TRAILER EXTENSION

[DAVID S]

I have a galvanized tilt boat trailer my O'day 22 is setting on, the frame and cross members are all flat, one level, and the boat sets rather high and my 1st experience with it,(I bought the boat while it was in the water), I had to back my 4 wheel drive pickup until the hitch was under water which put the trucks rear wheels partially under water. This was at the FLA. Port Charlotte Public Beach Ramp, my first ramp experience with a large boat. I didn't try using the trailers tilt. I suppose the angle of the ramp may determine when to use it. It looks like it would be difficult to add an extension to this tilt trailer. So I think an exterior extension my be handy to have with me. So what are extensions made of and how long? I envision an extension with a ball and cup at the ends and 2 lengths of chain fastened at the ball end and the chain hooked to eyelets on each side and bottom of the truck bumper to form a sort of a tri point stability to the rig. Lets hear your comments and/or experience. Thanks guys.

 

[bruce]

extender

i took a piece of about 2.5 sq tubing, put a hitch ball about 2 feet from the end and added a loop to the trailer tongue on the underside, tube slides into the loop and locks on the trailer hitch, a second hitch was added to the end to hook to car hitch. that is what i did, several other ideas out there, don't know why nobody has answered your question before.

 

[Herb Parsons]

My Extension

This wasn't my idea, got it from "elsewhere". I have an O'Day 25, and my van pulled the boat just fine, but I usually had trouble getting it out of the water (same problem as you describe).To do this, your trailer must have a wheel jack that holds it up when it's not attached to your vehicle. I replaced the jack that had the tiny whell on my trailer, and put one with a larger whell on it (about 6").I don't remeber the sizes because it's been a while, but I bought two pieces of box steel tubing. The smaller size fit in the hitch receiver on my van. The larger size allowed the smaller size to fit inside of it. Both are 5 feet long.I pull the hitch out of the receiver, and put the smaller diameter tube in its place (of course, I drilled holes for the pin in the appropriate place). Then on the end of that, I attach the larger diameter (again, with holes drilled in the appropriate place).The effectively extends my receiver back 10 feet. Then I put the hitch in the larger tube.The trailer wheels have been blocked and the trailer is lined up high on the parking lot. I back the van to the trailer and hook up, leaving the wheel jack down. Back into the water, with the wheels still dry. Load the boat, and pull it out. As soon as I get it on level land, I chock the wheels, disconnect, disassemble, then hook back up normal.I should mention, as much as possible, I pull straight ahead to the nearest flat area. You don't want to pull this rig a long ways with a lot of twisting. I also move VERY SLOWLY.The guy that recommended this to me as an option said that he's been using his for 15 years with no problem. I've pulled my boat maybe 5 times in the last two years also with no problem.

 

[David S]

Trailer Ext., thanks

Thank you Herb Parsons and bruce ne fla. I got a good visual pic in my mind from both your comments. Herb, I can see why you don't recommend doing much moving around the parking lot, it would put a lot of sideways strain on the vehical hitch.It is a good method. Bruce, another good method. Did you have the loop welded or bolted on the underside of the trailer tongue? My trailer is galvanized and a local trailer maker said not a good idea to weld anything to galvanized. I assume the forward end of the extension has the female portion that fits over the ball at the tow vehical. Again I appreciate your comments.David S.

 

[bruce]

assembly

i used off the shelf parts from trailersupply and bolted the 'loop' to the trailer tongue.