Trailering in tight spaces

[cutwater]

I recently bought my first house. It has a great 950 sq. ft. carport (with a 5-foot high cinder block wall). I am framing this in to make a garage. Bay #1 is 40 ft. deep (the Minx), Bay #2 is 22 ft. deep (the Ski Sporter project). It also has a 12x18 woodshop area.

My problem is getting the boats in and out of the carport, as there isn't a whole lot of room in front of the carport entrance before you run into a fence. I'm worried that I might not be able to back the boats in there. Plus, there is a slight grade. Not bad, but I can't push a 4,000 lb boat up it! Is there a low-priced solution on the market? I found these

http://www.powercaster.com/ - $???

http://www.powermoverinc.net/ - $1049

http://www.eztug.com/index.shtml - $799

but I am on a SEVERE budget for this problem (hoping to top out @ $350 max). Any ideas?

[justleft]

Yep, front hitch on the Bronco II. She can't tow the boat but she sure can park it.

[gcarter]

Boy, I sure would like to have one of those thingies to move the trailer around inside the shop.
Front hitch won't help there, but it would probably help you.

[MOP]

Ditto on the front hitch, they allow you to put it in the tightest of spots especially with another set of eyes. All three of our delivery trucks had front hitches, a few of our customers had extremely long windy driveways ending at narrow spots hidden next to trees or buildings. The motorized hitch dolly's do not work on gravel and will dig up lawns, we had one and used it rarely only in the building on the pavement.

[Barry Eller]

Front hitch...then back up all the way to the boat ramps from home...:doh:

Well...maybe not...:wink:

[mjw930]

Another option is a lawn tractor, if you have a large enough lawn to need one spend the extra few hundred and get one that can handle a draw bar.

http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/12471_lg.gif

[cutwater]

Thanks for the advice guys!

[Donzi Vol]

Front hitch on the Saab. I can see it now! You'd definitely need to leave it there 24/7, 365.

[cutwater]

Front hitch on the Saab. I can see it now! You'd definitely need to leave it there 24/7, 365.

That would be a sight!

[Team Jefe]

Poodle is first to the right answer....like usual.

Had one on the F250 LWB and was able to take the HM's 31 Scarab...about 38 ft of trailer and turn it into a single wide drive way without hitting the parked cars on teh other side of teh street....they are an awesome accessory, relatively cheaper and cool to boot.

[DonziFreak]

Most of the F1 race teams use front hitches on their ATV's to move the boats around the pit and in and out of the water. I've always found it annoying when trying to move in a straight line....but they definatly are more manuverable.