Custom frozen lake ice recovery equipment fabrication advice

[Gravel Lizard]

Just joined the group and this is my first post. I own a 2004 chevy tracker I have outfitted for ice fishing in northern canada. It's running a 4.5 lift with camoplast Tatou tracks. Its strictly used in winter to traverse frozen lakes across 3+ feet of ice so I can get to fishing locations you can normally only get to by snowmobile. I always carry a 10" auger with extensions.

I've recently started working on the winch bumpers so I can self recover because im often out alone in areas where no one would dare come to save me as no other vehicles could get to where I am.

My question for everyone is if they have ever created any sort of custom ice anchors like a T bar to put down a 10" hole in order to pull themselves out. Looking for tips or advice on custom recovery equipment I can fabricate to self recovery on lakes through ice.

Below I will post a photo of a similiar lighter duty device an atv would use to self rescue.

Photos from last winter are with a 2" lift and as it sits in my shop with the new 4.5" for the upcoming winter Thanks!

 

[jgaz]

Don’t know anything about ice anchors but that tracker Is AWESOME!

 

[Gravel Lizard]

Don’t know anything about ice anchors but that tracker Is AWESOME!

Thanks! It's been a really fun project. Cant wait to get it out with the new 4.5" and push it harder!

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

Two different possible approaches.
1. A sophisticated expanding devise that you drop down the hole, use, then collapse mechanically (screw drive or activated by a pull cable from the top?), remove and stow for next time.
2. A cheap collapsing boat anchor and webbing strap. Drop it down the hole (maybe 4"instead of 10"?), do your recovery and then cut the strap and abandon the anchor.
https://www.arnoldsboatshop.com.au/...hZegge1IJ2qwgAhzuafa0tHN8rQNgtU0aAjb0EALw_wcB
Light, cheap, carry several?, ecologically not as sound.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

 

[NatersXJ6]

Ice climbing screws or something similar to an ice axe that grabs the edge of the hole but doesn’t actually drop through? It seems like it could be done relatively easily.

If you go into production, You might even sell as many as 3 if you market it well.

 

[1000arms]

A piece of heavy duty tubing, with a recovery-attachment-point in the middle, a light tube-recovery-chain attached in the center of a piece of flat bar welded across one end of the tube, and a 36 inch across "X" (cross) at the end of the tube-recovery-chain preventing the light tube-recovery-chain from falling through the hole.

To use, connect the winch to the recovery-attachment-tube, insert the tube in to the hole augured in to the ice, lower the tube in to the water below the ice, pull the tube against the bottom of the ice, then recover the vehicle.

To recover the recovery-attachment-tube, release tension so that it dangles from the light tube-recovery-chain, and pull up it through the augured hole in the ice.

One might need to attach with a strap or chain to keep a winch-line from cutting into the edge of the hole in the ice.

 

[bas157]

coolest Tracker I've ever seen. Why not a beefier version of what you posted that ATVs use? What about using a the Pull-Pal design as a start?

 

[Madoxen]

The folding ships ankor would work if you did bot lock it open . The gravity will open the claws then after u are free use rope tied to the other end of ankor to drop it deeper in water then pull it up with the claws now closed

 

[frans]

Base the anchor on a sheet rock screw concept?