transport jetski with cabin cruiser

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Si Rey

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Jun 2, 2007
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78
I have a sundancer 220da (24')on a 2x axle trailer. I also have a Yamaha jetski. I wish to haul both to the lake at the same time with the same vehicle. The boat traoiler is rated for the weight of the jetski and the boat. I'm thinking of fabricating a carrier off the front of the boat trailer, any ideas, suggestions?
 
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sw33ttooth

Chief Petty Officer
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Apr 24, 2011
Messages
498
Re: transport jetski with cabin cruiser

got a pick up truck? make a 2x4 frame in the bed put carpet on and carry it to the water? by adding steal/aluminum your changing toung wieght as well as the toung of the trailer is not rated for the 500 pound jetski. your boat settles between axles and probably only has 100-200 lbs of toung wieght i wouldnt do it plus it drawmatically lessens your turning radius because you no longer have a 3-4foot toung you have a 1-2 foot toung. and i dont think that would be enough room to even turn a street corner
 
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jrampey

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Re: transport jetski with cabin cruiser

I'm watching this thread... I have the same problem. Look at this link www.tkloader.com But if you can afford it you can afford another vehicle to tow!
 
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Si Rey

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Messages
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Re: transport jetski with cabin cruiser

I have thought of putting a pull out frame in the back of the pickup truck. The problem with that is I have a camper shell on it and a tool box inside the bed. Both can be removed and re-installed. The issue with the pullout frame is the jetski weighs 500 lbs. It take three people to pick it up, combine that with the incline of the boat ramp and it becomes very difficult. I have also contemplated on putting it on the frt of my vehicle. Install two receiver hitches, one inside each frame rail and make a slide in mount for each side. Drive the truck into the water and unload the jetski. I'm within the width allowance for the vehicle. The TKloader is $6000, a lot of gas for another vehicle to pull the jetski!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
smokeonthewater

smokeonthewater

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Re: transport jetski with cabin cruiser

set up a hitch on the back of the boat trailer to tow the ski.... It will likely need to be pretty long and removable to launch the boat but it CAN be done... I was gonna do that at one time on an ez loader... it would have had to come off one frame rail and across to the center tho on that one... If you can't fabricate from steel tho you would need to take it to a welding shop..

otherwise as others have said something in the back of the truck
 
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Si Rey

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Re: transport jetski with cabin cruiser

smokeonthewater said:
set up a hitch on the back of the boat trailer to tow the ski.... I will likely need to be pretty long and removable to launch the boat but it CAN be done... I was gonna do that at one time on an ez loader... it would have had to come off one frame rail and across to the center tho on that one... If you can't fabricate from steel tho you would need to take it to a welding shop..

otherwise as others have said something in the back of the truck
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion, however in Az. you can only pull doubles if the first trailer is a fifth wheel. Otherwise would have done that a long time ago. I live 100 miles to the closest lake, others are much further, don't want to risk getting cited/impounded.
 
arks

arks

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Re: transport jetski with cabin cruiser

Si Rey said:
I have a sundancer 220da (24')on a 2x axle trailer. I also have a Yamaha jetski. I wish to haul both to the lake at the same time with the same vehicle. The boat traoiler is rated for the weight of the jetski and the boat. I'm thinking of fabricating a carrier off the front of the boat trailer, any ideas, suggestions?
Click to expand...
Yeah, take a look at Shadow trailers.
I saw one of these while on vacation in Havasu. Hauled a 24 footer and 3 person PWC.
http://shadowtrailers.com/custom_trailers.htm

Here's another one I found on the web:
http://www.fetrailers.com/combo_trailers.html
 
smokeonthewater

smokeonthewater

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Re: transport jetski with cabin cruiser

Si Rey said:
Thanks for the suggestion, however in Az. you can only pull doubles if the first trailer is a fifth wheel. Otherwise would have done that a long time ago. I live 100 miles to the closest lake, others are much further, don't want to risk getting cited/impounded.
Click to expand...

Hmmmmm well I suppose a person could turn a boat trailer into a g/n or 5'er without toooo much trouble :D
 
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Si Rey

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Jun 2, 2007
Messages
78
Re: transport jetski with cabin cruiser

I'm looking into that possibility. The hitch/surge brake portion is a bolt on, could fabricate a goose neck extension. Have seen other boat trailers with a goose neck, just need to catch up to one ( this is not an invitation on getting a Dodge or Chevy in order to catch up, Ha Ha Ha ) and do some research. Any input from our viewers?
 
bruceb58

bruceb58

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30,584
Re: transport jetski with cabin cruiser

My old trailer had provisions to hold a jetski up near the front of the trailer where it curved towards the coupler. It was basically a couple receiver hitch tubes welded across the trailer with some removable arms that stuck out. The jetski sat on the arms.
 
dockwrecker

dockwrecker

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Re: transport jetski with cabin cruiser

My trailer has a reciever in the back for towing a jetski. My prior boat partner had that fabbed up and it had a 5' long draw bar with a stabilizing shock for the jetski trailer plus an extended pigtail for lights. He spent about $700 to get it done and it worked OK in a straight line towing. It was absolutely invisible back there and made me pretty nervous. We were barely under the legal towing length at 63' behind a Suburban we had at the time. The procedure was drop the jetski, dunk the boat, park the boat trailer, go get back in line at the ramp and dunk jetski, tie it off somewhere, ditch the jetski trailer, rehook the boat trailer and then go boating. PITA! We abandoned this whole program for anything but very long trips and took a second vehicle to tow the jetski.
 
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maproy99

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May 14, 2011
Messages
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Re: transport jetski with cabin cruiser

Si Rey said:
Thanks for the suggestion, however in Az. you can only pull doubles if the first trailer is a fifth wheel. Otherwise would have done that a long time ago. I live 100 miles to the closest lake, others are much further, don't want to risk getting cited/impounded.
Click to expand...

Different states have different laws on this subject. However you could get a CDL with a doubles endorsement, and get your rig classified as commercial. You'll be paying a ton to do that and a ton more in insurance, but it would work. :D And then there is you have to be going to a lake within 10 hours away......: facepalm:
 
smokeonthewater

smokeonthewater

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Re: transport jetski with cabin cruiser

maproy99 said:
Different states have different laws on this subject. However you could get a CDL with a doubles endorsement, and get your rig classified as commercial. You'll be paying a ton to do that and a ton more in insurance, but it would work. :D And then there is you have to be going to a lake within 10 hours away......: facepalm:
Click to expand...

doesn't work that way.... he would have to pull an approved setup IE class 8 tractor + XX foot semi trailer + convertor dolly + xx foot semi trailer

You also don't have to log hours of service if hauling your own stuff for non commercial purpose... Besides he could haul his boat and several ski's on a big dropdeck anyhow LOL
 
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sw33ttooth

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Apr 24, 2011
Messages
498
Re: transport jetski with cabin cruiser

Different states have different laws on this subject. However you could get a CDL with a doubles endorsement, and get your rig classified as commercial. You'll be paying a ton to do that and a ton more in insurance, but it would work.
Click to expand...

to pull doubles yes get the doubles endorsement not sure if its cdl a b or c, might even be chueffers. it wont have to be classified as commercial because then you need paint your DOT numbers on the doors. also wont be cost effective if your needing to get a cdl.

i see 3 options at this point
1. a gooseneck would be the way to go if you dont mind hacking away at your trailer, then tow the jetski behind.
2. you could just modify the trailer, pull the toung off weld in some cross members to put the jet ski on ahead of the boat and adjust axles accordingly.
3. take 2 vehicals, after reading that your 100 miles from nearest lake, with a second vehical getting 20 mpg thats about $40-50 round trip, not cost effective again.

i would probably find away to do number 2 since dockwrecker has explained 2 trailers and 1 truck at a launch is not fun.
 
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Sixmark

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 11, 2010
Messages
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Re: transport jetski with cabin cruiser

Please people, if you don't have experience with the rules and regulations of obtaining or holding a CDL or the other issues associated with it, then don't speculate on it.

You cannot just go out and get a CDL to pull your boat with.

You can get a class A which is in fact different from a CDL, a class A will qualify you to drive a combination vehicle in excess of 26,000lbs. A CDL is a COMMERCIAL LICENSE. This is why they have CDL A and B class. They also have a regular class A&B.

The other thing is that unless you have experience towing a multiple trailer setup then you shouldn't be pulling one without being properly trained how to do so. There is reaction called the "crack the whip" effect......if you don't know what it is then I strongly suggest that you study it.
 
jayhanig

jayhanig

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 27, 2010
Messages
836
Re: transport jetski with cabin cruiser

Si Rey said:
I have thought of putting a pull out frame in the back of the pickup truck. The problem with that is I have a camper shell on it and a tool box inside the bed. Both can be removed and re-installed. The issue with the pullout frame is the jetski weighs 500 lbs. It take three people to pick it up, combine that with the incline of the boat ramp and it becomes very difficult. I have also contemplated on putting it on the frt of my vehicle. Install two receiver hitches, one inside each frame rail and make a slide in mount for each side. Drive the truck into the water and unload the jetski. I'm within the width allowance for the vehicle. The TKloader is $6000, a lot of gas for another vehicle to pull the jetski!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...


It seems to me a 12 volt winch could take care of the 500 lb load if you could construct a ramp of some sort for the jetski to ride up and down once you've disconnected the trailer from your truck. That's how I load my motorcycle from down low to up high.
 
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