Major mistake at ramp - need advice

[rs2k]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

Well backing a triler is a lot harder for most people than operaing a boat at idle speeds.

I can back a 30 foot bumper trailer pulled by a 23 foot truck onto 1/2 of a 18x40 foot driveway on a residential neighborhood, but I can never get my 18 foot trihull onto my trailer like I want it. My poor tri-hull has plenty of battle scars caused by my attempts to load on a windy day. I can put it where I want to at the dock, but I just can't seem to master a crosswind/cross-current loading.

The first time I take my 28 footer out I'm going to make sure its a calm day to do plenty of practice loadings. I don't want to scratch this baby up.

 

[BiggPops]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

I'm going to say looking at the pictures of your coupler on the trailer that it is worn ount where the bolt mouns through the ball latch. If you tighten it up it should never raise that high up on the ball. Another thing is i find it easier to just power my boat of the trailer and let the wife park the truck while I mill around in the water for a bit. The first thing I did when I started dating my wife was teach her how to back the trailer we found a empty parking lot and I put her behind the wheel and got out of the truck and after a while she figured out how to get the boat to go where she wanted it. So now when we get to the landing she backs me into the water I start the boat she disconects the bow line, I back off the trailer she parks the truck I meet her at the dock and we ride out. then when we get back I let her off at the dock then she gets the truck backs it in i drive the boat onto the trailer and off we go getting out of everyones way. If you can teach your wife to back a trailer then youve got it made.

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

I'm going to say looking at the pictures of your coupler on the trailer that it is worn ount where the bolt mouns through the ball latch. If you tighten it up it should never raise that high up on the ball.

I sure hope the Pilot/trailer set up can make it to the trailer place five miles down the road! I'm a bit nervous now. The only challenging part is going to be pulling out of the driveway, which is somewhat steep. But it's made it the previous five or six times just fine, so I'm going to keep my fingers crossed. Once I'm on level roads I'm confident the tongue weight will hold it just fine.

As for the wife thing, I think I'll take the advice given here and let her practice gently pulling the boat up to the dock on a slow, calm day. After 15 years of marriage I've learned to just compliment her, and if I have any issues w/something she's doing I just find a way to politely work around it.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

I can back a 30 foot bumper trailer pulled by a 23 foot truck onto 1/2 of a 18x40 foot driveway on a residential neighborhood, but I can never get my 18 foot trihull onto my trailer like I want it.

Had to laugh at this. Ain't it the truth!

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

It's always more difficult to back a short trailer than a long trailer. Backing a jet ski trailer takes constant inputs because the rear of the trailer moves a lot with very little input. A long trailer takes longer to respond to inputs, so you have more time to react but you have to plan ahead more for sharp corners or tight spaces.

The cross-current/wind trailering can be difficult, especially with only one engine. However, having one person with a bow line to hold the front from drifting and one person at the engine controls to direct the stern makes it much easier.

 

[BiggPops]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

After 15 years of marriage I've learned to just compliment her, and if I have any issues w/something she's doing I just find a way to politely work around it.

I can relate to that!

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

It's always more difficult to back a short trailer than a long trailer. Backing a jet ski trailer takes constant inputs because the rear of the trailer moves a lot with very little input. A long trailer takes longer to respond to inputs, so you have more time to react but you have to plan ahead more for sharp corners or tight spaces.

30 ft travel trailer. No problem. As long as I don't go too far back, it's a piece of cake to back up.

18 ft boat. Bit harder.

8 ft utility trailer. Easier to get it close and hand move it the rest of the way. Pain in the butt at the dump to get it backed into the little slots in front of the bins.

 

[wegngis]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

Hey man, I don't have much to add as far as technical advice goes, that's been covered already. I just wanted to say don't give up, keep at it, and don't get discouraged. I found the best time to go practice launching is when it's pouring down rain. Sure it's wet, but 99% of the time you'll be by yourself!

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

I found the best time to go practice launching is when it's pouring down rain. Sure it's wet, but 99% of the time you'll be by yourself!

Darn good point! I think I mentioned in this thread (or maybe another) that there's a small lake about a 9-iron from the entrance of our subdivision. That's where we launched the boat w/my Dad the first time. The downside to that lake is that a) it's small so not much to do, and b) the ramp/launch area is all sand so the truck and trailer get a little dirty. Yeah, yeah I know...a little dirt now pales in comparison to the ding in the back of our Pilot. If it's decent tomorrow I plan on picking my son up after school and taking him fishing on the little lake so we can practice launching.

I take the trailer in tomorrow morning. Keep your fingers crossed!

 

[rentprop1]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

I can't get my wife to understand " don't let the boat touch ( hit ) the dock "

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

This morning I took the trailer in to Ace Trailer Sales in Shakopee, MN. One of the owners came out to help me. He spent about 30-40 minutes checking and double-checking everything out. He then called the distributor of the "doo-hickey" part of the trailer tongue that contains the brake fluid and the coupler (sorry, I forget that name). He came out and said they confirmed what he was thinking, that it looks like I have a Class III coupler on a Class IV trailer. Not sure how this would have happened. So he ordered me a Class IV coupler and will have it shipped to my house where I can swap them out (he said it's easy).

So, I'm once again keeping my fingers crossed that this is the solution. I asked him if I could use it in the meantime. He said it will likely be fine, but he reminded me it's my own risk. He said at first glance he wouldn't have guessed that the trailer could come loose from the ball, but he said the coupler is riding "just high enough" on that ball to allow it to pop off under the right circumstances.

Thanks again to everyone for your thoughts/comments. I'll post back here again once I get the new coupler in place.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

Interesting, I wouldn't have thought the class of the coupler/hitch ball would have anything whatsoever to do with how deep the coupler sits on the ball. Well, in any case, hopefully the new coupler solves the problem for you.

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

This morning I took the trailer in to Ace Trailer Sales in Shakopee, MN.

That was a good place to take your rig to. If anybody can figure it out, they can. Let us know how it all shakes out. Maybe you could take new pics of the shots you submitted earlier so we can see the difference. -Ken

 

[captharv]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

The proper adjustment for the "nut".
When you push the lever to "lock" the trailer onto the ball, the last part should be slightly harder to push. This indicates it is tight. Then, you should not be able to lift on the tongue and have free-play in it. If its tightened too much, the assembly could break from stress.
Note: If you don't lock the lever with a real lock, you may not have a trailer when you come back. I like the Master Tongue lock. Very rugged. Also keeps the handle from popping loose (happened to a friend).

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

Note: If you don't lock the lever with a real lock, you may not have a trailer when you come back. I like the Master Tongue lock. Very rugged. Also keeps the handle from popping loose (happened to a friend).

But if someone was to undo and remove the nut holding the coupler in place, can't they take your trailer?

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

But if someone was to undo and remove the nut holding the coupler in place, can't they take your trailer?

Nothing is theft proof, the trick is making it more difficult then the trailer next to you. Tongue locks are great for slowing a thief down, so he'll move on to the next trailer. However, if he wants your trailer, he's gonna take it, one way or another.


Ian

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

Maybe it's already solved, but I'm not seeing the fork that goes under the ball in the pictures. Missing?

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

For those of you still subscribed to this thread, I thought I'd give you an update. As a reminder, my trailer popped off the ball and I took it in to a trailer sales/repair shop. The guy there told me it looked like I had a class III coupler on a class IV trailer. After calling the distributor he ordered me a new coupler. I picked it up today and installed it. I haven't taken it out on the road yet, but it appears to seat about 1/8" to 1/4" lower than the previous coupler. It appears to "grab" it much more solidly than the previous one.

In the pictures below the "old" (Class III) coupler is titled "coupler-tight"; and the new (Class IV) coupler is titled "New Class IV Coupler".

 

[45Auto]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

That still doesn't look like much "bite" in the second pic. Kind of scary. Since my boat is hooked up waiting to go out (beautiful weather here in New Orleans this weekend) I went to see what my coupler looks like. Looks like it grips almost all the way around to the shank of the ball. You can tell by the rust marks on the ball where it rides when you're turning.

This pic has the safety pin in place that goes across the back (goes through the hole visible in the pic above) and holds it against the ball so it can't come off even if the latch gets popped loose. Come to think of it, I don't think it's possible to pop the latch with the pin in place because the "grabber" can't move back to clear the ball.

 

[Chiliando]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

I think 45 auto is right. that bite looks too high. Mine looks like 45 auto as it bites below the curve on the ball. Is you ball size too big?(Don't say it!)

I would definetly look into it.