Glacier Ice house

[andyb15]

Starting the hunt for getting an ice house. We will be using it both as a camper in the summer and then on the hardware come winter. I’ve been kind of eyeing up a used Glacier. For anyone have any opinions on them versus an ice castle or grey wolf?

I’ve never owned one, so are there any major things I need to keep my eye out for when looking at a used one?

 

[1lessdog]

If your buying a used house crawl under it with a ball peen hammer and check the frame. If you find one hole in 2 years the whole frame will be rotted out.

 

[Tikka280ai]

Also check pivot points for cracks or seized parts that are supposed to move to allow it to lower. On my greywolf there are grease zerks on the pivot points that I grease religiously. When I bought it things were sticky but I have forced enough rust and gunk out that it rotates pretty easily now

 

[3Roosters]

Starting the hunt for getting an ice house. We will be using it both as a camper in the summer and then on the hardware come winter. I’ve been kind of eyeing up a used Glacier. For anyone have any opinions on them versus an ice castle or grey wolf?

I’ve never owned one, so are there any major things I need to keep my eye out for when looking at a used one?

I have heard Glacier makes a good house. If it were me, I think I would go with winch straps versus cables...especially if buying used. I don't own a wheeler. Perhaps someone with more knowledge can chime in.

 

[JMF]

I think the glaciers have a much better "fit and finish" than the ice castles and grey wolfs. The RV glaciers also come standard with both fresh water and black water tanks, while most of the other brand RV versions have a single tank. I wouldn't buy any of them without hydraulics.

 

[WormWiggler]

If your buying a used house crawl under it with a ball peen hammer and check the frame. If you find one hole in 2 years the whole frame will be rotted out.

I'm not an accomplish buyer/sell, unless you count buy high/ sell never, but do people allow prospective buyers to take a hammer to the item? just seems like something that would get a big GTFO

 

[Fester]

I dont know much about ice houses but dont yetti use aluminum frames? To me that would be the way to go..

 

[1lessdog]

I'm not an accomplish buyer/sell, unless you count buy high/ sell never, but do people allow prospective buyers to take a hammer to the item? just seems like something that would get a big GTFO

If it's a steel frame, I would be checking the frame. If the potential seller says no to tapping on a frame walk away. If there is one hole the size of a quarter. The frame will be junk in 2 yrs. When the frame builders weld up the frame. The seam of the tubing is down. Water gets stuck in the frame and when it freezes the ice expands and splits the frame. The frame builders say there are no openings. All it takes is a 1/4 inch hole and the frame will fill with water. When they put the walls up there fastened down with screws. When it rains in the summer and water comes down the walls and along the frame.

I'm just saying, if buying a used house, check the frame.

 

[jdfisherman]

I dont know much about ice houses but dont yetti use aluminum frames? To me that would be the way to go..

Aluminum is brittle and won't stand up to pounding on rough roads/ice like steel. If buying aluminum check closely for cracks.

 

[Fester]

Aluminum is brittle and won't stand up to pounding on rough roads/ice like steel. If buying aluminum check closely for cracks.

So really one isnt better then the other between steel and aluminum? Stewl can crack and rust and aluminum is brittle and crack?

 

[Kurtr]

Sounds like its time for carbon fiber frames

 

[Wall-eyes]

They are darn expensive for what you get, don't know if I will ever get one, very poor built.

 

[Fester]

Sounds like its time for carbon fiber frames

I would think the ice/water would cause delamination...dam expensive frame ha

 

[jdfisherman]

So really one isnt better then the other between steel and aluminum? Stewl can crack and rust and aluminum is brittle and crack?

Steel is better (IMHO) - just have to take care of it. Wash it, clean and paint surface rust, watch for cracks and patch if needed (a lot easier to find someone to weld steel vs aluminum). Building frames with something heavier than the bare minimum thickness of steel would help, but not going to happen unless you custom build.