I have a 6.5 x 10 skid house. Looking for ideas on how everyone is loading/unloading quickly to make transporting it easier between lakes. Currently takes me 30 minutes to load and tie down. Unloading is an easy as I currently have a 22’ flatbed and winch the skid house in and back my 4 wheeler up to it, pull forward drop the hitch and drive off. Need an easier idea for loading. Interested in possibly a bigger trailer and a side by side.
Front winch on trailer. Winch it right up.
Depending on what your trailer flooring is it helps to have plastic down on both the skid and the flooring. I have a 80″ wide x 13′ long x 1200lb aluminum skid house that I can physically push on the trailer by hand. You won’t move it uphill but you could push it off and side to side if you wish. Otherwise a front winch like Bearcat had mentioned is a fairly simple add on. I also drive mine on and back it off while hitched up with my sxs but I have a 24′ trailer and use every available ” of it.
I do have a winch up front and currently winch it up backwards so I can just hook up and pull it off but it takes a while ti do all of that. I’m leaning towards a big trailer curious how it is backing it off while connected?
Maybe post a pic of your setup. Might help getting the creative juices flowing.
The last thing I think of for a skid house is quick and easy…
Maybe post a pic of your setup. Might help getting the creative juices flowing.
Agree, need more information about trailer setup.
The last thing I think of for a skid house is quick and easy…
Yes, the IDO Solution is simple. Ditch the skid house and drop 70k on an ice castle. Problem solved the IDO way–massive overkill.
To be fair Grouse he is already leaning the IDO way. 
“Need an easier idea for loading. Interested in possibly a bigger trailer and a side by side.“
Ambush skid houses has a YouTube channel with a video showing a few options. Slightly jackknifing the trailer and using a strap tied off to your atv or SxS to pull it onto the trailer may be faster than a winch.
Since your willing to buy a new trailer, Why not buy a drop down frame and mount your skid house to it.
I’m leaning towards a big trailer curious how it is backing it off while connected?
I can drive mine up and off the trailer in 30 seconds so that’s not an issue. As long as you have guides on the trailer and ramps everything stays aligned just fine.
The biggest hassle is strapping everything down once it’s all loaded.
Bottom line is that big heavy skid houses are absolutely horrible unless you live on a lake pull it out once and pull it in once. I used to have an 8 x 12 with huge 5 x 6 white oaks skids on it, plywood on the sides, he whole works. If you’re trying to use a skid house like a portable or a small aluminum, or a wheelhouse it just plain doesn’t work. How heavy is your house?
What material is the skid house made of? Is this a old fashion wood constructed or is it a all aluminum skid house?
Having to strap it down will not change with a larger trailer or going to a SxS. Having good attachment points and straps that are a specific length for a specific tie down point will make things a little faster.
Do you have tie down points on the skids of the house? Does your trailer have specific welded or bolted on tie down rings or hoops to connect the strap to?
I don’t see the logic of using a skid house to go from lake to lake. If it’s early ice you want get a SXS and a nice portable and a small wheelhouse to use after that if you want more room and comfort. I have been causally looking at skid houses as I have lake property. We are not year around but a skid house would still allow me to go there when I had the urge and do some fishing. I already own a SXS that will pull it or a small wheel house easily. I also want to use it as a bunk or guest house in the summer. So that means a 8X12 most likely. It also means a somewhat decent finished interior.
Pro Fab and Artic Fox skids just have stupid prices on them. I have been looking at used stuff. I have seen some nice smaller custom wheel houses around 10K. I have also seen some used skid houses that people have turned into dumpsters. It’s amazing some of the pictures people post of stuff they want to sell. Literally floor to ceiling junk thrown inside. The more I look and see what value for price brings between skid and wheel houses I’m pushed more towards a small wheel house.
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