Loading fish houses

[chalupa]

Does anyone have any tricks or ways they load there portables in the back of their pickups? Due to recent shoulder surgery im kind of handicapped and im due to get the fishtrap x4 this week and i know that its pretty heavy.

[Sandmannd]

I used to use a piece of 1/2 inch plywood that was about two feet wide and long enough to give me a decent angle on the truck. Worked pretty good.

[eyebjim]

Better get a forklift. The X4 is not pretty heavy it is very heavy. If you have a snomobile trailer you can tilt it and slide it up on that and then into the truck. I assume you will be pulling the X4 with a 4 wheeler or snomobile since it is a heart attack waiting to happen without. I had a X2 and got rid of it because it was so heavy. I can't imagine how heavy the x4 is.

[chalupa]

unfortunately i will be loading it into the back of my pickup, Im used to loading my otter resort with equipment in it by myself,so im hoping it will be close weight wise.

[mww24]

i always get just one end of my house's sled on the tailgate. Then I walk around and pick it up from the end thats sitting on the ground and slide it in. It works well for me, but I have a clam guide which is probably a third the weight of the x4. just find a buddy to go with you at all times, and say your shoulder hurts and make him do it.

[eyebjim]

Like MW said I put one end up and then worked it in but with no physical problems it was a bear and that was a X2. You may need that freind to guilt into doing it for you until you get better.

[chalupa]

Anyone want to go fishing

[brianh]

Ya, What part of central MN you located?

[chalupa]

Do you have a strong back?

[brianh]

I haul wheeler and house on trailer

[croixflats]

If you can install a pulley on front of bed pull it up a ramp no lifting just pulling. A 3x6 sheet of plywood should be good enough for ramp. A pulley system Eye hooks in front stake pockets of truck with rope and pull in middle and of course rope from sled to pull back to you around your waist and pretend your a Clydesdale

[shizzy]

thats a great idea. remember the more times the rope sees a pulley, the eaiser it will be.

[chalupa]

Maybe something like they use to hang deer up with in the garage? Or is that just 1 pulley?

[croixflats]

Thanks. I used have a winch in the back of my truck to pull my snowmobile up. I didnt trust myself driving the sled. Worked great so why not pull a portable up.

[croixflats]

One pully maybe enough the higher the pully off the bed of truck may give you more leverage.

[Sandmannd]

If you can install a pulley on front of bed pull it up a ramp no lifting just pulling. A 3x6 sheet of plywood should be good enough for ramp. A pulley system Eye hooks in front stake pockets of truck with rope and pull in middle and of course rope from sled to pull back to you around your waist and pretend your a Clydesdale

That's a great idea. Maybe get a winch system like you have to crank your boat up. They aren't very pricy. Could put a 2x4 across the bed to mount it to.

[river runt]

If you can find a big enough snow bank or pile of snow and back the truck up to that and slide it in. Or if you can drive on the ice backing the truck up to shore or the boat launch should get you closer to the truck bed. good luck RR.

[Morneau132]

ATV ramps work well and you can get a cheap pair at the fleet store

[vikingmeatwad]

The pulley seems like a good idea for you. I have been looking for something like this as well to load my fish house in the truck without taking all my gear out.

I think I'm going to get a 3x6 plywood and try that.

It's all about saving time...and your back

:-)

[rocki]

i 2nd atv ramps, they work well

[chalupa]

Im going to look for a way to mount the winch in the back,but its a little more tricky cause of the topper i have on it. I wonder were you can find those ramps with the little roller wheels on them?

[Northlander]

Northern tool had them.

[chalupa]

Do they come in various lenghts and do you know how pricey they maybe?

[LakeDocktor]

I have a X2 with mods. With the mods, I probably added 50 lbs. I don't have any problems getting my X2 in the back by myself. The sled is rounded enough that it generally slides in fairly easily. I found the easiest way is to drop the tailgate and lift the front of the sled so it rests on the lip of the tailgate. Go behind, lift up the back and lift side to side and push. It slides in pretty easy. I thought about getting a 12v winch from Northern Tool with the quick release bracket and mount it in the bed so I can use that, but I really don't need it. My cousin mounted the same winch in his rafters with his deep cell to hang deer and it works pretty slick.

[tom fellegy]

as lakedocktor said, find a cheep 12 volt winch and mount it in the front of the bed. that will save your shoulder..........tom