I borrowed my grandfather's dual axle flatbed trailer to haul our old fence to the dump a couple years ago. He lives up near Lake Texoma which is an hour or so from where I live. It was a beautiful Saturday morning when I was headed up there to return the trailer and I suddenly had the thought, "I really want to bring my boat". I stared at the trailer, grabbed my measuring tape and measured the width. Then I measured the boat trailer. I was pleased that there was plenty of room for the boat trailer to roll up onto the flatbed.
Ok, how am I getting this boat trailer up onto the flatbed? I rooted through my garage and found the come-a-long and some chain. I hooked the flatbed to my Dodge 1500 and pulled it forward. I used my two car ramps placed behind the trailer for the boat trailer wheels to roll up on. I hooked the chain to the front of the trailer and hooked the come-a-long to the boat trailer. I started ratcheting away like crazy and sure enough the trailer started to slowly creep up the ramps and onto the flatbed. My wife came out and was shocked at what I was doing. I calmly explained that since we were going to be at the lake anyway, it would be a shame not to have the boat with us. She said it looked "retarded" and "dangerous". I told her to go inside until I finished and then pass judgement.
I finally got the boat all the way up the ramps and onto the trailer. I rolled it as far forward as I could and chained the tongue to the front rail. I used a long chain and boomer across the axle to secure it down, along with chocks on both sides of the tires. I did notice the rear of my truck seemed perkier, standing high and all. That's when I realized the boat wheels were rear of the flatbed wheels; all the weight was off center raising the trailer tongue UP on my hitch. I found I could push it down ok, so I reasoned we'd be fine. My wife came out to get in and commented my truck looked "funny".
Ok, thanks sweetie, get in.
It felt weird; the steering was real light, but I pressed on. Once I got on the highway and built some speed I noticed the back of the trailer wagging like a dog. My wife noticed me noticing and got scared we were going to crash, so I slowed down and exited onto the service road. We basically drove 60 miles along US HW 75 on the service road at 40-45 and took us 2 hours to get there. But hey, we got there in one piece, I delivered the trailer back to grandpa, AND I got to take the boat out.
Well, I would have, had I not forgotten the key and fuel line in the haste of loading it onto the damn flatbed.
Ok, how am I getting this boat trailer up onto the flatbed? I rooted through my garage and found the come-a-long and some chain. I hooked the flatbed to my Dodge 1500 and pulled it forward. I used my two car ramps placed behind the trailer for the boat trailer wheels to roll up on. I hooked the chain to the front of the trailer and hooked the come-a-long to the boat trailer. I started ratcheting away like crazy and sure enough the trailer started to slowly creep up the ramps and onto the flatbed. My wife came out and was shocked at what I was doing. I calmly explained that since we were going to be at the lake anyway, it would be a shame not to have the boat with us. She said it looked "retarded" and "dangerous". I told her to go inside until I finished and then pass judgement.
I finally got the boat all the way up the ramps and onto the trailer. I rolled it as far forward as I could and chained the tongue to the front rail. I used a long chain and boomer across the axle to secure it down, along with chocks on both sides of the tires. I did notice the rear of my truck seemed perkier, standing high and all. That's when I realized the boat wheels were rear of the flatbed wheels; all the weight was off center raising the trailer tongue UP on my hitch. I found I could push it down ok, so I reasoned we'd be fine. My wife came out to get in and commented my truck looked "funny".
Ok, thanks sweetie, get in.
It felt weird; the steering was real light, but I pressed on. Once I got on the highway and built some speed I noticed the back of the trailer wagging like a dog. My wife noticed me noticing and got scared we were going to crash, so I slowed down and exited onto the service road. We basically drove 60 miles along US HW 75 on the service road at 40-45 and took us 2 hours to get there. But hey, we got there in one piece, I delivered the trailer back to grandpa, AND I got to take the boat out.
Well, I would have, had I not forgotten the key and fuel line in the haste of loading it onto the damn flatbed.
