Those with Hydraulic fish houses, how do you like it?

[Kylersk]

I'm looking at possibly buying an 8' wide trailer and building another house. One option would be to go with a hydraulic. I like the space that they save on an 8' wide house, but not sure how well the hydraulics hold up. If I break a strap or cable on a winch house it's fairly easy to get another. If I break a hydraulic line, well......

[S.D. Ice Angular]

I would go no other way then a Hydraulic Lift, nomally cost is the main hold back. Which I have never really understood. If one can afford to build or buy a $5000+ house what the heck is the additional $500-$700 for the convenience of pushing a button.

As for troubles or problems, If it is built/designed right from the start it is pretty much bullet proof.

As with a crank house though, in the the travel postion it should be mechanically pinned and the hydraulic system relaxed or put in a float mode so no damage is done from pressure spikes.

You won't regret the investment...

[Bandit]

I really like mine, [8x20] although pushing a button is an upgrade that is coming this summer, mine uses a hand pump, which is ok, just would be nice to have electric. Like S.D. said, pin it to relieve the pressure.

[hawkeye43]

I had 2 hydraulic houses and will build a 3rd. The house I have now is 11 years old, never a pump or line problem, low on oil a few times because I let the house down too fast. Need a bigger holding tank. Its easy and fast to lift a house to move. You do need to pin the wheels and remove the pressure off the hyd. lines or they will blow. When you release the pressure this allows the springs to work. Also when you set the wheel width, make the spacing a little wider than the width of your truck wheels apart, that way you are only tracking in same trail as your truck and in deep snow this is priceless. If you can get thought with your truck, you can pull your house thought. Trust me we will deep snow again and houses with the wheels on the outside will be screwed without plowed roads.

If you do blow a line or something, you can still lift the house with a jack and pin the wheel, and down the road you go.

Just a thought to think about. I looked a 8'6" house frame and liked the amount of room you could gain. If you have a truck to pull it and wide mirrors thats what I would do

[hovermn]

Looks like Kylersk and I are on the same page here. I'm thinking about building another frame, but with hydro this time. Love the push button!

Do you have any pictures of your frames? There aren't many comercial examples for me to go peer at, so anything with wheel, pivot and ram detail would be priceless.

[The_King48]

I don't have one, I opted for the crank verson instead..... My thoughts are I am in "good enough" shape to still crank it up and down, why would I want the headache of a hydraulic system when its -20 outside.... Good luck...

[tisosy11]

i would enjoy one but not sure how much of a plus it would be...

[landscaper]

I am in the same boat or fish house hah looking too build a new house and well the plan is anyway to BUY a frame....so who really makes Hydraulic frames

[ice_it_06]

Saw a place in Anoka on c list (ice house hydraulic) that specializes in them.

They look like a heavy duty trailer set up nice.

Berkon Ind in Holdingford makes them and houses also.

[tisosy11]

I put the permanent on the side burner becuase i got a new portable this year...hoping to 'pimp' that out!

Have to get a new cover for my 5600 as well so i can join them...

I wounder if anyone has put hydraulics on setting up the portable poles?

[hovermn]

 Originally Posted By: tisosy11

I wounder if anyone has put hydraulics on setting up the portable poles?

You'd be better off with linear Actuators

[tisosy11]

Ahha yes!