backing up a boat and trailer into the driveway

[jaygar]

Hope some one can help me with this issue, I recently try to get a boat and trailer in my drive way, when I was backing up the motor/propeller hit my drive way, the motor/propeller was all the way up, any ideas? can I lower the hitch in my truck so the boat won't hit the concrete and is safe to pull my boat with the front of the trailer lower than the back? Thank you for any help

bayliner capri 1989, i/o motor,

thank you all for all your advises, i already try most of all and finally seems that a little bit of every advise did work lol.

finally there is a picture, now is the motor looks normal that low?

thanks

 

[oldjeep]

Re: backing up a boat and trailer into the driveway

A picture would help. Does your trailer sit level when attached to your truck? If it does and your motor is all the way up, then it sounds like you need a taller trailer.

What kind of boat/motor anyways?

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: backing up a boat and trailer into the driveway

Yeah, I can help with this!

Two things:

Yes, a lower hitch will make a lot of difference. I use an adjustable hitch, and put it in the lowest position, when I'm pushing her up the driveway. Don't pull her this way, just park her this way. You want her level when traveling.

Second: I now use the FRONT receiver on my truck to put the boat up the driveway. I have a long, curved driveway, and having the steering wheels right by the trailer means that I can get her up there in one easy shot, every time. HUGE improvement!

 

[theBrownskull]

Re: backing up a boat and trailer into the driveway

I would try a lower receiver hitch.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: backing up a boat and trailer into the driveway

How steep is your driveway coming from the street?

 

[jaygar]

Re: backing up a boat and trailer into the driveway

Yeah, I can help with this!

Two things:

Yes, a lower hitch will make a lot of difference. I use an adjustable hitch, and put it in the lowest position, when I'm pushing her up the driveway. Don't pull her this way, just park her this way. You want her level when traveling.

Second: I now use the FRONT receiver on my truck to put the boat up the driveway. I have a long, curved driveway, and having the steering wheels right by the trailer means that I can get her up there in one easy shot, every time. HUGE improvement!

thank you for your help, I already lower the hitch, unable to get the trailer out the driveway cause hitch to low, went to buy another hitch and is at level of the truck with 1/4" drop, the hitch will come thru, but the motor still hits by few inches any other recommendations? can I lift or can i add 3 to 4" by switching the u bolts and add some spacers so the boat can seat higher?

 

[Fed]

Re: backing up a boat and trailer into the driveway

Hit the driveway at an angle, one trailer wheel at a time.

 

[Dawg'sLife93]

Re: backing up a boat and trailer into the driveway

Pic of you boat,trailer and driveway would help a bunch. You can add longer shackles to the leaf springs and gain you another inch and a half of height, but don't go over 1.5" lift, it'll become too unstable.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: backing up a boat and trailer into the driveway

Hit the driveway at an angle, one trailer wheel at a time.

Since you already lowered your hitch, this is probably the next thing to do. My driveway is pretty steep, rising about 4 ft from street level in just about 2 car lengths. I would always hit the driveway at an angle so the boat was almost going across the driveway rather than up the driveway, then make the turn once one side of the trailer was rising up on the driveway. This lessens the ' angle of attack' and should keep the outdrive clear from hitting the pavement, etc.

 

[Bronlonius]

Re: backing up a boat and trailer into the driveway

Hit the driveway at an angle, one trailer wheel at a time.

^^^^ This ^^^^^

Also, if the road adjacent to your driveway is a hill, it will make a huge difference which side you start from(i.e. whether your tow vehicle is pointing down vs. pointing up). Once you figure out the best approach, it really won't be bad, unless you're on a busy road or a city street with lots of cars parked on it.

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: backing up a boat and trailer into the driveway

Oh, yeah, I trailer with the motor UP. If it was down there's no way it wouldn't hit.

If you raise the boat, you have to put the trailer in deeper water to launch & recover, so that also has drawbacks.

 

[Oshkosh1]

Re: backing up a boat and trailer into the driveway

Pull the lower unit off or flatten the rear tires(which will drop the tounge) on your truck.

Hey...they are suggestions, and with the info provided anything's possible! Lol!

 

[carey965]

Re: backing up a boat and trailer into the driveway

When i had lowered cars i would always put wood at the bottm of the driveway to lift it up at its lowest point. Might help you here

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: backing up a boat and trailer into the driveway

Oh, yeah, I trailer with the motor UP. If it was down there's no way it wouldn't hit.

If you raise the boat, you have to put the trailer in deeper water to launch & recover, so that also has drawbacks.

Hmmm...you trailer with the "motor" up? Wondering what kind of boat you have!

 

[jaygar]

Re: backing up a boat and trailer into the driveway

Hmmm...you trailer with the "motor" up? Wondering what kind of boat you have!

" I have a 1989 bayliner capri" the motor at level from the concert/driveway full up is about 7"3/4.

 

[dmoriarty51]

Re: backing up a boat and trailer into the driveway

Is that pic showing one of them there force L drives? It looks odd

 

[slag]

Re: backing up a boat and trailer into the driveway

" I have a 1989 bayliner capri" the motor at level from the concert/driveway full up is about 7"3/4.

He said that because the outdrive is up, the motor is in the same position.

 

[captain zac]

Re: backing up a boat and trailer into the driveway

hit the driveway at an angle from an uphill position

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: backing up a boat and trailer into the driveway

Hmmm...you trailer with the "motor" up? Wondering what kind of boat you have!

It's right there in my signature line.
In my case, it's an outboard, on a pontoon - and that is sitting on a trailer that carries the boat pretty low to the ground. Being low to the ground makes launching and recovery easier - you don't have to back in as far - but it obviously has other drawbacks.