I play quite a bit of pond hockey (free ice!) and you need at least 4 inches to be safe. When someone takes a hit, usually a hairline will scream accross the lake with a thundering craaack. Better not unless there's at least 6 inches. A good friend of mine rides his Jeep on Lake Erie every winter, with 12 inches though.

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Steve Small,'00 400ex
'00 325 Trail Boss for the wife.
Impuls90 for the boys.
<a href="mailto:extreme400ex@home.com">EXtreme E-mail</a>



[This message has been edited by EXtreme (edited 01-04-2000).]

 

Riding on ice a blast,breaking through and possibly dying does put a damper on the fun.Check with ice fisherman,or drill holes and measure with a tape.I wont go on less than 6, conservative...but safe!I have seen divers pull snowmobilers out after they went through open water less than 100yds from where our 4 trucks were parked on 3ft of ice! Know your water,RIDE SAFELY.RIDE WITH A BUD! Bill450es North Branch Minn. Powersliding a Honda is FUN!!!

 

1 1/2 INCH IS ALL YOU NEED, THE QUAD DISPLACES ITS WEIGHT MORE EVENLY THAN A BODY.
ALSO, STAP ON SOME LIFE PRESERVERS OR LOTS OF EMPTY, CLOSED, SODA BOTTLES, IF YOU GO THROUGH, IT WILL FLOAT, AND ALL WHO HAVE SPLASHED, KNOW THEY DONT FLOAT VERY WELL, ALSO A LIFE VEST IS A GOOD IDEA 4 YOU, JUST IN CASE

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The RayMan 87YFZ350, 98YFZ350, 89YFM350, JUNK>>>>>88250R<<<JUNK 95 Silverado 4X4

 

I have ridden on only about 2-3 inches before but it was a pond I knew well and it was only about 12 inches deep anyway. I was lucky though, because after a few minutes my back end broke through the ice and my front was still on ice, so I just kept breaking ice with my back while the front stayed up until I got to the other side. It didn't really scare my though because I half expected it to happen and I knew I wasn't in any real danger or I wouldn't have done it. Anything real shallow and a few inches will do because you are safe no matter what, but on deep ponds or lakes I don't know if I would ever go out. Maybe if someone who REALLY REALLY knew the area and what they were doing. Later!

Mudman '00 Sportsman 500 Vamped (Mean Green Muddin' Machine)

 

Hello Matt, I am from minnesota. I have been out on a couple of lakes this winter ice fishing with my atv. Plus, some swamps that are froze up.

2 inches is safe to walk on, on foot.
6 inches is safe to drive atv's, snowmobiles.
12 inches is safe to drive trucks.

You can drive on less then these nos. but you
asked, what is safe to drive on, and thats what these nos. are.

you should be safe on the pond then as the entire pond should be stagnet water with no springs which would have less ice.

We always check the ice first by drilling a hole, rather then to assume the ice thickness.

Already, this winter, we have atv's, snowmobiles, and trucks that have gone down under. Most of the time the occupant of the vehcile was resqued. Some lakes have natural springs and the ice is less in those areas. In the twin cities, a few of the lakes have arriators and so these are man made springs and the ice is less here. We do enjoy riding our atv's on the ice up here !!

chet lake, year 2000 polaris xpedition 425 cc
5 speed.

 

air your tires down to disperse more weight. I have never tried this on ice, but it sounds practical!

 

This is from "The WORST-CASE SCENARIO Survival Handbook"
How to Avoid Breaking Through The Ice
Cars and light trucks need at least eight inches of clear, solid ice on which to drive safely.
Driving early or late in the season is not advisable.
Leaving your car in one place for a long period of time can weaken the ice beneath it, and cars should not be parked-or-dirven-close together. Duh! (my comment)
Cross any cracks at right angles, and drive slowly.
New ice is generally thicker than old ice.
Direct freezing of lake or stream water is stronger than refreezing, freezing of melting snow, or freezing of water bubbling up through cracks.
If there is a layer of snow on the ice, beware: a layer of snow insulates the ice, slowing the freezing process, and the snow's weight can decrease the bearing capacity of the ice.
Ice near the shore is weaker.
River ice is generally weaker than lake ice.
River mouths are dangerous, because the ice near them is weaker.
Carry several large nails in your pocket, and a length of rope. The nails will help you pull yourself out of the ice, and the rope can be thrown to someone on more solid ice, or can be used to help someone else.

Now you know!

Sneeky

 

I would recommend that anyone who is venturing out on the ice do it with a partner, and do it with a person who knows the region.

In Southern Ontario we have many deaths due to people going through ice. I can say that it is not uncommon for the accidents to happen on common weak areas which are known by residents. On large lakes there are currents, rivers, and soft or thin spots. You only get to know them by living there or befriending a resident.

I have more confidence if I am riding with a resident of the area.

RM

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99 400EX 95 Scrambler 400 85 LT250R

 

Here in Iowa they say that it is safe to drive on 6+ inches of ice with your truck, You can drive your ATV on 4+ of ice without a probelm, I have had experience with this from Ice fishing with my dad and his friends, 4 inches is all you need, anything less is risking it cuz of weak spots.

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RangerSX 1987 Honda 250X(completely stock)