HELP WITH ICE SHACK

[BigD]

I am planning on building a permanent ice shack this spring, and i have a lot of questions, and have read almost every post on the topic and have just come up with more.  I was thinking about making it an 8x10 or 8x12, but might go with 7 wide so i can have wheels on the outside. heres my questions

1. How hard is it to make aframe that lowers and raises a shack, and how much would it cost me to get one made.

2. ARE 2X2S strong enough for wall studs.  ( I am an estimator and lumber manager at a Menards and keep wanting to go by the housing codes and am afraid i will make it to heavy.

3. Is steel a good thing for siding or is lauan better

[grumpymoe]

2. ARE 2X2S strong enough for wall studs.  ( I am an estimator and lumber manager at a Menards and keep wanting to go by the housing codes and am afraid i will make it to heavy

....absolutely....having said that, if I were starting again, I would likely use 1x3's....still light...leaves lots of room if you insulate.....provides more rigidity                                                                         

. Is steel a good thing for siding or is lauan better

.....luan....saves alot of weight.....as far as the frame?....never had anything to do with folding wheels.....one important thing that you likely already thought of.....alot of plowed roads and trails are usually vehicle track width.....anything much wider than 6' might put some strain on the shanty and the suspension part of your frame......Grump

[wavewatcher]

2. ARE 2X2S strong enough for wall studs.  ( I am an estimator and lumber manager at a Menards and keep wanting to go by the housing codes and am afraid i will make it to heavy.

Our shack has 1x2 for wall studs 2 foot centers. skun over with 1/4" ply wood the shack is 6x10. the heavyest part is the rubber roofing.  light is good. strenth is all in how you build it. a friend of mine has one built out of 2x4, 2x2 2x6, and that thing is a pain in the butt to move.  it takes a truck to pull it. but its built like fort knox!!!!!!

a few pics of the shack

[hillmannfamily]

All the perminent shacks my family uses are 1x2 frames with 1/8 or1/4 inch sheathing we have used luan, panneling  and hardboard the biggest one is 6x10 with hardboard no floor and 2 people can lift it onto a truck easly.

[hardwater]

2x2's are fine.  Luan board will save on the weight but paint it before it even hits the ice or say bye bye.   my shanties are 2x4 floors and 2x2 walls with 7/16 OSB sheathing and a 1/2 inch plywood floor.

[oldken]

my shack is 4x8 2x2 frame covered with aluminum siding 2 inches of insulation inside. 2 of us load it easily the only real weight is the one half inch plywood floor and 2x6 runners works great

[Fishkeeper]

I think the tin on my shanty (6 x 9) polly weighs 200 pounds...but I'm just guessing...will hafta figure it out .