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Thread: Trailer modification

  1. #1
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    Trailer modification

    I decided to modify my trailer and my intent is to post this for information purposes only. My boat spends most of its life on the trailer in the old boat house during the summer months or in my 22 ‘garage during the winter months. Occasionally the boat will do a road trip to the Jersey shore, Philadelphia or Lake George but that’s it. After working through several ideas over the winter this is where I landed. My goal is to be able to store the boat in my existing garage and this is how I did it. I understand this not for everyone but it’s my trailer and it works for me. I started the project last weekend and should wrap it up tomorrow.

    Regards,
    Bob

  2. #2
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    Looks great and looks much more stout than most of the breakaway tongues I've seen on other trailers. Nice job!

  3. #3
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    Nice work,I'm sure that was a lot cheaper than building a new garage

  4. #4
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    Nice!!!
    24' Nova Sprint 1971
    You are what you drive!

  5. #5
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    Bob,,, your garage is 22ft long or were u refering to the boat being 22ft?
    i have the same predicament, i'm not storing my boat in the back yard any more after the winter we just went through, with the drive on the overall lenght is just over 30ft the garage is 25ft long somethin has to go to fit it in
    FISH HARD

  6. #6
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    18 2+3

    The dimension of my existing (2) two car garage is a little over 22 feet deep with the door closed. My boat is a 1972 18 2+3 with a Volvo Penta SX drive hanging off the stern. With the boat backed into the garage as far as it can go (touching the drywall) the tip of bow clears the door by 6 inches. I have already moved the boat forward on the trailer one position because I needed a little more tong weight. If I measured correctly the boat will fit with the tong folded back however if I still need a little more I can take the hole thing off, slide it under the trailer and shut the door. Although my garage is not heated it’s attached to the house and insulated so even on the coldest days during the winter the temperature never gets below freezing.

  7. #7
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    Good job. I'm sure your not the only one who has thought about this mod.
    Lake St. Clair, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, Lake Oakland

  8. #8
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    Looks like a nice piece of hardware. Is it a kit? If so, is it made for your specific trailer..or universal. DJ
    Avatar: RELIANCE (1903) The Largest single masted sailing yacht ever built (Until 2004)...with over 16,000 square feet of sail. Successful Americas Cup Defender.
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    1986 Minx. SBC 350/260hp, Alpha I. Red, Honey.

  9. #9
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    Great Job!
    The sting of poor quailty far outlasts the Joy of a cheap price...

  10. #10
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    Smile

    Are you sure you were not an aircraft engineer in a past life!!! Very nice!!!
    No matter what your beliefs are "GOD BLESS AMERICA"

    Fully retired marine tech near 60 years in the biz.

  11. #11
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    Wow! .. dual head on that tounge.....impressive job!
    Matt

    1987 22 Classic
    502mpi B1XR

  12. #12
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    Nice

    Scott Pearson
    President, Lake George Donzi Classic Club
    www.lgdonziclassic.com

  13. #13
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    Got to be a pucker factor when taking a saw zall to that...
    The sting of poor quailty far outlasts the Joy of a cheap price...

  14. #14
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    Bob:

    My Father made a similar mod on my Skiboat's 27 foot long galvanized trailer's tongue
    But~~~
    He chose to have the tongue slide & roll straight back on rollers & telescope under the middle of the trailer & boat itself .
    Two big grade #8 bolts secure it in place while retracted in or out.

    The hydraulic surge brakes needed a long SS braided high-pressure 3/16 " Aeroquip line so we would not have to disconnet the surge brake master cylider line when pulling-out , or retracting this trailer tongue.
    The electrical wires for the trailer lighting also go through he center of the tongue.
    It works very well.
    He replaced the old tongue with a much longer galvanized unit so the big inboard was easier to launch on Ocean City's shallow sloped public launch ramps.
    (I know you use this Ocean City NJ ramp on Arkansas Ave also !)
    Now we don't have to dunk the pick-up's real wheels in salt water !

    A very slick set-up you have there too !
    Did you design this yourself ?~~~
    Or is this a commercial kit you can buy to retrofit any trailer tongue ?
    Last edited by silverghost; 03-25-2011 at 08:54 PM.
    "BENCHSEAT 18" ~~YellowJacket~~ project owner~
    1929 Chris~Craft 28' Tripple Cockpit Mahogany Speedboat / A-120-A 845 Cu.In. 375 H.P. Chris~Craft V-8 racing engine.
    24' American Skier
    Super Eagle 454 HO Skiboat
    1991 454 SS Chevy Super Sport Pick-up for towing my "Toys".

    There is no such thing as going too fast ~ ~~
    OR~ Being too old~ for a new "Toy"!

    Brad Hunter
    Huntingdon Valley Pa (Just outside Philly)~
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    silverghost1926@msn.com
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  15. #15
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    Fulton Performance Fold Away Trailer Couplers

    Bobby D

    Since this is such a common problem for owners of 'otherwise garage-able' boats like the 18' classic ... thanks for posting your install. Your post provides some great incite on completing such a project. When its completed, I sure would like to see some pictures of how it ended up fitting into your garage along with some details about the reduction in overall trailer length with this mod.

    Anyone interested in accomplishing a similar modification can purchase the necessary hardware from a Fulton Performance distributor. To learn more about what's available, go here: http://www.fultonperformance.com/con...7060%20&part=0

    I will look forward to seeing the finished project.

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