I have a larger vehicle, a Toyota LandCruiser and I’m taking the family to a rental hardside house on Lake Minnetonka shortly.
If it were just me, I would wear my Striker bibs, have the windows down and my picks and not worry on 13″, but with the wife and kids I’m wondering if we hoof it which would be a haul.
Guys what are your thoughts?
If it’s a rental why don’t they take you out?
@ almost 6000lbs 13″ would make me extremely nervous…..
I have been driving my Chev 2500 out on 14 no problems I usually like 20 to feel completely safe though also yeah it’s a rental have them take you out
Well it depends on the quality of ice, the weight of the vehicle, the temperature trends, and whether or not there’s been serious rains or melts recently, which can seep into ice sheets and weaken it.
I start thinking about driving on early season ice when it’s about 16″. Late season 16″ is much weaker after it’s melted down from 24″ or so.
fish or family???
If it was 13″ the entire way, there wouldn’t be a problem.
The problem is how much it varies along the way. Tough call.
18-20. I drive a ram 1500 and still would rather drive home than get a ride. I would hoof-it and enjoy some family excersize, not to mention the story your kids will have saying dad got mom to walk to the icehouse !
Minnetonka is notorious for springs and varying ice conditions as well…I would have the rental place take you out on an atv or just walk. No chance I am going to put my truck on Minnetonka. Just my $.02…
well, i took my 2 kids out on Phelps bay with my 2006 Durango and a utility trailer today. There was a solid 12″ of ice. The plan was to ride out on the quad but when the quad didnt start it was between going home or driving out. There were no less than 100 full size trucks with permanent shacks out there. Ultimately its your call. As far as springs in Tonka there are a few areas i would certainly avoid, like Halstead Bay and the middle of the lake beyond spirit island, but i wouldnt say tonka is notorious for springs. At least to my knowledge….
Perhaps my usage of the word notorious was a touch harsh. Minnetonka scares the life out of me, but I am sure if you know the lake it is fine. Good luck, and I hope you get into some good fish!
I walked it first – Then drove. Was 12-14″ but solid. Was Carsons Bay so I have about a decade under my belt on that part. Other areas would scare the $ out of me!
No ice is safe ice.
I walked it first – Then drove. Was 12-14″ but solid. Was Carsons Bay so I have about a decade under my belt on that part. Other areas would scare the $ out of me!
Doug, I applaud your effort in keeping your family safe!
In our area there are quite a few 1/2 pickups on 11-12″ of ice. I would not venture out on anything less than 12″ of good solid ice with a 1/2 ton. I drive a 2500HD 3/4 ton so with my truck must be 14″ of good solid ice. To many idiots that take to many risks especially when family is involved. IMHO
I always let a few others be the Guinea pigs. Generally, when the first people start driving out, I give it a few more days.
I feel pretty good on 15″. But, it’s not me that I’m worried about. You, like clockwork, always get the morons that come out with 3/4 ton truck pulling the 49′ grand castle, weaving between houses and vehicles within feet.
Also, the other night, I’m putzing off the lake on the main lake road, going about 15 mph (going fast on the ice is what causes problems), and some mouth-breathing idiot comes flying up behind me, and tailgates within 10 ft of me the whole way off the ice. Turned out, he declined to have chat at the landing when we arrived, go figure.
Another fun experience from this weekend: I’m parked on top of a prime spot at prime time. Just ice my first nice ‘eye, and the flasher starts lighting up as I’m putting a fresh head on. Just as the sun is about to set and I’m dropping back down, some clown pulls within 5 ft if my portable (not an exaggeration), and proceeds to walk about 20 yards to his buddies fishhouse, chats it up for about 30 min, all while leaving his wheeler running right over my holes.
There is no hope left for humanity. People just wander aimlessly, without so much as a minuscule spark of a neural transmitter working in their skull. It’s like if the zombies in the walking dead, instead of trying to eat people, we’re just huge narcissists and extremely rude.
Agreed on all counts. I wanted to check the ice first before putting a vehicle out there.
And we bugged out early too. When it gets dark and the bite slows down invariably some drunk idiot will be riding a wheeler too fast in the dark and I don’t need him running into one of my kids
1/7/2017…This is how we do it in MI..LOL. Seriously though the pilot made it out ok and was quoted in a later interview as saying “I figured the ice was safe because there were ice fishermen on the various lakes”….not too smart.
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/ice-thickness-safe-loads-d_1566.html
While I would add about 2 inches to almost everything on this list, it’s supposedly what’s safe. I’ve got a 1996 Silverado and I’m comfortable on anything over 12″ Just keep the doors unlocked and windows open and seat belts off. Listen to the ice as you drive. I do that just to be safe, it’s not going to hurt anyone being safe. Or wait till there’s more or bigger trucks on the lake.
12″ in Princeton area. my thoughts if your going to drive out drive out or park in parking lot. every year at this time people like to park on the edge by the landings. RIGHT NEXT TO EACHOTHER. Can’t believe they don’t think about all the extra weight being parked next to eachother. I’d rather park in the parking lot than drop my truck in 2 feet of water. does this drive anyone else crazy?
I always let a few others be the Guinea pigs. Generally, when the first people start driving out, I give it a few more days.
I feel pretty good on 15″. But, it’s not me that I’m worried about. You, like clockwork, always get the morons that come out with 3/4 ton truck pulling the 49′ grand castle, weaving between houses and vehicles within feet.
Also, the other night, I’m putzing off the lake on the main lake road, going about 15 mph (going fast on the ice is what causes problems), and some mouth-breathing idiot comes flying up behind me, and tailgates within 10 ft of me the whole way off the ice. Turned out, he declined to have chat at the landing when we arrived, go figure.
Another fun experience from this weekend: I’m parked on top of a prime spot at prime time. Just ice my first nice ‘eye, and the flasher starts lighting up as I’m putting a fresh head on. Just as the sun is about to set and I’m dropping back down, some clown pulls within 5 ft if my portable (not an exaggeration), and proceeds to walk about 20 yards to his buddies fishhouse, chats it up for about 30 min, all while leaving his wheeler running right over my holes.
There is no hope left for humanity. People just wander aimlessly, without so much as a minuscule spark of a neural transmitter working in their skull. It’s like if the zombies in the walking dead, instead of trying to eat people, we’re just huge narcissists and extremely rude.
15 mph is plenty fast on the ice. I wish people understood how much water one vehicle displaces beneath the ice while driving (even when it’s quite thick). Anything over 10 mph is asking for issues, and doesn’t change an arrival time by any significant amount.
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