Extension needed

[tank1949]

I have a 14000 lb triple axle trailer that is difficult to launch boat because I can't back trailer and boat into water without dangerously come too close at submerging the rear of my truck. I need a 3"x5" x 5' piece of galvanize channel to replace the 18" channel that came with trailer. My couple is bolted on the 18" piece of channel. I have tools to replace but don't know what this piece of trailer is called or where to find it. I believe manufacture is out of business. Any suggestions?????

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Extension needed

Check with Brunswick Trailer Sales and Service if SE NC is not too far from you. I ordered an 8' section once and cut it to fit with a recip saw.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Extension needed

you might also look into bunk slicks or silicone spray for the bunks and possibly keel rollers... My 28'er was a bear to launch till I slicked up my trailer

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Extension needed

BTW it's called a "tongue" You would probably have better luck sourcing a piece of I beam from a welding shop or other metal working business and getting it galvanized.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Extension needed

I want pics before I say anything, I would also like to know where you are located.

You have a pretty good sized boat, but don't get all caught up on it since the actual weight that the trailer transfers through the tongue to the truck is not much more then a boat that is my size, you just can't transfer 14,000 lbs to a modern light duty truck, so extending the tongue isn't a huge deal, however, right now lakes are low, especially in the west so knowing what lakes you frequent is important, if you launched past the end of a ramp you probably wouldn't be able to retrieve, that's the caveat to a boat your size.

I normally recommend a swing away hinge when people wish to extend their tongue, but I have to admit as big as your boat is I'm a little cautious..

Fulton does have a 5000LB hinge kit that will work for your application,
http://www.iboats.com/34-Fold-Away-...5911067--session_id.072841667--view_id.483891

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Extension needed

no it won't.... That's 5000 lbs gross trailer weight not tongue weight... he is WELL past the swing away tongue with his boat.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Extension needed

no it won't.... That's 5000 lbs gross trailer weight not tongue weight... he is WELL past the swing away tongue with his boat.

Yep you are right that will not work...

 

[Bondo]

Re: Extension needed

I have a 14000 lb triple axle trailer that is difficult to launch boat because I can't back trailer and boat into water without dangerously come too close at submerging the rear of my truck. I need a 3"x5" x 5' piece of galvanize channel to replace the 18" channel that came with trailer. My couple is bolted on the 18" piece of channel. I have tools to replace but don't know what this piece of trailer is called or where to find it. I believe manufacture is out of business. Any suggestions?????

Ayuh,.... Just buy a piece of steel from a steel supply house, 'n drill it to fit,...

3"x5"x 1/4" wall oughta be stout enough,... if not, go 3/8" wall,...

 

[rbh]

Re: Extension needed

Yup, if your going to extend the "reach" or tongue, go thick wall tubing.
And I would weld it in place rather than attempting to bolt it if your anywhere near the GVW of 14000 pounds, bolts have a way of oblobing (sp) out a hole as well as eating away at the bolt.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Extension needed

It don't absolutely Have to be galvanized channel....how about plain steel and just paint it with rust resistant primer and some of that zinc"cold galvanizing" paint?....

 

[frantically relaxing]

Re: Extension needed

I kinda have the same problem with launching our houseboat...

I've seen this problem with sailboats because of 5' or taller keels, and the trailer must be put farther out into the water.

However, there's no keel in the way, and the stern of the boat should be pretty much floating with the TV getting near the water, which means means the problem may simply be that the front of the boat isn't floating enough for it to float off the trailer. If so, the answer may be easy: rather than try to get the trailer farther down into the water, just lower the front of the trailer.

Before going to the hassle and expense of rebuilding the trailer tongue, I'd just get one of these and try it--

-- it would be a simple matter to change the receivers just before launching...

I'm working on the same problem with my houseboat trailer, if the front of the trailer was just 6" lower it would make loading up a breeze...

 

[skyking897]

Re: Extension needed

Many, many years ago, my father had this issue with his Chris Craft boat. His solution was to make a tongue extension that was used only for launching and retrieving. Basically it was a square tube of similar size as the trailer tubing with a coupler on one end and about 6 feet back there was a 2" ball welded to it. When he got to the launch, he blocked the trailer wheels, unhooked and pulled ahead about 10 feet, slid the extension into another tube under the tongue and snapped the 2" ball into the trailer's coupler then hooked back up to his vehicle. Now he was ready to back down the ramp and float the boat off without having to back into the water. It worked great and he had it attached to the trailer frame somehow for transport when not needed.

 

[rbh]

Re: Extension needed

^^^
Yup or how about a tube in the tube, chalk the wheels, pull the set pin, drive ahead till you see the extensions hole, put pin back in, launch.

Look at a pole trailer.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Extension needed

I've been thinking about something very similar for a jetski trailer but I plan 3 tube sizes with an inner tongue attached to the coupler an outer sleeve attached and two lock sleeves in the middle so that the inner tube can't slide out of the outer tube... then of course a lock pin