Keep trAiler from falling Off the ramp

[ragtagsoldier]

Hi guys, I am petrified that I am goin to run my toon trailer of the end I the ramp. Are there any modifications I can make to the trailer to make it easy to recover if this happens?

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Keep trAiler from falling Off the ramp

Some guys have built sliders that hook to the bottom of the frame in front of the axle so that the trailer can be pulled back up over the ledge. Really depends on the design of your trailer.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Keep trAiler from falling Off the ramp

I used to drop my sailboat & trailer off the end of the ramp all of the time. That was the only way to launch it at my particular ramp. 4-wheel drive 'low' is a beautiful thing when trying to pull a trailer back up onto the ramp.

Of course, it all depends on how far the drop-off is at the end of the ramp. If it is a lot, then the trailer is just going to bottom out on the frame or suspension/springs.

If you are launching and go off the end of the ramp, dragging the trailer back up on the ramp shouldn't be too bad, as there is not much weight on it. If you are retrieving and go off the end of the ramp, then you might want to use some boards or something that you can either skid the frame on until you get the wheels to contact the ramp, or provide a transition for the wheels. There was one occasion (with my sailboat) that I had to go off the end of the ramp to retrieve and getting back on was a bit sketchy. I used my wheel chocks up against the edge of the ramp to give the trailer wheels an angled transition up onto the ramp. I was able to pull it right up.

So, there are a number of things that you can do to bring your trailer (or boat + trailer) back up the ramp if you drop off the edge. A lot depends on the particular situation, etc.

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: Keep trAiler from falling Off the ramp

Do you have tandem axles? When you feel the first set drop off, it's still pretty easy to get back. Again, 4-low really makes this easy. This is speculation for me, because I haven't dropped mine off the end of the ramp anywhere yet. It wouldn't be bad if power loading were not allowed. That's what erodes the bottom at the end of the ramp in the first place.

Also, I think having the tiny little 10" tires actually helps, because you don't have to back in as far to float your toon.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Keep trAiler from falling Off the ramp

Another method is to pull the Winch strap all the way out.
Run the strap UNDER the rear Cross Frame Member of the Trailer and UP to the Bow Eye of the Floating Boat.
Extra line may be needed if the strap will not reach.
As you winch IN, the trailer will be pull upward toward the boats bow. The boat will float the trailer up the ramp.

Pull the truck forward until the wheels are over the ramp and they re-attach the winch to the boat normally to recover it.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Keep trAiler from falling Off the ramp

Do you have tandem axles? When you feel the first set drop off, it's still pretty easy to get back. Again, 4-low really makes this easy.

Depends on your suspension design. With torsion axles that would be fine, with a tandem setup that uses leafs and an equilizer in the middle you would potentially flip your shackles and have all sorts of fun getting them flipped back.