here's the deal, the tongue ext. (factory) on my trailer isn't long enough. when i extended it there is enough weight to bow the extension so that it is a real bear to push back into the tube. so now what i want to do is have an extention made that slides into a bracket under the trailer tongue and with a ball which is inserted in the coupler. question ,it's a 3500lb trailer, i have 8 ft of extention and want 12 ft at least. my local trailer guy couldnt give me a spec on what size stock to use. i have 3"x4" tubing on the trailer (and it wasn't enough to prevent a permenent bend to be placed in the ext.( sorry i dont have the wall thickness at hand right now.)). the tongue wt about 300 lbs . with 12 ft of extended length i figure the stock should be 16 ft long. anyone have a suggestion as to wall thickness and tube size ?thanks in advance. mg
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Rob R.
Cheaper Idea
We used to do this on a J-24 every weekend. You won't need an extender to do this. Take the boat down to the ramp, chock the wheels 2 feet up from the water. Attach a 2 inch diameter rope to the trailer tongue. Uncouple the trailer from the tow vehicle. The other end of the rope goes on the hitch. If the ramp allows, let the boat free fall into the water. It won't get going too fast, as the water will slow it down quickly. However, you will need to inspect the ramp conditions. Narrow/short ramps necessitate more care. As the boat gets into deeper water, it will simply float off the trailer. Secure the boat, then drive the tow vehicle up the ramp until the trailer is out of the water. Then, chock the wheels again and back the tow vehicle down to the trailer and couple it. If the dock is really close to the ramp, you can take up the slack on the trailer rope and allow it to slowly ease into the water. Also, remember that the vehicle's tires stay dry this way, so traction is at its maximum! Hope this helps! Rob R
We used to do this on a J-24 every weekend. You won't need an extender to do this. Take the boat down to the ramp, chock the wheels 2 feet up from the water. Attach a 2 inch diameter rope to the trailer tongue. Uncouple the trailer from the tow vehicle. The other end of the rope goes on the hitch. If the ramp allows, let the boat free fall into the water. It won't get going too fast, as the water will slow it down quickly. However, you will need to inspect the ramp conditions. Narrow/short ramps necessitate more care. As the boat gets into deeper water, it will simply float off the trailer. Secure the boat, then drive the tow vehicle up the ramp until the trailer is out of the water. Then, chock the wheels again and back the tow vehicle down to the trailer and couple it. If the dock is really close to the ramp, you can take up the slack on the trailer rope and allow it to slowly ease into the water. Also, remember that the vehicle's tires stay dry this way, so traction is at its maximum! Hope this helps! Rob R
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Bruce Grant
Did the same with H28'
When my H28 was delivered, that was the same method used. This was done primarily because the lake level was so low that year. Regards. Bruce Neon Moon
When my H28 was delivered, that was the same method used. This was done primarily because the lake level was so low that year. Regards. Bruce Neon Moon
Same here with Hunter 23
It's also useful when the ramp is slippery. Just remember to check the bottom end of the ramp to make sure it doesn't drop off suddenly. I keep a 10 ft piece of metal fence rail clipped to the trailer specifically for that purpose. If the trailer wheels go off the end, the boat will float free and you'll probably pull the trailer back, but you won't be able to get the boat back on the trailer. Peter H23 "Raven"
It's also useful when the ramp is slippery. Just remember to check the bottom end of the ramp to make sure it doesn't drop off suddenly. I keep a 10 ft piece of metal fence rail clipped to the trailer specifically for that purpose. If the trailer wheels go off the end, the boat will float free and you'll probably pull the trailer back, but you won't be able to get the boat back on the trailer. Peter H23 "Raven"
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Dick of Sylvan
Sliding Tongue
mg: You mentioned resistance of the extended tongue moving back into tube. You might try to block tires so trailer can't move downhill, crank down the front swivel jack wheel, then disconnect from pull vehicle and push tongue back into tube by hand (this avoids the bow weight problem). Then reconnect hitch, , crank up the swivel jac, pick up blocks, and drive on. I do this with my Cat-22 on the level ground above ramp every launch and pickup. rk
mg: You mentioned resistance of the extended tongue moving back into tube. You might try to block tires so trailer can't move downhill, crank down the front swivel jack wheel, then disconnect from pull vehicle and push tongue back into tube by hand (this avoids the bow weight problem). Then reconnect hitch, , crank up the swivel jac, pick up blocks, and drive on. I do this with my Cat-22 on the level ground above ramp every launch and pickup. rk
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Ken Koons
Extensions!
I launch and recover my 98 240 with the tongue extended. Chucking the trailer tires and pulling out (extending) the tongue and chucking and pushing the extension back in with the tow vehicle works well for me. One suggestion I'd have for the trailer maker is to drill a pin hole in the fully extended position. I've had a lot of instances where I hit the brakes and the weight of the boat suddenly unextends the trailer on me! Pretty scary the first time it happened putting the boat into her parking spot in the secured dry dock!
I launch and recover my 98 240 with the tongue extended. Chucking the trailer tires and pulling out (extending) the tongue and chucking and pushing the extension back in with the tow vehicle works well for me. One suggestion I'd have for the trailer maker is to drill a pin hole in the fully extended position. I've had a lot of instances where I hit the brakes and the weight of the boat suddenly unextends the trailer on me! Pretty scary the first time it happened putting the boat into her parking spot in the secured dry dock!
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mg
mg responds
i do have the boat off the hitch and jacked when the inner tube is binding. i cant imagine doing it with the tow vehicle pushing it in and out though its a thought and still a bit too short. by going with a bracket and ball there wont be a tube to bind at all so a little residual bend won't effect anything. but im worried about the length. to those that use a strap . do you have problems with the quik release trailer jack or did you mount a different wheel at the front of the trailer. im going to have to purchase a new jackstand if i go the strap route. thanks. mg
i do have the boat off the hitch and jacked when the inner tube is binding. i cant imagine doing it with the tow vehicle pushing it in and out though its a thought and still a bit too short. by going with a bracket and ball there wont be a tube to bind at all so a little residual bend won't effect anything. but im worried about the length. to those that use a strap . do you have problems with the quik release trailer jack or did you mount a different wheel at the front of the trailer. im going to have to purchase a new jackstand if i go the strap route. thanks. mg
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Larry W.
Extenders
mg; When I was trailering a C-22, I used to crank the tongue jack down just enough to take the weight off the hitch, then use the tow vehicle to extend and pull the extender tube in and out. Leave the wheel down for launch and retrieval to keep the weight off the hitch and avoid bowing the extender. Tip: keep the extender tube well-greased (I used 90wt gear oil, applied by brush) The trailer required much more maintenance than the boat. Good luck
mg; When I was trailering a C-22, I used to crank the tongue jack down just enough to take the weight off the hitch, then use the tow vehicle to extend and pull the extender tube in and out. Leave the wheel down for launch and retrieval to keep the weight off the hitch and avoid bowing the extender. Tip: keep the extender tube well-greased (I used 90wt gear oil, applied by brush) The trailer required much more maintenance than the boat. Good luck
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Dick of Sylvan
Last Resort
MG: Another option is to put a winch on your tow rig, disconnect trailer and winch in and out of the launch. Somewhere I saw in a catalog (Northern Tool
MG: Another option is to put a winch on your tow rig, disconnect trailer and winch in and out of the launch. Somewhere I saw in a catalog (Northern Tool
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Bob H
Trailer wheel
I do the same thing that Rob does with my Catalina 28. I have a wheel on the front of the trailer that rolls the tongue instead of relying on the jack wheel. Works great. Be sure of your ramp, and the wheel will roll you straight back and straight forward again.
I do the same thing that Rob does with my Catalina 28. I have a wheel on the front of the trailer that rolls the tongue instead of relying on the jack wheel. Works great. Be sure of your ramp, and the wheel will roll you straight back and straight forward again.
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mg
thanks
im going to try the wheel on the tongue and a tow strap . seems like the best solution. plus i can get even better length as well as get the bow lower than it was hitched to the truck. thanks again. mg
im going to try the wheel on the tongue and a tow strap . seems like the best solution. plus i can get even better length as well as get the bow lower than it was hitched to the truck. thanks again. mg
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