Need a step on my trailer tounge, darn near broke my leg today

[H20Rat]

Re: Need a step on my trailer tounge, darn near broke my leg today

ouch!!

Not sure if you can, but it wouldn't hurt to edit the title of the thread to include *GRAPHIC PICS INSIDE*!!

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Need a step on my trailer tounge, darn near broke my leg today

Cabelas sells a platform that bolts to the tounge/trailer rails and provides a surface to walk on.

I'm starting to realize, I often chime in with "Cabelas has what you're looking for". I really don't work for them, no affiliation with them, etc. It's just that they send me a damn catalog every other day and I feel I need to read them cover to cover to see what's on sale this week! Hope nobody minds.

 

[Reel Kahuna]

Re: Need a step on my trailer tounge, darn near broke my leg today

I often fish solo so I power on/off the trailer and what I did was bought from West Marine a transom switch and installed it on the bow to lift up the outboard motor up and also fabricated and welded steps in the front of the trailer. Although it appears to be close to the bow, there's actually a 12" separation between the steps and bow.

 

[geeco1]

Re: Need a step on my trailer tounge, darn near broke my leg today

If you want to fabricate something that is relatively cheap, here is an idea that I have seen used in other applications. Take a piece of 1/2 inch plywood and cut to the desired size....perhaps 6 inches by 12 inches. Then, using small screws cover the top with metal bottle caps... (you can even have fun emptying the bottles if they are from your favorite beverage). Put the bottle caps as close together as possible. Lastly, secure the board to your trailer tongue...you can use u-bolts, regular bolts, or even a heavy tie-wrap. The bottle caps give you great traction. You could use something other than plywood, like the plastic deck boards etc.

I have seen someone do this except they covered both sides of the board with bottle caps. They kept a couple of these in their trunk. If they got stuck in the ice or snow, they just threw one of these under each wheel and they would get unstuck.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Need a step on my trailer tounge, darn near broke my leg today

It's not much but better than stepping directly onto the winch.

 

[paidfor]

Re: Need a step on my trailer tounge, darn near broke my leg today

thank you for all of the ideas.

I really like those that do not have long bolts sticking out past the edge of the tounge....that is what I fell against and caused all of the tissue damage.

Those that have just the steps without bolts sticking way past the tounge look like something I can work with. Getting one of those with some good deck shoes will do the trick for me.

And for those who belive powering onto and off the trailer will solve this. That might be ok for those who load and unload with someone else. But for those of us who fish, load and unload solo....you have to get into and out of the boat via the tounge of the trailer.

 

[Dreads0518]

Re: Need a step on my trailer tounge, darn near broke my leg today

It's not much but better than stepping directly onto the winch.

Awesome Idea!!! Thanks!!

 

[j_martin]

Re: Need a step on my trailer tounge, darn near broke my leg today

And for those who belive powering onto and off the trailer will solve this. That might be ok for those who load and unload with someone else. But for those of us who fish, load and unload solo....you have to get into and out of the boat via the tounge of the trailer.

If there's a dock at the landing, I can back the trailer close to the dock, load the boat, step off onto the dock, (maybe flap my wings a bit) and pull it out gently if the slope isn't too steep. If the slope is steeper, I can step off the bow, onto the spare tire, and onto the tongue and hook up the strap. Usually if it's that steep, I can actually just get off onto dry land at that point. Another trick I use is to get into the back of the van or pickup I'm using to tow.

One thing for sure, I wear a good pair of deck shoes. I can't afford to break bones at my age. The other thing is the tongue is plenty wide where I step on it, or I would probably tack on a piece of deck plate for footing.

Sorry to see your injury. It hurts to look at it.

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Need a step on my trailer tounge, darn near broke my leg today

Paidfor-

YOWCH!!!!! I like your idea of getting a step or two on the trailer, but the Crocs???? Useless footwear in my opinion. Treat yourself to a pair of these:
http://www.keenfootwear.com/product/ss10/shoes/men/waterfront/kanyon/orion blue ! neutral grey

Your feet, back and busted shins will thank you.

 

[KeyWestBoater]

Re: Need a step on my trailer tounge, darn near broke my leg today

Really sorry to hear about your injury. I wear Sperry's and many times have stepped on the tongue to get in. I guess I've been lucky so far that I didn't slip off. I will highly consider putting some sort of step on the tongue. If it makes you feel better maybe because of you sharing what happened some other fellow iboaters will add a step to make their boating safer!

Get well soon,
KWB

 

[Dreads0518]

Re: Need a step on my trailer tounge, darn near broke my leg today

Paidfor-

YOWCH!!!!! I like your idea of getting a step or two on the trailer, but the Crocs???? Useless footwear in my opinion. Treat yourself to a pair of these:
http://www.keenfootwear.com/product/ss10/shoes/men/waterfront/kanyon/orion blue ! neutral grey

Your feet, back and busted shins will thank you.

Keens are awesome!! I also fish out of a Kayak, I wear the Crocs then.
On the boat, I wear the Keens. If you check around the WWW you should find some on sale........

 

[Andy'sDelight]

Re: Need a step on my trailer tounge, darn near broke my leg today

I often fish solo so I power on/off the trailer and what I did was bought from West Marine a transom switch and installed it on the bow to lift up the outboard motor up and also fabricated and welded steps in the front of the trailer. Although it appears to be close to the bow, there's actually a 12" separation between the steps and bow.

I love that!

 

[jayhanig]

Re: Need a step on my trailer tounge, darn near broke my leg today

Paidfor-

YOWCH!!!!! I like your idea of getting a step or two on the trailer, but the Crocs???? Useless footwear in my opinion. Treat yourself to a pair of these:
http://www.keenfootwear.com/product/ss10/shoes/men/waterfront/kanyon/orion blue ! neutral grey

Your feet, back and busted shins will thank you.

6PM.com has them for $51 but in very limited sizes. Still, since those sizes happen to include the one I wear, I'll be ordering from them. I've been wearing Sperry Docksiders. I appreciate you making me aware of the Keens.

 

[Tim Wagner]

Re: Need a step on my trailer tounge, darn near broke my leg today

Aww man that looks like a beauty!!!
Ill bet that hurts!!
I, myself have a similar story.
My other boat is a Spectrum 1700 with an Escort Trailer.
The trailer has nice beefy little step behind each fender.
Well, i was jumping out of the boat one day and my shorts hooked on the rear mooring cleat which forced my shin at a wreckless speed down into that step.
That little incident did similar damage. It hurt for days!
Man, I feel for you.
Enjoy the painkillers they give you. You earned it.

 

[paidfor]

Re: Need a step on my trailer tounge, darn near broke my leg today

I'm getting around better now and have been doing a lot of searching for trailer steps and deck shoes. I have gathered some steel up and am going to tackle building my own step on the tounge and using those 4 bolts that are sticking out. And a while later this winter...some deck shoes. I still have to figue out how I can go hunting in a couple of weeks.

 

[Stachi]

Re: Need a step on my trailer tounge, darn near broke my leg today

View attachment 71340

View attachment 71341

View attachment 71342Was launching the boat today and stepped on the trailer tounge while the boat was in the water. Foot slipped off the tounge and cut a 4 in gash to the bone in my left leg. Rushed to ER with the boat in tow, floorboard full of blood and was expecting stiches. They took xrays and found I had cracked a bone in the process. So they only gave me one stich to hold the flap closed till I could see a bone dr. to see what he thought. They were afraid of stitching it up and having to cut it open later for the bone Dr. Needless to say I will be getting a platform to mount to the tounge and trash those darn crocks I was wearing. And....no fish for the day.

rub some dirt on it sailor..you'll survive.....