Otter x-over cabin vs lodge

My girlfriend got me the Otter x-over Lodge flip over for Christmas this year. Love the unit but it sure is big…at least the sled. My biggest concern is pulling by hand earlier season and with the ever changing conditions here in northern lower MI, there may be plenty of times that the snow machine isn’t an option.

I’ve done a lot of reading about pulling this and the cabin and can’t quite get the right answer. I currently haven’t the lodge unboxed and considering downgrading to the cabin. I like the height of the lodge and the sled is great to fill gear but the sled may cause more issues when pulling. I’ll get the Hyfax and pull behind the snow machine when possible but 30-50% of the time will be by hand. And I’ll be by myself 60ish% of the time (she says she’ll go a lot but that’s never usually the case and my buddies will bring their own). I can load the sled no problem by myself without gear and the sled fits in the bed of my pickup tailgate closed. I would have to take some bigger items out to load it if it was full of gear. Unlike many other posts I’ve been reading, I 100% plan on building a smitty sled right from the get go to get some clearance over the snow and hopefully pull easier.

My questions/concerns are…
How much easier will the unit pull with the smitty sled? This will make surface area on snow covered ice EQUAL between the two (lodge vs cabin) versus the much larger surface area of the lodge sled.
How much is the weight difference going to be noticed? Since both will be on smitty sleds, there is only 25lbs difference between the lodge and cabin.
I’ve never had a flip over and never had to unload the gear to load the sled, it was always manageable. How big of a pain is this? (it will probably have to happen to some extent with either since they are only 25lbs difference; either will have a cover)
I have a couple buddies that have their own gear but may be up to tagging along if a nice big shanty was available. This would just reduce the amount of solo trips. There may also be some times where we have 3 people in the shack. I just want to make the smartest choice. Not looking to buy a shanty for someone else’s needs (other than the gf) so want what’s best for me (and her when she goes). Looking for opinions and advice since I have 2 days to decide.

Thanks

Honestly, I would consider going with another lighter brand. I firmly believe that Otter flipovers should be reserved just for the guys who are pulling them by sled or ATV the majority of the time. In your mixed use case, and especially since you will be by yourself much of the time, Otter is going to be too heavy.

You go with Otter for the durability of the sled as it pounds across miles of ice. Which is a complete drawback when manually pulling it. You are going to end up hating the thing very quickly. Even if you go down to the Cabin.

I have a Lodge and Hideout. If there is much snow on the ice, you won’t want to pull it by hand if it’s fully loaded with gear. On ice or light snow, not a problem at all.

Lots of room, warm, heavy duty. It’s a great shelter, just heavy.

I had a ’15 Double Cab Sierra and now have a ’19 Double Cab Silverado with 6’6″ box. Fits in there perfect with the tailgate closed. I usually prop the sled on the tailgate and climb up and lift it from above. Easier with 2 people, but not impossible by myself.

Taylor,

Congrats on the Lodge! I’ve lived your story! I have the X-Pro Lodge which I LOVE to fish out of! If you mostly pull behind the snow machine keep the lodge. You absolutely need a smitty sled, because without the smitty sled your gonna need 911 on your speed dial regardless if your pulling a lodge or cabin. Build yourself a good smitty sled (put eye bolts on the side to tie everything down AND frame in some kind of wedges on the sides of the Otter to keep it from shifting. I have pulled my lodge, auger, Big Buddy, Otter case, tackle (and more) all behind 8″ of fresh snow and it’s doable. Without the smitty it’s 10 yards and start hitting the speed dial. If the snow is packed down I can literally pull it with one finger. There is not much difference in surface area between the cabin 38″ wide vs Lodge 40″ wide. Now put the shack up on a Smitty and your down to maybe 6″. It’s night and day.
I also have a Otter Hub that I will take out if walking and I’m looking to go super light, maybe short on time. But I’ll still throw the hub on a sled which then sits on the smitty. If you know you’re gonna be fishing solo on a specific day AND you have to walk a significant distance, I’d look at getting a cheap 1-man. Not because it’s not doable, it’s a lot of work just loading and unloading the equipment. If you’re pulling by hand pack only what you need (small heater, 1′ propane bottles, etc.) and when you can pull the otter with your machine bring it all, because you’ll love it.

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Andy Fischer wrote:

I have a Lodge and Hideout. If there is much snow on the ice, you won’t want to pull it by hand if it’s fully loaded with gear. On ice or light snow, not a problem at all.

Lots of room, warm, heavy duty. It’s a great shelter, just heavy.

I had a ’15 Double Cab Sierra and now have a ’19 Double Cab Silverado with 6’6″ box. Fits in there perfect with the tailgate closed. I usually prop the sled on the tailgate and climb up and lift it from above. Easier with 2 people, but not impossible by myself.

When you refer to pulling it, or not wanting to pull it when there’s snow, are you talking just the sled or on skis/smitty sled? I’m curious how much more manageable this will make pulling it.

And also if both are on smitty sleds, how much different they will pull since the surface area is the same, the 25lbs weight difference being the only main difference?

Mark J. wrote:

Taylor,

Congrats on the Lodge! I’ve lived your story! I have the X-Pro Lodge which I LOVE to fish out of! If you mostly pull behind the snow machine keep the lodge. You absolutely need a smitty sled, because without the smitty sled your gonna need 911 on your speed dial regardless if your pulling a lodge or cabin. Build yourself a good smitty sled (put eye bolts on the side to tie everything down AND frame in some kind of wedges on the sides of the Otter to keep it from shifting. I have pulled my lodge, auger, Big Buddy, Otter case, tackle (and more) all behind 8″ of fresh snow and it’s doable. Without the smitty it’s 10 yards and start hitting the speed dial. If the snow is packed down I can literally pull it with one finger. There is not much difference in surface area between the cabin 38″ wide vs Lodge 40″ wide. Now put the shack up on a Smitty and your down to maybe 6″. It’s night and day.
I also have a Otter Hub that I will take out if walking and I’m looking to go super light, maybe short on time. But I’ll still throw the hub on a sled which then sits on the smitty. If you know you’re gonna be fishing solo on a specific day AND you have to walk a significant distance, I’d look at getting a cheap 1-man. Not because it’s not doable, it’s a lot of work just loading and unloading the equipment. If you’re pulling by hand pack only what you need (small heater, 1′ propane bottles, etc.) and when you can pull the otter with your machine bring it all, because you’ll love it.

Mark I really appreciate the input and pictures. Helps a lot. At this point to give it a shot and make the girlfriend happy I’d like to stick to the Otter cabin or lodge this year. If I decide I need a lighter option if I’m going by myself all the time or then I’ll sell and/or get a hub for next year. It’s a tough call, would you stick with the lodge or shed a little weight and opt for the cabin?

The other thing being, I have access to a family members snowmobile but waiting for them to cave so I can buy it off them (it’s sat or 3 years). Even then I don’t have a trailer when I go further than a couple miles from the house. I go with my brother in law a lot and he has a snowmobile with good access to other lakes. Could always tow behind his sled pulling two, but what might turn out to be the easiest most of the time is just walking as a lot of other buddies don’t have snowmobiles or atv’s. I know the lodge is bigger but if the difference pulling by hand is minimal on a smitty sled, maybe it’s not worth losing the space, then again maybe I don’t need the space if it’s me most of the time and the girlfriend when I can talk her into it.
Thanks

Taylor wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Andy Fischer wrote:</div>
I have a Lodge and Hideout. If there is much snow on the ice, you won’t want to pull it by hand if it’s fully loaded with gear. On ice or light snow, not a problem at all.

Lots of room, warm, heavy duty. It’s a great shelter, just heavy.

I had a ’15 Double Cab Sierra and now have a ’19 Double Cab Silverado with 6’6″ box. Fits in there perfect with the tailgate closed. I usually prop the sled on the tailgate and climb up and lift it from above. Easier with 2 people, but not impossible by myself.

When you refer to pulling it, or not wanting to pull it when there’s snow, are you talking just the sled or on skis/smitty sled? I’m curious how much more manageable this will make pulling it.

And also if both are on smitty sleds, how much different they will pull since the surface area is the same, the 25lbs weight difference being the only main difference?

I don’t have skis or smitty. If you’re pulling by hand and there is snow, you’ll want to go that route for sure.

Taylor,

I’m also in the market for something (UTV, ATV or sled) to pull my lodge with. Most of the time I’ve driven my truck out on the lakes. I’ve always been comfortable fishing out of a lodge. Something feels right about the 30 square feet when you have a 2nd person, heater 2 holes each etc. Now for a single person, I’ve actually seen people overnight in a lodge. Place a cot on one side and fish out of the other. The lodge or cabin are 2 man shelters. To answer your question, no I’ve never been one to downsize my shelters. Heat it up, hang up the jacket and fish. I once had a Frabill insulated 3 man flip over and decided to trade it for a hub. The next year I fished lake Waubay in SD, it was like -25° without the wind chill. Every time I had to move that hub I was thinking about how much easier it was with a flip over. Hook the flip over to the back of the truck (with gear in shelter) and drive vs fold up hub and throw it (and gear) in the back of the truck. There are benefits to both hub and flip over. My advice to you is get some transportation, ATV, UTV, Snowmobile, Snowdog, and a way to haul it. If you’re serious about ice fishing, you have to make the commitment to be self sufficient, that includes transportation! What good is having the time off to fish, but you can’t because your buddy with the sled or trailer is working. When I was young, the old timers would always say “Smarter not Harder”. I remembered this phrase when I tried pulling the Lodge through the snow without the smitty. Just keep getting “Smarter” and the play time gets easier!

Mark

Mark J. wrote:

Taylor,

I’m also in the market for something (UTV, ATV or sled) to pull my lodge with. Most of the time I’ve driven my truck out on the lakes. I’ve always been comfortable fishing out of a lodge. Something feels right about the 30 square feet when you have a 2nd person, heater 2 holes each etc. Now for a single person, I’ve actually seen people overnight in a lodge. Place a cot on one side and fish out of the other. The lodge or cabin are 2 man shelters. To answer your question, no I’ve never been one to downsize my shelters. Heat it up, hang up the jacket and fish. I once had a Frabill insulated 3 man flip over and decided to trade it for a hub. The next year I fished lake Waubay in SD, it was like -25° without the wind chill. Every time I had to move that hub I was thinking about how much easier it was with a flip over. Hook the flip over to the back of the truck (with gear in shelter) and drive vs fold up hub and throw it (and gear) in the back of the truck. There are benefits to both hub and flip over. My advice to you is get some transportation, ATV, UTV, Snowmobile, Snowdog, and a way to haul it. If you’re serious about ice fishing, you have to make the commitment to be self sufficient, that includes transportation! What good is having the time off to fish, but you can’t because your buddy with the sled or trailer is working. When I was young, the old timers would always say “Smarter not Harder”. I remembered this phrase when I tried pulling the Lodge through the snow without the smitty. Just keep getting “Smarter” and the play time gets easier!

Mark

Thanks again. Definitely will be getting a snow machine soon. There are plenty of lakes where it’s also not worth it but then again the walk is that much shorter. As for driving the truck on the ice, doesn’t happen much around here so the best we get is atv or snow machine. We don’t get the cold temps here in northern lower MI like you guys get out west. Sounds like either is a great choice. A lot of people suggesting I downsize. Just trying to make the choice I’ll be happiest with.

I own a Cabin and it will tightly fit into my short box pickup tailgate closed. Good if your drivenis long on slushy roads..
Three of us in my cabin is tight for sure. Good luck pulling either one on snow without a motor! I fish with my 12 year old mostly and that is good in the cabin for sapce. Besides, it gets heavy loading and unloading by myself!

How many days are between 2″-3″ of walkable ice and 5″ of machine drivable ice?

queenswake wrote:

Honestly, I would consider going with another lighter brand. I firmly believe that Otter flipovers should be reserved just for the guys who are pulling them by sled or ATV the majority of the time. In your mixed use case, and especially since you will be by yourself much of the time, Otter is going to be too heavy.

You go with Otter for the durability of the sled as it pounds across miles of ice. Which is a complete drawback when manually pulling it. You are going to end up hating the thing very quickly. Even if you go down to the Cabin.

Looking at the shelters in the Otter Cabin size class, they’re all similar weight. The Clam Yukon XL is 104lbs, the Eskimo Eskape 2600 is 115lbs, and the Pro X-Over Cabin is 103lbs. The Clam Nanook is a fair bit lighter, but it isn’t a direct comparison because it has a much shallower tub.

I have a cottage, yup almost had an heart attack walking two miles last night lol.

Smitty Sled will help out, but yeah you need to have way to pull them out.

Keep the otter and buy a 2nd hand 1man flip over. DK