Backing into garage

[novakm]

My new boat just barely fits in the garage. There is only two inches clearance on either side of the door. It's too close to back it all the way in using the truck, so I push it in by hand. The problem is there is a slight slope to the garage floor and driveway. Just enough to make water run out. The slope makes it very hard to push the boat back by hand. I also suspect the tongue jack wheel is not really made for this. It's hard to turn, and is starting to lean after just a few uses.

Any ideas for how to make it easier to push the boat back? Any thoughts on a better tongue jack?

Thanks

 

[BeaufortTJustice]

Re: Backing into garage

Have you seen this or thought about using one of these?

http://www.iboats.com/TRAC-Trailer-Dolly-300lb/dm/*******.033543244--session_id.897607196--view_id.886265

I've never used one personally, but it looks like it might help.

Good luck!

 

[90stingray]

Re: Backing into garage

Mine is about the same way. My glastron and stingray i usually scoot a little and both jacks lean. The wheels dont swivel too well when hand backing... i usually just kick the jack wheel to face the direction it needs to go. I like to lay the rear wheel chock (aft side) in the garage where the wheel will end up and back her until i get to it. Unhitch and get to cleaning on the boat.

 

[chris.j.marshall]

Re: Backing into garage

Would marking it somehow help? When I got my boat perfect in my garage I put duct tape on the floor in front of and behind each tire. When you get the boat exactly where it needs to be, could you hitch it back up and then mark a reference point where your truck is?

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Backing into garage

I need THIS. Super Cool!
Now that's the Ticket!

More practical and much simpler would be adding a FRONT HITCH to the Tow vehicle.
You can directly see what you are doing, and is useful for Pushing, Pulling, Winching, etc.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Backing into garage

The trailer valet looks good.

$400.


Sure would be nice if they could have made it taller, so you don't have to crouch over to use it. And how about making it electric as well.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Backing into garage

My new boat just barely fits in the garage. There is only two inches clearance on either side of the door. It's too close to back it all the way in using the truck, so I push it in by hand. The problem is there is a slight slope to the garage floor and driveway. Just enough to make water run out. The slope makes it very hard to push the boat back by hand. I also suspect the tongue jack wheel is not really made for this. It's hard to turn, and is starting to lean after just a few uses.

Any ideas for how to make it easier to push the boat back? Any thoughts on a better tongue jack?

Thanks

Keep practicing. Heck 2 inches each side is alot of room.Just practice. Each time go a little farther back in the garage until you can put it in on one try.

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Backing into garage

More practical and much simpler would be adding a FRONT HITCH to the Tow vehicle.
You can directly see what you are doing, and is useful for Pushing, Pulling, Winching, etc.

Totally agree with this approach. My FIL did this and it corrected his inability to back into his boat storage area. Makes a great conversation piece also.

 

[LilRedNeckGirl]

Re: Backing into garage

The front hitch is the best. Consider if you have a big rideing lawnmower/garden tractor that you can front mount a hitch on that to save the looks on your truck/tow vehicle.
second option is just get a carport style portable building for your boat that is a drive through style.
they are available for around $600, set up in a weekend, and give basic protection.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Backing into garage

Front hitch seems really unneccessary for this type of problem. Learn to use your mirrors, 2" on each side is plenty of room to back straight in unless your driveway into the garage is a curve.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Backing into garage

that trailer valet is cool and gives you really precise control over how far you move it.
I have a front hitch on my 98 Jeep and just bought one for my 07 Jeep, they work great with difficult parking situations like a narrow driveway and narrow street with not enough room to swing as you back in (I have both issues). I can get it in the driveway with out the front hitch but it makes it so much easier for just moving the trailer and boat around....

 

[jkust]

Re: Backing into garage

Trying to get the picture here. Firstly 2" on either side is huge space and secondly are you pushing straight back and not having to angle it and push to fit into an offset space? All driveways are slightly angeled from the garage (or at least they should be) and most of the garages are relatively level, unless you need some repair work done. Here's the process for my 4000lb boat that I use. Back it into the garage a good amount at a decent angle angle to get it over as far as possible. Once I have the angle right, I unhitch it and lower the jack way down because I have to max the height of the jack up to remove and pushing it by hand with the jack all the way up is too much leverage on the jack. The tounge weight is heavy enough that I've been known to use my rubber mallet to angle the jack wheel in the right direction since no amount of kicking will work. Once the trailer wheels are on the cement, I push it with all my might to move it at all. 4000lbs from a dead stop slightly up hill is actually really difficult when you consider it is only 18 feet and my pretty robust suv weighs in at 4800lbs dry. It is a huge chore to move manually even with a single axle trailer but that is the nature of the deal. After a few tries, you back it in so perfect, the amount of manual adjustment diminishes down a lot. How heavy is your boat? Post some pictures of the situation. The only time I use the duct tape trick mentioned above is when I move from the summer storage garage stall to the shorter winter storage stall where it needs to be angeled just right to fit all the snowmobiles and snowblower in otherwise in the summer spot practice makes it easy.

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: Backing into garage

I use a trailer dolly I got from HF - can't remember for sure, maybe $60? With it I can push my boat (which is light weight, I should add) up a slope considerably steeper than the slope in my garage.

 

[puma4440]

Re: Backing into garage

A trailer dolly is the way to go on concrete or pavement, I'm able to move a 24' pontoon and 5-ton excavator trailer around at work with ease.

 

[novakm]

Re: Backing into garage

I love the idea of the Trailer Valet, but I can't spend $400 until after I try a few other things! The front hitch idea would work, but it seems like it would be cumbersome to have to unhook, turn around, and rehook every time.

The boat is about 2,000lbs. My garage is a side entrance, so I have to make a 90 going in. With your encouragement and advice, I tried again just backing in. Here is the procedure:

Lower the tailgate, so I can see better
Back up until the trailer wheels are just inslde the door
Drop the jack, put a block under the wheel.
Unhook and swing the tounge out of the way.
Drop the jack all the way.
Push the boat back, kick steering as needed. Once the wheels are in the garage, I can push it back. It's hard, but I bet after doing it all summer, it will get easier! (I need to eat more Wheaties!)

To remove from the garage, It rolls out by itself. Once the wheels hit the blacktop, there is more slope and it gets squirrely. It's all I can do to hold it back while I bend down to put a chock under the jack wheel!

Next step is if for me to make a wheel chock on a stick so I don't have to bend down to chock it. I'll get the magnetic tennis balls so I can line up the hitch and not have to move it.

Later today I will try the duct tape trick to see if I can back it in all the way.

 

[Cheetah 210es]

Re: Backing into garage

A home built caddy
http://www.piratesplay.com/Projects/ETC/ETC.aspx

 

[captain zac]

Re: Backing into garage

This idea I got from how they back aircraft into tight hangers


We first back trailer until the widest part of the trailer is in the middle of the door way (it’s most likely the tires)
We mark the driver’s side on the concrete
Then we back the trailer into the space until it is an s far back as possible
Mark the outside of the driver’s side again (at the tires)
Put a chock behind both rear tires of the trailer (the larger the better)
Epoxy them to the floor
Pull trailer out
draw a straight line between the two marks on the floor
paint a line on the floor

This gives you reference that you can see in your mirror
And if you back slow then you will feel when you hit the chock
I also extend the chock on the driver’s side out so I can see it from the mirror

 

[sasto]

Re: Backing into garage

How about bolting down a couple long "L" brackets to the garage floor. Use them to self align the tires while backing in. Kinda like what you would see at one of those drive thru car washes.

Good Luck!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Backing into garage

practice without the boat on the trailer, so you have more visibility.

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: Backing into garage

Make a power dolly useing a starter motor, and 12v battery