I'm getting ready for the ice season and have decided to upgrade my shelter. I own a snowmobile now, so my "lightweight" Shappell is going to get traded in for something a little bigger.
I'm sure this has come up before, so I'm sorry for any repetitiveness, but I'm looking for the best hut out there for 3 people (men) to fish from? Weight isn't an issue since I'm pulling it with a sled most of the time.
Any suggestions?
Thanks-
F4F
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Eskimo makes some that you might want to look at,I had a Quickflip 2,I think they make one called the quickflip III (3).I liked the one I had because it was easy to set up,it had a padded seat and back,and the door opened acrossed the whole end.
Mike
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I have a snowmobile also and use it to fish the bigger lakes along with a good size ice sled and tent. I also have my gear set up so if I need to I can use a medium ice sled to pull by hand when I can’t use a snowmobile. I even use a small ice sled that I can put the basics on for when I need to hike down or up a steep hill to get to the ice. The small sled also works if I go with someone else who lets me use their shelter.
You may want to look at how you can set your gear up so can pack light for some trips and other trip take every thing you have.
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]I've owned a few of the different brands of ice shelters and my favorite is the one I currently an using. It made by Otter. If you go look [/size][/black][/font][url "http://www.otteroutdoors.com/"][font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]http://www.otteroutdoors.com/[/size][/black][/font][/url][font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3], you'll be able to browse their different fish houses.[/size][/black][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]Why do I like the Otter brand over the Eskimo, Frabil, etc? If you're towing with a snowmobile, you need a sled designed for towing first and not as an afterthought. The Otter sled has thick plastic walls, thicker than most all other sleds and have higher sides which help it to protect the contents. The hitch connections are molded into the sled and are heavy duty.[/size][/black][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]The front of the sled is not a square box but sloped much like a boat's bow which allows the sled to float on top and not plow through the deep stuff. When you plow, you can have a tendency to force snow up the front of the sled an under your cover which will load the sled full of unwanted snow. That sucks. Otter offer high speed runners that you can add to the sled so the runners wear out and not your expensive sled. When using a snowmobile, you absolutely need a cover.[/size][/black][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]The shelter frame is not steel conduit but aluminum square tubing which is much lighter. The shelters are very well thought out and are comparable in design with the QuickFlip and Clam Shell styles. They fold up and down quickly. They also have an optional swivel seat which, in my opinion, is 10X better than the benches. Whatever you do, don't get a bench. After hours of fishing, they are not very comfortable. A swivel seat with a back is the way to go.[/size][/black][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]Otters aren't cheap but in my opinion, they are better than the Eskimo Quickfilp III and Frabil shelters I have previously own hands down. If money is secondary and you want the best, go for the Otter set up. The only time you'll regret it is when you open your wallet but after that, you'll be glad you did.[/size][/black][/font]
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Pulling it with a sled most of the time! It will only take once pulling a big ol shelter by hand and you will change your tune to "all of the time". Those things are heavy pigs! Anyways. I have a Quickflip III and I really like it. Rich doesn't like the bench seat, and that is perhaps why he got rid of the Eskimo, but it really doesn't bother me much. I've fished in his Otter, and it is really nice. Very well built, and like he mentioned, the sled is very durable. After fishing out of several types/styles, I would say the Otter is the way to go if you can afford the extra money. In this case, you do get what you pay for.
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]If that ain't the honest truth, Brandon! You couldn't pay me enough to hand drag a large shelter very far. IFG and I took the Quickflip III (108 lbs, I believe) down the hill and across the lake on Rockport by hand one time. Never again. Ain't no fish worth that. If I can't take my snowmobile, I'm probably not going! The bad thing about big shelters is they also have too much room for stuff! It's nothing for a man to load one up with toys and gear![/size][/black][/font]
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BLM-
What model did you go with. Those things look very, very slick! Also, do you have to buy their sled to set it up? Looks like one of those items I might be able to "add to" over the years, but initial packages are a bit steep. Still, I now I have a decision to make. Was leaning to the QFlip III, but those Otters sure look nice. [cool]
F4F
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P.S. Any idea why the "Wilderness" models are so cheap compared to the Pro Series? The large package deals are $300 difference. That's a amazing, what's worth the $300?
F4F
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i agre with u blm. if a machine cant go there is no sense in fishing how in the hell do you get the barbecue out with out a machine. let alone lanterns folding chairs and of course adult beveerages. i just cant imagine it.
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]I downsized from the QuickFlip III to an Otter Pro Series Medium Cabin on an Otter II medium sled. That QuickFlip III empty was 108 lbs! Put some gear in it and it took 4 guys to put it in the bed of the truck. The Otter Medium Cabin with sled is 60 lbs. Two guys can fish in it but I usually fish in it alone. I also have the swivel seat, rod holder, the cover, high speed runners, and snowmobile hitch and two guys can lift it easily.[/size][/black][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]They are not cheap. You buy the sled and the cabin separately. Add the hitch and cover, and chairs for 3 or 4 and you've made a significant investment. I know nothing about the wilderness series. I didn't like the design of the sled. Sorry I'm no help there.[/size][/black][/font]
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For anyone else looking into these, I think I'm going to go with the Otter Wilderness Northern package. Great size, package and only weighs 70 lbs. Thanks BLM for pointing out Otter. Didn't even know they existed! Another reason BFT rocks!!! [cool]
F4F
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Just to give a broader selection - I bought the Yukon two years ago and sense it's my first sled I thought I would give you the option to at least look at them --- Fish Tech & Cabelas sell them
This is the one I bought - [url "http://www.clamcorp.com/fishtrap_yukon.html"]http://www.clamcorp.com/fishtrap_yukon.html[/url]
Be sure to get the ski'es & cover if you're pulling it with a snowmobile.
Here is the main home page :
[url "http://www.clamcorp.com"]www.clamcorp.com[/url]
Good Luck and see you on the hard water....
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Here is the new setup- just couldn't take it anymore. Sorry it's in the house! LOL- Hope to pics of it in action on the ice Friday. 70 sq ft of pure bliss- 2 bucket seats and flips over. Otter flat ROCKS! Thanks BLM!
F4F
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