Tilt Trailers?

CraigBarnard

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Nov 7, 2010
Messages
269
I bought a 1965 Starcraft Cheiftain last fall and it came with a tilt trailer.
I have never used one before and cannot really understand its advantages.
I have heard they are good for shallow water use.
Would anyone have a video or very clear description on how to use one?
Hopefully the boat will be hitting the water this weekend.
Thanks
 

fibersport

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 18, 2010
Messages
103
Re: Tilt Trailers?

My dad's boats had tilt trailers back in the 60's. The advantage was supposed to be that you could launch on shallow ramps and I think they even said from a flat beach. When launching or retrieving, you unlatch the lock where the frame meets the tongue and let it tilt back. You would control the tilt with the winch cable/strap. I also had an old Gator trailer for my inboard that was a tilt trailer. Personally I have never seen one work as they said they would, hopefully someone else will chime in as I too would like to see one in action. With the advent of roller trailers and drive on bunk models, I don't even think anyone makes them anymore.
 

hidef

Lieutenant
Joined
Aug 22, 2009
Messages
1,465
Re: Tilt Trailers?

I use a tilt trailer for my 1971 Starcraft Jetstar if the trailer is setup correctly launching and retrieving is a breeze. I recommend using the hard yellow rollers instead of the black rubber ones. You want the keel taking the weight with the bunks balancing the boat. If too much weight is on the bunks it can be a pain to launch and retrieve. The nice thing about the tilt trailer is I never have to submerge my wheel hubs.

When launching I back down until the tires are in the water to the rims. Pull the pin so the trailer will tilt and then release the winch and give the boat a shove and off it rolls. Doesn't matter if the ramp is deep or shallow. On a larger boat you might need to have a line attached to bow eye and take a couple of turns around the post so that you can release the winch without the trailer tipping to much. Some trailers also use a chain to prevent the trailer from tipping to much.
 

JimS123

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Jul 27, 2007
Messages
8,196
Re: Tilt Trailers?

Back the trailer in till the tires get wet. Tie bow and stern lines on the boat. Release the winch cable. Push on the boat with your baby finger, and then walk out the dock and tie the boat up after it launches itself.

No wet feet.....no back strain....no car exhaust bubbling in the water.

If you ever used a tilt trailer you'd wonder why you didn't buy one before!

Ohhhh, its probably because they don't make them anymore because they cost an extra $25 to build and then the boat dealers couldn't work up a cheep package price.
 

CVX20SPRINT

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Sep 9, 2009
Messages
213
Re: Tilt Trailers?

I've got one under my old 68 Starcraft and I've never even tried it.
 

CraigBarnard

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Nov 7, 2010
Messages
269
Re: Tilt Trailers?

That all sounds fantatsic!
We have a shallow beach at the cottage I figured we could never launch from.
Going to give it a try now.
Should save tons of money and aggrivation from using public launches.
Thanks to all.
 

bonz_d

Vice Admiral
Joined
Apr 22, 2008
Messages
5,276
Re: Tilt Trailers?

Yes, I have used my tilt trailer to launch and retrieve in as little as 12" of water! They work very well for boats under 19'. My belief is that they have lost popularity because it's next to impossible to drive on to one as most people seem to want to do these days. Also I think the average size of pleasure boats has grown over the past 30 years.
 

CraigBarnard

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Nov 7, 2010
Messages
269
Re: Tilt Trailers?

Yes, I have used my tilt trailer to launch and retrieve in as little as 12" of water! They work very well for boats under 19'. My belief is that they have lost popularity because it's next to impossible to drive on to one as most people seem to want to do these days. Also I think the average size of pleasure boats has grown over the past 30 years.

Interesting.
So how do you go about loading it then?
Just approach the trailer and winch it on?
Sounds easier than driving it on.
 

hidef

Lieutenant
Joined
Aug 22, 2009
Messages
1,465
Re: Tilt Trailers?

You do have to use the winch with a tilt trailer but if it is setup right the boat will load very easily and quickly. If it is a heavier boat an electric winch makes it real easy to load. I load and unload my 15 footer by myself all the time.
 

bonz_d

Vice Admiral
Joined
Apr 22, 2008
Messages
5,276
Re: Tilt Trailers?

Yes, retrieve the same way.

I normally back in to where the back of the vehicle is even with the water for both launching and retrieving. On launch it's just a matter of a moderate push and the boat rolls off. When loading it the trailer I used to use had a catwalk that went all the way to the end of the trailer. Before backing in I would pull the winch strap back and hang it over the end. Then just pull the boat up to the trailer roller, connect the strap and start winching, remember to keep tension on the strap. The trailer will then tilt down to the correct level and the boat pulls straight upl

Was once at a gravel ramp that was so shallow that I couldn't even get deep enough to get the rims wet. Got the boat halfway off the trailer and the transom bounced off the bottom of the lake. Good thing this is a tin boat. Will also add that that day was some of the best fishing I've had in a long time. Try and do that with a bass boat on a bunk trailer!
 

coinman1947

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Mar 7, 2011
Messages
83
Re: Tilt Trailers?

Hey CraigBarnard,being retired once again I'm useing my tilt trailer everyother day now.I have used the tilt feature a couple of times, just playing around with it for the reason of just seeing how it works. With the rollers on the trailer,i really don't need to use the tilt function,it unloads and loads so easy, it is so quick, my wife and i unload and load in less than 2 or 3 minutes " tops ". I realize my 85 lund is a lite boat and all.The tilt function will come in handy if the water gets real low,but right now it's not needed.-
DSCF1410-1.jpg
-If you ever get caught in a rain storm coming home from the lake,the tilt feature is a dandy way to get the water drained completly out of the bottom.-
DSCF1474.jpg
-Well have fun playing with the boat and trailer.
 

57crestliner

Seaman
Joined
Feb 14, 2009
Messages
65
Re: Tilt Trailers?

;)Your boat is light enough that you can load from a sea wall, true.:D Tilt is the deal, if set up right. I have a 18 foot tinny, tilt trailer, and go darn near any where on the Potomac to load . Nice boat:)
 
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