I’ve been looking everywhere the past two weeks I would say; more so now that it has warmed up and we are getting this “winter storm” here in Minnesota. How much ice (or little) is recommended for a GMC 1500 pulling a 8×16 wheel house on the lake? I’ve heard anywhere from 12 to 16 for a minimum. I’m just trying to be as safe as I can be. We are renting the wheel house. Thanks!
What lake do you plan on going to? if your using a plowed road at a resort they will be able to tell you.
I would go through a resort. They know the ice conditions better then anyone. Of course this depends on where you want to go. We were on mille lacs last week and we were on about 13″ of ice with half ton and single axle house but we were through a resort. I wouldnt just go driving around, especially this year. Ice conditions are all over the place.
DNR recommendations
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Option 1: as recommended use a resort and their maintained roads. Follow any advice given.
Option 2: Check ice before driving every so often. That could mean having someone walk in front drilling holes and actually measuring. The number people are comfortable with varies from person to person.
The DNR guidelines say 12-15″ of good black ice for half ton without a wheelhouse. what that really means is the minimum, just because it’s enough in one spot doesn’t mean that 50 or 100 yards away.
Some guys are okay pulling your load on 12″, some not so much. Personally I want to see closer to 15″ as it’s just not worth it to me from a risk perspective. The money and stuff is one thing, going for a swim yet another.
Where are thinking about going?
I think 13″ of good ice is technically fine, the problem is when that becomes 7″ without knowing it. I think that is why a lot of people say to go out of a resort. They are always checking the ice conditions as well as active cracks. I think the $30 they charge for a weekend is not a bad deal
Going out on big sandy. I was up there on Saturday before this little stretch of warm weather. It was between 12 and 16 inches on this bay. The spot we picked out was about 15.
There isn’t a resort that I am aware, but there could be lol.
Is the weight of a half ton pickup and a 5500lb single axel wheel house going to be fine on 15, 16 inches of ice?
You should be fine, with no resort checking it in multiple spots for days watching it no one is going to tell you your safe.
I actually do this for my clients all the time. I check the ice on snowmobile. Drill check, drill check the whole way. Then I drive the area with my truck.
Only then do I feel comfortable leading someone to a fishing spot with their truck and house. I charge for my knowledge and the “safest” travel possible to the fishing spot.
Its a win win for me and my clients. They flip me some money to keep my truck and snowmobile full of gas and they get out safely with their wheel house.
To answer the OP: I saw a one ton and tandem house drive on less than 9″. It was no problem at all. Do I recommend this?? Heck no!
I’d drive your set up on 13″ all day though. Good luck!
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