Drop Axle fish house trailer

[LODFFB]

Thats cool. You proably have a lot more Time and Funding. I would do more alot faster if I could. I think I will put counter top on top of the 2 BARS. Kitchenette looks good

[Loogie]

Walleye Slayer - Truk-mate and then the (Contact Us Please) thing. Or just google truk-mate.

End of line - I wasn't rippin' on your frame. I'm just very jealous. It looks awesome!

[love to hunt]

Minnesota State Statute 169.67 Subd. 3. states that:

a) No trailer or semitrailer with a gross weight of 3,000 or more pounds, or a gross weight that exceeds the empty weight of the towing vehicle, may be drawn on a highway unless it is equipped with brakes that are adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold the trailer or semitrailer. A surge brake on a trailer or semitrailer meets the requirement of this paragraph for brakes adequate to stop and hold the trailer or semitrailer.

Loaded or unloaded if you are over 2999# you are supposed to have breaks.

[Biggerfish]

Love to Hunt,

Thanks for clearing that up.....

Have alot of you been pulled over and checked for weight limits?

[love to hunt]

I don't know that a lot have been stopped, but I know it has happened.

I saw it first hand last eelpout fest when we (my friend and I) both got weighed and measured. He was over weight by about 400# and recieved a ticket.

Needless to say I have been a little anal retentive ever since about making shure I am under weight.

I also don't want to see it happen to anyone else, it is a pretty stiff fine.

[fishinalot]

Biggerfish,

Trust me. Do not believe everything you here! You bought a great trailer like I did.

I did not buy my frame planning on building a 5000 lb Fish house on top of it. I bought it knowing that I could, if I wanted to, or I could build a 2999lb Fish house on top of it and when I hit a pot hole on the lake, it would not bend my 5200lb spindle.

If you build a 2999lb Fish house on a 3000 lb frame or 3500lb frame, you will bend the spindles if you hit the same pothole!

[Note from admin: Please read forum policy before posting again. Thank you.]

[BiffleFan]

Just one thing to think about. It seems like everytime I go to L.O.W. or out west, I usually run into icy roads and crappy weather and really like having brakes on the trailer in these conditions. I have done enough white knuckle driving and brakes that work on a trailer are worth the money. I jackknifes a 7x14 work trailer once and did a 180 on hwy 34 by osage. Talk about scary. Thank god nobody was oncoming.

[fishinalot]

I don't like to drive in any snow period!!! You do need to be careful if you have a 1/2 ton pickup if it gets icy out, or stay put for awhile. If you have a 3/4 ton pickup or a Tahoe/Suburban you shouldn't have to much to worry about. Common sense is the factor with all traveling!

[ice_it_06]

DEEP_SINKER

Look on Craigs list (mpls) in general section under "fish house". There is that exact size there with a electric winch system newly made for the $$$$$ your talking.

[ice_it_06]

SORRY Bud, under sporting goods category (type in fish house)

[stmichael]

fishinalot,

I do not know if the main concern here, should be what it takes to bend a spindle...or even getting pulled over being over weight on your trailer. The main concern should be you, the trailer in tow, but, most importantly the other people that have to share the road with you. These are all general comments and are not solely directed at you.

A person spends 10,000 dollars on a fish house that weighs over 2999 lbs., or, has the capability with cargo to go over. What is another let's say 1000 bucks for safety? (I have no idea what the system costs)

IMO: you are playing with the lives of you and fellow drivers. Why do some people think that they are mightier than anybody else . Some people mindsets are just way out of line. Hardly anybody thinks safety, always looking for ways to cut corners?

The laws are in place for a reason, to protect the general population from people that cut corners, better yet, from people that do not know how to the job correctly. This does not just go for overweight trailers...when was the last time you tried to side your house, put on a roof, or, build a deck? The only reason why these permits are there are to protect the people aroung you. Do you think that they just pulled these rules out of their arse? Don't you think that there has been safety trials on what is a safe weight to pull behind a vehicle? IE, breaking distance, controllability...

This is my opinion and maybe I am way offline. If I am, somebody PLEASE set me straight. If someone, anyone, can prove to me that, the laws and regulations that are in black and white are misleading and do not pertain to all people. Tell me why I am wrong in feeling this way. I know I am not perfect and do not claim to be, I am a listener and who knows, it could turn out that I am on the wrong side of the fence on this issue.

[fishinalot]

Mike

My fish House does not weigh over 3000lbs. I pull with a 3/4 ton vehichle.

[Note from admin: Please read forum policy befor eposting again. Thank you.]

Again, its all about common sense.

[love to hunt]

You are completly missing the point here.

Nobody is saying anything bad about any frames here. I will be the first to say the Tundra frames are very well built and will serve very nicly. I have endorsed Fish House Supply products on many ocasions especially when I was not able to accomidate a customers needs. However, because their frames are built heavy doesn't mean you have to overload them on purpose. I am sure that the frames are not intended to be used for that purpose and the concern was directed more twards bending spindles under LEAGAL load weights.

The point being made here is that there are laws in place for a reason. If you want to pull a heavy trailer with out the proper safety equipment that is you decision. You are the one who has to deal with the consequences when something goes wrong. I don't care if you are towing with a Ranger 1/2 3/4 or 1ton the tires only grip so much and 3000# is a lot of weight in anybodys book.

I would also consider my self experienced and am well versed in the ability of a truck to stop it's towed load. I drove a wrecker in my younger days (still do on occasion) and I know what it is like to tow a 3-7000# load that does not have breaking ability. Keeping in mind the Chev 3500HD wrecker I drove is equiped to tow that sort of a load and it still got pretty nip and tuck at times, especially under inclement conditons.

In addition, it is my opinion that you a WRONG in telling people to ignore the rules of the road and "not to loose any sleep over it" simply because other people are doing it.

I will not banter any further on this subject and now that this post has been compleatly hijacked I hope we can get back to more fishing talk.

[stmichael]

To answer your question about a ranger pulling a 2900 lb. trailer I think a guy would be nuts. However, if he had to I would certainly hope that he takes backroads wherever possible and keeps the speed down...

love2hunt(L2H:by the way I finally sent the envelope for the stickers today...sorry it took so long) summed it up quite nicely.

We could pull all the regulations about all the laws and lawbreakers and make this a huge post. I simply was putting my .02 on people that decide to pull a trailer that is simply too heavy for the truck to pull without the proper gear (trailer brakes)...according to the state of MN.(unfortunately rangers/s10's etc... are not covered)

[Biggerfish]

Fishinalot,

I also love the trailer. I did buy knowing that if I hit the ruts driving on the lake the axles would not bend. So I did not intent to look down on this tundra trailer. I also know my house is under 2000# as it is build all out of aluminum.(Except the trailer frame).

Sorry if I caused a issue on this topic, but I just wanted to know the facts. Thanks to all you that responded.

[deepportage01]

Fishinalot, I did a post on this back in june It was in the open water forum "Big boat little truck" was the topic name.You should look it up it got alittle out of hand

I don't think anyone is ripping on your fish house or the frame under it, There are just well educated people on FM that know there stuff when it comes to frames and the laws about runing them, and laws are laws and most people try to follow them,Your coment about the "cops are not after fishermen there after DWI's", well that's just an opinion not based on fact.

[McGurk]

Just so we all know; it's not just big trailer/little trucks. My parents just jackknifed a 30+ ft cattle last wednesday. Luckily they both walked away without a bruise or a scratch or any other vehicles involved. So instead of boasting that you don't need brakes and laws are just recommendations, think about how bad it could be if, heaven forbid, something did happen. After all, these behemoths are pulled in the _WORST_ part of the year for driving and hazardous weather.

Let's not worry about why there are laws and codes and start worrying about ourselves and others on the road with us. Do you think they are insisting on brakes because they want to make the "Big Trailer" lobbyists more money?

[deepportage01]

Very well put Mcgurk, I alway's look forward to reading your take on things... I'm glad to hear your mom and Dad are ok.. c ya out on the ice this winter

[dodgeman]

I agree with stmichael the laws are in place for a reason I am on my 3 manufactured house.And i ordered this house with no brakes because I didn't want to spend another 700.00 on top of the 15000.00 I spent. Then I talked to a freind of mine that works for the state and got to talking about weight and trailers and the law is clear if its pulled down the road and over 2999 in has to have brakes so back to the manufacture it went for brake now they have been advised by the state if they are building houses over that weight it MUST have brakes so I can see the state trooper already sitting at busy corners just waiting to ruin a good weekend of fishing. Also the law says if you haul anything in your fish house that is not bolted down like (auger rods gear etc etc) you have switched from fish house to a cargo trailer and it better have a licences. the big rear doors started this and they think they are getting ripped out of the fees for a trailer.Just a heads up on what i have been told from law enforcement

[McGurk]

Quote:

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...the law says if you haul anything in your fish house that is not bolted down like (auger rods gear etc etc) you have switched it from fish house to a cargo trailer and it better have a licences...

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Good to know; I'll have to put the loose stuff into the bed of the truck to avoid that fine.

[Augusta]

Quote:

"the law says if you haul anything in your fish house that is not bolted down like (auger rods gear etc etc) you have switched from fish house to a cargo trailer "

Sounds like it would be just best to get a trailer license for the fish house. Does anyone know how much it costs to get a permanent trailer license?

[LaZyDayZ]

Wow, pretty intense conversation here.

Lets say a guy is over weight and has no brakes on the shack. Is it possible to add them? Who do you think a guy might contact to do this work. Any idea on the additional cost?

[love to hunt]

Quote:

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Quote:

"the law says if you haul anything in your fish house that is not bolted down like (auger rods gear etc etc) you have switched from fish house to a cargo trailer "

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This is only partially correct.

I have conversed with State Patrol on this and the cargo doors in the rear for ATV loading now makes you shack a cargo trailer. Augers, coolers, luggage and the like are not a concern here.

This is the email I recieved from a State Patrol representitive;

"Fish houses are not required to be registered because they do not fall under any of the registration criteria in chapter 168. Fish houses do fall under other applicable laws regarding trailers such as lighting, safety chains, brakes, as well as size and length limits in chapter 169. A fish house meets the definition of a vehicle under 169.01 sub.2 and that is why these other laws apply.

If the newer fish houses are used as a camping trailer it may require registration if it meets the RV regulations under 168.011 sub 25. If the fish house is designed to carry an ATV or snowmobile, it then also has to be registered as a trailer.

The weight threshold is 3000#’s which includes the weight of the trailer and its load.

Trailers are required to have necessary lighting whether pulled during the daylight or at night.

Feel free to go to the State Patrol web site to research MN state laws. dps.state.mn.us/patrol/, click on information source and then MN state laws and statues.

Hopefully this info is helpful. Feel free to contact me if you have any other questions."

[love to hunt]

LaZyDayZ,

If a fellow is handy he could do the conversion himself. Other wise you could contact a trailer shop to have it done.

Redneck Trailer Parts has all the necessary stuff a guy would need to make this happen.

[HarryG]

You saved the day. I was about to call my brother in Brainerd to have him put a lifetime tag on my Fish House. I have never had it registered and heard mixed opinions on the subject. It was always a concern, but the last few years I have not towed it on the road much. Thanks for the info.