Originally Posted by phragle

just a thought... would it work if your ramp challanged to have 4 or 6 of the big round fenders, tie them to the back of the trailer... the boat would be heavy enough to back off, then the trailer would have some float/lift to help the wheels get over the hump... Getting out, stop at the end and power the boat on.

Originally Posted by cheech

I take it because the ramps were too short? If they aren't why wouldn't you just set the trailer deeper in the water? No insult meant just a honest question.

Originally Posted by MILD THUNDER

So I was bored today, took a ride to the harbor to check launch ramp conditions, as Lake Michigan lake level is down a lot. Pulled up and saw this guy launching a 34 Sea Ray. Parked my truck and had to see how it would go for him. He was already backed in at that point, and was going over some stuff with the customer he was launching for. Boat actually got off the trailer ok. Then he attempted to pull the truck and trailer out. UH-OH! Stuck. Trailer axle on passenger side of trailer, completely off the ramp.

He asked since I had my dually, if I can give him a tug, as he was spinning all 4 tires. Hooked the strap up, and still nothing, both trucks just spun the tires. At that point, I said "this aint gonna work''.

I had suggested to him that if he had a floor jack, only thing I can see working is getting in that water, and jackin up the trailer. Considering the water is probably barely 40*, and he was a long way from home, he wasn't in the mood for that just yet.

I gave him the number to a wrecker outfit ive used in the past. They dispatched out, and he called his Girlfriend to bring him some waders.

Wrecker arrives first. Driver hooked the winch cable to his tow hooks, and tugged on it. Wouldn't budge, and I wasn't digging the creaking noise the truck/trailer was making!

After a while the GF showed up with some waders. He got into the water with the floor jack, jacked the trailer frame up, wrecker winched it and rolled right up.

Trailer fender sustained some damage, but after all that not bad. I actually knew the guy launching the boat, and the wrecker driver, who is also a boater. So he didn't beat him up to bad on the charges.

I stuck around until everything was done, as I felt for the guy. He was all by himself, and he's been hauling/workin on boats for a long time. It was just one of those things, and he was prob more concerned with making the customer happy then realizing what he was doin with the trailer. Glad it all worked out for him.

Rather than Monday morning quarterback the guy, I figured i'd help since I may be there someday in that spot! Moral of the story, be careful with the lake levels this season! FYI, several seasons ago, I used to launch a 40' here. And I'd be able to step off the concrete wall into my cockpit and back off trailer. Now you can see where the cockpit would be. Just to give a general idea of the lake level changes.

Originally Posted by Ernest T Bass

I had an aluminum trailer with 15" wheels/tires for a small tunnel boat I use to have. If you backed in to far it would float. Which in current sucked!

Originally Posted by sommerfliesby

Way to go, Joe! I'm sure that guy certainly appreciated the help. I'm letting Mr.Cig put his in the water at Hammond before I try mine! Lol.

I backed the trailer off the end of the ramp at Portage, IN a few years back...didn't know it. After the boat came off the trailer, I jumped in the truck and took off. There was a large crashing sound and a big jerk as I came out, but I thought I had just rolled over something on the ramp. Looked at the trailer when I parked...all the lights were hanging out of the back and the front axle support was torn on the driver's side. Fortunately, it held together for the trip home. We straightened the front axle and welded angular supports like what CNC described to address any future problems.

Originally Posted by Young Performance

I had a customer with a 33 Powerplay on an aluminum trailer that floated. We installed some larger wheels and tires (15") and it caused it to float. It previously had some little girl wheels and tires and they were not rated to handle the weight and he was having blowouts. If the tide was running real hard, we would have to tie the trailer to the dock to keep it straight. When loading it, you would have to pull up easy and bump the rear of the bunks while they were floating. When you bumped it, it would sink for just a second. As soon as it sunk, you better get on the gas and drive it on before it floated again.

I had another customer that had a trailer that floated. He made some simple aluminum brackets that bolted to the trailer just behind the rear axle. They would hold a John Deere tractor weight. If you dropped off the ramp, you could just remove the weights and the trailer would float up. Then just pull it out.
Eddie