Major mistake at ramp - need advice

[strokeoluck]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

Well then I'm stumped. I agree that it would be nice for it to grip below that lower curve, so it's "under" the ball somewhat. But I don't know what else to do. If I loosen the nut then there's too much play in the whole set up. If there's any good news to this it's that the old coupler held 99% of the time, until the fiasco at the ramp. So at least this new coupler is lower (better?) than the original. Maybe I'll take the whole set up back in to the trailer place.

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

You could always try a different ball (get a reese or curtis if you can), they aren't terribly expensive and easy to change if you have the right wrench. Maybe that one slipped past quality control.


ian

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

You could always try a different ball (get a reese or curtis if you can), they aren't terribly expensive and easy to change if you have the right wrench. Maybe that one slipped past quality control.


ian

The whole set up is Reese. I think I'll get her all hitched up and then take a look at it when it's on level ground. Right now our Pilot is facing downhill when I'm backed up to the trailer in the garage.

When I put the ball in the coupler tonight (w/out the ball being attached to the Pilot) it sat in there quite nice.

 

[pingman]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

The coupler should set all the way down on the top of the ball (no space on top) and the yoke should slide under the ball around the shaft. It doesn't need to touch the shaft or ball. In fact, it will last longer if there is a little play. I would get a new 2" ball, if that's the coupler size, and put the ball into the coupler without it being connected to the vehicle.

 

[salty87]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

stroke...in your 2nd pic...the arm in the coupler that locks onto the ball...it looks like it's upside down. the taper looks like it should be flipped over and hold onto the ball. i don't know if that part can be flipped over but it doesn't look right from that angle.

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

stroke...in your 2nd pic...the arm in the coupler that locks onto the ball...it looks like it's upside down. the taper looks like it should be flipped over and hold onto the ball. i don't know if that part can be flipped over but it doesn't look right from that angle.

That's exactly what I was thinking when I looked at the picture. Regardless, the pic of the new setup doesn't look that much different than the old one. If you plan to be in Shakopee soon, you might want to take the rig back to that guy just to be sure. But first, see if you can turn that puppy over for a better fit so it looks closer to what 45Auto has.

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

stroke...in your 2nd pic...the arm in the coupler that locks onto the ball...it looks like it's upside down. the taper looks like it should be flipped over and hold onto the ball. i don't know if that part can be flipped over but it doesn't look right from that angle.

Well, I'm no expert at this stuff so I'll take it apart and reinstall it and see if it helps. I'll take some pics and post.

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

Ok, I climbed under the trailer tongue this afternoon and disassembled the coupler. Not sure what I was thinking, but the coupler piece that sits on/under the ball can only be installed one way. That's because it's got that little "L" shaped piece that goes up inside the tongue and fits over a little bar to hold it in place. So I know I installed it the right way originally.

I double-checked the position again and the coupler locks onto the ball roughly halfway down that slanted 45-degree angle as it heads towards the shaft. I'm not grabbing onto the shaft, but relatively close to it. After looking at it for the umpteenth time tonight I'm comfortable that it will hold. If she pops off again I will come crawling back to the group with my tail between my legs.

Thanks again to all of you for your thoughts and input. If I work up enough nerve I'll post the pictures of the dent in our Pilot!

 

[alesserfate]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

Don't worry about it too much, s*** happens! At least you, your wife and the boat are ok, a dent can be fixed!

I'm pretty experienced with trailers since I tow my race car around the country alot and here is my input on 'popping off the ball' scenario.

It is important every time you lower your trailer onto the ball, to bend down, look underneath and make sure that the latch is slid underneath the ball. Sometimes when you lower the trailer onto the ball, if the ball is too far in towards the trailer, it will look like it went down enough but it actually didn't, it goes down but sits on the latch mechanism, and when you close the latch it just slides over the top of the ball, and from where you are looking at the top it's not that noticeable. What I've learned over time is before you lower your trailer onto the ball, if you look from the top, it is a good idea to have the the ball maybe 1/4 inch forward from where it would normally sit in the cup of the trailer tongue (away from the trailer). This way, when you lower it, the trailer tongue will slide into the perfect position, ensuring it's not too far back and won't get caught on the latching mechanism.

Anyway, post a pic of the dent

And good luck with your future launches, I've yet to try launching since I've just recently bought my boat and restoring it a bit before use. Can't wait!

 

[jerry1865]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

in your pics the coupler is not seating correctly. my advice is to simply change the coupler. its very cheap to do if you do it youself. i never cared for that type anyway . i truly prefer " bull-dog " couplers. they NEVER let go.

 

[Mr Stress]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

Dear holy embarassing Batman

Don't sweat it we all make bone head moves! Your first mistake wasn't tighting it down, it was buying a Bayliner. I think it's a great idea that you go to the ramp and practice! Every spring I run my 24' Sundancer over to Watchill and spend an hour backing into and out of slips. I like go when it's very windy because I need the practice. This way I look like a pro in the summer.... and batman I've been boating over 35 yrs.

Maybe this will help when you show up to the ramp you back it down into the water then and only then unhook the boat from the trailer this is very important otherwise the boat will be on the ground and you really will look dumb. " Unhook from trailer after boat is in water"

Now get in start her up and drive it off the trailer. Have your wife get into the drivers seat and go park. It's that easy! I've been doing this by my self over 20 yrs now. When you get back back down the ramp jump into the Bayliner and drive her onto your trailer hook her off and your done.....

One last thing ALWAYS look at all connections a few times.

It's that easy, Have a great time this summer...


Regards from LI,NY
Chris

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

Ok boys, here are the pictures of the damage I did to our Honda Pilot. Enjoy.

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

when you show up to the ramp you back it down into the water then and only then unhook the boat from the trailer this is very important otherwise the boat will be on the ground and you really will look dumb. " Unhook from trailer after boat is in water". Now get in start her up and drive it off the trailer. Have your wife get into the drivers seat and go park. It's that easy!

I agree, it's easy once you get the hang of the routine (and I use a checklist). But when you're new at this whole thing, and you don't have any/many boating friends/relatives to rely on, sh*t happens; and it happened to me. But I do feel a whole lot more comfortable with it now than I did a month ago.

Your first mistake wasn't tighting it down, it was buying a Bayliner.

I'm assuming (?) that was a joke. Since it wasn't followed by the face I wasn't quite sure. But yes, I'm well aware of some of the feelings towards Bayliners (seems to be covered every 4-6 hours on the iboats forums). But for <$10k cash all in (boat, trailer and all the "stuff") I was able to dip my toe in the boating "water" with a relatively new, reliable boat and MerCruiser engine. I agree it's unlikely to hold it's resale value in a strong fashion (although one could argue the first owner took most of that beating), but then again I didn't pay $20k to $25k for a newer/better boat only to find out we dislike boating or can't/don't make the time for it.

 

[pingman]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

Ok boys, here are the pictures of the damage I did to our Honda Pilot. Enjoy.

Heck, that dent ain't bad. I've seen more damage from a shopping cart!

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

Our salesman from R&R Marine came with us for a splash test of our brand new boat.

Upon launching, he unfastened the bow strap from the bow eye, then tossed the heavy clip back towards the tongue of the trailer. Not sure why he did that except maybe he didn't want it to get wet (gee, they're made to get wet!), but he managed to heave the coupler of the strap so far that it landed a glancing blow on the D-pillar of my new 4Runner!

We all gasped, but it was three months later that I finally noticed the very minor ding. Even now I have to look hard to find it. Got lucky.

 

[alesserfate]

Re: Major mistake at ramp - need advice

Ok boys, here are the pictures of the damage I did to our Honda Pilot. Enjoy.

Hahah could of been alot worse, no biggie!