Flip over ice house

[The General]

I just got a call from a buddy that has decided to get rid of his clam x2 thermal house, cover, k-drill and older yellow 9inch Jiffy.  I asked him how much he was selling for and he said everything for $600.  I tried to get him to keep it but he had his mind made up.  I told him I’d buy it but with the intent of selling it as I don’t need it and thought he was selling too cheap.  He said he didn’t want the headache of c-list or Facebook which I understand.  The house is 4 or 5 years old and used about 3 times and the k drill used during those times.  The jiffy I will have to clean the carb out and get running again. 

Here is where I need your guys help.  I’m thinking about keeping his house and selling mine but keep going back and forth.  I have the same age otter xt650 cabin with the insulated top.  The clam is the same size but he has the nice chairs and I have the bench.  Which the bench is what I wanted 5 years ago with two kids so we could all fish together.  Now the kids do their own stuff and don’t come fishing as much and if they do it’s one or the other.  My house does have the nice hitch that folds over when transporting so I’d have to see if I could make it fit on the clam.  I could also buy the nice clam hitch for $90.  The clam has the lights built right into the bar but I put some led lights on mine.  The sled part both seem to be really well built and look like new on both his with a little less use of course.  I really want the chairs and to put them in mine it’s $119 per chair and another $50 for the cross member.  What are your guys thoughts?  Any other questions you would need answered let me know.  Thanks.

[glenn57]

Tough call. How much work would it be to take the 2 and make the one you want out of both.

If I understand what your saying personally I'd use the one you my buy, add the hitch, add lex light and sell your old one as is. One would think you'd get a few extra bucks leaving all your goodies on the one you want to sell

[The General]

Tough call. How much work would it be to take the 2 and make the one you want out of both.

If I understand what your saying personally I'd use the one you my buy, add the hitch, add lex light and sell your old one as is. One would think you'd get a few extra bucks leaving all your goodies on the one you want to sell

I’m not sure the chairs from one would fit in the other and same with putting a bench that says otter outdoors in the clam.  The way the chairs are mounted, I believe, are specific to how the sled is molded.

[glenn57]

That's easy then make that one yours, add to it what fights your fancy, sell yours

[The General]

Easy.....maybe I’m just not sure clam is as good quality as an otter so maybe I’m better off spending the money on the chairs.  However maybe someone here has experience with the newer clams and they will set my mind at ease. 

[Leech~~]

I am on my 3rd flip over and second Clam Voyager the one now has a TCX thermal top. I have always pulled them with a sled.  With that said:
I would set them up side by side. Go in and out of them, flip them up and down to see if one works better and all the pipes and releases work good, zippers work, vent systems, seat feel.  Actually go from one to another and sit in and check the feel of each for function. One thing I know about the Otter sleds is the cut on one side if you sit in the house by yourself on that one side the whole house can tip that way. Just one thing.

-What do you pull them with?
-Do they both have wear runners on the bottom?
-How do the travel covers fit, almost lost 2 on the freeway.
-Actual fishing sq footage in front of the seats when flipped over?
-Weight of each, are you getting younger? I think the Otter is heavier if I remember?
-Fold up and down in the cold at -10 below. Again, I think the Otter has a heavier tarp and may fold up harder when cold and frosted after a day of use?
-Can you reach the bar releases on both sides by yourself, when fishing by yourself?
-Tub thickness and wear, some tubs take a beating when pulled with a sled or wheeler.
-Wear-tears in each top as of now? 
-A bench may be handy for a little nap if no ones with!   

Just a few things I can think of. 

[The General]

I am on my 3rd flip over and second Clam Voyager the one now has a TCX thermal top. I have always pulled them with a sled.  With that said:
I would set them up side by side. Go in and out of them, flip them up and down to see if one works better and all the pipes and releases work good, zippers work, vent systems, seat feel.  Actually go from one to another and sit in and check the feel of each for function. One thing I know about the Otter sleds is the cut on one side if you sit in the house by yourself on that one side the whole house can tip that way. Just one thing.

-What do you pull them with?
-Do they both have wear runners on the bottom?
-How do the travel covers fit, almost lost 2 on the freeway.
-Actual fishing sq footage in front of the seats when flipped over?
-Weight of each, are you getting younger? I think the Otter is heavier if I remember?
-Fold up and down in the cold at -10 below. Again, I think the Otter has a heavier tarp and may fold up harder when cold and frosted after a day of use?
-Can you reach the bar releases on both sides by yourself, when fishing by yourself?
-Tub thickness and wear, some tubs take a beating when pulled with a sled or wheeler.
-Wear-tears in each top as of now? 
-A bench may be handy for a little nap if no ones with!   

Just a few things I can think of.

Thanks leech I’ll answer all your questions in a minute but a quick one I have is why are you on your third one did you wear them out?  Just wanted something new? Kid took one (I did that to my Dad 20 years ago but I think he just wanted a new one)?

[glenn57]

That's good info leech!!

[Leech~~]

Thanks leech I’ll answer all your questions in a minute but a quick one I have is why are you on your third one did you wear them out?  Just wanted something new? Kid took one (I did that to my Dad 20 years ago but I think he just wanted a new one)?

My first one was an Eskimo flip over. I loved it but it was a piece of junk. The tub was way thin and I pretty much beat the crap out of that my first year and I drive fairly slow with my gear. The poles rusted easy and the top was thin and the zippers went out. Junk.
Second one was a plan Clam Voyager and went pretty nice, I put runners under the last two on day one. I had the first one for about 4 years and used it hard and it held up well. Because it did not have any thermal the top would drip and that bugs the living crap out of me to get pissed on all day!    I found a good deal on the Clam TCX thermal top and have had that going on about 3 years now with no issues.  I will say if I need to hit the gas for slush or make time I have hit about 45 mph with that thing and it pulls like it's not even back their with my 570 Cat Panther. 

[The General]

Leech, both houses are in near mint condition.  His has been used 3 times and mines gets used about 10 times a year.  More now that I sold my Ice Castle this summer.  I pull mine with my ranger and drive it and the house right on the trailer hooked up so weight doesn’t matter.  Neither of them have wear runners on the bottom.  Mine travels with the cover on everywhere even on the trailer down the highway and fits great.  Not sure how tight his fits but it does have a cover that you can open on the top to get stuff out mine does not.  I think the area in front is about the same but haven’t set them up side by side but I will.  I don’t remember if I can reach both sides but I rarely fish by myself.  I did just put my otter up and down as after fishing in the rain I brought it in the heated garage to completely dry out.  But it wasn’t tough or I’m guessing I would remember.  Not sure what you mean by wear-tears in the top.  There are zero holes anywhere in either sled and the zippers all work good.  I think that is an item that is bound to break in any house so I never use them.  Plus every one I’ve ever seen with a hole has a burn in the door from someone zipping open the door and it hitting the heater.  I just flip the house up to go in and out.  Think I answered all your questions and thanks.

[Leech~~]

Leech, both houses are in near mint condition.  His has been used 3 times and mines gets used about 10 times a year.  More now that I sold my Ice Castle this summer.  I pull mine with my ranger and drive it and the house right on the trailer hooked up so weight doesn’t matter.  Neither of them have wear runners on the bottom.  Mine travels with the cover on everywhere even on the trailer down the highway and fits great.  Not sure how tight his fits but it does have a cover that you can open on the top to get stuff out mine does not.  I think the area in front is about the same but haven’t set them up side by side but I will.  I don’t remember if I can reach both sides but I rarely fish by myself.  I did just put my otter up and down as after fishing in the rain I brought it in the heated garage to completely dry out.  But it wasn’t tough or I’m guessing I would remember.  Not sure what you mean by wear-tears in the top.  There are zero holes anywhere in either sled and the zippers all work good.  I think that is an item that is bound to break in any house so I never use them.  Plus every one I’ve ever seen with a hole has a burn in the door from someone zipping open the door and it hitting the heater.  I just flip the house up to go in and out.  Think I answered all your questions and thanks.

There are days when I fish with the top down, but when it's really cold I put it up and bank the outside edges to block the wind. If I do that I do use the zippers so I don't let out all the heat going in and out.  Yes I meant wear and tear in each top as of right now. I store mine in my garage standing up and it's easy to check out the bottom wear at that time after each outing. You may want to check out the wear of the bottom of each. It's amazing how much wear those added wear bars on the bottom take over time riding in rough ice. I do for the most part take it slow but can put on a lot of miles on the bigger lakes.

Anyway it's fun to have choices.  Have fun picking.   

My setup.

[glenn57]

Wow, you sold the castle.

[The General]

Leech, both houses are in near mint condition.  His has been used 3 times and mines gets used about 10 times a year.  More now that I sold my Ice Castle this summer.  I pull mine with my ranger and drive it and the house right on the trailer hooked up so weight doesn’t matter.  Neither of them have wear runners on the bottom.  Mine travels with the cover on everywhere even on the trailer down the highway and fits great.  Not sure how tight his fits but it does have a cover that you can open on the top to get stuff out mine does not.  I think the area in front is about the same but haven’t set them up side by side but I will.  I don’t remember if I can reach both sides but I rarely fish by myself.  I did just put my otter up and down as after fishing in the rain I brought it in the heated garage to completely dry out.  But it wasn’t tough or I’m guessing I would remember.  Not sure what you mean by wear-tears in the top.  There are zero holes anywhere in either sled and the zippers all work good.  I think that is an item that is bound to break in any house so I never use them.  Plus every one I’ve ever seen with a hole has a burn in the door from someone zipping open the door and it hitting the heater.  I just flip the house up to go in and out.  Think I answered all your questions and thanks.

There are days when I fish with the top down, but when it's really cold I put it up and bank the outside edges to block the wind. If I do that I do use the zippers so I don't let out all the heat going in and out.  Yes I meant wear and tear in each top as of right now. I store mine in my garage standing up and it's easy to check out the bottom wear at that time after each outing. You may want to check out the wear of the bottom of each. It's amazing how much wear those added wear bars on the bottom take over time riding in rough ice. I do for the most part take it slow but can put on a lot of miles on the bigger lakes.

Anyway it's fun to have choices.  Have fun picking.   

may setup.

Thanks leech.  It’s sounds like your 3 or 4 years of use would be about 15 to 20 for me.  Thanks for putting my mind at ease on the clam.  Those are the chairs I’m talking about.

[The General]

Wow, you sold the castle.

Yes, with kids and sports we just weren’t using it enough to justify having it like the first 2 years we had it.  I kept the goodies from LPS for the next one we buy in a few years when the kids are off to college.  Man I like those rattle reels.