CORE-ICE fish house owners

[Gator800r]

I'm thinking about picking up a Core-Ice hybrid 6515 wheel/skid house. I'm looking for input from anyone that owns or has owned a Core Ice house. I want to hear your experiences with them good or bad. I've been doing a lot of research but there is not a ton of info on them. Youtuber Alex Timm is running one of their houses this season and also has some great video's out there right now and I will definitely be following him closely. I'm specifically looking at the 6515 model. This is the only type of hybrid wheel/skid house on the market that I'm aware of. It seems be exactly what I'm looking for. I need something light, able to fit my ATV inside and also be able to be towed by my ATV (sportsman 1000) I know its not the biggest house or the cheapest. But it is the lightest and seems to be well made and insulated. Many people don't like the looks or price tag and that's OK . I also don't like the price tag but it is what it is. I always go for function over looks and will determine on my own if I want to drop that much coin on one. Honestly they're not to much more than a comparable Yetti house.

So with that being said. Anyone one out there have any experience with Core-Ice houses?
https://core-ice.com/

[ksgoosekillr]

A good friend of mine runs that model with the 43 option package.  It is built well, and aside from dumb mistakes he has made like running across the ice sitting on the remote where the jack legs start extending and ripping them off it has been good to him. I used to do all of his mechanic work and work on the rig.  Replaced the jack legs, etc. The only real complaint is the control system not operating correctly, not wanting to sync up to the legs via blue tooth either for the remote or the wall unit.  It sure would be nice to have those hard plumbed with a switch as a backup.  Right now you can manually run them off the top of the head of each leg but the orientation of the leg puts the buttons in a spot that you almost cant reach. I would absolutely ad a manually wall switch like a camper has as a backup for the legs.  He has a Can Am with tracks and it BARELY and i mean barely fits tracks rubbing the fender wells and he has to crawl out the front window to get out of the side by side once inside.

[Skywagon]

I don't have any experience (or need) for a wheeled house in my situation, but can see this would have utility to a limited number of people.  Very interesting concept, I hope to see some replies

[DQM]

I have had a Core 6515ST for over 3 years now and I love it. 

It’s been a great house and I have not had any issues with it since I bought it. 

The Core Ice Owners groups on Facebook is also pretty good.

The only thing to be really aware of when towing it with your wheeler loaded.  They like a lot of tongue weight and if you do not load up your gear in to the front of the house when towing the wheeler inside it can get a little too tail heavy.

If you have any specific questions please ask away. 

[Gator800r]

I have had a Core 6515ST for over 3 years now and I love it. 

It’s been a great house and I have not had any issues with it since I bought it. 

The Core Ice Owners groups on Facebook is also pretty good.

The only thing to be really aware of when towing it with your wheeler loaded.  They like a lot of tongue weight and if you do not load up your gear in to the front of the house when towing the wheeler inside it can get a little too tail heavy.

If you have any specific questions please ask away.

That’s great to hear. Thank you. In your opinion do think I would have any issues with it being to tail heavy loading it up with a tracked sportsman 1000? My ATV is already pretty heavy and putting tracks on it will only add to the weight. What do you tow the ice house around with? Do you use tracks or just chains? What layout did you choose and are you happy with your layout? Thanks again

[DQM]

That’s great to hear. Thank you. In your opinion do think I would have any issues with it being to tail heavy loading it up with a tracked sportsman 1000? My ATV is already pretty heavy and putting tracks on it will only add to the weight. What do you tow the ice house around with? Do you use tracks or just chains? What layout did you choose and are you happy with your layout? Thanks again

You all be fine with the ATV on tracks.  Just load up some gear in the front.  I just put my extra gear in the closet or by the door after I load the ATV (generator, if I bring it, usually I use my Ford Powerboost as my generator) and the extra crates I bring for food, gear, etc).  You just need to add maybe 100lbs of gear towards the front and you will be fine.  I use Plano Sportsman 56 quart boxes, they are perfect for sliding under the jackknife sofa to keep out of the way.

I have the 6515ST with package 42 with the premium entertainment center, which I do not think they offer anymore with the new window layouts.  I love the layout, perfect for one person but sleeps and fishes two very comfortably as well.  I had added quite a bit of extra Core Rail around the house to mount things and move some stuff around, and added a Laveo dry flush toilet to the closet, as well as Starlink satellite internet. 

I have a CanAm Outlander Max (factory two up, long frame) 570 I pull it with.  I can pull it without a dolly, but it puts quite a load on the rear suspension, which is a CanAm thing since the Outlanders have very soft suspension to begin with.  Usually I use a dolly as well if just pulling it on the wheels.  I don't have tracks, just chains when needed and it pulls great.

Highly recommend the wood grain floor option, looks great.  Overall it is pretty indestructible.  Sips propane.  Four days on Red last weekend, -18 at night and 30mph winds, and I didn't even go through one 20lb tank. 

Some of the Core accessories they sell are great, like the shelves.  Others you can easily make yourself for a lot cheaper than they sell them (coat racks, rod holders, etc.) but buying the clips from Amazon and the synthetic board from Hope Depot or Menards.

I do not have a RGB lighting package.  There are times I wish I did, but really it would just be because it would be kinda neat.  Not really needed. 

The post above that mentioned issues with the jacks was not a 6515ST.  It must have been an 8019.  The 6515 does not have remote jacks in the back, and the front remote jack is an option (and I recommend it).  Raising and lowering is easy. I can set it top as fast as I can my flip over. 

[Gator800r]

DQM.    Thanks so much for all the feedback! This is exactly what im looking for. You’re the 2nd owner that has owned and fished from one for a few years that has given me some great feedback. Both of you have spoken highly about them. This is reassuring me that this is the house I want and will fit my needs. Thanks for taking the time to give the feedback! How much snow have you pulled the house through before it starts struggling? Whats your minimum amount of ice you feel comfortable on given its good ice? Any negative things on the house other than price?

[DQM]

DQM.    Thanks so much for all the feedback! This is exactly what im looking for. You’re the 2nd owner that has owned and fished from one for a few years that has given me some great feedback. Both of you have spoken highly about them. This is reassuring me that this is the house I want and will fit my needs. Thanks for taking the time to give the feedback! How much snow have you pulled the house through before it starts struggling? Whats your minimum amount of ice you feel comfortable on given its good ice? Any negative things on the house other than price?

Nothing negative I can really say about it.  Well, ok, one thing.  The rear table was quite wobbly.  I bought a new mounting pole for it and it made it a lot better.  Honestly, that is about it.

Ok, one more thing.  Not a negative, just reality.  Because it is a wheel/skid hybrid, when it is lowered there are some big gaps between the three skids.  So it if is really cold out and windy, you need to bank it very well in the back and front.  If there is no snow it can cause some draftiness from your holes, even with sleeves.  I suppose you could try the new insulating wraps for hole sleeves, never tried them.

I do think from the factory they should come with some of the changes I made, moving the table and mount storage in to the closet to get it out of the way, for example.  Easy enough to change, if you buy some Core Rail and add some inside the closet. 

I do not get too adventurous with it.  I like about 8 inches of solid ice before I would tow it out behind the wheeler.  As for snow depth, with a wheeler and chains not really setup for going too deep in the snow anyway. 

[wirehairman]

I have also been looking at the Core-Ice ice houses and seriously considering one as a retirement plan in a few years.  I have narrowed my dream down to the 6515AT with Package 42.  Wheelhouses aren't that common out here in Montana, so threads like these are really helpful.

One question I do have is the wheeled versus wheel/skid hybrid.  What advantage do the skids provide?  We typically don't have a lot of snow on the ice here.

[cwavs1982]

I have also been looking at the Core-Ice ice houses and seriously considering one as a retirement plan in a few years.  I have narrowed my dream down to the 6515AT with Package 42.  Wheelhouses aren't that common out here in Montana, so threads like these are really helpful.

One question I do have is the wheeled versus wheel/skid hybrid.  What advantage do the skids provide?  We typically don't have a lot of snow on the ice here.

From what I was told  - Skids spread out the weight when sitting on the ice, and make it easier to pull thru the snow. 

[Gator800r]

From what I was told  - Skids spread out the weight when sitting on the ice, and make it easier to pull thru the snow.

Yes it spreads the weight out and another big advantage of a skid house is ease of moving spots. No need to jack up the house to put back on wheels. Also if you’re pulling the house on skids there is no tongue weight which is huge if your pulling with a ATV. There really is no disadvantage (that I’m aware of) of going with the ST over the AT

DQM…..Thanks again for all the info. Very helpful!