it would have been nice to include in the packege. The poles will probably need some more lube, but it was getting a little frustrating.

Both the Pro and Cottages are great shelters. Overall, I don't regret either purchase but would rather fish from the otter on anything but the coldest of cold days. The pro will probably be sold in the fall when it's actually worth something

[BLACKJACK]

I have an older Fish Trap III, its served its purpose well, gotten me out fishing on early and late ice many times, but now I'm starting to lust after a newer one. Looking at the fish trap Yukon, I really like the look of those padded seats, and also they've expanded the room up front, more room for your Vexilar and heater and holes. If I could sell me Trap III for a decent price, I'd buy the Yukon.

[doser]

Do you guys that own the Frabill Twin and Triplex remember about what they cost you? I've fished out of them before and really liked them.

[jigging-matt]

I purchased a Voyager this year and absolutely love it. Hold all the gear I need and pulls nicely behind the fourwheeler. Can wait till summer so I can customize it more and make it even more user friendly. Have also had excellent customer service from Clam. Had a small pin hole in it. called clam and they sent me a brand new canvas for it.

[huntingislife]

I owned a frabill twin for 2 months and didnt really like it. The tub design made it hard to pull through snow and frabill doesnt offer runners for it. I thought the construction was kind of cheap also. I am much happier with my otters now.

[HC Eye Hunter]

Home made 4x7 with plywood on the floor in the front and the back with canvas in the middle. It is sturdy and fast to set up easy to take down and I have a floor to stand on.

[azzclwn]

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I owned a frabill twin for 2 months and didnt really like it. The tub design made it hard to pull through snow and frabill doesnt offer runners for it. I thought the construction was kind of cheap also. I am much happier with my otters now.

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I thought I was the only one that didn't like the way the XLtwin pulled,

I agree that its difficult to pull and kind of digs into the snow when being pulled. I guess thats why i bought a 4wheeler.

Once it's out on the spot a I think it's a great shack, durable, and roomy enough for two guys.

[Greg K (aka:CRAPPIEBAIT)]

I have 2 Yukons,1 Voyager & 3 pros/scouts (older models).If I am meeting a group on the ice (or else where),I can load all these in the van by myself.I never need to depend on another person to help me out.

[jacheesehead]

I bought my Frabil at Gander just before Christmas (so I probably paid the highest price of the year). It was @ $450 and my wife bought me the cover for a Christmas gift, I think that was @ $50. When pulling, I have a home made tow bar for mine and it seems to cause some lifting of the front end when pulled behind the snowmobile. Granted, I haven't had to pull it through a bunch of deep snow yet so I really can't be sure I'm fully satisfied. You know how it is, you decide to spend the money and then convince yourself you got the best you could have for your needs. I do like the Otter sleds, I think they are superior to any others I've seen. I've got an Otter II sled for when I don't need the shack. Really like how everything fits in it.

[doser]

I just bought the Frabill XL Twin for $350 yesterday on clearance so I was just wondering if I got a good deal. They took $100 off.

[ASMOLEY]

You can't bet a Fish Trap! I have an Eskimo quick flip 2 and i haven't been satisfied with the wear and tear on it compared to my Fish Trap Pro. Plus the bench seats aren't all what there made out to be. I've also had lots of problems with my support poles breaking and those little slid snap things. With the Fish Trap I love the bucket seats, center council, and the Ice Armor. Otters are good housed too but the thing that i got we was the price and you have to buy everything seperate.

[huntingislife]

Thats a decent deal for the ranger. I had bought mine used for $270. But I sold it for $275

[Bushwacker]

I have an Otter Lodge. I absolutely love it. It is roomy for two guys and the sled is as sturdy as they come. A little heavy loaded up for one man to handle, but I can do it with a little effort.

[Scott M]

I've got a clam 5600. Takes a little while longer to set up but that may be because of how much of a tighta$$ I am when it comes to having things set up "my way." Got it 3 years ago from a guy near willow river on hsolist for $100. Probably wouldn't have gotten it if it wasn't so cheap, I patched like 3 quarter sized holes and that was it. I spear from a mankato tent and fish from the clam. I love being able to stand up and stay on a covered floor. Looking at getting a yukon or voyager but need a truck to haul it in first.

[tommyk]

I have turned my Fishtrap Guide into the ultimate 1-man. I took out both of the seats and seat frames. This dropped the total weight of the unit by a good 50 lbs.I now use a small folding stool. Since I do not have an ATV in town this makes it very managable to pull almost any distance. The amount of space for my gear is unbelievable, the whole auger fits entirely in the sled now and there still is plenty of room if a second person joins me. I have alway struggled with what was more important to me, space or light-weight. Now I have both!

[johnehr]

I liked my 3-year-old Eskimo Quickflip III a lot better before both windows cracked up last weekend. It was admittedly extremely cold (-27 F) on URL, but I thought that these things were made to survive the cold! Windows on friend's Otter Den also cracked while being stowed that night.

The Quickflip III is heavy, but fits in the back end of my Explorer, holds a ton of gear, and at 6'2" I can still stand up straight under the canvas. It has comfortable boat seats instead of the bench that the new ones have, the bench seemed pretty uncomfortable when given a "test drive" at the store.

Not sure what I'm going to do about the darn windows...

John

[Catmendo]

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I liked my 3-year-old Eskimo Quickflip III a lot better before both windows cracked up last weekend. It was admittedly extremely cold (-27 F) on URL, but I thought that these things were made to survive the cold! Windows on friend's Otter Den also cracked while being stowed that night.

The Quickflip III is heavy, but fits in the back end of my Explorer, holds a ton of gear, and at 6'2" I can still stand up straight under the canvas. It has comfortable boat seats instead of the bench that the new ones have, the bench seemed pretty uncomfortable when given a "test drive" at the store.

Not sure what I'm going to do about the darn windows...

John

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TEAM FRABILL has eliminated this frustrating and costly problem with some well thoughout inginuity!!! The windows in my Ranger TRI-PLEX can quickly and effortlessly be installed or removed! When being used, they are held tightly into position by "Velcro"! During those extreme minus temps, you simply remove the windows and store them in a friendly environment.....end of proplem! The TRI-PLEX also offers up six windows, that's 360 degree's of viewing at your disposal.

There are a lot of good portables on the market, some may cost a little more up front, but when you weigh it all in, you get what you pay for!

If you're serious about purchasing a high end portable, take your time, make sure you're satisfied and make sure that yours is the final decision, it's your money!

[jacheesehead]

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I just bought the Frabill XL Twin for $350 yesterday on clearance so I was just wondering if I got a good deal. They took $100 off.

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Like I said, I bought mine when you are most likely to pay the highest price, oh well. You definately got a good deal on a decent portable.

[tashit]

Don't the Eskimos (at least the newer ones) have removable windows as well? I think that's a great feature. I do love my Otter Cabin though and wouldn't trade it for any other portable. I just make sure the windows are flat when I collapse it.

[doser]

I think all four (Clam, Eskimo, and Frabill, Otter) are pretty good houses. They all have positive and negative features. I had a hard time decideing which one I wanted . I guess it's all personal preference.

[maj330]

what kind of folding stool di you buy? I was thinking of doing this with my prtable too though I do like the backrest.

Thanks