Fabrill versus Shapell ....Tents

[demasterangler]

Good Day All .... I am looking at a 2-3 man cabin style and am wondering

which is tougher of the two ...Shapell or Fabrill ....

We get lots of bare ice here , wondering if those floors

will stand up ....Had an Ice cube last year ....like some thing easier to move

Any one with a cabin can you actually pull these things around when they are set up ..

pulling - as in walking Thanks DMA

[Backwater Eddy]

I would suggest you look at the Clam 5600 or 6800.

[undguy]

I have had a Shapell DX4000 (floor is 58"x92") for about six years with moderate to heavy use each year. The floor has held up very well - not a hint of a crack. I like mine because it does not have the ridge in the middle like some do, so you get a little extra bucket/heater room. The floor is nice for keeping your feet off the ice. The size is very comfortable for two, I would not want to try to fish more than two out of it. It also has retractable skis on the bottem that work really well in deeper snow if you are pulling it any distance. Fits perfect in the back of a six foot box pickup. I have no experience with Clams, I am sure they are good products as well.

[MSUICEMAN]

i like shappell over frabills, and i would say its a toss up between the clams and the shappells for 3 man sizes... (i use them as two man).

the ski kit is really needed for when there is snow on the ground. without it you will be huffing and puffing (I don't know if clams or frabills offer it).

now, if you are talking about flip overs.... i like clams better than any of the others, with the possible exception of otters.

[Derslayer1]

I have the clam 5600, it does not come with the skis. They weigh 85 pounds dry weight with no gear. They are a nice shack, very durable flooring in them. You definitely have to fabricate some kind of ski system for it if there is alot of snow on the ground, or huffing and puffing is putting it lightly. I,ve dragged it over a mile on 6 inches of wet snow, Eeek! I was gonna sell it and get another, but kept it. I did buy the Frabill glide trax PROWLER. It is the sled bottom, flip over type, and glides thru the snow but it too is also heavy. Alot of snow and no partner, you could be huffin, with all the gear, heater etc. (thats what the ATV is for) Now I carry ALOT of gear, so when theres 6+ in of ice, its ATV all the way for me. The only problem with the frabill that I see is the weight of the seats. Super padding and very comfortable but criminy do they weigh. I spect almost 20+ lbs each. The hardware on the bottom of them is unreal. Its like they contracted out the seats to someone, instead of the guy who designed the rest. Altho very nice, thats alot of extra weight. Its no matter with the atv, and even with all my gear, she glides across even a couple inches of snow, and a pinky does the pulling across ice. Easy set up, plenty of room. Like I say, I still have both...and today the atv got its left front tire fixed. Ready to rock, plenty of ice...Slayer out