Ice Castle

[Mr. Pike]

Was looking for a used camper on Fakebook marketplace, and noticed a few Ice Castles for sale. Some of them are fairly loaded with bathrooms and air conditioners so you can use them in the summertime also. My question is how do you lower and raise them up and wouldn't they freeze to the ice if it the snow melted around them and refroze? Also, wouldn't be a problem if it snowed a lot and you couldn't get back out on the lake to get them. I have a 4 wd pickup, but it's not a full size.

 

[johnr]

Some guys put 2x4's down and let them freeze to the ice

 

[jdfisherman]

Watch the weather, and if you are at all concerned take it home with you.

 

[257Bob]

Watch the weather, and if you are at all concerned take it home with you.

this

 

[Jiffy]

Make sure you bring them out early and take them off late.

That way it maximizes your chance of falling through.

It's a common goal with most.

 

[Bauer]

Was looking for a used camper on Fakebook marketplace, and noticed a few Ice Castles for sale. Some of them are fairly loaded with bathrooms and air conditioners so you can use them in the summertime also. My question is how do you lower and raise them up and wouldn't they freeze to the ice if it the snow melted around them and refroze? Also, wouldn't be a problem if it snowed a lot and you couldn't get back out on the lake to get them. I have a 4 wd pickup, but it's not a full size.

Depending on the model you choose, they either have a mechanical winch that pivots the wheel down into the ground to raise or lower it, others have a hydraulic system that makes it much easier but follows the same concept. Leveling in the summertime you use blocks to set to the frame of the house on while you lower it. On the ice, you can do the same, or just simply set the frame on the ice, they will melt in a bit, but generally pop up pretty freely unless you have really let it get away from you. As far as setup is concerned, I feel they can be set up and enjoyed in much less time than the typical RV can be, so I wouldnt be afraid to go that route at all!

 

[Rowdie]

I don't see many in the campgrounds in the summer and the ones I see, are never level. They don't even try to block them to be level. Best to choose a level pad I guess? I don't know If I'd mess with leveling them in the summer either, may not be good for the frame? IDK?

 

[Rowdie]

I would think to get it level during camping in the summer would be to treat it like a camper and not put it on the ground....but that may not be good for it not resting the frame on the ground IDK? It sure would be a lot easier to level it if the wheels were used.

 

[Mr. Pike]

I always wondered too why the front of most ice castles are pointed. Just the style?

 

[Wall-eyes]

I always wondered too why the front of most ice castles are pointed. Just the style?

For traveling in wind, I have many guys use them for hunting and a lake no problem they are built for both.

 

[wslayer]

Wind resistance

 

[wslayer]

You would always want them set down and not left up on the wheels. Things rock like crazy if not supported at least four corners. If larger size, doesn't hurt to block the middle of outside frame also.

 

[YCbtx]

I have an RV edition (crank style & newer than 2017 to get the newer frame/axle improvement) and I purposely bought it for both summer and winter usage. Don't ever leave mine out on the lake unless I am in it, so cant speak to leaving it out there but I do put a small piece of trex decking (leftovers) under several of the corners if Im gonna be out for a long weekend and worried about melt/refreeze. Have never even had the trex stuff freeze in to the point I cant just kick it off the ice and pick it up. I use blocks on the corners/front v in the summer and then just lower each side/front until it is decently level....usually ends up pretty level and doesnt shake a rattle when someone is walking around (blocking at more points helps even more). Nice to have option of bathroom/shower in summer but I will say the air conditioning units on them leave quite a bit to be desired....they don't take much of the edge off on an 80+ degree day.

 

[Downrigger]

I have an RV edition (crank style & newer than 2017 to get the newer frame/axle improvement) and I purposely bought it for both summer and winter usage. Don't ever leave mine out on the lake unless I am in it, so cant speak to leaving it out there but I do put a small piece of trex decking (leftovers) under several of the corners if Im gonna be out for a long weekend and worried about melt/refreeze. Have never even had the trex stuff freeze in to the point I cant just kick it off the ice and pick it up. I use blocks on the corners/front v in the summer and then just lower each side/front until it is decently level....usually ends up pretty level and doesnt shake a rattle when someone is walking around (blocking at more points helps even more). Nice to have option of bathroom/shower in summer but I will say the air conditioning units on them leave quite a bit to be desired....they don't take much of the edge off on an 80+ degree day.

The A/C I had for mine, floor model one, did an ok job. Took up to much space and could rattle your teeth for how loud it was though. I was happy when I went to a camper.

 

[Tikka280ai]

I have an RV edition (crank style & newer than 2017 to get the newer frame/axle improvement) and I purposely bought it for both summer and winter usage. Don't ever leave mine out on the lake unless I am in it, so cant speak to leaving it out there but I do put a small piece of trex decking (leftovers) under several of the corners if Im gonna be out for a long weekend and worried about melt/refreeze. Have never even had the trex stuff freeze in to the point I cant just kick it off the ice and pick it up. I use blocks on the corners/front v in the summer and then just lower each side/front until it is decently level....usually ends up pretty level and doesnt shake a rattle when someone is walking around (blocking at more points helps even more). Nice to have option of bathroom/shower in summer but I will say the air conditioning units on them leave quite a bit to be desired....they don't take much of the edge off on an 80+ degree day.

I ended up putting reflective vechile window covers over most of the windows in my ice house over the summer when I have it parked in my lake lot. Makes a huge diffrence in allowing the ac to keep it comfortable

 

[guywhofishes]

I will say the air conditioning units on them leave quite a bit to be desired....they don't take much of the edge off on an 80+ degree day.

That really surprises me as well as they're insulated - and assume they have low E glass.

 

[jdfisherman]

I don't see many in the campgrounds in the summer and the ones I see, are never level. They don't even try to block them to be level. Best to choose a level pad I guess? I don't know If I'd mess with leveling them in the summer either, may not be good for the frame? IDK?

Leveling is only important if you have slide outs. Otherwise just get it level enough to be comfortable inside.

 

[jdfisherman]

You would always want them set down and not left up on the wheels. Things rock like crazy if not supported at least four corners. If larger size, doesn't hurt to block the middle of outside frame also.

Buddy had one: first time he took it camping he only blocked the corners and it sagged enough that you could see the distortion in the decals on the side. Straightened up again when he put enough weight on the wheels to carry the center.