cant see my trailer!

[Shizzy]

I cant see my trailer when I am backing it up without the boat on it. its for my 14' so its rather short and narrow. Out the back window I can almost see the end of the bunks when I put my head against the ceiling and out the side I can just see it when its turned quite a bit. what are my options for making it easier on myself?

 

[Firemedic09]

Re: cant see my trailer!

you might consider putting your tailgate down, although this may not be a good idea if your tailgate hits the trailer in anyway. another way of telling is maybe positioning your trailer in a way when your backing up that you can always see it out of one mirror or the other and straighten it out when you get into the water. i have this problem to with my trailer, thats what i do and i get the trailer where i want every time. now i dont recall where i saw it but there was a set of flags that went on the fenders of the trailer that you could tell where the trailer was. maybe that is something you could search around for.

best of luck.

mark

 

[Shizzy]

Re: cant see my trailer!

tailgate down isnt a real good idea. Its a little too close for comfort.

 

[jlinder]

Re: cant see my trailer!

I remember seeing somewhere someone made a flag on a stick that had a magnet on the end. You used one on the ball and one on the hitch, then the flags were visible in your rear view mirror. It was a big help when hitching up the trailer.

What about something like that. A flexible rod with a flag on the top that you stick on your trailer with a magnet. You could probably make something.

That way you could see the extents of your trailer

 

[Bass Tracker TX17]

Re: cant see my trailer!

you can put a couple of removable indicators on the trailer. then you can just remove them once your out of the water.

 

[jagoin]

Re: cant see my trailer!

Shizzy, go to www.bassproshops.com and look Marine and Electronics, then click on Boat & Trailer Acc, then go to Guide-ons, Rollers & Brackets. You will see that they sell several different types of guide ons that will cure your problem.

 

[ztim]

Re: cant see my trailer!

I had to put field-goal-type uprights on my trailer with plumbing fixtures add pvc pipe. I helped 100%.

 

[Shizzy]

Re: cant see my trailer!

Shizzy, go to www.bassproshops.com and look Marine and Electronics, then click on Boat & Trailer Acc, then go to Guide-ons, Rollers & Brackets. You will see that they sell several different types of guide ons that will cure your problem.

Thanks!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: cant see my trailer!

before the advent of a guide ons. my dad took a broom handle, screwed it the side of a bunk. the trailer frame kept it from going all the way back, then the boat would kit it and knock it down. worked really great. cheap fix.

 

[Shizzy]

Re: cant see my trailer!

before the advent of a guide ons. my dad took a broom handle, screwed it the side of a bunk. the trailer frame kept it from going all the way back, then the boat would kit it and knock it down. worked really great. cheap fix.

Brilliant! I "found" all the needed materials at work today.

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: cant see my trailer!

Have (or mor correctly Had) the same problem. Harbor Freight has a set of 2 foam balls on rods (pull like an antenna) with a magnet on the bottom. Around $6 US for the pair. I put one on the rear most crossbar and one on the tounge. Line them up and you have things set. I could not use them as the package recommended because my hitch reciever has no room.

TerryMSU

 

[jeeperman]

Re: cant see my trailer!

If your in farm country, visit your local farm store selling electric fence supplies.
You can buy 3/8" dia fiberglass rods (elec. fence post) for as little as $2 for up to a six footer. Like these:
http://www.electric-deer-fence.com/electricdeerfences/electricfenceposts/fiberglass_posts.htm

Attach'em to your trailer, maybe paint them a bright color or leave'em white, ad a streamer or flag whatever.

They also work great in the snow belt where you want to mark the edges of your driveway, etc. Then your not snow blowing the grass and greenery.

 

[KeyWestBoater]

Re: cant see my trailer!

I added trailer guides so I can see my trailer backing up plus it helps guide the boat on. About $40.

 

[Shizzy]

Re: cant see my trailer!

thanks Guys, I found a broken broom handle and all the needed nuts and bolts in the parts bin here at work. its going to cost me "free" hundred dollars....

 

[Modemagic]

Re: cant see my trailer!

Get a couple of those flags that they put on motor scooters and bicycles. get a couple of welding magnets from harbor freight, (cheap and have a hole in them). Put them on whatever you need to mark. Ball and hitch for back one to the other... then put them both on the tail of the trailer for backing up the trailer, and leave them on when you go into the water, so you know where it is when loading the boat.

 

[Shizzy]

Re: cant see my trailer!

I have had the boat in the water twice now with the broom stick idea. Works like a charm. folds down when you run the boat up on the trailer.

 

[triumphrick]

Re: cant see my trailer!

I had to put field-goal-type uprights on my trailer with plumbing fixtures add pvc pipe. I helped 100%.

The new rig I bought has this feature, a real easy bolt on even if it didn't have it and it works maaahvelously. They are on my trailer in the picture..

 

[redfury]

Re: cant see my trailer!

Someone makes a retail version of the broomstick idea that you can bolt onto the back of the trailer. Nice thing is it's spring loaded, so when you get the boat off, it springs up so you don't have to worry about forgetting to put it up.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: cant see my trailer!

I have a real issue with my Jimmy when backing the trailer alone down the ramp. The spare on the back obscures the view really badly !!!!
I now take it off and drop the tailgate. Still have plenty of room to play with before it gets close to the trailer. Makes it real easy. The flagpole idea is a really good one that my Dad used for his boat. Worked great !!!!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: cant see my trailer!

cheap and easy guide on. PVC pipe. you can even mount your trailer lights on them.