Glacier ice house’s

Anyone have one or much experience with them? Looking at maybe buying a 16’ or maybe a 17’ I don’t want a shower or running water in it. Would be used for ice fishing and camping in the summer. Would be 3 people fishing in it most the time.

I’ve been also looking at ice castles but the reviews I’ve heard and read of the axle problems and craftsmanship has kind of turned me off from them. Although I know 70-80% of wheelhouses at lotw every year are ice castles.

I don’t want to spend 30+k on a yetti or something comparable vs. a steel frame.

Any help or suggestions would be great, thanks!

We sold our 2016 IC this past summer and are holding off alittle bit but have been looking at Glaciers and even the grey wolfs.
If you go to a IC, I would be sure to get one with the GS frame (2018+) as those are supposed to be better built-according to the local welder (I had do 2 alignments on my 2016 before selling it). He also did say that the Glacier axles would have the same issues but, he did mention their shop hadnt had any 2018+ come in their shop in regards to both brands.
It looked like most of the glaciers i’ve seen have the same hole layout and similar interior. I would go back to a IC or take a deeper look into the glaciers if the price was similar but they seem to be 2-3k more.
the used fish house market is crazy, in that alot of guys are trying to get top dollar on them vs looking at what a brand new one goes for

Thanks for the info. I’ve been searching for a while now and a lot of the used ones are insanely price compared to buying a brand new one.

I bought a fire brand a few years back its a 6.5 x 14. Aluminum frame , pulls great i fish 3 out of it comfortably. Or 2 adults 2 kids. No bathroom no shower no sink. All electric jacks. Very nicely made

Coletrain27 wrote:

Thanks for the info. I’ve been searching for a while now and a lot of the used ones are insanely price compared to buying a brand new one.

I bought a new IC 3 years ago and was amazed also about price of a new one compared to a used one. But I look at mine and its in great shape any small scratches could be sanded out everything else works like new. So now I know why used ones are expensive. I got a 14′ and wished a would have got a 16′

I’ve been looking at a couple 2020 glacier 16RD models with the lift bed in the back. The bigger lift bed in the back would be a nice thing I think. The 2021 glaciers are like 2-3k more for the exact same thing besides a year newer from what I’ve found.

Bearcat89 wrote:

I bought a fire brand a few years back its a 6.5 x 14. Aluminum frame , pulls great i fish 3 out of it comfortably. Or 2 adults 2 kids. No bathroom no shower no sink. All electric jacks. Very nicely made

Those do look like a nice shack. but I would want a 8×16. A 6.5×14 would just be a little too tight with my brother and dad all weekend cramed in there. A 8×16 with AC gets pretty spendy

buck-slayer wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Coletrain27 wrote:</div>
Thanks for the info. I’ve been searching for a while now and a lot of the used ones are insanely price compared to buying a brand new one.

I bought a new IC 3 years ago and was amazed also about price of a new one compared to a used one. But I look at mine and its in great shape any small scratches could be sanded out everything else works like new. So now I know why used ones are expensive. I got a 14′ and wished a would have got a 16′

What model did you get? Do you have a lift bed in the rear? And how user friendly are the smaller bunks for adults?

Might not be the right place for this but… I have a 2016 16′ x 8′ I think I’m selling. The wife would like a 21’🙄. I really like the size of the 16′ though. Perfect for a few guys but we have 3 kids so I guess we need a 21′.

I put a samsung tv in and inverter. I can run off a deep cycle battery and no generator nearly all weekend. I also added a bunch of outlets. All LED lighting, rubber coated frame, AC, directional tv antenna (we get 40 some channels), spray foamed walls and floor. House is ready to fish.

Its like new only way cheaper. I want $16,500 with everything.

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Coletrain27 wrote:

What model did you get? Do you have a lift bed in the rear? And how user friendly are the smaller bunks for adults?

I’m 6’4″ and have slept on the smaller bunks in our I/C, they work just fine for a few nights at a time.

Coletrain27 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>buck-slayer wrote:</div>

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Coletrain27 wrote:</div>
Thanks for the info. I’ve been searching for a while now and a lot of the used ones are insanely price compared to buying a brand new one.

I bought a new IC 3 years ago and was amazed also about price of a new one compared to a used one. But I look at mine and its in great shape any small scratches could be sanded out everything else works like new. So now I know why used ones are expensive. I got a 14′ and wished a would have got a 16′

What model did you get? Do you have a lift bed in the rear? And how user friendly are the smaller bunks for adults?

I got the Stinger 14′-6″ x 6′ 6″
Have bunk beds, top on hinges to put up when not in yes but rigged up bottom to make it double bed when wife comes along 😁

I bought a 8X16 home brew a couple years ago. I fish by myself a lot because I’m retired. When buddies show up to fish for the weekend we park in a group but I’m usually fishing alone in my house but we walk back and forth between houses for beers. I wouldn’t go narrower than 8′ feet wide. My 8X16 feels bigger than a 6.5X21 IC That extra width does more than extra length imo.

After I spend hours in my 8 foot wide and walk into a 6.5 it feels so cramped. There are some small independent guys out there building some very quality houses for the same or cheaper in price as the big manufacturers. Plus they will customize anything you want and you get better quality. Do a little searching you will find them. Personally that’s what I would do.

Coletrain27 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Bearcat89 wrote:</div>
I bought a fire brand a few years back its a 6.5 x 14. Aluminum frame , pulls great i fish 3 out of it comfortably. Or 2 adults 2 kids. No bathroom no shower no sink. All electric jacks. Very nicely made

Those do look like a nice shack. but I would want a 8×16. A 6.5×14 would just be a little too tight with my brother and dad all weekend cramed in there. A 8×16 with AC gets pretty spendy

oh yeah i hear you. I was just giving you my opinion on another brand. I have never been in a grey wolf, nor glacier

Ice Cap wrote:

I bought a 8X16 home brew a couple years ago. I fish by myself a lot because I’m retired. When buddies show up to fish for the weekend we park in a group but I’m usually fishing alone in my house but we walk back and forth between houses for beers. I wouldn’t go narrower than 8′ feet wide. My 8X16 feels bigger than a 6.5X21 IC That extra width does more than extra length imo.

After I spend hours in my 8 foot wide and walk into a 6.5 it feels so cramped. There are some small independent guys out there building some very quality houses for the same or cheaper in price as the big manufacturers. Plus they will customize anything you want and you get better quality. Do a little searching you will find them. Personally that’s what I would do.

Who makes a 6.5×21?

I have a 6.5×14 Glacier. Overall i’ve been fairly happy with the house.

The fit and finish of Glacier’s interior work is fantastic. You can tell they take pride in their cabinet craftsmanship etc.

Their frame finishing could use some work however. The house is washed after every outing and stored in a heated garage, and I already have rust in multiple spots after 1 year of ownership. A few spots look like paint was missed entirely.

My next house will either be aluminum or have a galvanized frame to reduce/avoid rusting issues.

I agree the fit and finish of the wood inside seems to be nice quality and the cabinets are nice quality also.

As far as the frame I figured if I get any bad spots I’ll just use some rust oleum brush on paint or aerosol bed liner paint on them. That’s what I’ve always used on my trailers.

I’d give a new Ice Castle a look as well. I know they’ve had issues in the past but the fit and finish seems much better now than some of the older houses i’ve been in.

GS gave IC a good frame and that eliminated one major problem but the rest is still well below average.