Ice shanty - What to buy?

[Madd Matt]

I really like the Eskimo brand. I pull my Eskimo behind a quad and also behind a 6x6 Polaris ranger. This last week we went out 4 days, about 6-8 miles each day, we moved a couple times, and my GPS shows my speed between 18-28 MPH. I hit some pretty big shoves that I didn't see in time that I thought for sure were going damage or flip the sled... I have never had my sled flip. I do have the 3 man sled & shanty and it has a little larger base than most 2 man. However, the Eskimo FlipMo 2 Inferno (Inferno means its insulated) has the same size sled and same footprint as the 3 man, and the seats swivel! I have already ordered the Eskimo FlipMo 2 Inferno for next year. They aren't shipping until August this year. The shanty is attached to the sled (as with most any brand you buy "Clam" "FraBil" etc...) from the time I pull up to my spot until the shanty is fully set up on the ice is less than 1 minute (this will also be the case with any good brand flip system).

The seats you see are permanently installed, but they flip down. I fit 4 - 5 gal. buckets in the sled, plus a 20lb propane tank with heater (seen in pic) That all fits behind the seats. I then put all my rods under the seats from the front, and I have a TON! of room left in the shanty sled to travel. The only thing that I do not put in the shanty is the auger. The shovel and everything else all fit in the shanty for towing. The nice thing is that you can set the shanty up without having to move or unload any gear... you can do that once it is set up and the heat is on!

The Eskimo is a great product and amazing customer support should you ever have a problem. I had a crack in one of the plastic windows.. they answered the phone right away, asked me the model & serial #, and shipped me a new one.

[Madd Matt]

A few more pics of the Eskimo Shanty

[PirateMike]

Thanks Matt, so where is the best place to purchase from? So tell me more on how you fish your flip up? When you want out, do you go through door or flip up? Does the skirting sit flat to keep wind from cooling things down. What stabelizes the sled/shanty when two guys are sitting on the one side of it? Do you set heater in front of or behind you? What is best price on the 3 man eskimo flip?

[wakina]

I don't know if they carry the model you are looking for but~~ Here is a site that has several brands including Eskimo as well as good prices and they allow you to spread your purchase of $150.00 or more over 4 months if you have decent credit. You have to join and the cost is $29.99 but usually you get that back and then some in savings with a major purchase. Click on boating & fishing in the left side menu and then on the far right there will be the ice fishing gear. I bought my remote kicker steering, The Panther electro steer T4 for $439.00 and that included the membership fee. That is at least $50.00 cheaper than any other place that I found. Then you also get 2 coupons worth $10.00 each for your next 2 purchases. Took less than a week to get my items and they were well packaged.



http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/club/clubtour.aspx

[Firetiger]

Otter hands down. They have the best made sleds available. I've been pulling them on Erie ice for years without any problems. I cant say that about the Clams I had, the tubs would crack.The only downfall they are not a cheap shanty or something you want to pull by hand, they are heavy.

Thornebros.com has shanties on sale, and if you ship to someone that have a business address it will save you some money. Franks has been sold out of otter for awhile

ive never had a problem with mine flipping with the factory tow bar, but then again I don't 50mph like some.......

[Eye Doctor]

I just bought an otter lodge.....the full insulated one.....cheapest was on amazon with the free shipping....plan to use it ONLY behind the ATV.

[PirateMike]

Hey Eye Doctor, did you get the XT650 lodge or 1200 lodge. Can't find any 650's in stock with free shipping.

[Madd Matt]

Thanks Matt, so where is the best place to purchase from? So tell me more on how you fish your flip up? When you want out, do you go through door or flip up? Does the skirting sit flat to keep wind from cooling things down. What stabelizes the sled/shanty when two guys are sitting on the one side of it? Do you set heater in front of or behind you? What is best price on the 3 man eskimo flip?

Mike,

Sorry, I haven't been on here for a week... There are plenty of windows in the Eskimo (or any good shanty), you enter through a door. Yes, there is a skirt that completely surrounds the shanty (as any good brand shanty will have) that lays on the ice and stops the wind. The seats are bolted into the sled and when you are sitting in the shanty "you" are weighing the shanty down. When you set up a shanty they are designed to have their "back" to the wind. In 35 -40 MPH I wouldn't think twice about walking away from the shanty and leaving it by itself. There are shanties that require anchors and tie downs... A good shanty with a sled should not require tiedowns. Keep in mind that the shanty is connected to the sled, and the sled has all of your gear in it. My sled probably has 75 lbs or more of gear... all of that weight is holding the shanty in place.

The heater I use is massive! I have a ton of room inside (this is something that you need to consider heavily when looking at shanties), I use a radiant heater on top of a 20lb propane cylinder... most people use a "Buddy Heater" that uses the small propane cylinders... Many shanties do not have room for my heater, and most guys would tell you that my heater is WAY overkill... I keep it on low, and 2 weeks ago when it was -18 degrees and blowing my shanty was 65 degrees and we were fishing in our t-shirts. The "Buddy Heaters" will keep it plenty warm and most guys want to be a little cold anyway... isn't that kinda what ice fishing is all about?

The Eskimo FlipMo 2 Inferno is insulated and runs about $600 + You should be able to find an Eskimo 2 man or 3 man for under $500. Mine is not insulated, but I don't need it insulated as I heat mine.

-Matt

[PirateMike]

Thanks guys, I ended up buying the Otter 650 Lodge, initially wanted the Cabin but found late season price for same as I could have picked up Cabin so went with Lodge, just hope it isn't too large/heavy. Didn't see Time4one or I might have looked at yours........oh well, day late and dollar short.