camper to high for ice???

[fubar]

Okay guys here's my problem. I bought a used slide in camper this year. When the camper is off the truck it sits 17" above ground. The camper has holes in the floor for fishing but I'm to high above the ice. without spending too much money what can I do?????

[minneman]

fubar, I had a similar problem, I fixed it with 5 gal pails wraped with foil faced bubble wrap, I used clear packing tape to hold the wrap on and since the holes they fit into were square, I made a square cover with a round whole for the pail, banked them with snow. they poped out easy for redrilling. havent needed an extention yet.
but I was only a foot off the ice,there must be a way you could get it closer to the ice??

[Guest]

I kinda had the same problem with an old shack of mine some years ago. The floor sat about 12" off the ice. I took and cut the bottom out of a couple 5 gallon buckets. I had rectangular holes in the floor ( DOH ! )so I cut some plywood to fill in those holes but left room for the top of the pail to stick out.That left just the top of the pail open to fish out of. Just remember to bank around the bottom of the pail and you won't have to much trouble with your holes skimming over.
Kind of a pain but not too bad a deal for a cobble job I guess. I've seen dudes use PVC pipe as well.

[fubar]

Hey guys thanks for the suggestions, I have plenty of 5-gallon pails around. I guess the only thing left is to by an extension for the auger . Thanks for the help

[Dave]

My camper trailer was about 17" from the ice. I used two 5-gallon buckets, one inside the other.

[Uncle Grump]

Fubar

Another possibility might be some of those tubes that contractors use for forming concrete. You can get them at most building centers. They come in various sizes and aren't to expensive.

UG

[jimBo]

you can also add some extention to the jacks to lower it down. out of some iron then take them off when you set it down.I done this and it realy works well.give it a try.
jimBo

[Dave]

Ugrump, the only problem I saw using the tube method is a change in space under the house when moving. If the spot is in deeper snow, the tubes will sit too high in the house. With not much snow the tubes may be too short.

[Jim W]

fubar,

No need to buy an extension, just drill the wholes before situating your camper above.

Just an idea.

Jim W

[Guest]

before you get to bucket happy, I'd look into ways that you can get that baby lower to the ice. If it were me, I'd set the whole thing down on 4x4's, There has to be some way you can get it off the stands. A jack and some 4x4s should do the trick, not? You'll be much happier closer to the ice.

[MNice]

How many times do fish seem to fall off right out of the hole, now you have another 17"!! I would try to get the house down and I bet you'll be much happier.

[Guest]

My mille lacs house sits about 11 inches off the ground. Its a 68 camper.I just bank it with particle board. never lost a fish yet. But if it were easy to get it closer, it would be done. But I got one hell of a gaff in the house

[jt24]

I have thought of using a camper my self but the distance off the ice has made me think other wise. Wouldnt you be leaning over the hole just to watch your bobber? Unless you have rattle reels i guess. Just sounds like literally having a pain in the neck after a couple hours of fishing. But its cheap and better than sitting outside!

[Guest]

I have all rattle reels. I thought I was going to have a rough time too. But let me tell you...Flying fish and I had more fun putting that baby together. And it fishes like a dream. Like I said earlier, we set it up on cut up rail road ties and away we go. The only time we lean down the whole is to gaff a fish. Well now that you got me started I think I'll tell everybody the whole story.
My buddy adam and I were looking to build a house to put up on mille lacs. So we sit down and figure everything out in terms of price and design. We wanted it on wheels for sure. The grand total was just too much. He was getting married and I was paying for school yet. So we start looking to find a used one cheap. Well it didn't happen. Finally Adam spots one on the internet. It was a '68 15 foot camper. With fish holes cut out of the floor for sale up in brainerd. So one night we decided to jump on it and take the trip to see what we were in for. We get up to brainerd at 8:00 pm. and pull into a drive in the middle of nowhere. And there she sat. OK looking on the outside but the inside needed work. We sat and talked for with the previous owners for quite some time and found out that Gary roach lived next door, and that him and his son had fished out of our new fish house. We were on the way home. Adams fiance came up with us and couldn't beleive the piece of junk we just bought. She Imediately named it "The Taj" which was short for "TajmaHall" we spent the whole fall gutting this baby out. We put new studs in the walls, painted the ceiling, completely redid the paneling, sewed new camo curtains(adam did that), repainted the fridge, Put a new thermostat in to go with the great heater that came with it, put new carpet in, installed two propane lamps, four electric lights over each hole and one over the sink and stove,Everything was in perfect condition to house four guys all winter long,And there she was, "The Taj". At one point we had the whole front of the camper completely off. At that point I thought we were nuts. And then it was up to the big pond. We were the first to drive out in front of cozy cove. The only reason we bought the thing was because it was cheap and it had an oven, two way fridge, and a heater, all in working condition. If you ever see it sitting out, c'mon in and say hi, everybodys welcome at the Taj, and the fish are always plentiful.
Now everybody knows the story. Too make a long story short , campers work great. see you on the ice!

[fubar]

Dave
I believe by cutting slits in the buckets and using a small nut and bolt, I can make them adjustable. Sounds like a weekend project coming on.

Jim w
Last year when I was up at URL, my auger almost didn't make it through the ice. I'm hoping to go back and I don't want to be caught short. Besides I'll have two reasons to give to the wife on why I need one

[Dave]

Fubar, no need to nut and bolt. The bottom (narrower) of the top bucket slides down into the top (wider) of the bottom bucket.

[jimBo]

all you have to do is get some iron and bolt it to your present jack mounts and bend it down a foot or so and drill two new holes
and bolt your jacks back on.just don't go out very far.I have done this with my frist house.And work slick.now have built a condo
last year an and lovin every minute of it.
good luck this is the best way to go
been there done that
jimBo

[jimBo]

sorry about that you want to bend the plate upnot down.Make your plate 10 inches to a foot.but don't go out very far.
You may want to drill more than one set of holes may three space them a inch apart.are you hauling this in a truck?
good luck
jimBo

[fubar]

JiomBo
The jacks are at their lowest point right now, I don't what to jack the camper higher, I need it lower. At its lowest point right now it's still 17" above the ice. I would like to be able to lower it to about 4" and stick 4x4 under it. If I'm reading your suggestion right, it would be lifting it higher. But I could bolt a plate on to the jack mount and raise the jacks to that point, and then lower it down. Same idea, just a different direction.