Trailer advice
Submitted by Curndog on Thu, 2017-01-05 18:11
hi guys,
just chasing some advice on my current trailer. I have a 4.65m trailcraft on a trailcraft galvanised trailer. I been doing a bit of beach launching and when retrieving I have been beaching boat, dragging up and then reversing trailer into bow whilst someone winches. Puts a lot of strain on the trailer to the point where it flexes quite a lot. Bit worried that could snap and then I would be in big trouble. Any advice on if this should be ok or wether I can make trailer alterations drop down third wheel or something similar. Obviously getting a break back trailer would be ideal but don't want to have to buy a new trailer. If anyone knows some who can alter trailers if you could put me on to them that be great. Cheers
Travisd
Posts: 315
Date Joined: 07/05/11
Wheel on a hub
have a small length of rope that connects trailer to car to you don't lose it but disconnect it from hitch when you are winding up. With the wheel on front you can pull it up without getting ur car wet. Need 2 u bolts and small stub axle, hub with with bearings. Doubles as jockey wheel and keeps a spare hub and bearing should you ever need it. I found about six meters was a good length of rope. Martins trailer parts sells them
Baron Sportsman
Just the depth that Varies
dodgy
Posts: 4580
Date Joined: 01/02/10
I've got that set up on my
I've got that set up on my rig. Have beach launched a 7m boat at Broome, Cervantes and cosy corner in Albany so it works well.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
Curndog
Posts: 449
Date Joined: 21/11/16
Launch at ledge point
only problem with that is you gotta put your trailer into the water don't ya? Get a few dumpers at ledge so need to get the boat up on the beach before winching up or you just get knocked around to much. Nearly had me mates Quinny go through the back of his cruiser one day by trying to get it out that way. That was with the trailer still hitched though.
dodgy
Posts: 4580
Date Joined: 01/02/10
Yep. Trailer disconnected
Yep. Trailer disconnected and rolled into the the water.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
eziliving
Posts: 876
Date Joined: 30/12/09
You could always unhitch the
You could always unhitch the trailer from the car and winch it on that way but you may need a milk crate to stand on. The further the boat goes on the trailer the draw bar will lower. Quite easy to do but obviously a break back trailer is the way to go.
Get busy living, or get busy dying!
Curndog
Posts: 449
Date Joined: 21/11/16
Give this a go
yeah I have thought about doing it that way aswel wouldn't put the stress on the trailer. It's just being brave and trying something knew... Don't want to look like a goose hahaha
Buz
Posts: 1555
Date Joined: 28/08/07
Silly as this may sound we
Silly as this may sound we have dug holes in the sand for the tyres to drop into to get the trailer lower on the beach in front of where the boat is hauled up. The trailer doesnt flex as much.
timboon
Posts: 2961
Date Joined: 14/11/10
I concur with Travis and
I concur with Travis and Dodge....
You want the trailer going back under the boat rather than skull dragging the boat to and up the trailer....
Good way to loose some hull thickness skull dragging on 60 grit sandpaper....
The third wheel basically helps not to plow the hitch in when you snatch it up the beach, ideally it will follow the car tracks but it doesn't matter if it don't....
Just remember folks, never use the tow ball to snatch on!!
Amazes me how many clowns have got ALL the gear yet still have no IDEA.....
Give it a whirl and lettuce know how you get on....
Hairyone
Posts: 246
Date Joined: 26/12/09
Ive got the same set up and
Ive got the same set up and had the same problem by the sounds.....I made an extesion bar for the hitch so I can get it further out in the water, which helps a lot,and plan on converting it to a break back too at some stage. Also the trailer has been strengthed a bit too before I bought it. I can take some photos later if your interested?
Cheers
Hairy
Curndog
Posts: 449
Date Joined: 21/11/16
Yes please
yeah mate that would be great. I like the sound of the drop down 3rd wheel like others have suggested. I haven't seen anyone retrieve that way at ledge point before.
Hairyone
Posts: 246
Date Joined: 26/12/09
Does this help?
Hairyone
Posts: 246
Date Joined: 26/12/09
next
I plan on putting a hinge in the extesion bar just after the ball to break the back later.....
Curndog
Posts: 449
Date Joined: 21/11/16
Thanks
thanks for the photos mate. That look relatively easy to get that setup. What does everyone think of doing that? Do u just swap it over on the beach to the extension and straight back after u pull boat out?
Hairyone
Posts: 246
Date Joined: 26/12/09
Yeah mate.......drop the
Yeah mate.......drop the jock wheel, unhitch the car and drive forward, swing the extension, hook up and back in......
Curndog
Posts: 449
Date Joined: 21/11/16
What's the other tow ball on
What's the other tow ball on the extension? Does that hook into the boat trailer hitch?
Hairyone
Posts: 246
Date Joined: 26/12/09
yeah mate....when you swing
yeah mate....when you swing the extension around, you line the ball up into the hitch, lift the extexion and it locks in.....
nackers
Posts: 341
Date Joined: 23/10/09
Hairyone
Hairyone is onto it .
timmy k (not verified)
Posts: 16
Date Joined: 01/01/70
hairyone
that looks like a mint setup mate, and your dog looks cool too
Curndog
Posts: 449
Date Joined: 21/11/16
Disconnecting trailer
hey guys,
bringing up this old discussion again after going away and doing a bit of research and pricing up trailer alterations etc. decided I'm going to try ezilivings suggestion of disconnecting the trailer and winding up that way. This being the cheapest and most cost effective way. Going to purchase a new winch with a 10:1 winding ratio. My boat trailer has rollers on the bottom but skids on either side. What are people's thoughts on doing it this way? Bit more messing around but as long as it works and I stop putting strain on my trailer I don't care. Couple of locals have seen the way my trailer flexes when I'm reversing car whilst mate is winding. By the looks of there faces they are waiting for it to snap! Lol
PJim
Posts: 200
Date Joined: 26/04/11
I used to launch a 5mt
I used to launch a 5mt quintrex off cable beach with a ford falcon, un hook trailer and push out into water to launch a. When retrieving would pushtrailer out amd wind boat on then use a couole of snatch straps to tow trailer up to dry land. Worked a treat.
And before anyone says we shouldnt be snatching we werent, just pulling the trailer out
cruzy111
Posts: 274
Date Joined: 08/10/13
I regularly beach launch
I regularly beach launch and have a drop down wheel. I disconnect the trailer from the car and roll it to the boat. For more power the standard winch is ok just put on the braided line and the strongest one available. It will only fill up the spool by less than half and give more than enough power. Another mod is to fit aluminium covered rollers. best thing I ever bought. These will roll. Replace the standard roller pins With construction grade Bolts that will not bend. Set the side bunks so that they are just touching and no weight is on them. Drag the boat up onto the trailer till you hit the pivot point of the boat coming down and then one turn more so the nose comes down but there is little weight on tow hitch. Then either reverse the car to the trailer, it should be easy to lift and place on ball then winch boat on fully or slowly tow the boat and trailer with a long rope or snatch strap onto harder ground to put on car. If it is surgy or swelly , and beach I will hook a snatch strap onto the front of the boat and drag it up with the car to hard ground. If you go very slowly you can drag a tinny a long way without doing any damage. I regularly dragged my old quintrex about 300m at preston beach to the main carpark and put it on the trailer. 1st gear low range. The biggest thing is having the trailer set up good so the boat comes on and off easily. Hard beach is better as the trailer will drag under the boat which makes it heaps easier.
Darren253
Posts: 570
Date Joined: 23/07/16
I'd add the dropdown wheel
I'd add the dropdown wheel and do a hybrid of the two methods per the first photo
www.tradeboats.com.au/tradeaboat-news/boat-diy/1510/beach-launching-how-to-retrieve-your-boat
Curndog
Posts: 449
Date Joined: 21/11/16
Ledge point
I use to have an old quintrex that didn't weigh much and then I use to just back the ute and trailer straight in and pull boat onto trailer. Even when the dumpers rolled in two ppl could steady it. Not to worried about get the ute wet. It's just that now I have a 16 foot trailcraft it weighs a heap more and when trying to retrieve this way the dumpers roll straight over the back of the transom and nearly put boat through back of the ute. Even with a longer draw bar it would still be really difficult to get boat back on trailer as it gets smashed around. I haven't seen anyone retrieve this way at ledge point or with a drop down wheel etc... All the locals use a rope or snap strap to tie around trailer, hook to boat and drag up the beach a little. Then reverse car back with trailer still attached while someone winches. Problem with my trailer is it flexes heaps up the front. A new solid trailer would solve it but trying to avoid spending that kind of money. I think the drop down wheel, push trailer in, tow out is a good method if there isn't any surf to worry about. That's why I'm thinking of totally unhitching after dragging boat up a bit. I've heard ppl get there boat back on like this when they take it off at home to do trailer repairs etc. just wondering if anyone had done it like this on the beach?