I have looked through a ton of posts, but cannot seem to find an answer to this. Has anyone bought their wheelhouse at any of the ice fishing expos? is it like buying a boat at the boat show where you can get a better deal? looking at getting one, but was wondering if it is worth it to wait until next December, or try to find a “year end” deal.
I’ve seen 5 or 6 different dealers advertising sales on facebook over the past week or so, might be worth calling around and asking.
Not sure what brand your looking at but I saw the other day Smokey hills had a video on YouTube saying $1000 off all ice castles in stock right now.
End of year is better time to buy. Buying in the beginning wont be as good from what I found.
Heard that steel prices will be rising again due to corona virus. I’d be willing to bet prices will jump again this year on fish houses.
Always better in the spring!
spring is better as dealers don’t want to store older models to make room for new. Also many used show up so people don’t have to store in summer or custom build over summer.
With a year like this one, last year wasn’t much better, I can’t believe 1/2 the people on here aren’t ready to dump their big houses. This spring has to be the best time ever to buy, especially with the smaller manufacturers that can’t afford to hold too many over till next year. Some may even be facing bankruptcy.
I picked mine up a 2 years ago from a fella who thought he could use his as a summer camper as well. His wife decided fairly quick that a trailer designed to be fished out of on a frozen lake doesn’t have the same creature comforts that a travel trailer has. It was purchased new in October of 2017 and I bought it in June of 2018 and paid less than what dealerships were advertising older models for. Keep your eyes open as the season wears down and don’t be afraid to look throughout the summer. I’ve seen some pretty good prices thrown around on fish houses in the summer.
Take a look at my Ice Castle listed in the classifieds. I’ll give you a “year end” deal on it.
I think boats are different than wheelhouses. You tend to customize the boat for your needs: motor, sonar, trolling motor, etc. if people tend to buy wheelhouses right off the showroom floor, I don’t think the dealer is going to give you a worse deal than a show price.
I picked mine up a 2 years ago from a fella who thought he could use his as a summer camper as well. His wife decided fairly quick that a trailer designed to be fished out of on a frozen lake doesn’t have the same creature comforts that a travel trailer has. It was purchased new in October of 2017 and I bought it in June of 2018 and paid less than what dealerships were advertising older models for. Keep your eyes open as the season wears down and don’t be afraid to look throughout the summer. I’ve seen some pretty good prices thrown around on fish houses in the summer.
+++1, I picked up a 2 year old team lodge with every option and got for pretty much half off from southern, mn last june! To give you an idea it was orig listed forsale for 25k, I kept watching and it dropped to 22k and I was able to get it for 16k. Got really lucky with that find and make sure to negotiate.
Also, don’t be shy to travel as both mine that I have owned one was from sd/wyoming, and the other from southern mn but both were excellent deals!! My first one I used for 3 years and sold for what I bought it for 
I purchased three Ice Castles over the last few years. One I bought used in November, terrible time to buy and I paid to much. It was a cheaper Ice Castle Scout to see if we’d like it.
The second house I bought used last spring, got a great deal. The house was totaled after being rear-ended a couple weeks ago and I received about 20% more than what I paid for it, after I used it for one year (summer and winter).
The third house I just ordered from a dealer and I feel I got a really good deal. My wife and I wanted a simple 8 x 16/17 model without the bells and whistles (AC, sink, etc.). Plus it will weight much less.
I’ve been looking since early November because I wanted to upgrade from our 6.5 x 14 Sport Angler prior to being rear-ended. I feel people are asking WAY to much for used fish houses. We got a new “custom” house for less than what most are asking for 3-5yr old houses.
Check dealers inventory online, there are some good deals out there.
With a year like this one, last year wasn’t much better, I can’t believe 1/2 the people on here aren’t ready to dump their big houses. This spring has to be the best time ever to buy, especially with the smaller manufacturers that can’t afford to hold too many over till next year. Some may even be facing bankruptcy.
The proliferation of sales on these seems to still be on the incline. The RV editions have spurted more growth as a year round toy. You’re not just relying on good ice seasons any longer it’s also your summer camper.
I heard one weekend this year on LOTW the DNR did fly overs taking pictures. They were later able to estimate 30,000 houses on the lake. From what I understand they were astonished at the number. 30,000 houses with a average of probably 3 people each with 6 lines in the water 24/7 = tremendous fishing pressure. I have no idea what can be done but I’d say look for changes in regulations in response to this.
I feel people are asking WAY to much for used fish houses. We got a new “custom” house for less than what most are asking for 3-5yr old houses.
You got a new custom 8′ X 16’/17′ house for less than 14-15K? Cause that’s the going rate for almost brand new.
Now through spring is a great time to buy. Should be a great year to buy a house.
I had a wheel house for 5 years and will likely never own one again. By the time you can use it the fishing is typically not great. January and February are not what I would call prime fishing months. At some point you will beat the tar out of your atv and or truck trying to get it on and off the lake. Houses used to be reasonably priced but those days are gone. $20000 is a pile of money for something used so few times. Add up depreciation, insurance, gas and other costs involved and you have some pretty expensive walleyes. I prefer taking a couple trips to a warm climate and saltwater fishing.
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Well good thing you can use them all year long as a camper then huh
At some point you will beat the tar out of your atv and or truck trying to get it on and off the lake.
Maybe if you are prone to making bad choices?
But you are correct if you won’t/don’t use it you have no reason to buy one.
As for my family the money we spent on a wheelhouse was the best money we ever spent. We use our house nearly every weekend in the winter. We’ve used our house Dec, Jan, Feb, March and well into April many years.
We also use it for countless camping trips in the summer, not to mention it’s a mobile hotel when we travel for Christmas, Thanksgiving, and both Deer hunting weekends. It also makes a great guest house when people come visit us on the lake.
We just used it for my daughters Birthday party as well. The kids all said it was the best party ever and made requests to use the house for their own Birthday parties.
Absolute best investment if you like spending time with your family… if not then I wouldn’t recommend buying one.
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Great post Joe and those are awesome pictures and smiles. 
You got a new custom 8′ X 16’/17′ house for less than 14-15K? Cause that’s the going rate for almost brand new.
I ordered a 2021, 8 x 16 for $14,900. Granted it’s more like $16k after tax, title and license. I saw many used (2015 – 2019) houses on CL and FB for more, which you still have to pay tax.
Well good thing you can use them all year long as a camper then huh
…if you were smart enough to buy one with full bath…
…if you were smart enough to buy one with full bath…
I’ve been camping my entire life, bathtub = storage. Never once has my family used the tub in our camper. And we only started using the toilet a few years ago (#1 only). We use a bucket, now a composting toilet, in the winter ice house.
Most summer campgrounds have restroom and shower available… Does no one remember using a tent? How do people even camp in tents?
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>bob clowncolor wrote:</div>
…if you were smart enough to buy one with full bath…I’ve been camping my entire life, bathtub = storage. Never once has my family used the tub in our camper. And we only started using the toilet a few years ago (#1 only). We use a bucket, now a composting toilet, in the winter ice house.
Most summer campgrounds have restroom and shower available… Does no one remember using a tent? How do people even camp in tents?
X2. most places i camp at have nice bathrooms and showers. and its alot less work having to worry about having all that extra crap i wouldnt use.
We’ve had campers pretty much the entire time we have been married 37 years. Shower stalls and tubs were always absolute storage. last year we purchased lake property and parked a 40′ destination camper on it. First time in all those years I started using the camper shower for something other than storage. It’s not so bad once you figure out how to control the hot/cold water mix. 
How do people even camp in tents?
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Hopefully this video helps:
I have wanted a wheel house for years. The itch has been real bad after 2 different weekend rentals this winter. In looking through craigslist and dealers websites, I have noticed a few things. Unless you come across a rare deal, there is not much incentive to buy used than new. Even dealerships do not seem to have a lot of used units available. Does that mean they hold their value or is it just the fish house market? Dealers still seem to sell a lot of new units so does that mean there are that many more consumers entering the market? I know there are more wheelhouses on almost every available lake in the ice belt but seems like lots of new ones leaving dealers lots. I was also wondering why outfitters were spending the $ on the bigger, fancier houses for rental purposes-until I did the math. So for what the wife and I paid for the house rental for our 2 trips and if their is a decent resale value, why wouldn’t I have my own and have it setup for our comfort and not have to worry if the outfitter allows dogs or which lake we have to fish on. I understand there would be much more work for myself rather than just show up and fish but after experiencing a house move in a 24 ft hydraulic ice castle with a slide out, there was not a lot to it.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Joe Scegura wrote:</div>
You got a new custom 8′ X 16’/17′ house for less than 14-15K? Cause that’s the going rate for almost brand new.I ordered a 2021, 8 x 16 for $14,900. Granted it’s more like $16k after tax, title and license. I saw many used (2015 – 2019) houses on CL and FB for more, which you still have to pay tax.
That’s a great deal if it had insulated floor and spray foam walls. Those add on’s are expensive.
…if you were smart enough to buy one with full bath…
We use our house year round but I would never get the full/shower toilet setup. You have to winterize it each year, but most importantly I’d have to drag it around the ice half the year. For us it’d be a waste of space.
The fact we have a dry place to sleep with a great AC unit while camping already feels to cushy.
Now through spring is a great time to buy. Should be a great year to buy a house.
I had a wheel house for 5 years and will likely never own one again. By the time you can use it the fishing is typically not great. January and February are not what I would call prime fishing months. At some point you will beat the tar out of your atv and or truck trying to get it on and off the lake. Houses used to be reasonably priced but those days are gone. $20000 is a pile of money for something used so few times. Add up depreciation, insurance, gas and other costs involved and you have some pretty expensive walleyes. I prefer taking a couple trips to a warm climate and saltwater fishing.
While I do agree with your assessment, I think a lot of these newer models are being used most of the year now as a camper/mobile RV unit too (like some others have mentioned). In fact, you could even argue that is what they are getting used for MORE than for ice fishing since thick, safe ice is good for about 2 months and camping in one could be done for about 8 months (or more). Just an observation that I see at some lake resorts, there are a lot of wheelhouses parked there during the summer that people use as a weekend “home.” Spending 20 grand on a deluxe wheelhouse and only using it for a short period of time when there is thick, safe ice isn’t a good investment; I don’t think anyone is denying that, MnPat1. Would you buy a nice boat and only use it for only 2 months? Heck no.
Would you buy a nice boat and only use it for only 2 months? Heck no.
Yet the average boat gets 12 hrs a year put on the motor. People making bad decisions keep the economy going! 
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