Great job, both on the build and the video. Whenever I do a project like this I have to occasionally remind myself that "Perfection is the enemy of very good". I'm going to mimic this as I have the same trailer from M&G.
I'm up in Saskatchewan. I've got the same trailer and next season I'm doing this. For damn sure. Just a portable heater, and no lights...lanterns but yeah.
It works great if you like to move around a lot. There is almost no take down or set up. Just put the hole covers on and drive away. I just leave it hooked up to the truck which keeps it nice and stable. If you disconnect it, you will want some jack stand on the back side to keep it from tipping backwards.
Window tip…. Install externally and tape the crap out of it with good masking and then put screws in the trim inside and remove tape afterwards. Did many of window replacements in the RV industry one handed and you learn to get very creative
Great Video!! The only changes I would make is to rerout the heater vent to the other sise under the fan and place the CO/Propane detector closeer to the floor. There are a lot of ways to fancify it but you have what you need. Embellishments can come later.
Good recommendations. I originally was going to put the heater vent over there, but it would have been in the way of the door. You're right on with the detector though. I really should have lowered it. I've already added a few "embellishments." Its too bad the ice is not very good this year. I haven't even been able to use it.
We've been loving it so far. We even added a couple more items to it for this winter. i might make an update video. Thanks for following along with us.
I'm sure prices went up around here too since I've built this. The nice thing though, is that I can still use it as a cargo trailer when I'm not fishing in it.
Great build. Only thing I would have done is more waterproofing around the punched holes, and soundproofing around the heater. I’m a lover of the quiet! Now the big screen, and beer fridge!
I appreciate that. I have plenty of ad-on ideas, but I tried real hard to keep this a simple project. I figure when its cold outside, the beer fridge is anywhere I want it to be. 😎
@@GoMidwestFishing Great video. I picked up some ideas for sure. Without putting a header above the window after cutting the stud, does the window still slide okay when there is snow on the roof? If you did it again would you add another window?
we have about the same trailer, got it for the kids to haul their bikes out west, after getting it added some junk inside to make it a kinda crude 'better than a tent' camper... I hated the torsion spring rattle too- I unwound mine, took the spring end off (difficult to do safely, if unfamiliar, dont try it) and put a length of old vacuum cleaner hose around the shaft - its silent now. for heat, put in a little diesel heater/battery/inverter, put most of it under a little triangular box- only about a foot high/triangle top, but bottom and top front corners are piano hinges, take two screws out on top, and it unfolds flat to the floor, for access to hardware or filling the fuel tank. made lift off removable bunks that lift out, or fold flat to the wall, and used a pair of bifold doors for full width shelf that folds flat above the bunks- we fly model planes, this will be a lightweight shelf to strap planes to, while leaving room to crash out on bunks underneath for weekend fly-in meets... pics here if anyone interested- www.flickr.com/photos/90822467@N08/albums/72157716670169136 maybe not any good ideas, but ideas no less :) I was kinda proud of my little bunk pivot/hooks pretty easy to make and kinda handy...theres a short little video in there of them too.
I checked out your trailer. It looks amazing. I love how you did the front "V" portion. I just heard from another guy who put in a little diesel heater. He said it heats up very well.
Rande quite an impressive conversion for a rolling IceHouse!! You've definitely got all the creature comforts and gadgets to enjoy Extreme winter fishing!!
Definitely the best diy on converting cargo to shanty video hands down. Thank you for the detail. I was finished mine until I watched this lol! Now to revamp a few power things for sure and maybe get a furnace. Mine is wood stove with big buddy back up. The only change I would suggest is a separate sealed enclosure for the propane with a small floor vent. As propane will always vent and settle to lowest spot. With the battery and all the electrical so close I would enclose and isolate the propane. Really easy with your skills. Take care and good Luck on the ice! We already have 10 inches!
Great suggestion with the propane. I put that computer fan so it pulls air out of the front compartment when it running to keep propane from building up in there. I think your idea is better though. Maybe I will put a vent in t he floor as well. We are starting to build ice down here. Hopefully by Christmas I will be able to pull the shack out on the ice. Good luck out there!
I was wondering why you didn’t mount the tank outside on the tongue of the trailer and just run the hose in from the front? Keep it out of the trailer and easier access to switch it out.
@@talltimber4577 The reason its not on the outside is because it has a "V" front. The tank would hit my truck when making sharp turns. If your trailer has enough room to mount it outside, that would be the best option.
Loved this video. You went in to a lot of details which helps informed me on some things I didn't know how to do previously to learning from you. Just dont paint the wood, just use clear varnish and I think that would look good. 🎣🎣🎣
I'm glad it was helpful. I know it was long, but my goal was to provide information for people wanting to do something similar. I appreciate the comment. It lets me know that it actually helps people.
another option if you plan to keep the trailer on a lake for awhile, is just removing the tires and you can get it much lower to the ice. The problem I have is all these trailers are too big to get to our remote lakes we fish! I own this exact cargo trailer already, wish I could fish out of it.
I wish I could fish out of mine more too. This year the ice was so bad, I only got to drive on the ice once. All the other times I had to pull my portable with my ATV. Thanks for the tip.
I am in the process of making a old 24' camper into a toy hauler,, put 2 - 3' doors on the back,will install a fold down ramp/patio on the back, removed the back bed and shower,kitchen sink and that part of the counter , reinforced the floor and installed a few tie-downs , Left in the toilet and sink and the original oven/stove, ( that might go ) , furnace,rooftop a/c and front bed/table combo , I was thinking of putting in a few holes in the floor for ice fishing , But would have to wait til the ice got real thick , being double axled, and driving onto (ifn I use it for that up here in upper wisconsin )2 10' x 12" x 2' planks to help spread the weight, so for now I will just haul my atv/snow mobile there and use those to haul out my clam ice shanty,, And still have a warm place near the lake, So far I have almost 2 grand in it
Wow...a 24 foot camper has lots of possibilities. It would make a great ice house, but like you said, wait until the ice is nice and thick. Good luck on the build!
Put the propane tank outside. If that thing leaks inside a sealed trailer you will have a bomb. I seen a tank leak undetected and a friend get burned when he tried to light a stove.
Thanks for the comment. I agree, it should go outside. I was unable to find a suitable place for it to go on the outside, so that's why it ended up inside.
The heaters are hard to find at a reasonable price. I've seen them on amazon for triple the price I paid. I got mine from Milaca Unclaimed Freight, which is a store near me. Here is their website: www.milacaunclaimedfreight.com/ They have all the supplies you need. I'm not sure if they have an online store, but it wouldn't hurt to look into it. I hope you find what you need!
Your project is almost exactly what I am planning to do with my 6x12. Unload the snowmobile and then tow the trailer/shanty and with the sled and start fishing. I noticed you installed a 20,000 BTU RV furnace. I've been looking at Diesel air heaters but don't see any that large. Do you think 8,000 BTU would be sufficient? Roof insulation only, cold days on Lake Winnipeg in Canada.
I haven’t used it on an extremely cold day yet so it’s hard to say for sure, but here’s what I can tell you. Once it heats up, it rarely turns on. It seems to contain the heat well. Just being out of the wind and elements really helps. My furnace works great and heats up quickly and might be a little overkill for this small space.
we put one of the little diesel heaters in, son and i tried it out one night- still uninsulated roof, on lowest setting it was a bit too warm for blankets while about 25F outside... my guess is with roof insulation the 8kw heater on low will be too warm unless crazy cold outside. on lowest setting it burned about a quart overnight. exhaust may be a issue- I removed the metal box and just used the heater, put a 4x6 hole in the floor, with a aluminum plate with the 2 holes, 1/2" oversized, and used summit racing header wrap to pack the cap and wrap the tailpipe as it does get like blue hot... the aluminum plate gets hot on high heat, just barely touchable... I wouldnt want wood any closer than what it is...if i ever did it again, id go 6x8" hole for the plate to cover. exhaust is clamped securely enough to not worry about trailer, just worried about grass/pets going under the trailer- that first foot of tailpipe gets hot. outside the muffler works well, sounds like a torpedo heater at a distance, really impressive little heater. no issues at all, little noise(inside the box the fuel pump click click click is really quiet, fan is near silent on low). one serious concern with the diesel heaters though- you MUST have power for controlled shutdown. at shutoff it goes to low fan as residual heat clears last of the fuel I assume- but the plastic case gets super hot at shutdown, even with fan on low... right before full shutoff, it revs back up to completely cool the unit- as warm as the plastic gets, im pretty sure if power was just unplugged, the thing would melt, perhaps even burn. be sure connections are tight/etc... dont be tempted to run it off of jumper clips.
@@timc2219 Thanks for all the info. I was curious how that was going to work. Sounds like it has plenty of heat. Do you think it was worth it, despite all the special things you had to do to make it work inside a shack?
@@GoMidwestFishing no regrets on the little heater, just wish the shell was metal... the power fail issue worries me, if it were metal, wouldnt be that concerned. if i hadnt bought the one in the box, it might have come with better mounting setup, so dont know... but they work great, are clean and quiet, and for under 200 bucks(uncased ones can be around 120 and probably be better to build in), are pretty hard to beat.
Jason I live 8 hours north of you, doesnt take much to heat these little things, especially if you have roof insulated. Half the shacks on our lakes have no insulation, and just think of all the pop up shacks being heated with small propane heaters.
Well, during our Christmas blizzard, I had used it for two days in near zero temps and very high winds. I had the thermostat on the lowest setting, and it stayed very warm inside. Its a lot warmer in there than you might think. Thanks for watching.
@@GoMidwestFishing stay warm easily, i live 8 hours north of Winnipeg, lots of ice shacks are not insulated. Half of the people use pop up tents with a propane heater. Very warm
I wish! I do have decals but 14 inches is as big as they come. I haven't figured out how to actually put the fish logo on the side yet. Maybe a future project.
I did one before this video was out. He did no research, take all the side walls off so you can see wires and put insulation in the walls as well. I ran wiring for 12 volt and 110 so i could hook up to a generator. I closed off the V nose to make a bath room with shelves and battery spot. Then i made a little kitchen shelf that supported a 3 burner propane cook stove. I added an outside door light as well with master switch. I also made an over head bed that you slid out from above and set it on two cleats down lower so you could sleep. I use a big buddy mr heater for the heat. I tiled my floor, and used milk house fiberglass panels for the ceiling, it's lighter then plywood and looks a lot better. I used led lights in the bathroom and the main part. A rope led around the top and 2 camper leds in front and back and those make it look like you are going to get sun burn lol. Know as far as his set up i would have put the heater to the other side so i wouldn't be running the gas and electric over the top of the heater and would have put the power panel on the other side as well. Less wires running all over. Its always good to draw a plan of where you are going to put things before you start to put holes in things and have to do patch work. But one thing for sure is you will save a lot of money over any purchased Ice house. And i still use it as a cargo trailer to haul stuff.
Anyone ever tell you what an @hole you are? What a dumb question. I’m sure you hear it quite often. The guy went to the trouble of making a video of his project, something you didn’t take the effort to do and so you have no proof that you didn’t rework yours five times. There are dozens of kind comments, some with good suggestions. Yours is just mean spirited and self congratulatory.
Hi Dan. We did buy a cot to put in there. Its just big enough to put two side by side, but there wouldn't be much room for anything else. We did sleep in it for one night. I'd upgrade to a bigger trailer if sleeping in it is something that's important. I appreciate the comment.
That was my initial plan. I noticed the steel frame was welded to the outer sheet metal, so that was holding it rigid. Plus, the metal framed window is strong enough to hold up on its own. There really is very little weight the walls are supporting, so I went without welding in the extra support. I only cut out one piece of the frame. It you cut out more than one, or have a bigger, heavier trailer, I would weld in the cross-members.
Great job, very smilar to what I have been wanting to build. What are your thoughts on insulating the floor or walls? What do you think it weighs? Can you pull yours with an ATV?
I believe it only weighed 1,300 lbs dry weight. Since it does not lay on the ice, I see no need to insulate the floor. I only did the ceiling because it was bare metal and would collect condensation. I used it a couple of times, and it stayed plenty warm inside. Its not going to stay on the lake. I use it more like a portable shack, so I didn't do a lot of insulating. I have pulled it with the ATV and it worked good. Thanks for watching.
Great video. Are you from Minnesota? I have a trailer I want to do the same way, but clueless on how to install everything. Would you be willing to make and install a few things like you did to yours? Mainly the frame for the “v”, and installing the heater and wiring. Curious what you would charge to do that. Let me know, thanks.
Hi Brandon. Yes, I'm from Minnesota. Thanks so much for the comment. I'm already swamped with the projects I'm currently doing, but thanks for asking. One thing people mentioned is installing the propane on the outside, it case it leaks. Otherwise, make sure it has plenty of ventilation. Good luck on your build!
Good stuff! Did you say you would leave a link to the fishing holes and sleeves? I have an old trailer that I want to work with but I need to find those ice fishing holes. Thanks
I have the link to the hole covers along with many of the other parts on my website at: gomidwestfishing.com/ice-house/ Thanks for watching. I hope it helped.
I am building a 7x14 enclosed, not for ice fishing, but to be able to get out to a lake or two and to have a decent unit to operate out of. I live in NC. Although I have been sub'd for a while, I haven't really sat down and took notes on things you are doing that I may be able to use in my own trailer build. I am going to ask you some questions as I watch the video, pause and then ask the question. Thanks for your patience as I am what one would call physically disabled now and I only want to, and in some cases am able to, do a task once since it takes a lot out of me. The first question is: You cut the hole for the down rigger/tip rig. Why didn't you Thompson WaterSeal the cut edges of the floor before screwing the ring down?
Hi Ernest. Thanks so much for being a subscriber. The reason I put the waterseal on the floor is because we drag in a lot of snow, ice, and water on our boots when going in and out of the door. This will help protect the wood from standing water until it dries up, or I clean it. I'm sure it would be a good idea to put it on the edges too where I cut the holes. To be honest, didn't even think about it. The plastic rings I installed in the holes, cover the edge so its partially protected as is. The only place it could get wet is from water splashing up from underneath. This was my first ice house build, so I may not have done everything exactly right, but you can always learn from my mistakes. I look forward to answering the rest of your questions.
Hi Bert. Thanks for the comment. So far I've only used it in temps around 0 Degrees F. It stayed plenty warm, even on a low setting. It seems to retain the heat pretty good. We are currently experiencing temps around -10F right now in MN. I'm hoping to get it on the ice to test it out. I will let you know if I do.
We fish pretty much anywhere in Wisconsin and Minnesota. I try to get up to Canada once a year too. I've been on the Chippewa Flowage a couple of times, but that was before I started recording fishing videos. I plan on going there again next summer. There are many lakes around the flowage that I wanted to hit too. Do you live near there?
Its a Suburban Furnace. They can be hard to find. Here is a link to their website: suburbanrv.com/climate-control/furnaces/ I believe mine is a 20K Btu/h. I actually got mine from Milaca Unclaimed Freight in Minnesota. It was $250, but prices have increased significantly since then.
Hi Evan. Thanks for the comment. Yes, batteries can give off a gas when charging. Its important to have good ventilation. So far I've only charged the batteries while the shack was not being used. If you noticed, I do have a vent hole cut out in front of the battery and a fan installed just above it.
Hi Tyler. So far I added one additional hole so I can use my underwater camera. Three people fishing in there is comfortable. If I add more holes, then more people will want to go with! The song at the end is called Hot Kicks. You can find it on soundstripe. Here's the link: soundstripe.com?fpr=rande14 If you are interested you can use the promo code GoMidwest to get 10% off. Thanks for watching!
@@tylerthilmany8355 Just go to that link I provided, click browse music. Then in the top left click music. In the search bar, type hot kicks. It is the one by BRASKO. You will need a subscription to the music service to download and use the song.
H&H trailer made in Iowa the whole frame is all powder coated underneath, really nice trailers I own one the same trailer exact, and the jack up front turns upward when you're not need enough which is nice when you go certain places you won't tear are the jack off. I looked at a lot of trailers, their side door works perfect also close it with one finger. And it has the security latch on it also. Really really nice trailer.
With that front and Jack turning horizontal when you don't need it you can open the end gate on your pickup also. If you have the stationary jack up front you cannot open your end gate all the way unless you disconnect your trailer.
appreciate your vid... Question any reason you used prop. heat instead of diesel,....I have had nothing but bad experience with prop, way to much moisture given off, No insult intended Thank you
Hi Rob.. Thanks for the question. I used the same furnace they put in ice castles. They run on propane and are a vented furnace. I have had no issues with moisture running it. I've had a few people comment saying they used diesel heaters and it worked well for them. I was more familiar with the propane furnace and found it simpler to install. This furnace running on low keeps it plenty warm inside even on really cold days. In the end, in comes down to personal preference. Either one would work well.
Hi Justin. Thanks for the question. I got the biggest AGM marine battery I could buy at Cabelas. I use it for this shack, but also power my campers with it. I've gone five days in my camper powering lights, furnace blowers, fans, and recharging a ton of camera batteries. The ice shack draws very little power. I bet I could get well over a week of solid use out of it before recharging.
The sleeves for the holes, were they long enough or was there an opening by the ice. Also do you think it would be beneficial to put jack stands in the two back corner to make it more stable. I would like to make one next summer.
@@sandraphillipp1815 The sleeves generally fall about an inch or two above the ground, but after drilling a hole, there is plenty of slush that you can stack around the edge of the tube to seal it off. As for jack stands, yes, they are a good idea. I have always left mine attached to my truck while using it. That way it stays nice and stable and makes it easy to move spots. If you disconnect it, and put all the weight to the rear, it might tip up, so some kind of stabilizer would be needed.
It worked great. I left it attached to my truck while using it, so you will need to make sure it is level when attached to your hitch. For me, I bought an adjustable drop hitch. The best part of this set up is that it is super easy to move spots. All you have to do is pull the tubes out of the holes and drive to the next spot. No need to crank the house up off the ice. If the ice is thick, you might need an auger extension because you are starting from a foot off the ice. I hope that helps.
Hi Doug. I see you found the answer already. So far it hasn't been an issue. It stays plenty warm in there. I made it for day use only. If it were to stay on the ice for weeks, then yes, I would insulate the floor.
Yes there is an exhaust vent. I showed it in great detail. It is a vented furnace so it has an air intake and exhaust that exits through the side of the trailer. You can see it on the right side of the door. Thanks for watching.
It is a Suburban furnace. Here is the amazon link to it: amzn.to/3bUsfgk I bought mine at Milaca Unclaimed freight for half the cost that amazon sells it for. I would check with them first. Here is their website: www.milacaunclaimedfreight.com/
The spare tire mount came with the trailer, so I didn't have to buy it separately. I just moved it from the inside and mounted it to the outside to make more room. I'm thinking your best bet would be to check at a trailer dealer. They either have, or can order the parts that normally come with trailers like this one. Thanks for watching.
I don't trust those 4 screws that is holding the spare tire rack, going down a really rough road will put a lot of stress on them and eventually cause them to break.
If it were only one or two screws, I can see that being a problem. With four, fairly big screws, it feels like its holding real tight. I understand your concern, and will be sure to let you know if it ever falls off.
I move around a lot, so this is perfect for me. If you want something that stays out on the lake, then a drop axle makes more sense. I use it more like a portable.
Thanks for the compliment. If you're wondering about the back door, all you have to do is push on it. It is spring loaded so it stays closed until push on. Of course you have to release the latches from the outside first. When traveling, you keep it locked from the outside and can't be opened from the inside then.
I did not put any sealer under the trailer. Even though it never sits on the ground, it might be a good idea to do so. I will keep an eye on it to see if there is any damage.
I was told seal the top of the floor but not the bottom, this way any water can drip out and dry out, if you seal the bottom you can trap moisture in. I don’t know if this is true, but it makes sense to me.
@@josephdowney4919 Yes, I believe I have heard that also. The bottom is already colored black, so it appears it has some kind of sealer from the factory.
![Fish House Build Ep. 1 [ THE SHELL ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/iNPX0IGHR4c/mqdefault.jpg)
Great job, both on the build and the video. Whenever I do a project like this I have to occasionally remind myself that "Perfection is the enemy of very good". I'm going to mimic this as I have the same trailer from M&G.
I'm up in Saskatchewan. I've got the same trailer and next season I'm doing this. For damn sure. Just a portable heater, and no lights...lanterns but yeah.
It works great if you like to move around a lot. There is almost no take down or set up. Just put the hole covers on and drive away. I just leave it hooked up to the truck which keeps it nice and stable. If you disconnect it, you will want some jack stand on the back side to keep it from tipping backwards.
Well Done and very affordable. I might do this myself this spring. Thanks for the tips
Bill
Thanks William. I'm still using it and it works great. Now if only we could get some good ice!
That's a great conversion!
Great video! thanks for uploading!
Thank you, nice video.
Window tip…. Install externally and tape the crap out of it with good masking and then put screws in the trim inside and remove tape afterwards. Did many of window replacements in the RV industry one handed and you learn to get very creative
Thanks for the tip! When you do this stuff yourself, you got to get creative. I like your idea.
I see someone asked you. Very nicely done. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Good project . 👍 Thx for documenting and posting it .
Hi Wayne. You're welcome. I appreciate the support.
Great Video!! The only changes I would make is to rerout the heater vent to the other sise under the fan and place the CO/Propane detector closeer to the floor. There are a lot of ways to fancify it but you have what you need. Embellishments can come later.
Good recommendations. I originally was going to put the heater vent over there, but it would have been in the way of the door. You're right on with the detector though. I really should have lowered it. I've already added a few "embellishments." Its too bad the ice is not very good this year. I haven't even been able to use it.
Great job! Clip at the end makes it all worth it!
We've been loving it so far. We even added a couple more items to it for this winter. i might make an update video. Thanks for following along with us.
저 구멍이 멀까? 한참을 봤는데. 얼음낚시를 하기 위한 구멍이었군요. 멋져요 Good!
If you were older a cassette toilet would probably be another priority! Thanks for sharing, Midwest!
Ahhh... the toilet. If only we never needed one. A 5 gallon bucket and plastic bag seems to be the standard around here.
@@GoMidwestFishing LOL just use one of the holes in the floor, who will see?
@@Nortekj Those holes work great most of the time, but when you really got to go, (if you know what I mean) then a bucket might be necessary.
Around here that is a 6-7 thousand dollar trailer and you can add a couple more on to that if it was new.
Little steep for foundation to build off.
I'm sure prices went up around here too since I've built this. The nice thing though, is that I can still use it as a cargo trailer when I'm not fishing in it.
Great build. Only thing I would have done is more waterproofing around the punched holes, and soundproofing around the heater. I’m a lover of the quiet! Now the big screen, and beer fridge!
I appreciate that. I have plenty of ad-on ideas, but I tried real hard to keep this a simple project. I figure when its cold outside, the beer fridge is anywhere I want it to be. 😎
Wow nice job
Really cool ideas
Thank you! I've added a few more accessories since the build, but so far its been working great. It stays nice and warm no matter how cold it gets.
I really liked the window project, you did an excellent job. I think I would try it now after watching you do it. Cheers
Thanks. I couldn’t find any good detailed window installs so I made sure to document that well. Let me know how yours turns out.
@@GoMidwestFishing Great video. I picked up some ideas for sure. Without putting a header above the window after cutting the stud, does the window still slide okay when there is snow on the roof? If you did it again would you add another window?
Awesome build!
Thanks!
we have about the same trailer, got it for the kids to haul their bikes out west, after getting it added some junk inside to make it a kinda crude 'better than a tent' camper... I hated the torsion spring rattle too- I unwound mine, took the spring end off (difficult to do safely, if unfamiliar, dont try it) and put a length of old vacuum cleaner hose around the shaft - its silent now. for heat, put in a little diesel heater/battery/inverter, put most of it under a little triangular box- only about a foot high/triangle top, but bottom and top front corners are piano hinges, take two screws out on top, and it unfolds flat to the floor, for access to hardware or filling the fuel tank. made lift off removable bunks that lift out, or fold flat to the wall, and used a pair of bifold doors for full width shelf that folds flat above the bunks- we fly model planes, this will be a lightweight shelf to strap planes to, while leaving room to crash out on bunks underneath for weekend fly-in meets... pics here if anyone interested- www.flickr.com/photos/90822467@N08/albums/72157716670169136 maybe not any good ideas, but ideas no less :) I was kinda proud of my little bunk pivot/hooks pretty easy to make and kinda handy...theres a short little video in there of them too.
I checked out your trailer. It looks amazing. I love how you did the front "V" portion. I just heard from another guy who put in a little diesel heater. He said it heats up very well.
Fantastic idea
It was a fun project. Thanks for watching.
I got lots of great ideas from you. Thank you so much!
I'm glad to help. I appreciate you watching.
Awesome video Rande, thank you for putting it together!
Thanks for the comment. I appreciate the support.
Awesome project! Simple design and great instructions.
Thank you very much! Now if the ice would get thick enough, I could actually use it. Its been a warm year.
Rande quite an impressive conversion for a rolling IceHouse!! You've definitely got all the creature comforts and gadgets to enjoy Extreme winter fishing!!
I'll try to use it at least a couple times. It's going to be 40 degrees tomorrow. Not sure how long the ice will last. Thanks again.
thats going to be the holy grail of ice fishing shacks man ... pretty sweet
It's nothing fancy, but it gets the job done. Thanks for watching.
Turned out great Rande!
Hi Charlie. Thanks for watching!
Definitely the best diy on converting cargo to shanty video hands down. Thank you for the detail. I was finished mine until I watched this lol! Now to revamp a few power things for sure and maybe get a furnace. Mine is wood stove with big buddy back up.
The only change I would suggest is a separate sealed enclosure for the propane with a small floor vent. As propane will always vent and settle to lowest spot. With the battery and all the electrical so close I would enclose and isolate the propane. Really easy with your skills. Take care and good
Luck on the ice! We already have 10 inches!
Oh ya and the way it is in chapters so someone can check out certain items after watching the whole video is bonus!
Great suggestion with the propane. I put that computer fan so it pulls air out of the front compartment when it running to keep propane from building up in there. I think your idea is better though. Maybe I will put a vent in t he floor as well. We are starting to build ice down here. Hopefully by Christmas I will be able to pull the shack out on the ice. Good luck out there!
I was wondering why you didn’t mount the tank outside on the tongue of the trailer and just run the hose in from the front? Keep it out of the trailer and easier access to switch it out.
@@talltimber4577 The reason its not on the outside is because it has a "V" front. The tank would hit my truck when making sharp turns. If your trailer has enough room to mount it outside, that would be the best option.
Loved this video. You went in to a lot of details which helps informed me on some things I didn't know how to do previously to learning from you. Just dont paint the wood, just use clear varnish and I think that would look good.
🎣🎣🎣
I'm glad it was helpful. I know it was long, but my goal was to provide information for people wanting to do something similar. I appreciate the comment. It lets me know that it actually helps people.
Clip bạn hay quá mình rất thích 👍👍💓💓
Thank you for making this video!
Glad it was helpful!
Thought about doing. Something like this. However I bought a camper instead
Great video. The only thing I would have done different is connect the the CO alarm directly to the main power switch.
Thanks for the tip!
great custom job!! very nice. fish Beware!!!!!
Thanks for the comment!
Thank You!
You're welcome!
another option if you plan to keep the trailer on a lake for awhile, is just removing the tires and you can get it much lower to the ice. The problem I have is all these trailers are too big to get to our remote lakes we fish! I own this exact cargo trailer already, wish I could fish out of it.
I wish I could fish out of mine more too. This year the ice was so bad, I only got to drive on the ice once. All the other times I had to pull my portable with my ATV. Thanks for the tip.
Nice!!
Thanks. I appreciate the comment
Drotto in South Dakota makes a drop down axle kit for $750 if you change your mind on that later. I'll be doing that this coming summer
Thanks for the tip! For day use, this has been working great. If I was to keep it out there for several days, the drop down axle would be much better.
@@GoMidwestFishing no problem. Figure it may be a nice upgrade down the road. Might make for good content
What’s the contact info for Drotto? Thanks
I am in the process of making a old 24' camper into a toy hauler,, put 2 - 3' doors on the back,will install a fold down ramp/patio on the back, removed the back bed and shower,kitchen sink and that part of the counter , reinforced the floor and installed a few tie-downs , Left in the toilet and sink and the original oven/stove, ( that might go ) , furnace,rooftop a/c and front bed/table combo , I was thinking of putting in a few holes in the floor for ice fishing , But would have to wait til the ice got real thick , being double axled, and driving onto (ifn I use it for that up here in upper wisconsin )2 10' x 12" x 2' planks to help spread the weight, so for now I will just haul my atv/snow mobile there and use those to haul out my clam ice shanty,, And still have a warm place near the lake, So far I have almost 2 grand in it
Wow...a 24 foot camper has lots of possibilities. It would make a great ice house, but like you said, wait until the ice is nice and thick. Good luck on the build!
Put the propane tank outside. If that thing leaks inside a sealed trailer you will have a bomb. I seen a tank leak undetected and a friend get burned when he tried to light a stove.
Thanks for the comment. I agree, it should go outside. I was unable to find a suitable place for it to go on the outside, so that's why it ended up inside.
Nice build but I’m more interested in the heater and we’re I can buy one I live in the east coast any information on it would be be appreciated thanks
The heaters are hard to find at a reasonable price. I've seen them on amazon for triple the price I paid. I got mine from Milaca Unclaimed Freight, which is a store near me. Here is their website: www.milacaunclaimedfreight.com/ They have all the supplies you need. I'm not sure if they have an online store, but it wouldn't hurt to look into it. I hope you find what you need!
present friends .... interesting video ...
Thanks for the support
Thanks buddy for the great video my friend
Your project is almost exactly what I am planning to do with my 6x12. Unload the snowmobile and then tow the trailer/shanty and with the sled and start fishing. I noticed you installed a 20,000 BTU RV furnace. I've been looking at Diesel air heaters but don't see any that large. Do you think 8,000 BTU would be sufficient? Roof insulation only, cold days on Lake Winnipeg in Canada.
I haven’t used it on an extremely cold day yet so it’s hard to say for sure, but here’s what I can tell you. Once it heats up, it rarely turns on. It seems to contain the heat well. Just being out of the wind and elements really helps. My furnace works great and heats up quickly and might be a little overkill for this small space.
we put one of the little diesel heaters in, son and i tried it out one night- still uninsulated roof, on lowest setting it was a bit too warm for blankets while about 25F outside... my guess is with roof insulation the 8kw heater on low will be too warm unless crazy cold outside. on lowest setting it burned about a quart overnight. exhaust may be a issue- I removed the metal box and just used the heater, put a 4x6 hole in the floor, with a aluminum plate with the 2 holes, 1/2" oversized, and used summit racing header wrap to pack the cap and wrap the tailpipe as it does get like blue hot... the aluminum plate gets hot on high heat, just barely touchable... I wouldnt want wood any closer than what it is...if i ever did it again, id go 6x8" hole for the plate to cover. exhaust is clamped securely enough to not worry about trailer, just worried about grass/pets going under the trailer- that first foot of tailpipe gets hot. outside the muffler works well, sounds like a torpedo heater at a distance, really impressive little heater. no issues at all, little noise(inside the box the fuel pump click click click is really quiet, fan is near silent on low). one serious concern with the diesel heaters though- you MUST have power for controlled shutdown. at shutoff it goes to low fan as residual heat clears last of the fuel I assume- but the plastic case gets super hot at shutdown, even with fan on low... right before full shutoff, it revs back up to completely cool the unit- as warm as the plastic gets, im pretty sure if power was just unplugged, the thing would melt, perhaps even burn. be sure connections are tight/etc... dont be tempted to run it off of jumper clips.
@@timc2219 Thanks for all the info. I was curious how that was going to work. Sounds like it has plenty of heat. Do you think it was worth it, despite all the special things you had to do to make it work inside a shack?
@@GoMidwestFishing no regrets on the little heater, just wish the shell was metal... the power fail issue worries me, if it were metal, wouldnt be that concerned. if i hadnt bought the one in the box, it might have come with better mounting setup, so dont know... but they work great, are clean and quiet, and for under 200 bucks(uncased ones can be around 120 and probably be better to build in), are pretty hard to beat.
Jason I live 8 hours north of you, doesnt take much to heat these little things, especially if you have roof insulated. Half the shacks on our lakes have no insulation, and just think of all the pop up shacks being heated with small propane heaters.
Good luck staying warm when it gets below zero & windy.
Well, during our Christmas blizzard, I had used it for two days in near zero temps and very high winds. I had the thermostat on the lowest setting, and it stayed very warm inside. Its a lot warmer in there than you might think. Thanks for watching.
@@GoMidwestFishing stay warm easily, i live 8 hours north of Winnipeg, lots of ice shacks are not insulated. Half of the people use pop up tents with a propane heater. Very warm
awesome video, the thumbnail photo of the fish on the side is so cool looking, by chance you make decals that big and sell them?
I wish! I do have decals but 14 inches is as big as they come. I haven't figured out how to actually put the fish logo on the side yet. Maybe a future project.
presend friend..interenting video.
Thanks you
I did one before this video was out. He did no research, take all the side walls off so you can see wires and put insulation in the walls as well. I ran wiring for 12 volt and 110 so i could hook up to a generator. I closed off the V nose to make a bath room with shelves and battery spot. Then i made a little kitchen shelf that supported a 3 burner propane cook stove. I added an outside door light as well with master switch. I also made an over head bed that you slid out from above and set it on two cleats down lower so you could sleep. I use a big buddy mr heater for the heat. I tiled my floor, and used milk house fiberglass panels for the ceiling, it's lighter then plywood and looks a lot better. I used led lights in the bathroom and the main part. A rope led around the top and 2 camper leds in front and back and those make it look like you are going to get sun burn lol.
Know as far as his set up i would have put the heater to the other side so i wouldn't be running the gas and electric over the top of the heater and would have put the power panel on the other side as well. Less wires running all over. Its always good to draw a plan of where you are going to put things before you start to put holes in things and have to do patch work. But one thing for sure is you will save a lot of money over any purchased Ice house. And i still use it as a cargo trailer to haul stuff.
Anyone ever tell you what an @hole you are? What a dumb question. I’m sure you hear it quite often. The guy went to the trouble of making a video of his project, something you didn’t take the effort to do and so you have no proof that you didn’t rework yours five times. There are dozens of kind comments, some with good suggestions. Yours is just mean spirited and self congratulatory.
Great build!!! Do you think you will build some bunk beds of sort so you can spend the night/wekend in it?
Hi Dan. We did buy a cot to put in there. Its just big enough to put two side by side, but there wouldn't be much room for anything else. We did sleep in it for one night. I'd upgrade to a bigger trailer if sleeping in it is something that's important. I appreciate the comment.
I've always been told to weld in a frame after you cut the window hole. What are your thoughts?
That was my initial plan. I noticed the steel frame was welded to the outer sheet metal, so that was holding it rigid. Plus, the metal framed window is strong enough to hold up on its own. There really is very little weight the walls are supporting, so I went without welding in the extra support. I only cut out one piece of the frame. It you cut out more than one, or have a bigger, heavier trailer, I would weld in the cross-members.
Great job, very smilar to what I have been wanting to build. What are your thoughts on insulating the floor or walls?
What do you think it weighs? Can you pull yours with an ATV?
I believe it only weighed 1,300 lbs dry weight. Since it does not lay on the ice, I see no need to insulate the floor. I only did the ceiling because it was bare metal and would collect condensation. I used it a couple of times, and it stayed plenty warm inside. Its not going to stay on the lake. I use it more like a portable shack, so I didn't do a lot of insulating. I have pulled it with the ATV and it worked good. Thanks for watching.
shoud put sealer on after you cut your hole seal the bare wood
Good tip. Thanks!
Reflectix on the walls
Good tip. So far it stays plenty warm in there. If I find it needs more insulation, I may go that route.
Great video. Are you from Minnesota? I have a trailer I want to do the same way, but clueless on how to install everything. Would you be willing to make and install a few things like you did to yours? Mainly the frame for the “v”, and installing the heater and wiring. Curious what you would charge to do that. Let me know, thanks.
I’m from Minnesota myself, Brooklyn park.
Hi Brandon. Yes, I'm from Minnesota. Thanks so much for the comment. I'm already swamped with the projects I'm currently doing, but thanks for asking. One thing people mentioned is installing the propane on the outside, it case it leaks. Otherwise, make sure it has plenty of ventilation. Good luck on your build!
Good stuff! Did you say you would leave a link to the fishing holes and sleeves? I have an old trailer that I want to work with but I need to find those ice fishing holes. Thanks
I have the link to the hole covers along with many of the other parts on my website at: gomidwestfishing.com/ice-house/ Thanks for watching. I hope it helped.
I am building a 7x14 enclosed, not for ice fishing, but to be able to get out to a lake or two and to have a decent unit to operate out of. I live in NC. Although I have been sub'd for a while, I haven't really sat down and took notes on things you are doing that I may be able to use in my own trailer build. I am going to ask you some questions as I watch the video, pause and then ask the question. Thanks for your patience as I am what one would call physically disabled now and I only want to, and in some cases am able to, do a task once since it takes a lot out of me. The first question is: You cut the hole for the down rigger/tip rig. Why didn't you Thompson WaterSeal the cut edges of the floor before screwing the ring down?
Hi Ernest. Thanks so much for being a subscriber. The reason I put the waterseal on the floor is because we drag in a lot of snow, ice, and water on our boots when going in and out of the door. This will help protect the wood from standing water until it dries up, or I clean it. I'm sure it would be a good idea to put it on the edges too where I cut the holes. To be honest, didn't even think about it. The plastic rings I installed in the holes, cover the edge so its partially protected as is. The only place it could get wet is from water splashing up from underneath. This was my first ice house build, so I may not have done everything exactly right, but you can always learn from my mistakes. I look forward to answering the rest of your questions.
Right on great video debating doing this what's the coldest temperature you've used it in, up here we get to - 20 to - 40 degrees celsius.
Hi Bert. Thanks for the comment. So far I've only used it in temps around 0 Degrees F. It stayed plenty warm, even on a low setting. It seems to retain the heat pretty good. We are currently experiencing temps around -10F right now in MN. I'm hoping to get it on the ice to test it out. I will let you know if I do.
Where do u fish in the Midwest I highly recommend fishing on the chippewa flowage in hayward wisconsin
We fish pretty much anywhere in Wisconsin and Minnesota. I try to get up to Canada once a year too. I've been on the Chippewa Flowage a couple of times, but that was before I started recording fishing videos. I plan on going there again next summer. There are many lakes around the flowage that I wanted to hit too. Do you live near there?
@@GoMidwestFishing I live 3 hours from there and I go up there in the summer and fish
Usually 3 or 5 weekends every summer I have good luck with sturgeon muskys and walleyes but it's loaded with crappies and bass
How much was that furnace and what exactly is it called?
Its a Suburban Furnace. They can be hard to find. Here is a link to their website: suburbanrv.com/climate-control/furnaces/ I believe mine is a 20K Btu/h. I actually got mine from Milaca Unclaimed Freight in Minnesota. It was $250, but prices have increased significantly since then.
Looks awesome. I heard that batteries give of toxins when they are charging just a thought?
Hi Evan. Thanks for the comment. Yes, batteries can give off a gas when charging. Its important to have good ventilation. So far I've only charged the batteries while the shack was not being used. If you noticed, I do have a vent hole cut out in front of the battery and a fan installed just above it.
AGM batteries shouldn't off gas
@@DrManhattan84 Good point. I do have an AGM battery installed in the shack, so we should be safe.
This looks sweet wouldn’t you want to put a few more holes in? And also what music is at the end?
Hi Tyler. So far I added one additional hole so I can use my underwater camera. Three people fishing in there is comfortable. If I add more holes, then more people will want to go with! The song at the end is called Hot Kicks. You can find it on soundstripe. Here's the link: soundstripe.com?fpr=rande14 If you are interested you can use the promo code GoMidwest to get 10% off. Thanks for watching!
@@GoMidwestFishing how would you find it or use the sound because it’s super cool!
@@tylerthilmany8355 Just go to that link I provided, click browse music. Then in the top left click music. In the search bar, type hot kicks. It is the one by BRASKO. You will need a subscription to the music service to download and use the song.
@@GoMidwestFishing oh dang my bad I meant the song for when you did the final look at the shack my bad I didn’t get to the complete end
OK, I found the title for that song. Its Man In The Arena
by Kristian Leo. Again, search for that on Soundstripe.
Great video!!
I would like some details on trailer: brand, dealer, any specs as far as metal thickness if you have any
I'll see what I can find. My Father-in -law bought the trailer.
H&H trailer made in Iowa the whole frame is all powder coated underneath, really nice trailers I own one the same trailer exact, and the jack up front turns upward when you're not need enough which is nice when you go certain places you won't tear are the jack off. I looked at a lot of trailers, their side door works perfect also close it with one finger. And it has the security latch on it also. Really really nice trailer.
With that front and Jack turning horizontal when you don't need it you can open the end gate on your pickup also. If you have the stationary jack up front you cannot open your end gate all the way unless you disconnect your trailer.
@@lowellnelson4398 Thanks for supplying that info. It has been a great trailer so far. We even went camping in it.
If a trailer is provided. Would you commission another build? Im in NW Ia.
Hi. I appreciate the offer. I'm over my head in my own projects, so I simply don't have the time, but I'm happy that you would trust me to do it.
@@GoMidwestFishing anytime man thanks for the reply!
I’m in southern Iowa. Get the parts I’ll do it. I’m in Centerville.
Going to do one of my own as well very soon.
@@riverfallscory well if ya make one lemme know how it goes haha I hate to be the test bunny ya know?
appreciate your vid... Question any reason you used prop. heat instead of diesel,....I have had nothing but bad experience with prop, way to much moisture given off, No insult intended Thank you
Hi Rob.. Thanks for the question. I used the same furnace they put in ice castles. They run on propane and are a vented furnace. I have had no issues with moisture running it. I've had a few people comment saying they used diesel heaters and it worked well for them. I was more familiar with the propane furnace and found it simpler to install. This furnace running on low keeps it plenty warm inside even on really cold days. In the end, in comes down to personal preference. Either one would work well.
@@GoMidwestFishing Thanks for your reply appreciated
How long with that battery last powering everything? Will it last the entire day?
Hi Justin. Thanks for the question. I got the biggest AGM marine battery I could buy at Cabelas. I use it for this shack, but also power my campers with it. I've gone five days in my camper powering lights, furnace blowers, fans, and recharging a ton of camera batteries. The ice shack draws very little power. I bet I could get well over a week of solid use out of it before recharging.
Electrics and propane next to each other is asking for issues. maybe move the tank outside the living space ?
I wanted to put the propane on the outside, but the "V" front left no room to do so. But yes, it should go on the outside if possible.
Great job. What size is your trailer?
Hi, Thanks for the question. The trailer is 6x12 feet. You can find more info about it here: gomidwestfishing.com/ice-house/
The sleeves for the holes, were they long enough or was there an opening by the ice. Also do you think it would be beneficial to put jack stands in the two back corner to make it more stable. I would like to make one next summer.
Also so could you tell me the name brand of the trailer. I remember hearing it could be bought in Iowa
@@sandraphillipp1815 The sleeves generally fall about an inch or two above the ground, but after drilling a hole, there is plenty of slush that you can stack around the edge of the tube to seal it off. As for jack stands, yes, they are a good idea. I have always left mine attached to my truck while using it. That way it stays nice and stable and makes it easy to move spots. If you disconnect it, and put all the weight to the rear, it might tip up, so some kind of stabilizer would be needed.
@@sandraphillipp1815 The trailer I have is a H&H trailer. Here is their website: www.hhtrailer.com/
May I ask, how does the trailer do on the ice? Was it a pain to fish the holes or leveling it? Thinking of doing the same thanks.
It worked great. I left it attached to my truck while using it, so you will need to make sure it is level when attached to your hitch. For me, I bought an adjustable drop hitch. The best part of this set up is that it is super easy to move spots. All you have to do is pull the tubes out of the holes and drive to the next spot. No need to crank the house up off the ice. If the ice is thick, you might need an auger extension because you are starting from a foot off the ice. I hope that helps.
@@GoMidwestFishing thanks for the reply,, good point about the hitch drop and moving as soon and fast as you want... will convert my too soon..
@@phonxayphonseya3670 Good luck!
You didn't insulate the floor, you felt that wasn't needed?
Hi Doug. I see you found the answer already. So far it hasn't been an issue. It stays plenty warm in there. I made it for day use only. If it were to stay on the ice for weeks, then yes, I would insulate the floor.
No exhaust vent for the furnace?
Yes there is an exhaust vent. I showed it in great detail. It is a vented furnace so it has an air intake and exhaust that exits through the side of the trailer. You can see it on the right side of the door. Thanks for watching.
@@GoMidwestFishing sorry I missed that. Good work!
What is the name of that furnace?
It is a Suburban furnace. Here is the amazon link to it: amzn.to/3bUsfgk I bought mine at Milaca Unclaimed freight for half the cost that amazon sells it for. I would check with them first. Here is their website: www.milacaunclaimedfreight.com/
Do you know where I could get that spare tire mount?
The spare tire mount came with the trailer, so I didn't have to buy it separately. I just moved it from the inside and mounted it to the outside to make more room. I'm thinking your best bet would be to check at a trailer dealer. They either have, or can order the parts that normally come with trailers like this one. Thanks for watching.
3000 canadian ? or 3841 with the exchange rate..how much duty and how much to register it
My Father-in-law owns the trailer and registered it. I don't know the amount, but its not very much.
I don't trust those 4 screws that is holding the spare tire rack, going down a really rough road will put a lot of stress on them and eventually cause them to break.
If it were only one or two screws, I can see that being a problem. With four, fairly big screws, it feels like its holding real tight. I understand your concern, and will be sure to let you know if it ever falls off.
It needs a drop axle
I move around a lot, so this is perfect for me. If you want something that stays out on the lake, then a drop axle makes more sense. I use it more like a portable.
Awesome job!!! How do you open the door from the inside?
Thanks for the compliment. If you're wondering about the back door, all you have to do is push on it. It is spring loaded so it stays closed until push on. Of course you have to release the latches from the outside first. When traveling, you keep it locked from the outside and can't be opened from the inside then.
Did you seal under the trailer the important bit >
I did not put any sealer under the trailer. Even though it never sits on the ground, it might be a good idea to do so. I will keep an eye on it to see if there is any damage.
I was told seal the top of the floor but not the bottom, this way any water can drip out and dry out, if you seal the bottom you can trap moisture in. I don’t know if this is true, but it makes sense to me.
@@josephdowney4919 Yes, I believe I have heard that also. The bottom is already colored black, so it appears it has some kind of sealer from the factory.
HeIIo Bro Iike 77 😙💞
Salam kenal om ku, jngn lupa mampur
Thank you