Building An Ice House

[Spazzums08]

Hey guys, I've had enough of these threads that I've decided to make my own.

A few main things: For those of you who have made your own houses, did you just use a pre-fab frame from a company? I think that's what I'll go with, how hard was it to put it together from there? How many hours can I expect to spend on this thing? Price with and without the frame in it? What did you guys do, how do you like it? Any pix?

[slurpie]

Its a good choice to go with a custom frame but one from a repuitable builder/dealer. When you buy the frame from someone who knows more than a person doing it once or twice, the trailer will go down the road straight thats a plus and it will be level across the bottom. Building the house will be easy if your any kind of a carpenter,it will take you a month of consistant work and a couple months of working on it after work.

[Spazzums08]

Well my dad is fairly experienced, we've remodeled our house about 8 times, but I'll admit I have NEVER done a project like this before, woodworking/construction of any kind. I'd like this to be my first project, with obvious help from a lot of other people though. Can you reccomend a dealer for the frame?

[Quackaddict9]

I would tell ya to build your own and save anywhere from $500-$1,000 depending on who youd buy one from. Cheapest Ive seen is a 6.5x14 drop down wheel frame with vfront for $1,099. If you have or can use a welding machine to build one, I recommend it.

[Spazzums08]

I'd need the frame pre-made, and I'm looking for something like 8X16 at least, but the bigger the better. Do V-fronts count the V in the total length?

[deadminnowcatcher]

check out the FM Ultimate fish house. It is 16x8 plus 3 ft v front

[landscaper]

hey would this work for a Fish House heater......

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_38717_38717

[newoodhntr]

I've had one for four years and it works really well and you can cook on it also.

[Big Buck Buster]

Fish house supply has a very well built frame that is theft-proof and has a 6000# suspension on it, if you are looking for a pre-built frame. They are expensive though. Check out that web site for more info. We are building our own frame, and we figure that we are going to save about $1,500 by doing it ourselves.

[Pooh]

i would give the miltona blacksmith a call on the frame!! great frame great price! not sure on the phone number

[Hydra Sport]

Hey guys save yourself some trouble so far as the frame etc. You can buy used construction shacks for a song and you are half way their. My brother has one that is probably bigger than most people want 32 feet. lights run off a generator or gas. has a kitchen 3 fold out sofas 1 bed 8 or 10 holes. Camera hooked up to the 32 inch big screen. Makes it really easy to get the detail under water and to switch back and forth to the movie. The back door leads to the bifie and you know how the portable toilets have the trough for guys to go in? Well he built one inside that funnels to outside so knowbody has to go out to take a leak in the middle of the night. It came in very handy. Can't tell you where he got his but with the economy the way it is I don't think it would take a lot a lookin to find one. His is on the pond. By the way the honda generator 2000 is the ticket. A bit spendier than some but sips gas all night long and then some as well as being quiet.

[TMF89]

Hydra Sport, I'm not sure what you mean by a construction shack? Could you describe them and prices? Thanks!

[Sandmannd]

I'm sure the talkig about the shacks that construction companies use on the building sites. Not sure how you get a hold of them, but they would work if you can find them.

[Big Buck Buster]

Are those the ons that have an I-beam frame under them? If they are, how would that work to make it a drop axle fish house?

[Quackaddict9]

It doesnt need to have drop down winch system.. My uncle has a 21 foot camper he made it into a ice house with 4 bunks, 8 holes, stove top, tv, satlitte etcetc and he has hole sleeves to the top of the ice but can be a pain reaching down to get the fish but other than that it works great.

[newoodhntr]

I am thinking about getting some catch cover hole sleeves and was wondering what color is better for being able to see your line, the black or the white?

[Spazzums08]

I would think black, because your line is clear/white/light blue depending on what you use.

[ac777]

Hey spazz, check out Ice castle Fish houses, they make houses and frames. http://icecastlefishhousesmfg.com/ They are good frames.

[Big Buck Buster]

Don't get the frame from that company, they build them too cheap and they don't hold up very well. A friend of mine bought one last year. He made one trip up to Red Lake, and before he made it back, he had worn out tires and bent spindles. They are built too CHEAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Quackaddict9]

 Quote:

Don't get the frame from that company, they build them too cheap and they don't hold up very well. A friend of mine bought one last year. He made one trip up to Red Lake, and before he made it back, he had worn out tires and bent spindles. They are built too CHEAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

maybe it that one happened to be a bad one while others have lasted for a few years and in good shape. It could depend how he drove it and got bent. I think they are still quality ice houses and there are others you can look at. Personally I'd just build my own and save hundreds of dollars.

[Big Buck Buster]

He didn't abuse it in any way shape or form. He just drove up, went fishing, and came back home. If the frame and spindles can't handle regular road travel and a few bumps on the lake, they are junk to me and would never buy one. I built one myself and had no problems at all. Lets just say that when he came back he was pretty [PoorWordUsage] off at ice castle. They did warranty the spindles, and later said that the spindles that were installed were too lite for the application. If I were to spend as much money as he did on the fish house, then it better hold up. I wouldn't want to bring it back for repairs just because they made a "mistake" when building the frame. Poor quality controll, if you ask me!!!!!!

[ac777]

Yeah, that could be big buck, It was just a thought you know, if I was building one, I would weld one up in the shop instead of buying one, and was actually thinking about doing it, but my plans kinda got changed.

[Spazzums08]

That's what everyone says, but unfortunately I don't know how to weld. Does anyone know anyone/any palce that could do it for me?

[Quackaddict9]

you could call a few welding shops in your area and see if they can weld you a trailer frame and you can do the rest after the trailer is done. talk and ask around and maybe youll find someone who'll do the job for you.

[mustangt69]

i dont know if anyone cares but i guess midway iron in st. cloud sells torsion spindles...they would work aweasome for a custom fish house. i haven seen these myself but i am tempted to look at retro fitting them for mine.