Sorry, I forgot to follow up about the slides. I like them. They make it easier to winch the boat on and they will extend the life of the carpet by placing them in high wear areas. Installation was very easy and only took 20 minutes. I used three heavy straps around the boat and trailer so there was very little possibility of it sliding aroundIf you put the plastic guides on, please let us know how you like them.
You have probably already thought of this but the slides might change how the boat launches as well. The boat might be sitting there semi-floating and then just take off “sooner” than expected.Sorry, I forgot to follow up about the slides. I like them. They make it easier to winch the boat on and they will extend the life of the carpet by placing them in high wear areas. Installation was very easy and only took 20 minutes. I used three heavy straps around the boat and trailer so there was very little possibility of it sliding around
Tongue extension did the trick. If I was at the ramp more than a couple times a year it'd be worth buying a 4x4If you have rear wheel drive only on the truck, all I can say good luck pulling any boat out of that weight
I usually backup, toss stern line with slack to the dock, back up some more, undo winch and attempt to pull it off the trailer with bow and stern dock lines, possibly back up more and repeat.You have probably already thought of this but the slides might change how the boat launches as well. The boat might be sitting there semi-floating and then just take off “sooner” than expected.
I always find launching more “risky” than retrieving, especially doing it all yourself. Busy ramp so peer pressure, get the boat in the water to the “right” depth (hard to do without getting out to look) get to the winch (in your case on a tightrope ), unhook the safety chain and let off just enough winch strap to get the boat floating but still be close enough to climb over the bow, get the motor running, go to bow and unhook the winch from the boweye, find out the power of the motor in reverse won’t get you off the trailer, DECIDE what to do!!!! Ahhhhh. When you do get floating tie up to dock, go get your vehicle and trailer out of the way, go into cardiac arrest due to all the stress and running
Have you experimented with traction mats? Commonly used for winter but might provide enough grip to get the load moving from standstill on the ramp.
Nicer ramp setup than we have here. All my local ones don’t have the dock right beside the rampTongue extension did the trick. If I was at the ramp more than a couple times a year it'd be worth buying a 4x4
I usually backup, toss stern line with slack to the dock, back up some more, undo winch and attempt to pull it off the trailer with bow and stern dock lines, possibly back up more and repeat.
Traction mats would be a good thing to have on hand. I've also seen plastic zip ties that can be fastened to tires similar to chains. Neat idea but no idea if they actually work. I'd be afraid they might snap off
Wow I'm surprised! Walking on a slick ramp can be dangerous. The only "ramps" I've seen like that are grass/mud/gravel that are more appropriate for kayaks and canoesNicer ramp setup than we have here. All my local ones don’t have the dock right beside the ramp
I split the trip into two halves. Day one was Michigan City to Chicago and day two was Chicago to the Fox Lake area. I have airbag suspension on my Xterra for towing which helps a TON. The steering doesn't really get light with this setup. Day one was downright scary. The trailer was swaying quite a bit over 60mph. I accidentally hit 65 and for a good 10 seconds I had almost no control. The trailer was pulling me into other lanes. I thought I was going to lose the entire rig. There was an exit that had a "dip in the fork". When I hit that everything snapped back into line and was able to stop. It scared the shit out of me. Day two I kept it under 50mph and had zero issues. This trailer will not be towed again until the axles have been moved back.Curious about how your 90 mile drive went, Little light in the steering ?
Not much fun when the tail starts wagging the dog! Scary stuff for you and anyone else nearby.The trailer was pulling me into other lanes. I thought I was going to lose the entire rig.