Deluxe Fish Houses-Recomendations

[H2O]

I am beginning the search for a manufactured Deluxe Fish House and am seeking opinions and advice based on your experiences.

In my research I've come across many of the "big names" you find in the popular magazines and newspapers.....Five Star, King Crow, AHOY, Ice Castle, Pro Fish, & The Lodge.

I'm hoping to get some feedback on which are the most trusted brands as well as ones to shy away from along with any names that I failed to mention. I was also wondering how well the lightweight aluminum frames hold up to the abuse of rough terrain. Thanks.

[GRAND DAD]

You just have to remember you get what you pay for. I bought an Ice Castle and I love it, but I just bought a shell and did the rest my self, know seeing that I did the inside I got to see there craftmanship and lets just say I was not to impressed nothing realy bad it just look like they put it together in a hurry and didn't pay to much atention to detail and am not happy that in spots my trailer is starting to rust a little. But I wouldn't trade mine for the world it's set up inside the way I want and I love that and becasue I did the work on the inside I saved a few penneys by doing so. Out of all the fish house I have seen The Lodge seem's to be the best I have seen and they seem to be a very well put together fish house.

[ice_it_06]

H2O:

I think you will find it like buying a used car unless you get out and really look @ the manufacturing of "any" maker @ the shop level.

My opinion is most develope a reputation good or bad by their product, and not by how many mass produced houses they can scatter all over for sale or advertisement.

Like Grand Dad found detail and consistancy is not a priority from a mass producer. In a shell house like his it's hard to hide the flaws so you are ahead of the game before you decide there. Nothing but visits to the shop and seeing it from the ground up gives you the entire picture.

There is a new franchise in my town now with a lot loaded up with (12) here alone. If you can see build flaws from the road you can only imagine whats underneath. From house to house many of these makers cant keep consistant with the build quality and a simple walk through on lots with many prebuilt will show that.

You might be getting a custom house, but most are not custom built with specialized attention and quality.

Ultra Shack (Franks RV)in Ramsey is a excellent custom builder of aluminum stud houses on a RV build style. I have had (6) wheeled houses in my days, some you mentioned and nothing came close to the Ultra Shack I had or others I've seen. I use to impulse buy these things but not any longer. Patience, particular, purchase You start pushing $20,000 plus prices you better be getting the best of the best and hopefully unique in its build and not similar to hundreds of others.

You have a house for sale just up the road from you in Battle Lake by member jackfish3 here on FM.

Custom and quality to the highest degree from everything I've seen and heard from him. You have a gem sitting close to you all but new and loaded you might want to check out in the classifieds.

[Wookiee]

Don't forget about Performance Engineering in Glencoe also. They make some decent houses.

[toughguy]

Go to the St Paul ice show in a few weeks and you can compare many of the manufacturers side by side.

[huntingmaxima]

H2O my wife and i checked out wheelhouse for more than a year before we bought one. we bought the dreamshak namakin.

torsion axles, hydrolic lift. little spendy but it is twice the house that the ice castle was. our second choice would have been a lodge house

[wintertim]

Yep, I second huntingmaxima's recommendation. Check out the Dreamshak for sure. Can't speak from owner's experience but I've looked closely at many makes and the Dreamshak seems to be put together the right way. But be forwarned, they are not shy about the price $$$. Also, don't miss an opportunity to see a lot of them side by side at the St. Paul Ice Fishing Show, which is starting to look a lot like an RV show these days.

[fishinguy74]

Take alook at dreamshak. I,ve had mine for over a year know an put over 5000 miles on it between ice fishing an three week mountain trip last summer.It's agreat year roud camper/fish house.