Move your boat trailer, without a truck

[jitts3]

Check these pics out. My Father stores his boat in the back yard. He doesn't like driving the vehicle back there as to not damage the sprinkler system. But non the less the boat gets winter storage here. He built this to move the boat across the yard and onto the street. To my surprise it actually worked. I thought it would get stuck in the dirt. It get hung up a little but a small pust gets her going. One on the pavement its a boss. The first design hooked up to the hitch using the ball. This was horrible. Tough to control. It was on two wheels, one driven by the motor. it tried to steer itself and twist out from under the trailer. This is Kick Ass. FYI I thought the whole Idea is silly at best, but Dad was detirmined to make it work.:smt013 He did. Just thought I'd share.

 

[rob83srv225]

I want one, ask your dad where should i send the money, and how much!!!! Robert.

 

[chuck1]

I would like one too but, not sure if it would work for a 7K+ boat.

 

[Quint4]

Very cool...tell Dad I'm impressed.

 

[jitts3]

I would like one too but, not sure if it would work for a 7K+ boat.

The motor and gear box has an amazing amount to torque. it goes with the gearing and sprocket sizes about half walking speed. I do have a wheel and tire at home that would be perfect for a larger size boat. It was originally for dad to get better surface area to not sink into the grass, but for him it was too big. Its a low profile tire on a 15" rim on a caster wheel type bracket. It "fell off a truck." It was part of a farm implement, like a giant caster wheel on a shopping cart. That would hold the tounge of a 7K boat. But the height of the wheel/tire would leave the tounge high or would need to be off the the side. If anybody wants I'll give the wheel away just come to eastern PA to get it. When I get home I'll take and post some pics. You can build your own from there.
Steve

 

[Stray Cat]

Ah yes....necessity is the mother of invention. I absolutely love it! Have drop cord, will travel....just keep the plug in out of the water puddle dad!

 

[jitts3]

Ah yes....necessity is the mother of invention. I absolutely love it! Have drop cord, will travel....just keep the plug in out of the water puddle dad!

The best part is I thought It was a silly idea. He has had this house since new in 1980. We used to keep a 24 ft travel trailer and the original JITTS 18 FT Arrow Glass in the back yard over the winter. We just used the truck to get em. Now he wants this. To me the car would be easier, but now I see where I get my stubornness from.:thumbsup:

 

[fc3]

OK. I'm impressed! But I think it might be overkill for my PWC's trailer.

 

[Morpheus]

I would like one too but, not sure if it would work for a 7K+ boat.

I was thinking the same but looks way cool if it could get it in and out of the garage for me I've buy it (as long as it was not to expensive)

 

[jitts3]

I was thinking the same but looks way cool if it could get it in and out of the garage for me I've buy it (as long as it was not to expensive)

I'll ask Dad how much the motor and gearbox cost. It's not that hard to build if you can weld and have some fabricating skills.

 

[Morpheus]

I'll ask Dad how much the motor and gearbox cost. It's not that hard to build if you can weld and have some fabricating skills.

What's the power source?
How much weight do you think it could pull?

I did some welding in shop in Jr. High School LOL I am no welder or fabracator but I know someone that can weld

Thank

 

[VTSeaRay]

That's pretty ingenious! Awesome ingenuity!

But, then I went back, and checked out the pic, that's an aluminum boat... maybe 16' - 18' or so? That's pretty light! You'd need a pretty good motor (or good gearing) to pull a big dbl/triple axle 20+ fiberglass boat with huge motor(s) in it.

But, it probably can be done! (Grab one of those parking lot grocery basket retreival power units to use to do it)

-VtSeaRay

 

[KIMO]

Dad's is very cool, but for those of us with limited time and even less skill, here are a couple of companies we see at some of the boat shows. Both make and sell powered trailer dollies.

www.powercaster.com

www.powermoverinc.net

 

[berth control]

Well, KIMO, that kind of rain's on dad's parade. oh well

 

[jitts3]

Well, KIMO, that kind of rain's on dad's parade. oh well

Not really. Look at this link http://www.powermoverinc.net/ The moror hooks up to the ball then when it is pulling the trailer it is gonna try to raise up the handle leaving you to fight it. It's a great picture to have sombody with experience want to NOT but one. Dad's settup uses two steel tubes. One tube is mounted to the tounge or the trailer and the other to the motor. It pivot steers only. It won't walk out from under the ball. Dads first idea used the ball. It was horrible.
Dad's boat is a 2007 Alumacraft 165. Not heavy at all. It you have a heavier boat, then just use a bigger wheel. The gearing would move mountains, if the wheel has the traction.
Oh, It works on 110 AC power. you just need to have a extention cord.

The outer tube is welded to the motor. The inner tube is welded to the bracket in the trailer. This will brevent the wheel from walking out from under the trailer. The heavier the trailer the worse this action is. I'd hate to fight the handle fron coming out from under my boat (5,800lbs)

 

[Lazy Daze]

Hey Jitts, tell your dad he is my hero! Gotta luv good old fashioned American ingenuity!

We're putting in a new septic system at our cabins in Maine (on the coast). We used to be able to use our trucks to back-up our boats on the lawn. The new system will put the kabosh to that. This might just be the ticket. I'll need a BIG wheel to move my boat - especially with uneven ground. I can get scrap pieces of steel stock pretty cheap - will have to make that wheel offset as you mentioned above.

I may take you up on that spare wheel offer!

Other than that, if you're ever in the Allentown area on a Saturday between 9am and 3pm, stop in the store and say hi!

 

[Tail Chaser 661]

Nice.....
Now I can sell my tow vehicle.
Does he make one with a disk brake?:lol:

 

[Chris R]

He needs to patent that. Think of all the uses besides boat trailers

 

[jitts3]

Lazy Daze, I sent you a PM.
Patents, Nah, he thinks that will get costly. But I guess I'll look into it.
Sorry, no disk brakes available!

 

[berth control]

Looks like a great idea all the same. You could also use it to put the trailer somewhere in storage that you could normally not put it with a truck (around a tight corner, ect.)