Boat trailer bottom out??

[Whitby905]

Hey good morning folks. I'm new to the forum and have a quick question I'm hoping can be answered. Let me start by introducing myself, names James, I'm from the Durham Region in Ontario Canada. This is the yr I'm planning to get myself a nice little fishing boat, no more then 16-18 FT. I slight problem I have is I live in a townhouse complex where parking is in an underground, I'm new to boating other then cheap 12ft 9.9 rentals, I'd like to avoid paying for outdoor storage so I'm hoping I won't have issues bottoming out if I was to tow the boat down my ramp into the underground. My question is does anybody know what issues I may run into trying to park it in this type of garage? It's your standard ramp, no different then any apartment buildings underground ramp. Ill be towing with a Dodge Caravan so it's not very high, I have a welder and if need be can weld some wheels on the back if it will bottom out. My other concern is how high does your average motor tilt? I'd be looking at anything from a 25hp-60hp, what I've seen it seems likes its possible the propeller will hit? Im hoping to get a reply from someone that's run into this issue before. And appreciate you all for taking the time to read and respond. Thank you!! Cheers

P.s. I'm going to look and see if I can set it up so PM's get emailed to me, so can you please PM your reply so I can respond quicker. Thx.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Boat trailer bottom out??

Hey good morning folks. I'm new to the forum and have a quick question I'm hoping can be answered. Let me start by introducing myself, names James, I'm from the Durham Region in Ontario Canada. This is the yr I'm planning to get myself a nice little fishing boat, no more then 16-18 FT. I slight problem I have is I live in a townhouse complex where parking is in an underground, I'm new to boating other then cheap 12ft 9.9 rentals, I'd like to avoid paying for outdoor storage so I'm hoping I won't have issues bottoming out if I was to tow the boat down my ramp into the underground. My question is does anybody know what issues I may run into trying to park it in this type of garage? It's your standard ramp, no different then any apartment buildings underground ramp. Ill be towing with a Dodge Caravan so it's not very high, I have a welder and if need be can weld some wheels on the back if it will bottom out. My other concern is how high does your average motor tilt? I'd be looking at anything from a 25hp-60hp, what I've seen it seems likes its possible the propeller will hit? Im hoping to get a reply from someone that's run into this issue before. And appreciate you all for taking the time to read and respond. Thank you!! Cheers

P.s. I'm going to look and see if I can set it up so PM's get emailed to me, so can you please PM your reply so I can respond quicker. Thx.

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... With that small of a boat, I really doubt yer gonna have any problems,...

'course, the only way to know for Sure, is to try it,....

Most outboards will tilt way higher than necessary for yer concerns,...

 

[Whitby905]

Re: Boat trailer bottom out??

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... With that small of a boat, I really doubt yer gonna have any problems,...

'course, the only way to know for Sure, is to try it,....

Most outboards will tilt way higher than necessary for yer concerns,...

Oh I'll be trying no matter what, but I'd like to prepare if need be, more piece of mind then anything. I was thinking to weld on some sort of wheelie bars I guess you'd call it that I can pop on and off. But if there's some guarantee I don't need to that'll be awesome.

 

[Starcraft5834]

Re: Boat trailer bottom out??

welcome. ramp into the underground?? most parking ramps that's I've seen dont give much room to get in and out with anything but a car... if you've got a straight shot in and out,, probably work fine,, turning..... now that's an issue....

 

[Whitby905]

Re: Boat trailer bottom out??

welcome. ramp into the underground?? most parking ramps that's I've seen dont give much room to get in and out with anything but a car... if you've got a straight shot in and out,, probably work fine,, turning..... now that's an issue....

Yea once down its straight, there's a few corners to my spot but nothing major and worst case ill unhitch and pull it into the spot.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Boat trailer bottom out??

Oh I'll be trying no matter what, but I'd like to prepare if need be, more piece of mind then anything. I was thinking to weld on some sort of wheelie bars I guess you'd call it that I can pop on and off. But if there's some guarantee I don't need to that'll be awesome.

Ayuh,.... there's Sooooo many variables, How can anybody answer,.....

 

[Whitby905]

Re: Boat trailer bottom out??

Ayuh,.... there's Sooooo many variables, How can anybody answer,.....

Well I'm hoping someone has had the same issue and tried and it either worked out or they had to pull off some trick lol. There has to be someone that knows for sure.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Boat trailer bottom out??

Well I'm hoping someone has had the same issue and tried and it either worked out or they had to pull off some trick lol. There has to be someone that knows for sure.

Ayuh,... I understand, But,....

16' to 18' Unknown boat, on an Unknown wagon,..??
How big are the tires on the wagon,..??
How high off the wagon does the hull sit,..??
How long is the wagon,..??
How big is the motor on the hull,..??
What motor is it,..??
How deep a V is the hull,..??
Can the hull be raised or lowered on the wagon,..??
How much of an angle in yer garage,..??
Over how far is the angle,..??

'n that's just off the top of my head,... as I said, Toooo many Unknowns,....

 

[Starcraft5834]

Re: Boat trailer bottom out??

trailering anywhere is stressful,, turning coners in an underground garage........maybe......

 

[tomdinwv]

Re: Boat trailer bottom out??

Try it and see. I have seen campers with wheels on the frame rails at the rear to keep from dragging waste lines and other items. You can order them on line and attach them if needed. It's all going to depend on the trailer height and the angle of the driveway. I have a similar issue. The street I live on is on a hill. I know, shocking considering I live in WV. Every boat trailer I've had drags a little at the beginning of my street. Can't be helped in my case unless I store the boat somewhere else. Once you buy your boat, pull it in and let us know what's going on if you have a problem. Some of the gurus here will steer you in the right direction to cure any problem you encounter.

 

[Lil' Bone]

Re: Boat trailer bottom out??

A pull a 15' Valco on a EZ loader trailer, I tow with a 95 chevy half ton. The entrance to my drive way is very steep, I have not had a problem. You will proabably have no trouble with the ramp but like others say, try it.

 

[Whitby905]

Re: Boat trailer bottom out??

Ayuh,... I understand, But,....

16' to 18' Unknown boat, on an Unknown wagon,..??
How big are the tires on the wagon,..??
How high off the wagon does the hull sit,..??
How long is the wagon,..??
How big is the motor on the hull,..??
What motor is it,..??
How deep a V is the hull,..??
Can the hull be raised or lowered on the wagon,..??
How much of an angle in yer garage,..??
Over how far is the angle,..??

'n that's just off the top of my head,... as I said, Toooo many Unknowns,....

it was just wishful thinking I'd have some ppl say "yes" and some say "no" with explanation that's been in the same boat, pardon the pun lol. I get there's changes but it's just your average fishing boat I'm after. I'll be trying it after I add some wheels, its a heated driveway so the last thing I want to do is gouge it. It's the ramp I'm concerned about is all, not the underground. It's your average underground ramp at every building or townhouse complex. Thanx for all the replies folks. It's still awhile until I proceed with the purchase but I will post back on how it went and what I needed to do, in hopes to help another with the same issue. Cheers

 

[jbetzelb]

Re: Boat trailer bottom out??

I used some real heavy duty caster wheels and U bolts to hold them on the rear cross bar of my trailer and it actually worked. In my case they dug into the blacktop a little bit. What I think might have worked better is to weld on a small skid plate and let it drag. I quit going to the place I needed this. The caster wheels worked twice. They looked like they would continue to work. I was trying to solve dragging my rear cross bar.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Boat trailer bottom out??

it was just wishful thinking I'd have some ppl say "yes" and some say "no" with explanation that's been in the same boat, pardon the pun lol. I get there's changes but it's just your average fishing boat I'm after. I'll be trying it after I add some wheels, its a heated driveway so the last thing I want to do is gouge it. It's the ramp I'm concerned about is all, not the underground. It's your average underground ramp at every building or townhouse complex. Thanx for all the replies folks. It's still awhile until I proceed with the purchase but I will post back on how it went and what I needed to do, in hopes to help another with the same issue. Cheers

what others are trying to tell you, and you aren't hearing, is that your question cannot be answered with anything but "maybe."
That is because your question does not give any specifics. None. Well except that you are towing with a Dodge Caravan, which presents an issue or two right there.

There is no such thing as a "typical underground ramp" (heated driveway? never heard of it--certainly not typical on an international forum). There is no such thing as "your average fishing boat." There is a world of difference between a 16' boat and an 18' boat and a 25 hp and a 60 hp. Trailer heights vary immensely even for small ones so your word "trailer" has no meaning either.

The only way for you to know is to have someone with a car like yours drive a boat and trailer like yours (what, you don't know what that is yet?) into your parking garage and see what happens.

One of the places trailers get hung up is fromt the crown of the street to the gutter at the driveway apron and then back up to the peak of the driveway--so the shape of the street outside the garage is a factor (or is it typical too?) And do you drive straight in or have to swing and turn?

Another thing is that boats are a lot taller on a trailer than people think esp. with a windshield, center console, etc. And they are longer when you add in the trailer tongue and the motor sticking out raised--that will affect your manuevering in the garage.

 

[Whitby905]

Re: Boat trailer bottom out??

what others are trying to tell you, and you aren't hearing, is that your question cannot be answered with anything but "maybe."
That is because your question does not give any specifics. None. Well except that you are towing with a Dodge Caravan, which presents an issue or two right there.

There is no such thing as a "typical underground ramp" (heated driveway? never heard of it--certainly not typical on an international forum). There is no such thing as "your average fishing boat." There is a world of difference between a 16' boat and an 18' boat and a 25 hp and a 60 hp. Trailer heights vary immensely even for small ones so your word "trailer" has no meaning either.

The only way for you to know is to have someone with a car like yours drive a boat and trailer like yours (what, you don't know what that is yet?) into your parking garage and see what happens.

One of the places trailers get hung up is fromt the crown of the street to the gutter at the driveway apron and then back up to the peak of the driveway--so the shape of the street outside the garage is a factor (or is it typical too?) And do you drive straight in or have to swing and turn?

Another thing is that boats are a lot taller on a trailer than people think esp. with a windshield, center console, etc. And they are longer when you add in the trailer tongue and the motor sticking out raised--that will affect your manuevering in the garage.

If you read the whole post you'd have read " Im hoping to get a reply from someone that's run into this issue before" you read into it too much. Most was an introduction but Let me rephrase the question, if going down an underground ramp is something you done let me know what possibilities I'll run into, if you haven't then don't waste your time posting. Geez ppl.

 

[Whitby905]

Re: Boat trailer bottom out??

I used some real heavy duty caster wheels and U bolts to hold them on the rear cross bar of my trailer and it actually worked. In my case they dug into the blacktop a little bit. What I think might have worked better is to weld on a small skid plate and let it drag. I quit going to the place I needed this. The caster wheels worked twice. They looked like they would continue to work. I was trying to solve dragging my rear cross bar.

Thank you, you got my question. I'm thinking of welding an axel across with some smaller wheels no matter what, it won't hurt right. As for the heated ramp to the other post, its rubber replaced over concrete. But don't think too much on that lol. Have you ever gone down a steep ramp? That's the question to answer. Cheers

 

[jbetzelb]

Re: Boat trailer bottom out??

I suspect a axel will work. You want the wheels to hit as a last resort before the trailer drags. You don?t want them hitting ground when you?re doing 60 down the road and hit a dip in the road or something. Also know that when the load does go on the rear cross bar you basically put a bunch of tongue weight on your trailer, coupler, and drawbar. When I did it I was running twice as much hitch and truck then the boat really needed and the trailer was also real good.

 

[Whitby905]

Re: Boat trailer bottom out??

I suspect a axel will work. You want the wheels to hit as a last resort before the trailer drags. You don?t want them hitting ground when you?re doing 60 down the road and hit a dip in the road or something. Also know that when the load does go on the rear cross bar you basically put a bunch of tongue weight on your trailer, coupler, and drawbar. When I did it I was running twice as much hitch and truck then the boat really needed and the trailer was also real good.

Yea those were my thoughts so I was thinking something adjustable, ratchet on and off. Weld a cross bar, make some threads on each end to attach the extra wheels once I get to my place. I think that's what I plan to do regardless, I'll just use the smallest hard plastic wheels I can find that I feel with withstand the weight to put the least amount of height and pressure on the front. Thx for the replies

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Boat trailer bottom out??

I think the only problem you will have is that under ground parking generally do not allow trailers.

If most cars with only 4" of ground clearance will make it up and down, the trailer shouldn't have a problem.

then again maneuvering a trailer in a crowded parking ramp with large pylons - no thanks. Especially if there is only one entrance/exit

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Boat trailer bottom out??

As long as it is all theoretical at this point. Thinking out of the box....

You might consider carrying a second Ball mount with the Ball set very low for use on the ramp.
Lowering the Ball will raise the rear end. Don't go down the road that way.