Ice House Runner Replacement

[EJW]

We need to replace the wood runners on our ice house, which is 8 x 12. The runners would be 14 ft.

The old runners are oak. We are thinking of steel runner replacements.

Any information on runners would be appreciated.

Oak vs steel? Cost? Advantage?

Where to buy oak or steel runners?

We will replace the material ourselves.

Thanks for any information.

[hanson]

EJW,

Welcome back to the forum! Either my eyes are deceiving me or you have 6 posts since Jul 2000.

Sorry I don't have anything to contribute to your topic but I thought that was pretty interesting.

Once again, Welcome back!

[psegriz]

Depending on the size you'll need?, I'd go w/ rough sawed oak. Steel is heavy and not as slippery, unless ya go w/stainless then it's super slippery and super expensive and weights more to boot. Go w/oak. IMO

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GRIZ

[LocalGuide]

I went with oak on a 10x16 house. We also put some snowmobile hyfaxs under them. They make the house slide really good but its also very hard to turn.

We had issues taking our house off the ice last winter too and broke one of the skids b/c of trying to take a sharp corner and the hyfaxs do NOT move side to side. So the back end of it ripped out. Then taking it off the lake we hit a hidden stump and plus we had to go up a little slippery hill with a suburban pulling this house. To get to the point we ripped off pretty much all of the right side skid and it split into 2 around a knot. So this fall we have to put a new 18' oak skid back onto our house.
We were definitely glad and happy to see this big rig back on shore. So I think this year we wont have hyfaxs under it no more. Atleast not for the whole lengh of the house.

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And keep those hooks sharp!

[wallydiver]

I can't really help you either but I am interested as to what others have to say.

[HighLife100]

How do you go about replacing the runners on a house that big? Can't be easy to tip it over.

[hanson]

I've got to throw this question out there which is along the lines of this topic.

Highlife asked "How do you replace the runners on a house that big?"

I'm wondering how you ATTACH, lets say 4"x6" runners, to the bottom of a house? The key is to make them replaceable too.

My house is just about in the construction phase and I have a couple different ideas for attaching runners, but I'm wondering if anyone else has got a great way to do it??

[EJW]

A big house must be raised via jacks and then stabilized withblocks or jack stands(large).

Then you unbolt the old runners and bolt on the new.

Picture a box frame of runners and cross supports. These attach through the house bottom frame.

We have used 4 x 4 treated in the past. They will work and can last 5 years or more depending on abuse. They certainly are more ressonably priced.

EJW

[wallydiver]

EJW,

It sounds like your house is the same as the one I plan on building. I'll hopefully get started in a week or two.