I think any 4x4 quad will do. I pulled our 8x8 with skids on and off the lake with my wolverine last year and that is one of the smallest 4x4 you can find. I know a couple of people that pull bigger ones around with their Grizzlies. The only mod is bigger tires. I think if you got a grizzly you would be very satisfied.

Ryan

 

thanks for the advice guys, keep it coming, I think a 4x4 atv is still more what we are looking for compared to a rhino or ranger.

 

Well guess I gotta open some more cans of worms. This passed sat. at a ride in Markleysbugh Pa. I couldn't believe MY TRAXTER and other atvs, could not make it up the final hill on the first try. A hill the organisers told the weak and faint of heart to go around. Then at the end came a Yamaha 2 seater (I'm not sure"Bruin" I think-can't remember) anyhow went up and over that hill smoother than any thing I ever seen. For my beloved Traxter; I think the driver was more at fault, goosing the throtle, breaking tracktion.
As for that IRS argument. I'm told that pound for pound in every class at an ATV pull. The solid axils win out. As for tires stay with the stock tires. You want to float as much as possible on snow. Not dig deep, like what will happen with the directional mud type that normally dosen't clean its self and becomes a slick in any moist snow. How do I know, I live near 7 springs ski resort in Pa. Lots of snow!

 

Here in the east, at ski resorts, when you get a warm winter day with some rain and a very cold night. You wind up with propably the worst ski condition there is-called boiler plate (ice). Well them snow groomers with their 3 foot wide tracks seem to get around very well on it. Tring to break it where they can. All that rubber-even on atv tracks-have to get some traction.

 

hey psych,
When I first started ice fishin' I had a' 94 honda 300 4x4, I pulled my shanty all over the lake for a couple seasons, with no probs. and no chains! That lil thing was unbelievable. Anyway I upgraded a couple of times just to keep up with the times and really never had any probs. with any of the 4 brands or sizes that I have had. Currently I do own a 04 griz with 26x10x12 MUDSHARK tires all the way around, and she does pull ,so you will probly be fine. shanty size 5x8 with wood stove, I tried to build the shanty lite but I got carried away its pretty heavy. I do agree with the other replys in deeper snow you will need a snowmobile I owned 2 polaris sleds to bail me out when I needed maybe twice. Good luck with whatever your dad chooses and DO CATCH 'EM ALL !!

 

I see Suzuki just came out with a King Quad 700 EFI, anybody know anything about this? Yamaha has the best finance deal right now, what do you guys think?

 

Hey Psychotic,
I just purchased a Suzuki KQ700 last month and am also planning on using it to pull my ice house, a 6.5x14 Ice Castle. I have already used my quad to pull out the dock and boat lift and pull my loaded boat and snowmobile trailers around the yard with absolutely no issues. Don't worry about the IRS. I had very little squat pulling up to 1400lb loads and it didn't even seem like I was taxing the machine at all. You will have to click the shocks to a firmer setting, however. And, the IRS gives a great ride when your just out having fun. I am planning on adding tire chains for the ice. I added studs to my snowmobile track last winter, but when pulling the fish house on glare ice, the track would just scrape the ice and spin with higher rpm. I have seen much more success with ATVs for pulling, even in the deeper snow. The KQ700 should have everything you're looking for!

 

speaking of heavy, if your looking for the heaviest quad they make with a beefy 700 CC motor, that comes STOCK with dual 2,500 pound winches and Goodyear runflat tires, that can pull 1500 POUNDS and hulls almost 10 gallons of gasolline, check out the Polaris MV, few pounds short of 1000

 

Ice castles are nice houses. Do you live right on prior lake? Prior Lake has some nice bass in that lake, and lots of panfish. if you do not mind me asking how much for your KQ700 out the door? and where at? considering im only like 30 miles from you or so.

 

I forgot to mention, Welcome to the Forums!