Boat on Trailer too tall for Garage

[Chicubs1908]

All,

I just spent 8 years building the perfect lake house and 3 car garage. I tried to plan everything to make sure my garage could accommodate any boat I bought. I out smarted myself. I bought a 26' Four Winns Funship that sits on a tandem trailer. When on the trailer, the top of the windshield is 8'4" off the ground. My problem is the clearance between a support I-beam across the middle of the ceiling in my garage is only 8'.

I can't take that much air out of the tires and I can't modify the trailer to lower it enough. It was suggested to me to jack the trailer, remove the tires, place on dollies and that would drop the overall height enough to accomodate the clearing. The questions I have is 1) How do you safely jack a 6000# boat on a trailer and 2) Every dollie I see show pictures that have the tire on the wheel. Can I put a tireless wheel on a dollie without damaging the wheel?

Alternatively, can I remove the windshield easily? I'm looking for the easiest, not necessarily the cheapest, option to make my Fall and Spring low stress.

I'm not very mechanical and new to the boating life. I just dumped a boat-load (pun intented) of money into a new garage and boat. If I have to now pay to store my boat each winter I belong in some type of Hall of Shame:facepalm:.

Help!!!

 

[batman99]

Re: Boat on Trailer too tall for Garage

.

Something like this happened to my dad - a few years ago. He bought a mini-tractor that came with a factor solid roll bar. After removing the factory roll bar and re-installing it many times a week, he finally "raised the garage door height" and installed a higher garage door. Now, he simply drives in and out - without hassle. Today, mini-tractors are now built with telescopic roll-bars with a pin install. But, that design improvement was years later...

Long mumbings short... Me thinks it might be best to hire a contractor and raise the height of your one garage door opening and install higher garage door as well. Thus, simply back in and out - without hassle. Or, perhaps buy physical shelter for your boat and don't store within your home's garage. Something like (but a little smaller size): http://ezcarports.com/catalog/images/carports/rv_carports/ezcarports-rv-metal-carport-shelter_1.jpg

Hope this helps.

 

[Lyle29464]

Re: Boat on Trailer too tall for Garage

Most trailer shops can redo your trailer to get the room you need.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Boat on Trailer too tall for Garage

maybe jackhammer the floor and drop it 6"

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Boat on Trailer too tall for Garage

Most boats above 22' won't fit in standard garages . . .

I barely got my 24 foot cuddy in the garage to do some work on it. I also have an 8' tall door. Length-wise, forgetaboutit.

You mentioned that you were close on the height, like about 4" ??? If so, I would see about what you could get with lowering the boat on the trailer by adjusting bunk/roller positions. Additionally, you could remove the tires and replace it with 'baby' tires, or just a spare set of rims, if possible. If you can get a couple (or so) inches out of each method, then overall you might make it.

I would not mess with the windshield.

 

[Dawg'sLife93]

Re: Boat on Trailer too tall for Garage

I am having the same issues with the shop I'm leasing, my 28ft enclosed was too tall. I bought 4 dollies, cut a 1"x6" into 8" pieces, laid them into the dollies to make a V shape and set the hubs on the boards, that keeps the hubs and dollies from making metal to metal contact and keeps the hubs centered on the dollies.

My new shop I'm building has 3 10ft doors and a 14ft door just in case. LOL

 

[Bayou Dave]

Re: Boat on Trailer too tall for Garage

Where is this I beam? Above the garage door? Halfway in the garage from side to side?

 

[blackhawk180]

Re: Boat on Trailer too tall for Garage

Others have covered most of the options: Raise the garage, lower the floor, lower the trailer etc. I guess it comes down to cost and convenience. Since I'm a contractor not a welder, I would modify the garage but I guarantee my welder buddy would modify the trailer. Either way, I would not want to have to remove wheels/tires every time I wanted to use the boat. How much do you want to spend to solve the problem? That would help determine the course of action for me.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Boat on Trailer too tall for Garage

Sounds like he is talking about only doing this twice a year. I'd go the dolly route if that gets you low enough. You're not going to hurt the hubs setting them on the dollies, but you might want to rig up a way to set the axle itself on the dollies.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Boat on Trailer too tall for Garage

One more thought. If it is only 4" and the windshield is the only thing up high, then can you just drop the tounge to the ground and clear the door?

 

[Milemaker13]

Re: Boat on Trailer too tall for Garage

+1 Lower the tounge. My much smaller boat had this problem with the door. I was able to use the tounge wheel in the flipped up position so the coupler was only like an inch off the ground.
You're much bigger and heavier. So you'll need to use a dolly under the tounge.
I was also able to push my boat in. How about fabricating a super low hitch for your truck (or yard tractor). If that will clear your wind shield, that is totally your best bet.

 

[colbyt]

Re: Boat on Trailer too tall for Garage

People read the post. It is not the door that is the problem.

What does the beam support? Is is habitable space above the garage? I sensing not much options in that direction.

I don't have a clue about what it takes to remove the windshield or even how it is made. Something to consider is a custom fold down option for the windshield.

Edit: Adding a couple of more off the wall questions to provide options.
What is the GTW? Is it possible to use smaller wheels and tires for the storage only?
It is unlikely but the coupler (nose) all the way down might allow you to clear the beam as others have suggested for clearing the door.

 

[britisher]

Re: Boat on Trailer too tall for Garage

This is an out of the box suggestion, but is it possible to replace the leaf springs on the trailer with an air suspension? Air suspension kits are widely available for trucks and cars and replace much of the suspension. They are powered by a small on-board compressor and the great things is they are height adjustable at the push of a button. Cost would be several hundred dollars, but a fresh garage door is not gonna give you any change out of $1000.00+ IMHO. Just quickly googling I found this link:
STI Suspension Technology - Air Suspensions | Trailers | Retrofit Axles

 

[captain zac]

Re: Boat on Trailer too tall for Garage

If the beam goes the whole width of the garage then the beam must me at least 12" maybe bigger
I assume that it is exposed and that it supports the room above
I would put a jack post under the beam between the car bay and the boat bay
the width of the boat bay should less now i would guess around 12 to 14 ft
if you are going to support that shorter width you can use a beam that has less width all you need to pickup is 4 inches
then using screw jacks support both sides of the beam over the boat bay
cut the beam out and replace it with the smaller beam
the only down side you will now have to have a support post between the car bay and the boat bay
any framer should be able to do this in 1 day

 

[81 Checkmate]

Re: Boat on Trailer too tall for Garage

Do you have any pictures? Boat and garage?

Another off the wall........if only twice a year. Get a set of rims only...no tires.. swap out with the good ones. Roll er in.... roll er out

It might scratch your floor tho!

Just a thought,