What part is this on my trailer???

[Darren Nemeth]

It is some kind of spring loaded latch but no catch on it to latch on to something.

Anyonoe know what this is? The line drawing shows where it is on my trailer.

There is nothing for it to connect to. The whole trailer is welded together and I have no idea what that loop thing to the right of it is because the latch does not extend far enough to get inside it.

 

[cbavier]

Re: What part is this on my trailer???

The picture you showed is the mechanism to tilt the trailer. Don't pull that or pry that with the boat on the trailer or you will dump the boat on the ground. The tilt is usually used for loading the boat on the trailer in shallow water. You can unload it in shallow water too by pulling the release and tilting the trailer.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: What part is this on my trailer???

Started out it's life as a Tilt trailer...that latch used to allow the back half of the trailer to pivot, and thus, tilt.

I guess that the previous owner decided that he didn't need...or like...the tilting feature!

 

[Darren Nemeth]

Re: What part is this on my trailer???

Ahh.

Makes sense. Too bad it is all welded now. It would be great to have a tilting trailer. The docks over here are kind of shallow depening on the time of year.

 

[cbavier]

Re: What part is this on my trailer???

Ahh.

Makes sense. Too bad it is all welded now. It would be great to have a tilting trailer. The docks over here are kind of shallow depening on the time of year.

I didn't see where it is welded. Sometime when the boat is off the trailer. See if the latch will release. You may have to WD-4 it or lube it with something. I looked real close and cannot see in your photo where it is welded inop. It looks like it should tilt.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: What part is this on my trailer???

It's a tilt release. Should be spring loaded. By pushing (or hammering) down on the triangular section at tha front, the latch releases. Looks like it is half way released. If you are not going to use it, for safety sake I'd try to get it all the way back to the latched position.

 

[Darren Nemeth]

Re: What part is this on my trailer???

I just went outside with the flashlight. You are right. No welds. Everything looks in pretty good shape too but the frame is just rusted together. I got a good deal after all! this will make it easier to launch over here if I can get it unstuck from the rust. Will put the boat in the water soon to see if I can knock the rust loose to get the tilt working.

Thanks!

Do you know of any online videos that illustrates how a tilt trailer operates? I'e found nothing on youtube.com.

Does it tilt while still hitched to the car as I bck into the water? I am completely new to this.

 

[cbavier]

Re: What part is this on my trailer???

?1. Do you know of any online videos that illustrates how a tilt trailer operates? I'e found nothing on youtube.com.

?2. Does it tilt while still hitched to the car as I bck into the water? I am completely new to this?

Yes to ?2. but don't release the tilt until the moment you want to drop the boat off the trailer. You probably will have to push the boat off part of the way by hand before it tilts. Then after the boat is off the trailer you will have to step on the trailer or push it back down and lock it before you pull the trailer off the ramp. When you retrieve the boat, with the tilt released, at the waters edge. The weight of the boat as it comes forward should lock it. But check to make sure before you start up the ramp or you may dump the boat back on the ground. If the boat should roll off.

?1. No I don't know of any video's that demostrate. These type trailers are only found for smaller boats. I've had one tilt trailer and it will surely come in handy for you at different times.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: What part is this on my trailer???

I have a tilt trailer and use it all the time they're great for bank launches, you just release the lever and push up on the bow and off She goes, mine has a short length of chain bolted to both halves of the trailer which limits the amount of tilt, without it the swing half of your trailer could dump your boat right to the ground so be carefull.
Another thing to be aware of is that your lights should have a seperate ground wire run all the way to the tow vehicle, there is a tendency for these trailers to loose ground contact between the halves if the hinge points and latch get rusty.

 

[woosterken]

Re: What part is this on my trailer???

here is a picture of mine,it has a length of chain to control the tilt, waite till you are at the edge of the bank take off the safety chain and winch line,put on a bow line,push the boat back and up it will roll back(mine is all rollers)the weight will shift and raise the front of the back half of the trailer and the boat will slide off just like a regular trailer.
to put the boat back on (my trailer has a roller on the last cross member)put the trailer at the edge of the bank lift up the back half pull the boat up to the roller,put the winch strap on it and CRANK YOUR ARSE OFF!! the boat should come up the rollers,whenit gets to center it will start to come back down CRANK SLOW!!! it will come down easy,after it comes back down just continue to bring it up to the stop like normal.

MAKE SURE THE LOCK IS LOCKED!!!!

it works just like a roll back wrecker

woosterken

 

[CATransplant]

Re: What part is this on my trailer???

Yah...clean that up and lube it. Tilt trailers are cool for light boats. You can even use them to unload your boat on the lawn, as I have done many times. But, if the latch and pivots are all rusty and grungy, you might as well not have the feature.

Once you use the tilt feature one time on a shallow ramp, you'll understand why it's on there.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: What part is this on my trailer???

I like driving past the boaters impatiently waiting in long lines at the main ramps, to see the look on their faces when I position my trailer to launch at the little gravel ramp for jon boats, It like what's this A0hole think he's doing, I usually have to roll my pants up and get a little muddy but it's better waiting an hour.

 

[vintage boat junky]

Re: What part is this on my trailer???

I swear by tilt trailers for smaller boats. I use alot of shallow ramps like at Coon Lake and when the waters down, you're basically launching off of a sand bar. If I didn't have the tilt option, I'd have to submerge my car to get the trailer deep enough.

It's good to see that you may be able to use that feature. The only thing is, don't submerge too deep; as when you push up and out on the bow, you'll be fighting the boyancy on the stern. When the rear of the trailer is just submerged, that's usually good.