My enclosed trailer fish house

I thought I would make a post about the trailer i kind of set up for ice fishing, camping. Still a work in progress but mostly done.
For some time I searched and searched for anything to help this idea I had of using an enclosed trailer for ice fishing. Like countless others, I couldn’t justify dropping 10k on an ice castle styled shack that I’d only use for fishing and maybe camping. I really didn’t trust the toy models for hauling utv, snowmobiles long distances. Had countless friends have the axles bend on their ice castles and costly repairs. I read some posts about enclosed trailers but never seen photos or detailed builds. So here I go…
I ended up finding a almost new 7×12 and 7ft tall h&h trailer with single axle (less tires to remove) that a guy already insulated, installed ceiling exhaust fan and put 2 windows in (tinted but let just enough light in. I’ll add a 3rd window for more light this summer) and ran electric wires through. All the hardest worn done! Awesome. He used 3/4 foam in the walls, and ceiling and ran an extra layer 3/4 in ceiling. In the walls he ran 1/4 fan fold insulation for separate wall from steel studs. This works very well and the only ice build up I had was on a few screws when it got 0* temps. He also run some rubber coin flooring that was glued down using floor glue. The back drop door was starting to separate with just glue, so I had to place a few washer head screws to hold it tight otherwise it would flop down… I added 2 inches foam board to the entire floor secured with foam glue and 2 1/2 screws with that plastic washer on. I purchased catch covers and installed them in very back corner measuring about 1 inch from frame side and 2 from rear cross brace. I cut out a cardboard template and drilled 3 reference holes from bottom and brought template inside and used jigsaw to cut holes for catch covers. Then same for middle, about 5 ft from rear holes. Beware of the axle here! Now the front I sucked up as close as I could from the v brace the trailer tongue comes back into frame. They ended up being about 8 inches from side wall, and just back from where the v front starts. Not too bad I thought. There was a top cabinet already made so I just dropped that to the floor for now. I plan on making a slightly larger front cabinet with a side door on each side and 4 slide out drawers in center. The top shelf will get 2 doors also in future. I’ll break this post up into a few sections… bare with me

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There is x tracking along the side for tie downs that is 4ft from floor. I modified some rattle reels onto a loop tie down that simply removed the ring and used a bolt to fasted to the x track mount. The front ones I used rattle reels with larger arm so they are centered in holes.

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I installed a bunk in the rear for stretching out on using two 3/4″ black steel pipe and heavy duty painter’s drop canvas. 6x9ft that was folded in half 3×9 now and sewn together. I’m 200lbs and 2 kids added up to 260 held us all just fine. Now I used some lumber brackets for the x track to hold the pipe frame in place. I can move anywhere the x track allows and can set tension a little bit this way too simply placing brackets closer or farther apart. The best part is I can simply remove the front pipe and place it on top of rear pipe making it totally out of the way for more floor space. You can also use the back corner rattle reels as the canvas sets just next to them while set up! The x track is long enough to put 2 bunk sets like this on and is believe plenty strong for holding 2 people. Another idea I had was cutting a 2×4 for each end, placing them far enough apart and run 2 bunks side by side lengthways for double bunk. Should still be able to use rattle reels in back corner but dont think the middle ones would work… I’ll probably take out the old car bench too and get a futon for another bed/seating…

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Now for fishing I just simply take the rims off and let the leaf springs sit on a 2×4 on ice. The front tongue jack I set on a 2×4 and lower it completely down and the trailer seems to be perfectly level. I just use a handyman jack on each back corner and impact drill to take the lugnuts off. Takes maybe 5 minutes to unhook from truck/atv and set down for fishing…
From the floor to water is about a foot. Not ideal, but I’ve caught plenty of nice walleye and pike with zero issues being 12″ off water line. We’ve had enough snow so I haven’t had any issues banking the outside with snow, but would probably invest in hole sleeves if there wasn’t. Drilling a bunch of holes for ice clippings sounds just exhausting! It’s about 6-7 inches from ice to trailer side for banking up.
Now I’ve been a little scared having the axles set so close to ice for flooding and then freezing down, but I’ve been pretty lucky that hasn’t happened… yet. Once I’ve had it flood and the leaf springs were covered in ice, but a minute of chopping with chisel with added pressure from front jack and it popped right loose.
The jack stores very nicely in front cabinet next to the battery. I use a small bungee to secure it is all.
I purchased a 5 watt solar charger and hooked that up to battery so I’d never run out of light. Honestly I would go bigger if you fish alot at night… I’ve never had to take battery out and charge, but I dont fish much after dark and maybe 2-3 times a week and have led lights.

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Nice job on the build so far! I was thinking about making my own 8×16’ like that with a enclosed trailer but after I got adding up everything it gets costly and ended up just buying a wheelhouse

For heat I use a 20k btu wall heater. I also installed a carbon monoxide sensor that has never went off for 4 tanks of propane. There are two 2″ or 3″ wall vents in trailer that first builder kept open so theres plenty of air flow, but you never know, one can get plugged up with ice or snow! Safety first people!
I fished in the -30 temps and turned heat up to 3 out of 5 on settings. Usually it’s at 2. So it has plenty of insulation for extreme weather.
I really hope this post can help someone out in any way! I’ve spent countless hours searching ideas about using a enclosed trailer for fishing with little feedback.

Very cool. Thanks for sharing.

Yea it does add up! Ive spent about $7,000 total on this. A little more than I wanted I admit. Trailer was basically new, but if a guy could find a used one, that would cut price quite a bit. I had alot of trouble finding a 7×12 single axle with the extra tall roof for this.
What really made me build this vs drop down ice house is how many different ways I can use this. Hopefully I can load it up with snowmobiles for a weekend trip or atvs for summer playing. Load up the kayaks for a weekend fun with the family… I plan on using a spare catch cover and cut holes in it to vent out a portable air conditioner unit as its wired for this to beat the heat!

I had a 6×12 enclosed trailer I insulated and use to camp in. I had a portable ac in mine also. I recommend if you put a portable ac in it then get one with the 2 pipe system. One is exhaust and one is the intake. I had a single pipe system and it sucked. It wouldn’t keep it cool because it sucked all the hot outside air in the trailer.

Coletrain27 wrote:

I had a 6×12 enclosed trailer I insulated and use to camp in. I had a portable ac in mine also. I recommend if you put a portable ac in it then get one with the 2 pipe system. One is exhaust and one is the intake. I had a single pipe system and it sucked. It wouldn’t keep it cool because it sucked all the hot outside air in the trailer.

That would suck. I have one I used in our first house that seemed to work ok. I’ll keep this in mind if my current one doesnt work. Thanks

Nice build.sounds like a lot invested. I built the same size haulmark with 2 doors in back and 1 on side for easy in and out, I do load 4 wheeler just drive in. had a fab shop put drop axle in and drop tongue for 800.00 I put in 4 holes 4 Windows and cut in a roof vent, powered of my truck battery with a ext. cord. But I bought a generator so gonna rewire. I insulated everything and been out in -40 I have 3200 into mine will try to add pictures soon

Thanks for sharing. Very clean build. I agree that the danger here is that if a guy wants to do more than just a shell, it starts adding up and pretty soon you’re not far away from just getting a wheelhouse. Just doing the blown-in insulation alone is a pretty penny.

Where do you find windows?

That is a great build You should be proud of your creativity and I hope it helps others with the same idea and you helped in many ways.

The way it’s insulated. Bet the heater doesn’t run much. I heat my 2-car garage with the 30k model. It takes the garage from 45 to t-shirt in about half an hour. The way you have it sealed. I would look at a small vented heated. Like in a foldout camper. C.M. detectors are manmade, and it would only take one malfunction. Don’t mean to be a critic, but you mention the kids sleeping in it. Other than that, everything looks top notch!! Remember. Only seatbelt reminder bell in your vehicle works flawlessly forever.

Great looking build. Thanks for sharing. I could never imagine throwing the money at wheelhouses that some people do given the lack of mobility and ever shortening ice seasons. Something that is more open and could serve as a covered trailer for a majority of the year is intriguing.

I’m with Steven, direct vent heaters are the safe way to go. No moisture buildup, no headaches, no CO2 poisoning.

Nice job. Thanks for sharing and welcome to IDO.

This is what I did on a 16 ft. Purchased a RV window replacement kit with the clear glass and a shade for the door. Posted pictures but not sure if will come through

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Really nice for a DIY job!!!

Looks like a CORE.

Wow. That is really nice. Almost too nice to fish in.