Wheeled House owners- I have a question

[3Roosters]

I am thinking of taking advantage of a nice price on a wheeled house. Besides using throughout hard water season, I am thinking I could use as a camper about a 1/2 dozen times a summer and a few more times during upland season.
My question to those that have them, how do they travel? I am thinking perhaps 2-3 hours travel each time.
Set up? take down?
How about during hardwater season? pluses? minuses?
Anything else?
Thanks gang!!!!!!

 

[Jigaman]

if it is from MN I would be very concerned about a rusty frame.

 

[RRmaniac]

Personally I don't know much about the axle systems, but I would definitely buy the lightest house I could get away with. I would try to have something with bare essentials. For me an aluminum shell spray foamed with possibly paneling would be the ultimate. The more stuff you put in it, the longer it will take for set up and take down, and the more in it, the harder on the axle system. Also, if possible, I would try to get a 7 ft wide house. Not an 8 with large wheel wells. You would be able to have a better floor plan in a 7 ft wide wheelhouse.

 

[3Roosters]

One I am looking at is 8X17 with another 4ft V nose. Ice castle with air, awning, sink, fridge, bathroom shower. I'd be pulling with my 3/4 duramax so that wouldn't be an issue. Hasn't been on the ice..just used as extra sleeping quarters, 2015. Pretty much brand new condition, air conditioner, microwave, bathroom never used. single axle. I would pretty much camp locally out at Grahams Island or hauling over to Bemidji area on some weekends in the summer so interested in how they travel.
Hard water I am sure I would need to make sure there is good thick ice as this baby must be heavy...gotta look at the sticker for exact weight.

 

[PrairieGhost]

3Roosters I think you would enjoy that house. It sounds heavy enough that it would not bounce like the light ones. That's the only beef I have with the light ice houses. They bounce like a basketball. If there is something you like put it on the floor to begin with because that is where it will be when you get to your destination. Well, I should say the ice has more bumps than the road so maybe headed down pavement isn't that bad. I have had mine eight years and the furthest I have pulled it is five miles west of my house to access the Pipestem. I should pull it up the road one day. My FJ pulls it and I would not need to use my diesel pickup. It would be nice out in the Badlands.

 

[Big Iron]

I have a 17' X 8' rec edition ice castle. It pulls great behind my 1/2 ton pickup. I usually keep it under 65 MPH when traveling. I pulled it way out west this last fall to use as a hunting camper. When there is a stiff cross wind, pulling can be a little hairy. All in all- nothing to be afraid of pulling your new unit to and fro.

The newer ice castles appear to have a "rhino lining" coating on the frame that seems to hold up to rocks and salt better than the older models have. I know that many older wheel houses look like hell after 5 years with all the grime/ salt they encounter.

If the price is right and the wife approves- go for it.

 

[Fisherman25]

Even the heavier ones pull pretty nice as long as their v front. I have never been around one though that doesn't wear tires toward the inside at an accelerated rate. If I had to guess, you'll be replacing tires every 5kish miles. The good news is, tires are pretty cheap for them.

 

[RRmaniac]

The problem I see with heavy houses is that in previous years you could only use them about a third of the ice season. Also cranking them with standard winches gets pretty tough unless you have electric lowering.

 

[MULEDEER]

I have a Ice Castle Dakota Edition same frame as the one your looking at. Really not many mechanical issues replaced the cables on the winch and that is about all. I take the wheels of and grease the bearings and by doing so you can see that they are really built quite well No troubles on the highway. I have a cordless hammer drill with a socket that goes on where the winch handle is and it raises up and down no problem why work hard cranking when you do not have to. I also have the skis and that was the best investment yet it really helps with pulling when the snow is deep and yes I have been stuck with it so you need to think about what snow conditions you have before just giving her hell. Like anything packing up can be a pain but I have learned take your time put the covers on the holes and pack up well will save you time when you do set up again

 

[Wildyote]

If you are going to travel any distance get a 6.5 ft wide house they tow much better. I can pull mine at 75-80 mph no problem. The 8 ft wide don't get much over 65 or they will start to sway and buck more wind. I guess you could put a torsion hitch on them.

 

[FishSticks]

You won't regret it when it's 20 below and you are fishing in your socks. I have a 14x6.5 and the only thing I would do different is get one a little wider, buddy has a 16x8 and it is way better.

 

[savage270]

I will agree with not pulling more than 65-70 mph. One other thing I've had issues with is if I pull it more than a few miles on gravel in the summer/fall, a lot of dust seems to filter up through the hole covers.

 

[Wildyote]

I will agree with not pulling more than 65-70 mph. One other thing I've had issues with is if I pull it more than a few miles on gravel in the summer/fall, a lot of dust seems to filter up through the hole covers.

I duct tape my holes in the spring and remove it after deer season. This works well for dust control.

If room is an issue look at a team lodge house or another toy hauler model. I have a 6.5x14 and it has 8 holes all on outside. It still has room to sleep 2-3 people and bunks and dinette fold up to allow entire space to fish. The 8x16 which my brother has sleeps 5-6 and has 10 holes. The ice castles have more camp in mind whereas team lodge has more fishing on mind. Team Lodge also uses spray foam on walls which cuts down propane use and is a much warmer house than the ice castle. The bat insulation in most ice castles settles and leaves gaps. The spray foam also keeps the walls much more stable from rattling things loose. I think Yetti has the best frame out there with welded aluminum.

 

[phillyblunt701]

I love my 8x17 rv edition ice castle. I pull it with a light duty 3/4 ton and it pulls fine, but normally my luck is pulling it against a 30 mph wind so that usually sucks. I used it about 5 times last year camping with the woman and 2 kids and it was perfect for us. So glad I went with the RV edition because we get a lot of use out of it. We even use the toilet in the winter and just pour rv antifreeze down with every flush. Bottom line you can't go wrong with the RV edition for year round fun!!

 

[BBQBluesMan]

I duct tape my holes in the spring and remove it after deer season. This works well for dust control.

If room is an issue look at a team lodge house or another toy hauler model. I have a 6.5x14 and it has 8 holes all on outside. It still has room to sleep 2-3 people and bunks and dinette fold up to allow entire space to fish. The 8x16 which my brother has sleeps 5-6 and has 10 holes. The ice castles have more camp in mind whereas team lodge has more fishing on mind. Team Lodge also uses spray foam on walls which cuts down propane use and is a much warmer house than the ice castle. The bat insulation in most ice castles settles and leaves gaps. The spray foam also keeps the walls much more stable from rattling things loose. I think Yetti has the best frame out there with welded aluminum.

you can get ice castles spray foamed..arctic insulation package. Well worth it.

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I love my 8x17 rv edition ice castle. I pull it with a light duty 3/4 ton and it pulls fine, but normally my luck is pulling it against a 30 mph wind so that usually sucks. I used it about 5 times last year camping with the woman and 2 kids and it was perfect for us. So glad I went with the RV edition because we get a lot of use out of it. We even use the toilet in the winter and just pour rv antifreeze down with every flush. Bottom line you can't go wrong with the RV edition for year round fun!!

Also have an ice castle rv edition and love it. Finally got to take it on the ice last weekend. Have used for camping and hunting multiple times as well

 

[RustyTackleBox]

if you are in the market for an ice house right now... the big bite ones are better quality and wild bills in minot is closing their doors on the 26th of this month and they have 4 sitting on the lot I'm sure they would deal on... plus can am's and arctic splats and such too... I am actually going to talk with the guy who builds the big bite houses and get him to make me one

 

[Fisherman25]

Wild Bills is closing already? I take it the Indian store won't open then either?

That guy had no clue how to run a sales company or treat his employees for that matter. I hope he goes flat broke.

 

[Auggie]

If I were buying a permanent house, I'd go Firebrand, Yeti, or Team Lodge. All are aluminum. I prefer the layout of the Firebrand and Team Lodge.

 

[RustyTackleBox]

i agree auggie all 3 of those make really nice houses... my problem with them was they didn't fit all of my needs, I want multi purpose.

1. RV package (full bath, kitchen, and AC)
2. ice house 8-10 holes
3. sleeps 6+
4. 24-28 foot (pref with 3 axles)
5. toy hauler (trying to make it fit a SxS with tracks)
the last 2 have been the hard part to find... ice castle sort of has one but the feller at big bite says he can design one and his finish is 100x better than ice castles

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i'll add... i know this is not an early ice rig... but it'll keep the family happy while I hole hop and give us a way to get away any time of the year

 

[Migrator Man]

I wonder if Wild bill is gonna deal on all their inventory or if they will just take their chances at auction?