trucks on the ice - how much ice is enough ice?

[TCon17]

I have heard a few different things on how much ice is needed to bring a full size truck out safely. I know some ice is a little sketchy this year, so what is a safe thickness?

[The_Duckslayer]

I wont commit to how much is safe but when I was driving a full size it was at least 15 inches thick before I would drive on it. And then only if I had seen a lot of others go out. Here is what the DNR reccomends

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice/index.html

Take care and N Joy the Hunt././Jimbo

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I would use the DNR estimate. Not that I would ever want to personally test their recommendations, but they are going to be slightly conservative to avoid liability. That being said, my thoughts on ice strength changed a bit when I was on Mille Lacs last weekend and a resort was plowing snow with a F250 extended cab diesel on 8-9" of ice.

[coldmark]

I drove my truck and shack out yesterday because there was a lot of truck traffic. After I setup, I drilled holes and there was 11 inches. Not sure if I would be the first guy on 11 inches but there was tracks everywhere I looked.

[mojocatt]

I look for 12 before taking the Subaru out on a lake. But not just a simple 12, I'm looking for a fairly consistant 12.

I'd agree with the DNR guidelines. But yes, they only go out to "medium truck".

[539pipefitter]

I would say 15" is good rule of thumb. On the bigger lakes plowed roads usually are thicker than the rest of the lake so checking multiple spots before parking it is a good habit.

[Stradic]

Depends on the size of the truck, S-10 regular cab might be 10" where as I personally go with 15" with my Ram 1500 QC and then, only if others are going out.

[bassislife]

I would say a bare minimum of 12". I know guys who have drove their trucks on that amount and have never had problems. But if you can wait, I would say wait until at least 13-15" before you drive a truck on it.

[SDbowhunter]

It really depends on the condition of the ice for me. I have been in a f150 regular cab pickup on 10" good clear ice. I will drive my 1998 3/4 ton GMC on 12" of good clear ice. If the ice is murky or white in color or snow and slush have made the ice sketchy then you wont see me on there untill there is about 15" or more and a good cold spell to solidfy the soup. A buddy of mine said he saw a guy drive his f350 extended cab out on 4-6 inches just off the access to turn around. His front wheel only went in were they chiseled a hole.

[Kyle Sandberg]

We take our SUV out on 12" of ice. There are lakes around here that have way thinner than recomened ice and huge amounts of trucks. For me, it all depends really on the condition of the ice.

[looneyducer]

I just use the deisel fool mark. If some fool is driving around out there with a big deisel, my little Toyota is probably okay.

[arcticcat400]

pulled my 16 footer out the other night with my half ton truck on 15 inches

[minnbowhunter]

Suburban half ton and wheelhouse, I want 16 inches of good ice, but I am a little too careful at times acording to everyone but my wife.

[BobT]

The thing to remember about the DNR recommendation is that it is referring to good, clear, solid ice with the minimum thickness specified. How thick is the ice? Ice isn't like a planed 2x10. It varies and sometimes considerably. Check one place and it may be 12" but just a few feet away could be 14" or 10". I've been out where I've checked it once and found 12"+ and then when I checked again I found 7". I was sure glad I was on an ATV and not in my truck!

Bob

[TCon17]

thanks for all the info guys. I will be out on Green this weekend. Should be fine with a 1/2 ton on 13-14" i would say then.

[Orlip]

I watched a show last winter called Ice road truckers and they could drive 80,000+ on 36" so if you divide 36 into 80,000 you get 2,222 pounds per inch of ice. Now my pickup weighs 7,500 so as soon as there is 3 3/8" of ice I'm on it. Now if you have a wheel house then of course it will need to be thicker.

JUST KIDDING

I do believe with some of the stuff I have seen this year that is the thought process with some people.

[SDbowhunter]

Actually you have to look at the pounds per tire ( I dont want to get really complicated and look into the distribution of the load and square footage of the tires in contact with the ice.) Take 80,000/18 tires = 4444 pounds per tire per 36 inches of ice. Which is 123 pounds pounds per tire per inch. A 7500 lb truck has 4 tires = 1875 lbs a tire(assuming the sqaure footage of tire contacting the ice of a semi is the same as a truck) 1875/123 = 15.24 inches for a 7500 lb vehicle which is comparable to the DNR estimates. Unless your driving a diesel your truck isnt going to weigh 7500lbs.

[tonkapat]

according to the blue ice strength chart 8"-2 1/2 tons 10"-3 1/2 tons 12" 7 to 8 tons 36" 110 tons and use the thinnest ice to determine. I was out on mille lacs last year on 8" in my jeep and there were diesel/wheelhouse combos flying right by me. 12" of clear blue ice will hold a lot, almost all trucks and wheel houses. Just don't find the thin spot.