Crafty Canadians
Transforming a camper into an ice fishing hut was a labour of love for this outdoorsman
My husband, Brian, and I have been ice fishing for more than four decades. Over the years, Brian and his brother built several small ice-fishing shacks, the last one measuring eight by 16 feet. It was spacious but heavy to move so we tended to leave it on one lake all winter.
Last year, we decided it was time for a more mobile ice fishing shack. We purchased a 1972 16-foot Travelaire camper trailer to convert into a travelling ice fishing unit. The tires had been replaced with new ones five years earlier and the camper hadn’t been used much since, so the tires were still in great shape.
This was an ambitious project and like most renovations it involved more work than anticipated. The first order of business was to gut the inside of the camper.
To achieve the open floor plan he envisioned, Brian removed the non-operable furnace, stove, sink, fridge and table. The wiring and plumbing came out next.
He took out one side window and the roof vent, and closed the openings in with plywood. The remainder of the roof and outside walls were left in their original state. The inside walls were left covered by the original panel board to preserve the retro ’70s look.
The bench seats were remodelled to accommodate seating around the four fishing holes that were cut in each corner of the
Left: Brian displaying his catch of the day. Below: the renovations to the inside of the camper, including an upgraded heating system, lighting and new decor make it the perfect place to ice fish in warmth and comfort! floor. All the benches, except the ones over the fender walls, open from the top to provide storage space. Plastic hole covers were installed to close the holes when not in use, when in transit and to keep critters out. When fishing, the hole covers are removed and plastic sleeves are inserted to block out light and drafts.
The long front and rear windows are covered with foil insulation to block out the daylight. You can see the fish swimming around the holes better if it is dark inside your shack.
The floor was still covered by the original tan and green linoleum. Walking on it in snowcovered winter boots was too slippery, so he put down two-bytwo-foot black foam rubber interlocking floor tiles.
The unit can sleep several people. There are two foldout beds and the original upper bunk was left in. The top cupboards on the other end of the camper were also kept for storage purposes. For cooking, we use a propane camp stove outside.
The seat cushion on one of the pull-out beds remains. The other benches were covered with the same material as the floor to provide added warmth and comfort. We purchased a rectangular red table to match the decor. The table can be used inside, or outside on nice days.
Brian decided a compact diesel heater would be safer for the grandkids than a woodstove. The heater is mounted to the floor inside the centre bench. An air intake vent was installed on the side of the bench and heat blows into the camper through an air duct. The heater’s plastic fuel tank is mounted to the hitch in an insulated wooden box. A small electric pump came with the heater kit. The heater starts with the push of a button and easily keeps the camper at a comfortable temperature.
An LED light installed on the ceiling provides the lighting ambiance. There is also a cell phone charging station. The camper tows nicely behind a truck and can also be pulled onto the lake with a quad.
Always be aware of ice safety requirements before venturing out on any lake. To support the weight of a half-ton truck pulling a camper this size, the ice must be at least 12 to 15 inches thick. Check ice thickness using an ice auger before driving on it!
Special thanks go to our friend, Jake, for his help and expertise on this project.