Major mistake at ramp - need advice

[strokeoluck]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

One item you can use to keep it from poping off the ball is a Trailer Guardian.

Thanks. I'm hoping there's a simple solution. Tonight my Dad told me to engage the coupler and THEN tighten the nut a few turns until it locks on to the ball a little better. He also recommended then taking a jack and putting it on a block right under/near the coupler; jacking the trailer up until the back end of the SUV comes off the ground. That way I'll know it's connected well.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

**deleted**

 

[dave11]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

I bought mine directly from the MFG. Nice people. Excellent quality.

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

I REALLY wouldn't take that advice (jacking until the back end comes up...)

Ok, I hear 'ya. But then how do I check it out? Again, when I tested it out this morning I could not lift the trailer up off the ball. But I know that my 2500 # boat bouncing on the back end of the trailer is apparently strong enough to lift the trailer off the ball.

 

[rs2k]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

The only way the trailer could have come off is if the ball was not the right size, the latch was not down or secured, or the adjustable type "ball catch" was out of adjustment. I had the same thing happen to me with an old jon boat that was full of water I was towing with an ATV. When all the water washed to the back of the boat the trailer flew off the ball.... The bad part was that as soon as the trailer landed on the ground, all the water went to the front of the boat.

After bailing the boat out, i found out the nut underneath the tongue latch was out of adjustment.

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

The only way the trailer could have come off is if the ball was not the right size, the latch was not down or secured, or the adjustable type "ball catch" was out of adjustment.

Thanks. I'm confident I have the right ball size and the latch was down and "pinned" in place properly. Now I'm just trying to determine how to test any adjustments I make to the coupler nut (see my previous question; might have been posted when you were posting). Thanks.

 

[Starcraftguy1]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

Do you all have your wives pulling the boat to the dock with some rope to get it off the trailer?lol.Everyone is so worried about his ball and coupler,what if the wind shifted and pushed the boat out into the lake and tore it out of her hands.You get in the boat,or your wife while the other backs it down the ramp,when it is in the water and first you made sure all the tiedowns were off,you lower the trim and start it up.Then you try to back it off the trailer,If it don't move off you back up a little more until it comes right off.And you watch in your mirror where the fenders were,how far under water,and you implant that into your brain.And when the boater goes on off and lets the motor run and warm up,The other parks the truck,and comes back and jumps on the boat.Make sure the plug is in first,lol.

 

[woosterken]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

in your third picture (with thum) lol it looks like the ball cup (for a better name) has a dent in it if so it mite not be completely seating right if it is out of round with the ball.

woosterken

 

[scubadoo73]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

The one thing that I have always done when buying a used trailer is changed the coupler for a few bucks you have the piece of mind that it is right on my latest boat it looked like a brand new coupler but I changed it anyways this way I know it is right you can get them pretty cheap
the first time I connect it to the truck I look underneath and make sure that everything is good there should be no more than about 1/16" between ball and clasp(underball)
when in dought ask I always say there is no stupid questions in the boating world it is a family and as a family we are all here to help.
Have fun and enjoy

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

This is all great advice, but why not just take your rig to the local garage in Victoria or Waconia and ask the mechanic there to look at it (after calling first)? More than likely he also owns a boat and trailer and he can spot the problem right off the bat. Also, it might be worth finding out what the tongue weight really is to determine if the axle needs to be adjusted aft.

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

To answer you question, when I have my wife with me I give her the bow and stern ropes. She then follows the boat back on the dock as I back into the water. I have a bunk trailer so I just back up moderately fast and jam the brakes when the stern of the boat starts to float. The boat floats back and the wifey pulls it the furthest cleats on the dock, ties it off, and waits for me to do the rest.

When I am alone I keep the safety chain on, back it in until it's just sorta floating off the trailer and then go out, and pull the boat back with the bow and stern ropes, as above, myself. I tend to power load, but that's another story, and point of contention for a lot of people. A lot of things can go wrong when power loading, and it can mess up any launch that has a short concrete pad (I hand load on those launches to prevent getting a punch in the face from the locals). Power loading on short pads will push the sand away at the bottom of the launch leaving a huge whole for trailers to drop off of, very very inconvenient.

Ian

 

[escapade]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

the best way i've found on testing any coupling of any trailer is by standing on the tongue of the trailer and bouncing on it, this will check to make sure if your chains will drag and become compromised and also if the trailer tongue will jump up off the ball, also works with pintle hook style couplings

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

the best way i've found on testing any coupling of any trailer is by standing on the tongue of the trailer and bouncing on it

Really? I'll admit I'm new at this stuff, but if I'm standing/bouncing on the trailer tongue how will that help me learn if the trailer tongue will stay connected when the force is coming up from underneath?

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

To answer you question, when I have my wife with me I give her the bow and stern ropes. She then follows the boat back on the dock as I back into the water. I have a bunk trailer so I just back up moderately fast and jam the brakes when the stern of the boat starts to float. The boat floats back and the wifey pulls it the furthest cleats on the dock, ties it off, and waits for me to do the rest.

When I am alone I keep the safety chain on, back it in until it's just sorta floating off the trailer and then go out, and pull the boat back with the bow and stern ropes, as above, myself. Ian

Thanks Ian. I have a feeling we'll get better at this whole process. This being our first time, and the strong wind/chop definitely rattled me. Someone here mentioned to always relax and take care of the boat first. Good advice. I think my major mistake was not having my wife (or helping her) walk the boat all the way back to the end of the dock, before pulling the trailer out. When I get better at this I too may unhook the boat before backing it down and then touching the brakes to release it (that's what the previous owner told me to do as well), but I'm still too afraid I'll drop it on the concrete. I'd rather get me feet/legs wet for now, and walk out and unhook it once I've got her in the water.

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

Really? I'll admit I'm new at this stuff, but if I'm standing/bouncing on the trailer tongue how will that help me learn if the trailer tongue will stay connected when the force is coming up from underneath?

Yeah, unless you've got a very small boat, or completely pooched suspension, I can't see this being a very effective test. To each their own though...lifting the tongue (by hand or jack) would be the most effective test in my books.

Ian

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

This is all great advice, but why not just take your rig to the local garage in Victoria or Waconia and ask the mechanic there to look at it?

Thanks Navy Jr., I just might do that. I think I'm going to try tightening it up a bit and then I'll take her in to see what they think. Of course as you know there aren't many local mechanics around anymore, but I know there's one in Victoria between Floyd's and the DQ, on the south side of Hwy 5. Can you recommend anyone in Waconia?

Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and advice. I was sort of expecting to hear about 80% of the responses would have one primary solution, but it doesn't sound like there is one right answer. Again, my main concern is that everything "seemed" right previously, so I need to find a way to check it out w/out replicating the crappy/windy conditions at the ramp. I'll do my best.

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

Thanks Ian. I have a feeling we'll get better at this whole process. This being our first time, and the strong wind/chop definitely rattled me. Someone here mentioned to always relax and take care of the boat first. Good advice. I think my major mistake was not having my wife (or helping her) walk the boat all the way back to the end of the dock, before pulling the trailer out. When I get better at this I too may unhook the boat before backing it down and then touching the brakes to release it (that's what the previous owner told me to do as well), but I'm still too afraid I'll drop it on the concrete. I'd rather get me feet/legs wet for now, and walk out and unhook it once I've got her in the water.

Hey that's the spirit. Heck if you had seen me launch my old boat the first time, you'd have laughed about it for years. The poor old craft took a real beating. Launching in high winds is a real challenge, and yeah, in that case I would have helped my wife, she's pretty tiny, so a good breeze would have her in the drink...good for a laugh...but would likely be the end of the day..as the water is currently 8 degrees celcius up here!

Ian

 

[Polar_Bus]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

Nut under coupler needs adjusting. But first make sure it's still there. I.E. it's not laying in your driveway or some kid took it on you as a "practical joke." Also make sure those forks under the coupler aren't broken or bent out of shape.

Tom B.
(LongLine)

+1, my thoughts as well. I snug up the ball fork nut just until my reciever pivots smoothly without any bind, and I can latch the coupling lever easily. I also use a small farm pin to ensure the latch doesnt come unlatched.

I also use "snap" type safety hooks on my safety chains, so If I loose my hitch, the chains are a reliable backup. Open safety chain hooks can fall right off. Also a good practice to wrap the two chains around each other a few times, than hook them into your hitch.

 

[Ned L]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

Polar bus started to address what I was going to..... Safety Chains. I think you said that when the trailer came off the ball, the tongue was dragging on the ground. This should NOT happen. The best way to connect safety chains is to cross them in an "X" under the trailer tongue (The chain from the left side of trailer goes under the tongue and connects to the right side of the hitch. The chain from the right side of trailer goes under the tongue and connects to the left side of the hitch.) There are two reasons to do it this way 1) If the tongue does come loose, it will drop down and will be caught in the "X" of the chain, which will keep the trailer under better control, and keep the tongue off the road. 2) The chains can be tightened up enough to allow #1 to happen without binding in a tight turn. It is good practice when hooking up the trailer to connect the tailer to the hitch without locking it, connect the chains, and then lift the trailer off the hitch and drop it into the "X" of the safety chains to see that the chains are set right to keep the tongue off the road. If things are good then lift the trailer back onto the hitch and lock it. Once you know where to set the chains just adjust them the same way every time (real screw shackles are the best to use for this)

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

Polar bus started to address what I was going to..... Safety Chains. I think you said that when the trailer came off the ball, the tongue was dragging on the ground. This should NOT happen.

Good point guys. The tongue was dragging because there was too much slack in the chains (they were crossed; and they do have the "snap" things on them so the S hooks aren't open-ended). I had already tightened them up once (previous owner had a big pick-up truck) but it looks like I need to do it again.