The following chart indicates the maximum safe load. It applies only to clear lake ice that has not been heavily traveled. For early winter slush ice, ice thickness should be doubled for safety.
Ice thickness In/Cm |
Examples |
Max safe load Tons/Kg |
2in / 5cm |
One person on foot |
|
3in / 7.6cm |
Group in single file |
|
7.5in / 19cm |
Car or snowmobile |
1 / 907.2 |
8in / 20.3cm |
Light truck |
2.5 / 2268 |
10in / 25.4
| Medium truck |
3.5 / 3175 |
12in / 30.5cm |
Heavy truck |
9 / 8164 |
15in / 38cm |
|
10 / 9,072 |
20in / 50.8cm |
|
25 / 22,680 |