Ice Runner Versa Auger/Bucket Combo

Do you love ice fishing? If so, you know that hauling gear is one of the more problematic tasks for this great sport. Us ice anglers are always looking for the next best thing when it comes to getting our essentials on the ice. So, you need to know about Ice Runner and the versa rack.

Just the Facts:

Versa Receiver Arm sold separately.

The Versa Auger Carrier makes hauling your ice auger a breeze. Two vertical supports accept any round auger bit and the locking clamp keeps it in place until you need it. The power head support can be adjusted and provides support for heavy gas auger heads.

• Works with most augers
• Locking clamp keeps the auger in place
• Plas-coated to prevent wear to auger
• Powerhead support for heavy auger heads

The Versa Bucket Holder is the perfect accessory for ice fishing and works great for hunting and general utility work too. Dual bucket loops hold two five-gallon buckets and are secured with an attached bungee cord. Can be paired with the auger carrier.

• Holds two five-gallon buckets
• Works with auger carrier

The Versa Auger Bracket is the required accessory to use the auger carrier and the bucket holder together.

• Connects the auger carrier to the bucket holder
• Creates the perfect pair of accessories for ice fishing

My Story:

I have tried just about everything you can think of when it comes to getting my gear out on the ice. As a big fan of DIY I have come up with some pretty crazy contraptions over the years. They work but nothing I have made is what I would call pretty. I have also used my fair share of sleds and buckets. Bottom line, I’m always looking for the next best thing.

When I first found Ice Runner I was looking over a popular ice fishing forum and the name came through a post I was reading. I did a quick google search and within seconds I knew that I was onto something interesting. Not only did I find some great ice houses and float suits but I followed the Versa Rack tab and it took me to a very exciting place.

After looking over what was offered I knew that the Versa Rack Auger/Bucket Combo was a must have item. I arranged for a sample and waited like an excited child for it to arrive. Once on my doorstep I tore into the box and went out to install this bad boy on my 4 wheeler. I ran into a slight snag, my 4 wheeler was missing a receiver. No big deal, a quick amazon purchase and an additional 2 days and I was ready to install. Assembly was very simple and the included directions were simple to follow.

Two days later I was on the ice and let me tell you this bad boy was exactly what I had been missing. You can see it in action here right next to my Frankenstein mount for the old Indy 500.

For the next week we bombed all over the famous Cascade Reservoir in central Idaho. We chased massive perch and trout and had an absolute blast.

Conditions on the lake were not the best and we battled slush nearly every day. The Versa Rack had no issues being packed with slush which quickly iced over. The rack stays in place one setup and there is no need to adjust anything so ice is no issue.

The optional towing hitch came in handy when towing a sled but that job was soon delegated to the snowmobiles as the slush was giving the 4 wheeler a hard enough time getting around by itself.

I did encounter a couple very slight issues. On day one the temperature was -26F and when attempting to secure the bucket with the included rubber strap I was disappointed to have it break. It was not a complete failure and I was able to use another hole, but for it to break on the first trip ever was a bit of a bummer.

Another mild issues was some slight damage to my auger. The included tensioner does a great job holding the auger in place near it’s attachment point, but the other end can have some play and this can result in some dings and dents in a plastic auger shaft and blade. I think I’m going to add some thin rubber to mitigate this for future use.

Overall this is a great system that works as advertised. The rubber strap and slight damage are not things that take away from the effectiveness of the system overall and so not somethin I will put a ton of thought into. Could some improvements be made to mitigate this? Yes, and I will report out on those when I talk with the good folks at Ice Runner.

The Versa Rack system is worth a look If you are searching for a great system to hold your buckets, auger, and really just about everything else as they have many other options and configurations. Oh, and you get all this while the tow hitch also allows you to pull a sled. This really is a great practical solution to one of the ice fisherman’s great problems. All that gear and no great way to haul it. Not anymore!

Find It Here:

https://icerunnerhouses.com/versa-rack-home

What can be done better?

Aside from more robust rubber straps and some rubber to line the attachment points I’m not sure I would change a singe thing about the Versa Rack. It is just a great system that solves a big problem.