What happened to my friends Ice Castle icehouse? – w/ pics

My friend just noticed that his Ice Castle icehouse developed cracks on both sides. He believes the sides are fiberglass. This is a 2018 Ice Castle.

Has anyone seen this happen before?

And if so, is this a common problem?

He did jack-knife it a few years ago and then frame was bent. Rather than replace it the manufacturer fixed the frame. I’m wondering if this could have anything to do with that initial crash.

The crash was 2 years ago but the cracks didn’t show up until yesterday so that’s why it’s hard to discern what happened.

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Jack-knifing his Ice Castle severe enough to bend the frame seems like the obvious reason for the cracks he’s seeing now.

happens quite often on the newer fiberglass houses. Call Ice castle they have been warranting them.

If he goes on the Ice Castle Owners Group on Facebook there are many fiberglass sided Castles with cracks originating from the corners of windows. These have been covered by Ice Castle.

How does one jack knife hard enough to bend the frame ?

Bearcat89 wrote:

How does one jack knife hard enough to bend the frame ?

I was wondering the same. I was just saying I liked the look of the fiberglass one better, but maybe I’m happy with my metal siding.

There have been a lot of diagonal cracks reported this year. It’s just my personal observation, but a lot of them seemed to appear during and right after the intense cold snaps.

Seen it many times online, like others said. I’m wondering if it’s due to moisture buildup around the windows, freezing and expanding enough to crack the siding? Ice Castles are notorious for water issues around windows and wheel wells.

404 ERROR wrote:

Seen it many times online, like others said. I’m wondering if it’s due to moisture buildup around the windows, freezing and expanding enough to crack the siding? Ice Castles are notorious for water issues around windows and wheel wells.

Interesting. Never knew that.

Bearcat89 wrote:

How does one jack knife hard enough to bend the frame ?

If you went in the ditch with slippery roads it would be pretty easy to do

Why are you surprised, it’s an Ice Castle. Haven’t you been warned enough!

Coletrain27 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Bearcat89 wrote:</div>
How does one jack knife hard enough to bend the frame ?

If you went in the ditch with slippery roads it would be pretty easy to do

That would suck for sure. I didn’t picture that happening and bending the frame while keeping it salvageable. But I’ve seen crazier.

The way some of the people drive down the ice roads while pulling there shacks I think there is a lot of tweaked frames around the axle area out there

Bearcat89 wrote:

How does one jack knife hard enough to bend the frame ?

not ice castle related but my buddy’s old man jack knifed the trailer backing the boat in and totaled his tailgate…..it happens after a couple 13…14 high lifes!

eyeguy507 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Bearcat89 wrote:</div>
How does one jack knife hard enough to bend the frame ?

not ice castle related but my buddy’s old man jack knifed the trailer backing the boat in and totaled his tailgate…..it happens after a couple 13…14 high lifes!

One of my buddies did this not long ago with his enclose trailer. Wrecked his tailgate and Jack on trailer. I just chuckle. Thats what you get not using your mirrors and needing the tailgate down to back up

Coletrain27 wrote:

The way some of the people drive down the ice roads while pulling there shacks I think there is a lot of tweaked frames around the axle area out there

Agreed, drivers drive way to fast and beat the crap out of their equipment and then wonder why it fails.

Bearcat89 wrote:

How does one jack knife hard enough to bend the frame ?

The suspense is killing me

Bearcat89 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Bearcat89 wrote:</div>
How does one jack knife hard enough to bend the frame ?

The suspense is killing me

He was driving safely actually with a follow car on a glare ice road and hit a patch of ice and the icehouse swung around and crashed into the back of his truck from what I’m told.

Not sure what a follow car is good for. But at least it was paid off with insurance I’d imagine being the frame twisted. So any use after that is a bonus

Bearcat89 wrote:

Not sure what a follow car is good for. But at least it was paid off with insurance I’d imagine being the frame twisted. So any use after that is a bonus

A group of friends ( 2 trucks and the truck trailering the icehouse) were driving back from Mille Lacs and 1 peeled off early for their exit and about 10 mins later he jack-knifed the icehouse on the patch of ice.

The 2nd truck was following behind him and helped him out.

Good ole delamination of fiberglass. Either was pooring vacuum bagged (if at all) or water got in some of the seems, stuff wasn’t potted correctly and bam. A freeze thaw cycle reveals poor glass work.