how to swap trailers on land

[MAW31]

hi everyone,

We're buying a used boat that is sitting on a crapo trailer and want to get our trailer on it.

The current trailer is so bad, it wont roll.

Can you help enlighten us as to how to get our trailer under the boat without moving it.

the boat is a smaller 17 foot SeaRay I/O, sitting in an apartment parking lot.

 

[lncoop]

Re: how to swap trailers on land

Chock the wheels on the bad trailer really well. Cut off or otherwise remove the winch post and anything else on the front of it that sticks up higher than the bunks (or rollers). Hook up the good trailer and back it up as close as you can to the bad trailer. Leave it hooked up to your vehicle for stability. Pull out the winch cable far enough to hook it to the bow eye on the boat, then just winch the boat all the way up onto the new trailer. You might need someone (or ones) pushing the boat from behind.

 

[MAW31]

Re: how to swap trailers on land

thats a very interesting approach.

i can see where that might actually work.

Have you done it that way yourself (incoop) ?
and what type boat was it.

I've not owned a SeaRay before(18' Sevillle), but it looks heavy and i wonder how much force it'll take to get it to slide on the boat rails.

thanks

 

[nimmor]

Re: how to swap trailers on land

If the trailers are a roller type I could see that working. I deffintly would want at least a couple of spotters.

 

[lncoop]

Re: how to swap trailers on land

Yes, this would definitely be a job for two or three stout individuals. It would certainly be easier with rollers, but it should work with bunks as well. The hardest part would be getting it started, but I really think with a strong person at the winch and two more behind the boat it could be done. Again, it would be critical that the old trailer be chocked very well. Might make a good Youtube video (hint hint).

 

[scoyt]

Re: how to swap trailers on land

I would try the winch idea. You may want to have a water hose close by so you can add a little "lubrication" to the boat/trailer as it slides.

 

[lncoop]

Re: how to swap trailers on land

Assuming the trailers do have bunks and not rollers, as long as the carpet's in halfway decent shape the boat should slide with enough persuasion. However, you could also try putting two or three pieces of something long and cylindrical under the hull, mabye some conduit or pipe or something wrapped in carpet, and roll the boat along, moving one piece in front of the other as you go. If you do that be very careful not to damage the hull.

 

[lncoop]

Re: how to swap trailers on land

Okay, one last thing. If you still can't get it to move, chock the new trailer really well and use the tow vehicle to SLOWLY pull the boat onto it. You should be able to do this without damaging anything if you do it very gradually, take care to use a stout enough cable or chain to handle the job, and have someone spotting for you as nimmor recommended. Now I really want to know how it turns out, so keep us posted, okay?

 

[RL Gman]

Re: how to swap trailers on land

Honestly, I'm really intersted to know how this turns out, but wanted to ask one question...What about the outdrive?

I know you can trim up the O/D, but can it really trim up far enough to miss the cross members on the trailer?!

I'm not looking at my set up right now, but I would assume it wouldnt make it...(again, I'm having a hard time visualizing the O/D trimming up far enough...)

 

[Silvertip]

Re: how to swap trailers on land

And once the stern of the boat clears the front of the bunks it drops down onto a metal frame. Not a good plan. If you have a sturdy tree in the yard there is a far safer method. Back the trailer under the tree so the bow is directly under the largest horizontal branch and as close to the trunk of the tree as you can get. Jack up and block the stern at both sides. Use a come-along (a block & tackle) lashed to the tree branch and lift the bow clear of the trailer. Pull out the old trailer and back in the new one. Check the condition of the bow eye. If it is in good shape it will easily support the weight of the bow. I've done this several times at my home using the header in my garage door rather than a tree branch. Take less than half an hour start to finish.

 

[lncoop]

Re: how to swap trailers on land

Okay, but my way would make a better Youtube video!

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

Re: how to swap trailers on land

Just do the old fashion method lower the tongue and block the rear of the boat up raise the tongue the rear of the boat should be off the trailer. Now block the bow up and lower the tongue and move the trailer out from under the boat as far as you can now reposition the bow blocking and move the trailer again. keep doing this until you have the trailer out from under the boat.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: how to swap trailers on land

Blocking the bow? What about the cross members and axle? Unless the boat is suspended you don't just pull the trailer out.

 

[lncoop]

Re: how to swap trailers on land

Silvertip's method is the best of course, but I was thinking about something. If it's in the parking lot of an apartment complex there may not be a tree or anything suitable to support the boat. You definitely don't want the hull on the bare metal of the trailer frame, but if you pull it up onto rollers that won't be a problem. The rollers would also help the OD clear the cross members.

 

[bowman316]

Re: how to swap trailers on land

silvertip,
he was saying that you get the trailer out my moving the blocks around. you move the trailer as far as you can, until a cross beam hits a support, then get another support and take the load off the support that is in the way. then move it until the new support is in the way.

the best way to do this would be with jacks from a boat yard. but a car jack may work. because you need a jack to take the load off the support.

 

[ClassyGlassy]

Re: how to swap trailers on land

Rent a Uhaul flatbed car hauler trailer, winch the other trailer onto it, secure it, take it to the lake, float the boat, and with a second vehicle hauling your trailer, you trailer your boat securely the way it was intended. Stop off at the local junkyard on the way home, make $100 for the old POS, return the Uhaul trailer, and return home VICTORIOUS

 

[bowman316]

Re: how to swap trailers on land

that works too.
do u have to dispose of the old trailer?

 

[marlboro180]

Re: how to swap trailers on land

Blocking the bow? What about the cross members and axle? Unless the boat is suspended you don't just pull the trailer out.

I agree , moving the bow cribbing / supports around to clear the crossmembers as the trailer is pulled away can be a pain, but it can be done. I have done it in the past. I have seen a better suggestion for the bow support though.

After supporting the stern appropriately , and raising the bow by means of the trailer jack, place:

A pair of tall sawhorses at either side of the bow, and in line with the boweye, put a substantial piece of lumber 4x4, 6x6, etc. perpendicular to the bow placed on top of said horses. Put in some screws ( toe nailed) to help hold the 6x6 to the horses. Lash the bow eye to the perpendicular piece of lumber , lower the trailer jack and voila.

The crapo trailer will pull out, easily clearing the front two sawhorses, but may be kicking and screaming nonetheless, with the tires skidding due to those bad bearings Maw has..

Push new trailer under the boat, adjust as necessary.

Hmm, how may ways are there to skin a cat??

 

[Silvertip]

Re: how to swap trailers on land

I understand that but it was not mentioned. Didn't want the poster thinking it was a simple matter only to find out he didn't have enough "stuff" to do that. I agree one must be creative to get things like this done in an apartment complex parking lot. But there is a limit to the kinds of things that can and those that shouldn't be done in a parking lot. An apartment dweller probably doesn't have the necessary stuff anyway.

 

[lncoop]

Re: how to swap trailers on land

My suspicion is the buyer is not an apartment dweller; that's merely where the boat is. There's only one person who can say for sure though. MAW31? You're too quiet. What do you say?