H260 Trailer Extension

[George H260]

H260 Trailer Extension The first few times I tried to extend the tongue on my H260 trailer it did not want to come out. So, I greased it really good. This grease attracted road dirt and sand and now I have a gummed up mess. It still comes out fairly easy, but I wonder if this was the right thing to do. Maybe I should have kept it dry?What is your experience?

 

[Ed]

Dry

As you've found out the grease makes a mess and will get smeared on clothes, boat etc. when retrieveing the boat. I keep the extension dry and it works well especially if you take some of the load off the tongue with the jack.

 

[Jeff]

What We've Done

When the boat is on the trailer if often helps to to loosen the bow strap a little. If the tongue is still difficult, block the wheels and gently pull it in or out with the tow vehicle. It is handy to have a second person watching for the alignment of the holes for the tongue pin.Jeff

 

[BIGUMs]

me too

My trailor extension has been nothing but a P.I.A. to deal with. I spent well over an hour this summer at a ramp in Clayton NY. trying to get the extensio0n back in. Finally had to use a smaller diameter pin because the holes wouldnt line up properly enough for the full size that came with it. I dont want to put grease all over it b/c of road grime and what not. What have other done? I would like ot be able to pull it out and push it in by hand instead of with the truck.Brad

 

[BobSail]

Marlin spike to align holes

We use a 10" marlin spike for steel cable splicing to align the holes. It's tapered, so it can be tapped on to force the two holes into alignment, then tapped back out from the reverse side. Be careful when doing the lower holes, as the pointed end will be facing upward (it would be safer to grind the point off).

 

[Denis]

Same thing,

George,I had the same problems described below. The first few times I fought with it, using the vehicle to get the tongue out and back in. Then one day it just slid in no problem. Unknowingly, I had not tightened the winch!!! Apparently when the winch is tight you introduce a bow in the tongue wich keeps it from sliding. Since then I make sure the winch is loosened after bringing the boat out. Never had a problem sliding it in or out by hand, with no lubricant involved. I did grind the bottom of the pin slightly in a taper to help line up both pieces.

 

[Rick Webb]

Another Problem to Avoid

The pin on mine has a notch worn in to it. Sometimes the notch gets caught and bound on one peice of the extension or the tounge, it is a bear to remove the pin when this happens.

 

[Tom Grass]

Bottom Support

On my H-26 I had to support the trailer extension 'up' to clear a channel welded to the trailer about 4 inches from the extension being fully retracted. My friend who was helping me noticed the extenion hitting the channel - forcing it up just enough to clear the channel allowed the full retraction of the extension.The suggestions to release tension on the bow eye are also valid - if you have tension here - it tends to slightly bend the extension - locking it in place.Tom GrassGrasshopper IIH-26 #174

 

[bob fliegel]

Another Alternative

As another alternative consider this:I liked having my extension greased. As a mater of fact, I find that wheel bearing grease works great on the extension. I have had the trailer 4 years now and the trailer extension is the easiest part on the launching/retrieving process.What I did, though, was pick up a piece of PVC pipe at Home Depot. I think they call it "Drainage Ditch" PVC pipe. It came in, I think, a six foot length, maybe 6 - 8 inches wide and was relatively thin - maybe 1/16 on an inch.When cut lenth wise, a piece could be easily be installed/removed over the greased section of the trailer - protecting it from getting dirty.BTW, when I store my roller furled jib during the winter months, I attach a couple of these pipes together, slip the furled jib inside and hang the entire assembly off a basement wall.Regards, Bob Fliegel