Trouble seeing trailer

[wsr3]

I have an old 14' runabout that I trailer. I have no problem when the boat is on, but I can't see the trailer when it's empty backing down the ramp. I thought about mounting some bicycle flags to it but wondered if anyone had a better idea.
Thanks,
Bill

 

[Splat]

Re: Trouble seeing trailer

How about building a set of guide posts out of pvc pipe. They will help you to see the trailer and also be functional during retrieving to help keep boat centered.

Bill

 

[mjwendorf]

Re: Trouble seeing trailer

I have the same problem but I pull my boat with a truck so I just drop the tailgate.

 

[woosterken]

Re: Trouble seeing trailer

can you put it in at a slite angle, just enough to see it in the mirrors?

woosterken

 

[wsr3]

Re: Trouble seeing trailer

I tow mine with a truck too, but the tung is very short and the tailgate would get jammed in the winch. As far as putting in at an angle it is also very narrow so if I can see it it is about 45 degrees from the truck. I like the idea of pvc pipe, I could make a sort of U and mount it underneath the trailer with u bolts.
Thanks,
Bill

 

[spunkyjr]

Re: Trouble seeing trailer

You could move the winch or make the tongue longer. Or before you leave to take the boat just remove the tail gate.

 

[Proselect]

Re: Trouble seeing trailer

I have the same problem. I have an extended tongue on mine but I have a chevy 3/4 ton crew with a hard bed cover so you cannot see it at all. I don't have the bigger towing mirrors either(I am hoping the wife gets me some for a gift someday). I just kind of weave a little back and forth while backing until I get right at the landing and square it up. Then when I am backing perfectly straight I can just see both fenders in the mirror. I didn't know what I was going to do either, but now I actually have the hang of it. I can still back it in faster than a lot of guys that can actually see their trailers. That's almost sad.

 

[JaseBosto]

Re: Trouble seeing trailer

Take the tailgate off the truck when towing. It takes all of 2 minutes.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Trouble seeing trailer

Couple of guides makes a world of difference. Good for lining the boat up as well.

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: Trouble seeing trailer

I bought a couple of magnetic trailer balls from Harbor Freight. I am sure that iBoats has the same thing, but i was already in HF at the time. They are marketed to help you line up the trailer hitch when you are hooking up, but I put one well back on the trailer and one up front on the trailer and they work great.

TerryMSU

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Trouble seeing trailer

Terry- those are great! Gonna get some for my tiny utility trailer.! Simple, effective. Maybe a solution for WSR ( O.P.) as well.

 

[Bluesmobile]

Re: Trouble seeing trailer

I made some boat guides using metal and pvc u-bolted to the trailer.
Also, I have a back-up camera installed on my bumper and put a 3.5" screen where the factory radio was on my '94 yukon (instead of using the "pocket" that you buy to fill in the hole). And to control that, I have a on-off-auto switch (On: when i want to see behind me whenever, Off: when i dont want it to turn on, Auto: whenever i go into reverse)

I like it and it works for me.

 

[dwco5051]

Re: Trouble seeing trailer

I carry a piece of 1x2 furring strip about 7 feet long with a piece of flagging tape stapled on each end in my truck (full size GMC with cap) which I clamp across the transom of my 12' aluminum boat with a cheap plastic hand clamp. Stop at the waters edge, take it off and throw it in the back of the truck, and back the last 6 feet and launch. On retrieving I just clamp it on the back of the trailer and repeat the procedure. Only takes a few extra seconds to take it on and off. I made it first to make it easier to back up with the log splitter but found it was just has handy when taking my small boat to narrow ramps on electric motor only lakes.

I used to fly a tail dragger bi-plane which was flown from the back seat which you had to taxi by looking out one side till you saw the center line of the taxiway and then going the other direction till you saw it out the other side. You looked like a drunk making those s-turns the whole way down to the begining of the runway and I don't need to look that way to launch my boat

 

[JimKW]

Re: Trouble seeing trailer

I had this same problem until last weekend. I tow with an Envoy and when I start backing down the ramp the trailer would dissappear because of the slope until the truck got on the downhill slope also. Sometimes by the time I saw the trailer again it was crooked. My solution was very simple: Open the rear hatch. Why I didn't think of it sooner, I don't know. I just saw somebody else doing so I tried it.

Did the same thing when backing into the garage too. In the garage case I could not see the position of the right side which I was trying to angle in close to the wall. With the hatch open I just turn around and look to see uf I have cleared the shelve enough to start moving the front end into place.

 

[shankbri]

Re: Trouble seeing trailer

I had the same trouble with a jet ski trailer I used to hual for a friend. I couldn't see it at all in the mirrors so when backing I just tried to keep it that way - as long as I couldn't see it in either mirror - I knew I was fairly straight.

 

[jwp]

Re: Trouble seeing trailer

When I re-did dad's boat, I purchased side rails from (Cabela's). My main
reason was to help with lining the boat up on the trailer when loading but
found they also helped with seeing it as I backed in to the water.
Before that, I had an old cb antenna that I would slip over a peg on the
bumper. It worked well, was inexpensive - hope this and the above advice
will help