Trailers with drive guards
 

I know this is a crappy picture, but can someone tell me the main purpose of drive guards on a trailer. Is it simply to protect the drive? My next question do they work? It seems like a vehicle approaching from the rear would just jump up over and damge the drives. Also can you launch a boat in the water with this type of trailer?

The pic
 

#1

depending in the boat and the angle of the ramp yes you can float on a trailer like that. but youve got to foat it on not drive on cause youll need to trim your deive all the way up before floating on.

..I know they help some...the guys from Lynch Mob can fill you in about their incident..woman ran into the back of their new F2 Gladiator.. and from what Hot Duck told us, the trailer really saved a bunch of damage being done...:eek: :mad:

Yep they work. Had it on my 38 scarab trailer. To be perfectly honest, they're better at preventing you from doing stupid stuff like backing into a pole, tree, or hillside and damaging your drives.
A freind of mine just rigged one with 2 pins and a quick disconnect for the light wiring. It takes about 10 seconds to remove when you're loading up the boat on a shallow ramp.
Gary

also gives you somethin to stand on when your working on your transom:D

My new Myco trailer (38 scarab) has a drive guard. The main thing is that I'm not always thinking that someone is going to run in to my outdrives while in traffic! Also, when using a boat ramp, the drive gate swings around and out of the way. One more thing, it makes your boat look longer!!!!

I have a Swing away myco on my active thunder see the pics on the first page of the following thread

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forum/sh...+maiden+voyage

Thanks,,,,,
 

I was pretty sure,, it had something to do with what you guys have described....

Also Thanks SSHERMAN
 

I contacted the marina you mentioned in your post about doing work to my boat. I think I am going to use them instead of the guys by me... Going down in a couple weeks to see their shop.

Mike,
Here is another picture

As BOSYSHOT1 said, we can vouch for the value of a drive guard. We were struck from behind back in July and the drive guard saved the boat! We were making a right hand turn and got hit on the right rear corner of the trailer by a car traveling 50 mph. The person that hit us told the Trooper that she did not see us! If not for the drive guard, the car would have hit the drives and tabs and could have ripped everything off of the transom. Also, because of the drive guard, the impact was our trailer vs. her bumper instead of our drives vs. her windshield. In the long run, the drive guard helped both us and the other party involved.

Luckily, Myco built us a great trailer. The only damage to the boat was in the right hand drive, which was completely replaced. The trailer was declared a total loss b/c the frame rails and cross members were bent. So, we had the crew at Myco build us a replacement trailer and we are back as good as new. If you have the chance, I would not hesitate to buy a trailer with a drive guard. It adds a little length, but it is well worth every inch!

Lynch Mob (F2-3)

:mad:

:(

:eek:

:mad:

Has anyone had an extension put on a trailer that did not have one in the first place.
I travel alot. Over 30,000 miles on the trailer since I have owned it :(
I ALWAYS worry about someone hitting me.
I am actually more worried about some cell phone idiot or makeup smearing house wife not paying attention and rearending me. Then knowing that they are at fault and knowing the possible high cost of repair not saying anything. I am sure alot of impacts can go unnoticed but yet to damage. Props, Skegs, etc.

Hot Duck, was the person driving doing over 65 or under??
That is one hell of a impact to bend the I-beams that much.
Or was she driving a Mack truck :(

I really do not want to buy a new trailer now, But the next boat will have some sort of swing away protection.

Someone even suggested at one time to make a tripod at the rear. 2 I-beams on a hinge meeting at the middle. Swing to both sides. Anyone that impacts it will be pushed off to the side.
I do not see it that way since the hinge will be the forgiving weak point.

Plus it looks cool, that in itself is worth it!!!

My new Myco has one and I agree with everything everyone has said. It protects the boat and is easy to swing open and closed. I will say though that my new aluminum trailer guard is a lot lighter and easier to operate than the steel one it was on when I bought it.

Definitely gives protection. I have a 99 Myco trailer with drive guards, tool box, flush system etc. It is under my 37 OuterLimits. I would like to sell it for around $6000 as I need a saltwater trailer. Myco makes the best trailer for the long haul. Smoothest ride and best for the boat. If anyone is looking for a Myco call me at (813)882-8477.

Andy Buzz

My brothers trailer is like that. You have to unhook one sside and swing it around to the other to launch boat. It will protect the drives though.

Hot Duck,
How in the world can you not see a rig like that?

If you can keep your drives down while towing and the bar is close enough to your drives, wouldn't it make someone think twice about stealing the drives and/or props if you were parked out in the open overnight? You could install a lock on the swing gate. Is anyone set up like this?

I believe they're an asset...
 

As Gary Anderson said; the drive guard protects the drives if you're backing up and make the mistake of hitting a pole, tree, or hillside, etc. Or from someone else who may bump into you with their vehicle. I think they're intended more for minor stuff rather than the major, but as you can see with Hot Duck it happend to save them a lot of further damage....and looks like it may have even saved the woman's life or severe injury.

I have an Eagle trailer with the drive guard the swings open on a hinge....only takes about 20 seconds.

Catmando - Nope..it was hit on the right rear corner as we were making a right hand turn. This is what caused the trailer to bend to the left.

MnFastBoat - The person following the lady that hit us said that she was traveling approx 50mph and never hit the brakes!??!!

Aqua-Holic - I have asked myself that questions a few hundred times since the accident. I guess the fact that the lady who hit us is in her low 80's may have something to do with it. Crazy huh?