Drop down house vs. standard cargo trailer

[Ice_Thor_Dog]

I like the idea of a drop down house, but I would use it a lot for transporting stuff in the summer time. Does anyone use a standard cargo trailer and just use the plastic chutes to drop down to the ice instead? I like the idea of tandem axles with brakes. I am in southern Iowa and have to travel a long ways with it.

[iffwalleyes]

I have seen it done before. They can make for a nice house. I personally don't like being that far off the ice that is why I prefer a drop down frame house. I am close to the ice and holes that I am fishing.

[ice_it_06]

ice_thor_dog:

Very good friend of mine does that exact thing with one of his construction trailers. I believe its a 14' - 16' with a V nose. Door on passenger side of V nose as well as the ramp rear. Has a sky light in it and 6 catch cover holes.

Ventless heater he puts in during the winter along with a ceiling vent/fan combo thing.

He throws in two lazy boys and he's gone. (lol)

The "only" downfall is the inside height. His is actually close to 6' but I dont believe most are even that high until you get in the longer lengths. He's only 5'9" so its not an issue with him.

Other then that they are already to go, basicly just need holes, light,heat,vents, & seating !!

** note** The door on the V-Nose is like a RV door with a knob/lock system. The rolling bar / latch system he did not want thinking some fool might lock him in the thing from the outside

[stmichael]

Quote:

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some fool might lock him in the thing from the outside

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Imagine how bad that would stink to get locked into your own fish house. It would be a great gag to do to a drunken buddy, but, to someone whom you did not know...I hate to think of it...and the sad part is that there are people out there that would do this sort of thing.

[marine_man]

The biggest downfall in my opinion is when you catch that 10 lb walleye and either have to reach down to the water to lift it out or run the chance of snapping the line when you lift it with your fishing line.

marine_man

[fishinmedic]

I myself would worry about how much banking it would take to cover that amount of space. Even then I would think that the floor would be colder than all get out. I have a friend that has a house that sits way up off of the ice, and with the mild winters that we've been having, it takes forever to find that amount of snow with the wheeler.

[ice_it_06]

If a guy has a choice of the two and the $$$ obviously the drop down is far more attractive & ideal long term.

But its pretty easy to multi task uses with a currently owned cargo type or finding one on the cheap.

My friends sits 14"-16" max off the ice.

He as (6) insulated boxes (wood) that are about 2" short of the trailers floor and about 6" inches wider then his holes all around.

He drills his holes and cleans the shavings away, slides these boxes in to place and goes inside and drops his catch cover sleeves in as well.

No draft, no banking, no freezing. He must have some padded insulation under his indoor/outdoor carpet as well because the floor is always dry & warm with a bit of cushion to it !!