And another tilt-trailer question..... set-up?

[countryboy26047]

Hey all, gotta question regarding tilt-trailers... My 16' tri-hull came with a factory tilt-trailer, and I've read a lot on the operation of such trailers on here (great info!) however there is one question I have that I couldn't find an answer too.... Is there a safe way to pre-set the "tilt-stop chain" before I try to launch using it? The section of the Ohio River I boat on has been having REALLY low water-levels lately (Last tuesday, had to have the trailer so far in to float the boat off, that my trailer tongue was touching water, and could still see about 1/4 of my fenders above water!), so I want to give the tilt feature a try because, well frankly I'm tired of manhandling the boat back onto the trailer! lol However, I have this black-cloud that seems to like me a LOT, so I'm worried that when I try it for the first time, I'm gonna smash my keel/transom into the river bottom which is why I want to set up the stop-chain (sorry if that's not the right name lol) beforehand...

 

[countryboy26047]

Re: And another tilt-trailer question..... set-up?

*sorry, made mistake on second post..deleted*

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

Re: And another tilt-trailer question..... set-up?

I saw your trailer resto so I'll ask your boat doesn't happen to be sitting on the ground now does it?

 

[countryboy26047]

Re: And another tilt-trailer question..... set-up?

Nope,.when i took those pics the boat was peacefully sleeping at my brothers dock on the Ohio. Back on the trailer now.

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

Re: And another tilt-trailer question..... set-up?

I know exactly how to set it coming straight off the ground (in theory) so that changes my answer,

The main problem is dumping it off and not having room for the transom to make contact before the LU hits the ground in the tilted/trailer position. This would you into a bind and keep it from coming off the trailer not to mention a lot of strain on you transom. So here's my advice for a pre set - tilt your trailer (probably need a helper/jack) and tip your boat up, as you do in eyeball a line between the trans bottom and the LU and go until you're just short of parallel with the ground under the boat. With that established bring it back down just a tad so that your LU with be just a bit higher than the trans bottom. This is where you want your limit chain set.

With it set like that if you're in the water deep enough for the boat to float you shouldn't be able to push the transom down enough to make contact and by controlling how fast it comes off with the winch you shouldn't smash the keel.

My other bit of advice - I'd say some roller bunks but since you just redid your bunks I'll say get some bunk slides to make it slide easier as those new carpeted bunks are going to make it a bear to winch (manhandle) no matter what. FWIW if you do some searching there are others that have made the slides from cutting boards. (I believe)

 

[countryboy26047]

Re: And another tilt-trailer question..... set-up?

Thanks TDF, now just one more question, I'm planning on attempting to set it up in my field at home where i can take my time instead of the ramp where chances are people would be waiting to launch/retrieve.. in THEORY, wouldn't setting up the transom height at tilt on a flat surface give me the same clearance as on a sloped ramp? (Truck and trailer are both on same grade, so technically level with each other)

 

[kahuna123]

Re: And another tilt-trailer question..... set-up?

I think you are way over thinking this. SMASH you transom on a mud bottom? Think about how hard your boat hits waves just normally running around. Let the tilt go, tilt the motor up all the way. Make sure you have good rollers. A good hitch rope. When the boat gets to the pivot point it will come down. For that matter make sure your rollers are turning well and winch it up.

Bubba its not the titanic.

 

[countryboy26047]

Re: And another tilt-trailer question..... set-up?

With the way this launch is in particular, you never know if there will be rocks or chunks of log etc. On the bottom.. plus even if it were mud, i dont want my drain plug jamming down into it. I may not need that chain, but until i get used to the tilt function I dont want to risk any kind of damage at all.

 

[countryboy26047]

Re: And another tilt-trailer question..... set-up?

Quick clarification, I am also planning on trying it to launch which is the part i am concerned with.. not so much the retrieval.

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

Re: And another tilt-trailer question..... set-up?

Yep you're still working with two parallel planes no matter how they're sloped. However on a sloped ramp in the water the boat will come off sooner with less tilt than if you were dropping on the ground.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: And another tilt-trailer question..... set-up?

I have been using a tilt trailer for many years and have never used a stop chain. Ever! My experience has been that the trailer will only tilt as far as is needed to get the boat off. If the water is higher on the trailer it will tilt less. If the water is low or no water it will tilt more.

I use a tilt trailer because I have to. The ramp just to the end of my street is very flat and very shallow. There is no way I'd ever get on and off the trailer w/o it tilting. I try for the most part to get the trailer into the water to where the water is at least to the bottom of the axle. This has assured me that the boat will not hit bottom while lauching. Yes there have been a number of occasions were I couldn't get that deep and once of twice I've hit bottom so now in those situations I leave the winch strap on and slowly winch the boat down. It now floats before crashing into the bottom. But then again my boat will float in only about 5" of water with the engine lifted up.

Remember even tilt trailers have limitations!