The tongue extension on my H26 factory trailer will not slide when the boat is on the trailer and the front of the trailer is supported by the tongue dolly. Supporting the trailer frame aft of the tongue area wtih jack stands allows the extension to slide. It appears that there is enough bend in the frame to jam the extension when the weight is carried by the tongue dolly. Is this a common problem that just has to be tolerated or is there a fix? (The extension slides freely with no weight on the traileer--there is no perceptible bend or damage to the front of the trailer). Thanks
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Force It
We have had the same problem with ours. I chock the wheels of the trailer and use the tow vehicle to extend or retrack the extension. Usually someone is near the trailer to sight in the extensions locking pin while I'm in the tow vehicle. This saves you from running back and forth to check its position. "Festivity" H26 1996
We have had the same problem with ours. I chock the wheels of the trailer and use the tow vehicle to extend or retrack the extension. Usually someone is near the trailer to sight in the extensions locking pin while I'm in the tow vehicle. This saves you from running back and forth to check its position. "Festivity" H26 1996
Tongue extension
Had the same experience on our 2000 H260. Only did it when we retrieved the boat. The weight of the ballast put too much stress on the extension and even after we let the ballast out and pulled up the ramp to push in the extension it wouldn't go in. It hit the U bracket that it was supposed to rest on. Had to use the jack to line it up. Tried the "forcing it" approach. No luck. Finally the dealer removed the "U" shaped bracket on the frame and re-welded it about 1/2 inch lower. Problem solved. Apparently there is some flex in that extension and the weight of the boat and ballast cause it to bend. (we never had this problem in our driveway when we tested it, only AFTER we pulled it out of the water. Even though we let out the ballast right away.) Bill and Nancy Berg Ay Chihuahua H260 Albuquerque, NM
Had the same experience on our 2000 H260. Only did it when we retrieved the boat. The weight of the ballast put too much stress on the extension and even after we let the ballast out and pulled up the ramp to push in the extension it wouldn't go in. It hit the U bracket that it was supposed to rest on. Had to use the jack to line it up. Tried the "forcing it" approach. No luck. Finally the dealer removed the "U" shaped bracket on the frame and re-welded it about 1/2 inch lower. Problem solved. Apparently there is some flex in that extension and the weight of the boat and ballast cause it to bend. (we never had this problem in our driveway when we tested it, only AFTER we pulled it out of the water. Even though we let out the ballast right away.) Bill and Nancy Berg Ay Chihuahua H260 Albuquerque, NM
DO NOT FORCE
I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 23.5. ALL YOU HAVE TO IS SIMPLY LOOSEN THE WINCH AFTER YOU HAVE THE BOAT AND TRAILER SITTING ON LEVEL GROUND.THIS WILL RELEASE THE TENSION ON THE TRAILER AND EASILY ALLOW THE TOGUE TO SLIDE BACK INTO THE SLOT.
I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 23.5. ALL YOU HAVE TO IS SIMPLY LOOSEN THE WINCH AFTER YOU HAVE THE BOAT AND TRAILER SITTING ON LEVEL GROUND.THIS WILL RELEASE THE TENSION ON THE TRAILER AND EASILY ALLOW THE TOGUE TO SLIDE BACK INTO THE SLOT.
Trailer tongue
Ive had the H19 and now have H260 with the same problems. In the beginning Crazy Dave told me to use the Trailer Stand Jack. This acts like a folcrum. When extending or retracking, jack up as though you are taking the trailer off of the ball. This will take the load off of the extension and permit it to slide. I use Jeff's techinque with my wife driving. If the extension hits the u-bolt thing, I just jack it up some more. Jim S/V Java
Ive had the H19 and now have H260 with the same problems. In the beginning Crazy Dave told me to use the Trailer Stand Jack. This acts like a folcrum. When extending or retracking, jack up as though you are taking the trailer off of the ball. This will take the load off of the extension and permit it to slide. I use Jeff's techinque with my wife driving. If the extension hits the u-bolt thing, I just jack it up some more. Jim S/V Java
Too much flex?
I had the same problem with my h23 and magic tilt trailer. It turned out that there was too much flex in the trailer. As a result, when I winched the boat onto the trailer, I was bending the extension up towards the bow eye slightly. This bend was just enough to prevent the extension from being able to slide in and out of the tongue. One solution is to simply release the winch tension when you need to slide the extension. Alternatively, what I did was stiffen up the front of the trailer just behind where the extention is welded to the frame members with 2 pieces of angle steel from home depot. I bolted the two pieces of steel together with the tongue and two frame sides sandwiched in between. I also raised my winch post as high as possible so that the winch pulled the boat forward not forward and down.
I had the same problem with my h23 and magic tilt trailer. It turned out that there was too much flex in the trailer. As a result, when I winched the boat onto the trailer, I was bending the extension up towards the bow eye slightly. This bend was just enough to prevent the extension from being able to slide in and out of the tongue. One solution is to simply release the winch tension when you need to slide the extension. Alternatively, what I did was stiffen up the front of the trailer just behind where the extention is welded to the frame members with 2 pieces of angle steel from home depot. I bolted the two pieces of steel together with the tongue and two frame sides sandwiched in between. I also raised my winch post as high as possible so that the winch pulled the boat forward not forward and down.
Jay is right, use the jack
I bought my first boat from Crazy Dave too. The jack trick works. Just lower the jack until you start to see a gap between the extension and the frame. If the trailer is empty you can just push it forward. With the boat on it, just block a wheel and back up slow with the truck. Lines up like a champ. Mike Pajewski H26 "Loon"
I bought my first boat from Crazy Dave too. The jack trick works. Just lower the jack until you start to see a gap between the extension and the frame. If the trailer is empty you can just push it forward. With the boat on it, just block a wheel and back up slow with the truck. Lines up like a champ. Mike Pajewski H26 "Loon"
winch
I you loosen the tension on your winch which pulls the boat on the trailer I think you will find that the tongue will slide in and out easily. Atleast thats what did the trick on mine. Dave Oberholtzer Hydrotherapy
I you loosen the tension on your winch which pulls the boat on the trailer I think you will find that the tongue will slide in and out easily. Atleast thats what did the trick on mine. Dave Oberholtzer Hydrotherapy
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