need help on backing up

[donaldm]

I bought a 21' boat and pulling it with a ford f150 supercab short bed truck. I would like to park the boat on my 21' deep x 20' wide parking deck which has 4' high hand rails on three sides. The street in front of the deck is only 20' wide so its a very tight turn. Im thinking that if I put a hitch on the front of the truck then push the boat in I might find it ez-er to maneuver in. Question: has anybody worked with a front end hitch and found it much more maneuverable or is it about the same as rear hitch control? thanks for any opionions

 

[willett]

Re: need help on backing up

it is supposedly much easier

 

[superbenk]

Re: need help on backing up

It's much easier for sure. I worked at a marina for a summer back in high-school & they had a crappy old Bronco with a front hitch on it to launch customer's boats. Pushing the trailer around was night & day easier than backing it around.

That being said, nothing replaces a lot of good practice in backing a trailer - the more you do it, the better you get!

 

[wifisher]

Re: need help on backing up

You can turn faster with the hitch on the front because the steer axle is so close to the hitch. Although with a little practice, I think you will do it with the boat on the back just fine. With the front hitch you will have to drop the trailer, turn around and re-hook before you can park. That would be a hassle to do every time you pull into the yard.

 

[Evinbuck]

Re: need help on backing up

I can say for certain that a front mounted hitch makes it much easier to manuever in tight places. While my front hitch is mounted on my Kubota it would be the same thing no matter what vehicle you use. I have a 500 ft driveway with not enough area to make an easy turn around with my boat trailer. I just unhook my truck, put it away and use my Kubota front hitch to put the boat in the garage.

 

[sw33ttooth]

Re: need help on backing up

front hitch is nicer to manuver it around but, do you really want to spend the money adding that then the time every time unhook turn around hook it up then drive it in? its a 21 foot boat shouldnt be to hard, i can put a 20 foot trailer on the dot with a 35 foot motor home, same goes for any fith wheel or trailer little practice goes a long way. eventually you dont even need to try most time i only use 1 mirror when backing up mainly because some one stole my passenger mirror and i went with out it for 2 years, if i know the spot is 12 inches wider then the boat i put it around 4-6 inches away.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: need help on backing up

try this: put the boat inthe water and leave it; take the trailer home and practice. You can see that much better without the boat on. But when you return with the boat, don't forget to account for the motor.

 

[ChampionShip]

Re: need help on backing up

Will a 21' boat ON THE TRAILER fit in that small of a spot without sticking way out? My trailer tongue adds every bit of 4' to my total length and then there's the outdrive that sticks out another 2 ft.

 

[Monte1961]

Re: need help on backing up

Time to break out the tape measure!

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: need help on backing up

Yes A front trailer hitch is easier to park a trailer Know doubt. Would i Spend the money? No.

 

[superbenk]

Re: need help on backing up

try this: put the boat inthe water and leave it; take the trailer home and practice. You can see that much better without the boat on. But when you return with the boat, don't forget to account for the motor.

I tend to find backing the trailer without the boat to be harder. It disappears around the sides of the truck. Maybe my trailer is skinnier than most.

 

[sw33ttooth]

Re: need help on backing up

i cant see my trailer behind duallys and my dad has a topper on his truck so i cant look back. gets real fun trying to back that baby up to water with out boat on it. my truck will "haul" my boat but its slow going thats why if i got the option i use my dads dont even feel 5k behind it.

 

[Evinbuck]

Re: need help on backing up

Seems the primary point is his ease of manuevering in tight quarters. True, practice anything long enough and you get good at it...however, you can buy a cheap front hitch, since you're only using it for moving purposes, and easily see what the heck you're doing. It doesn't require much practice at all. Guess it's all in what it's worth to you.

 

[glengold]

Re: need help on backing up

I had an Expedition 4WD with the hitch on the front. It was great for towing a boat and having the bike rack on the nose. We used it to launch at a few crazy ramps (hard turns) and it was much easier. I've also been told that loading at a slippery ramp is easier in reverse. I imagine with a RWD vehicle that keeps the tires out of the wet slick.

 

[timdan94]

Re: need help on backing up

I can say for certain that a front mounted hitch makes it much easier to manuever in tight places. While my front hitch is mounted on my Kubota it would be the same thing no matter what vehicle you use. I have a 500 ft driveway with not enough area to make an easy turn around with my boat trailer. I just unhook my truck, put it away and use my Kubota front hitch to put the boat in the garage.

I have a tractor close to that could I please get a few pics of how you mounted the hitch on the front of the tractor.
Thanks

 

[Brewman61]

Re: need help on backing up

I was at a resort once and the owner had a front hitch on his pickup to get the guests trailers down the skinny launch. Looked way easier to me than backing. Steering also would seem more intuitive.

 

[emoney]

Re: need help on backing up

Keep in mind what someone above me said, "Your trailer is longer than your parking spot".

I've used a front hitch and when it comes to putting something in the "pocket" it's a lot quicker and less stressfull, because you can watch everything unfold without having to rely on someone to guide you in.

 

[DJ]

Re: need help on backing up

BE CAREFUL, if you're thinking about installing a front hitch. If your vehicle has air bags, that addition can cause them to not deploy when needed. You do not want to go there.

The best secenario is to simply learn how to back a trailer. It takes practice.

I do agree that some trailers can "disappear" while backing. That is troublesome. However, there are ways to make them visible. I've done things as simple as wedging a broom stick in the fender of the trailer frame so I have a reference point.

 

[444]

Re: need help on backing up

The front hitch is much easier to steer the trailer because the pivot point is your front wheels right near the trailer. With a rear hitch and a long wheelbase truck, the trailer does not respond right away when you turn the steering wheel, where it basically does when using the front hitch. It takes all of 2 minutes to unhook, turn the truck around and rehook to the front. Not a big deal IMO.

 

[blackberg]

Re: need help on backing up

The front hitch is much easier to steer the trailer because the pivot point is your front wheels right near the trailer. With a rear hitch and a long wheelbase truck, the trailer does not respond right away when you turn the steering wheel, where it basically does when using the front hitch. It takes all of 2 minutes to unhook, turn the truck around and rehook to the front. Not a big deal IMO.

exactly, we have B-series van and its impossible to put the boat in its spot using the rear hitch. Right now we have to drop the trailer,manuever, hook up, back up, repeat about 3-4 times to get in there. I want to install a front hitch but no one makes a version for it, so it would have to be custom made.

There is just no space to turn, the path in there is like a Kahle hook in shape
-bb