Curious what the experienced guys like to have under there machines before rolling out on the ice? I have a 99 wolverine the is just under 500#. I have 25" tires that I run at 4psi.

 

don't forget your weight and gear all figures into that as well...

 

Yes I understand that, but thought I could pass on a bunch of useless posts about how machines differ in weight.

Any body that ice fishes with there machine just list what machine you have. Thanks again and look foward to replies.

 

5 inches is more than enough to support you and your machine, but water doesn't freeze evenly. It seems shallower lakes have more warm pockets and you may find spots where the ice is very thin. I like to wait til there is about 10 inches. This is enough to support your truck if the ice is even not that I would take my truck on 10 inches, but i wouldn't be afraid to take the quad out there. Better to be safe than sorry.

 

Ugly,

I also have a wolverine with 25 inch tires and for me 4 inches of solid ice is enough to take my wheeler out on the lake. To add to what starky said I wait for 12 inches to bring out a car of truck.

Ryan

 

nah man 4 inches is enuff to fish in mi, but in are small town we wait for at least 8" to go out on, i feel safe with 8 i would drive on 6'' if i was despret, but 8 is a good amount i have seen cars and trucks out on 8 inchs of ice, its all about distribution of wieght if you are on 4 inchs of ice with a 400 lbs atv and most of the wieght is on the back you hit a soft spot and yur gone.

 

Blaster,

That is funny 4 to fish on and 8 to drive any vehicle on. I walk on 2.5, drive a atv on 4, but a truck on 8 you have gotta be crazy. You must be a yooper [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

Ryan







PS just kidding about the yooper comment, my dad was born and raised just outside escanaba

 

no im a troll, lol get it cuz i live under the bridge lol, ya ive seen trucks go on 8" tho.

 

not all ice is created equal, the clearer the ice the stronger it is, cloudy gray ice is very weak. five inches should be o.k. if the water is still and shallow i've been out on 3", if all i'm going to do is get wet, if the water is deep, I get a little more chicken

 

starkys right