Towing all the toys

I have recently purchased an Ice castle 8×16. I want to be able to bring my atv and portable.I plan on putting the atv in the bed of the truck, but not sure where I am going to put my otter xt pro resort. Anyone have any ideas on where to store it? Thought about making a roof rack for the trailer. Anyone else run into this problem?

Have a hitch welded to the back end of the ice house and buy a hitch extender to strap the house to. I would imagine the frame on the Ice Castles would need to be beefed up a bit back there, as they aren’t the strongest, nor do they need to be unless doing this. I have seen it on a few ice houses in the past. It’ll get hit with road salt and slush, so cover it.

I have a toy hauler, so the portable sits inside the house and the ATV goes in the bed.

The portable will fit in the front door of the Ice Castle when set on its side. I’ve been in a 8×16′ and I think it would work fine. This would allow you to get it to the destination, but wouldn’t address the issues of needing to keep the Otter safe and free of theft while spending time in the Ice Castle.

Can you leave the tailgate down and strap it to that? i have never had to tow a ice castle so i would have to keep in mind turning with the tailgate down (if it can even be down)

Ill have to give it a try im picking up the Ice castle later this week

I once saw a truck pulling a 16 foot ice castle with a ranger on a trailer behind it so it can be done

Only a fifth wheel can be used as a middle trailer in MN

I would imagine that adding a receiver hitch tube to your rear of the IC and using a hitch rack would be your best bet, provided you don’t have a bay window.
Some other options, I guess…

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I’d opt for the cab over rack. The wheeler racks would be fine for hauling the sled, but I’d be hesitant to drive a wheeler up or down a ramp with 145 pounds hanging off the back. I’d be spooked I’d flip it.

I have a similar set up. The best thing I can come up with is to switch to a hub style shack and an otter sled, instead of the flip over. The hub is easier to throw in the shack and it is nice to have along in case the wind is blowing the snow around and you need a place to put the generator so it doesn’t suck in snow. We have also had to put the hub over the Ranger with the heater to get it to start.

Jake D wrote:

I once saw a truck pulling a 16 foot ice castle with a ranger on a trailer behind it so it can be done

As I understand it, bumper to bumper to bumper towing in tandem like this is not legal. it has to be gooseneck to bumper.

My Firebrand has a rear ramp door and the ATV goes in there where it’s protected from the elements like salt and the otter goes in the bed of the pickup.

To be honest, I had the same dream when I bought an ice castle. That vision was soon derailed when I made my first weekend trip with it and realized the shear pleasure of sipping baileys and cooking a snack while jigging from my couch in my pajamas. As it ended up, we did many a 4 day trip without ever getting out of our fleece pants and you wouldn’t have been able to convince me to leave that level of comfort to fish out of a portable….. ymmv.

FWIW, I no longer have a wheelhouse, and catch more fish away from the crowd in a portable, but if I go with a friend in a wheelhouse, it is a beer drinking, lounging style of fishing.

Both styles have their merits!

Do not put the tailgate down. You will be replacing it if you do. If you doubt it go ahead and price out a tailgate plus paint and see if you still want to try it.