Tricks to get portable in truck

[VTtwinner]

You know you have it bad when you're already thinking about next season, NOW.

I have a Shappell 1.5 flip shanty, and want to get a 2 person next year.  I've been looking at the Clam Yukon.  The problem is
lifting it in and out of the back of my pickup.  Anyone have any ideas?  It weighs 100+# empty.  More like 125# when it has equipment in it, that I wont take out.  Any Ideas?

[duck doctor]

Find a good snow bank?

125#'s should not be that difficicult to handle I would not think.

[bababooey]

From my experience, its not that its heavy, it's just awkward.

What I do is lift up one end and rest it on the tailgate, and then lift the other and slide it in.  I keep alot of gear in my shack and with a cover on it, I have never had any problems.

[Uplandhuntr]

What I do is lift up one end and rest it on the tailgate, and then lift the other and slide it in.  I keep alot of gear in my shack and with a cover on it, I have never had any problems.

I take most of my gear out and do it this way as well.   The only time I have a lot of trouble is if there is no snow on the ice.  It can be comical to see me try to get it set up on the tail gate and shuffle to the end of the shack on the ice, only to have it slip off the tailgate 4 or 5 times before I get to it before it slips.....   There is nothing to hold it in place on bare ice.

Probably should get a bungee strap to hold it on the tailgate....but that would be too easy.....and not near as fun for the neighbors to watch.

Uplandhuntr

[StonecoldCat]

You might try a couple old planks.They sell  metal attachments for the tailgate end.They don't need to be long or strong -just enough to give you a ramp to slide your sled up.Just leave em in the back of the truck -if they are too good someone might walk off w/em while you're on the ice

[ice--cube]

I would think a couple of 2 x 4's should work.

[dairyman]

Mount a set of skis on the bottom of the sled---it saves the bottom of the sled and the skis will give you the added length to reach your tailgate.  Lift and shove it in

[Gillgrabber]

From my experience, its not that its heavy, it's just awkward.

What I do is lift up one end and rest it on the tailgate, and then lift the other and slide it in.  I keep alot of gear in my shack and with a cover on it, I have never had any problems.

I do the same.  It's not that bad and doesn't seem to weigh anywhere near 100 lbs when you do it this way.

[Waterwolf Doug]

I do the same.  It's not that bad and doesn't seem to weigh anywhere near 100 lbs when you do it this way.

Same here, I have a homemade portable that probably go's about 100 lbs with the sled
I just lift the front so its leaning up in the back of the truck, then lift the back as I push it forward. You could always take a kid fishing and put him to work.

[$ignmoney]

You could always take a kid fishing and put him to work.

Thats what I do! Kids come in handy at times. Bad thing is 2 more years & he's off to college. I may have to downsize some then.  I like the 2 x 4 idea also. Need to rig them up so they dont slide off the tailgate and if they come up missing, its not that expensive to replace.( if they do happen to come up missing then you'll know NEVER leave any thing valuable in the truck!

[Oldbear]

I bolted an angled piece of metal on the end of a 2x4 put it on the end of kind of a tall f150 then lift and push on the back end.  Ain't as strong or young as I useta was.  Better idea for next year is I just bought an end of the season Frabill Recon DLX one manner shack.

[VTtwinner]

Thanks for the replies.  The weight is part of the issue, but its just the size.  The sled I used this winter(1.5 Rover), empty was manageable.  Most times we unload at the access and trek out on foot to fish.  At the end of the night(8,9, 10:00pm), after a good walk through snow back to your truck, your wiped.  Just don't want to wipe out my back some night.  I'm thinking 2 long 2x4's with metal tailgate brackets would be good.  If there is a snowbank to back up to, then that works. 

[popnfish]

rope and pulley ?

[Parks Guy]

Last season I used a piece of plywood as a ramp.  It was light and easy to maneuver.  Depending on the length of the ramp, you could easily drag it up the ramp while standing in the bed of the truck. Disconnecting the hangers (cables or flat bars) on the side of the tailgate will give you a better angle.

[Indiana_Lou]

Vt, I have the Rover 1.5 also. I don't like to have to load and unload everything when I go out other than my electronics that need charged. I used a 6'- 2X6 with the metal tailgate bracket on the end. Simply get behind it and slide it up the plank. I did make a gizmo out of plastic conduit (1 1/2") bolted to two metal brackets. It was my attempt to make a ramp that would allow you to roll it up in to the truck. I haven't quite perfected it yet but think it has some merit. A good summertime project when you're dreaming of ice fishing. My buddy has the Rover 2.0 and the fortunate thing about it is it's long enough to sit on the edge of the tailgate while the bottom is on the ground. The trouble is it's too dog gone heavy to drag on the ice particularly if there is any snow. Hope this helps.  Lou

[$ignmoney]

2 x 4's  with plastic on them (plastic slides on plastic easy) with metal brackets so they wont fall off and push it up the "ramp" ?

[reelbigfish2]

Has anyone tried to rig a power wench in the back of their truck to pull heavier shanties up the ramps?  All of the lift, push, and shove makes my back hurt just thinking about it.

[andercee]

I think next year I will build a ramp out of snow/ice in the yard to load up the truck.  It won't help me at the lake but it will be half as much wear and tear on the back.  A lot of the times I just fish with out it since it's so much easier to cover a lot of ice that way.  ATV ramps would also work.

[mdrobny]

how about an old ratcheting bout crank mounted to bulkhead of the truckbed?  could be made removable for when your not fishin`,and could probably find an old one on the cheap. did that on my trailer and it`s pretty handy sometimes.

[blizzardfisher]

I would think a couple of 2 x 4's should work.

i agree.thats what i do

[Drifter_016]

Slap one of these in your truck bed and relax.   


http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/material-handling/hoists-cranes/cranes-pickup-truck-jib/w-operated-pickup-trailer-truck-jib-crane-1000-lb-capacity?utm_source=become&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Cranes-Pickup-Truck-Van-Jib-become&infoParam.campaignId=T9L

[duck doctor]

Bring some of these and you will never want to show your weak!

[filetandrelease]

You might try a couple old planks.They sell  metal attachments for the tailgate end.They don't need to be long or strong -just enough to give you a ramp to slide your sled up.Just leave em in the back of the truck -if they are too good someone might walk off w/em while you're on the ice

I load my x2 this way works slick and it ways 140 empty

[backatit]

Has anyone tried to rig a power wench in the back of their truck to pull heavier shanties up the ramps?  All of the lift, push, and shove makes my back hurt just thinking about it.

Here you go - or maybe that's not what you meant

Bring some of these and you will never want to show your weak!

[gvoelkl]

Bring some of these and you will never want to show your weak!

(Image removed from quote.)

Now we're talkin'!!!! Leavin' kid home next winter and replacing with Duck Doctor's shanty wench...I mean winch.

GV

[IceFishinJoe]

From my experience, its not that its heavy, it's just awkward.

What I do is lift up one end and rest it on the tailgate, and then lift the other and slide it in.  I keep alot of gear in my shack and with a cover on it, I have never had any problems.

That is the same way I do it with my Yukon also. another thing is I usually have my trailer too so I pull it up into there then lift onto the tailgate, it is a shorter lift doing it that way.

Joe

[Wiener]

I have used the snowbank method, but the key is just to have good footing.

It can be a real pain in the backside to get into my truck.

I have a topper, so the crane idea won't work.


Wiener

[GotEmHooked]

the jet sled has that slant on the front set it on your tailgateget behind it and push er in!!!!

[Sven936]

I built a rear rack for my reciever that fit my shack, so I do not have to lift so far. It made things much easier and more room in the back for all the crap I want to take with.

[$ignmoney]

I built a rear rack for my reciever that fit my shack, so I do not have to lift so far. It made things much easier and more room in the back for all the crap I want to take with.

Not a bad idea,any photos? thanks