Trailer Modifications

[oldiesrocker2001]

Althouth there are a number of threads on how to modify a short trailer like mine (original Mac venture 21), I am wondering if there are any shops in Central NJ that can handle either a permanent hitch extension of a foot or two, or a convertible extension as I've seen as well.
My 70's era V21 trailer has 15" wheels, and the ball receiver less than a foot from the bow of the boat. During the waning days of summer the resiviour I sail on has less and less water in it and launching from shore means that my mini van has water coming into the driver's door by the time the boat can float off or be recovered. With the boat only worth about 1500 with the trailer I dont want to spend twice that much for a new trailer.

 

[Sumner]

Not a great fix but if you need just a foot or two...

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-hitch-extender-69882.html

.... maybe one of the above or a couple together. I wouldn't tow with more than one but you could always insert them at the ramp and use them there only. If you know someone with a welder they could cut one and extend it with a piece of square tubing or use a couple together.

How this works is going to depend on the tow vehicles rear springs, how the current hitch is mounted and the tongue weight on the trailer. If the tongue weight is considerable maybe with an outboard on the transom or someone sitting in the boat back there it might not be.

Sumner

========================================

1300 miles to The Bahamas and Back in the Mac

Endeavour 37 Mods...

MacGregor 26-S Mods...

Mac Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida, Bahamas

 

[Seahorse24]

Althouth there are a number of threads on how to modify a short trailer like mine (original Mac venture 21), I am wondering if there are any shops in Central NJ that can handle either a permanent hitch extension of a foot or two, or a convertible extension as I've seen as well.
My 70's era V21 trailer has 15" wheels, and the ball receiver less than a foot from the bow of the boat. During the waning days of summer the resiviour I sail on has less and less water in it and launching from shore means that my mini van has water coming into the driver's door by the time the boat can float off or be recovered. With the boat only worth about 1500 with the trailer I dont want to spend twice that much for a new trailer.

I just Googled "trailer extensions" and found all kinds of options. Some appeared to be several feet long. One listing was a video showing out one long extension worked.

Here is the link to the video:

Boat Trailer Extension Bar - YouTube
Video for trailer extension bar 4:25
www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1GvEiCiPZU
Dec 27, 2013 - Uploaded by Mark Read
Trailer hitch extension, without drilling holes into your trailer, that works.

We have a ten foot extension for our sailboat trailer that appears to be homemade. I don't have any photos of it, but I will get some Thursday morning, when we are back at the lake, and post it for you to see.

It appears you can purchase a 48 inch extension for a 2 inch receiver for $56.00 from eTrailer.com.

Sounds to me like you need an extension of several feet to keep water from getting into your vehicle.

Good luck in your search.

 

[rgranger]

A welding shop would probably charge around $50 to add a few feet of tubing to your trailer.

 

[oldiesrocker2001]

Thanks for the input, guys. I purchased an extender from trailers.com. My hitch is only 1 1/4 thickness, so the only one they had for me was a 8'' extension. I'll try it out tomorrow and see if it helps at least a little. While I'm leary of harbor freight quality, I may pick up a second one and use them only for launching. Just one of them cuts my 300* tongue wt capacity to 150*, so I may opt instead for a welding shop to cut the old ball receiver and extend it by a foot at least before next season.