Cheat - Hitching Up The Boat Alone

[WaterDog]

I always have to hitch the boat up alone so I made this "cheat" to help me out.

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/115Hitchguide2.jpg

Couple of magnets, 1/4" dowel, and a couple of scrap blocks. The dowel is glued into the block that was drilled to accept the dowel. The magnets are glued on with liquid nails. Less than $5.

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/115Hitchguide1.jpg

I tapered the trailer end so it would set vertical.

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/115Hitchguide3.jpg

View out the back window. When they touch, your there.

http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/115Hitchguide4.jpg

Drop it on the ball.

I have to back up to my boat at an angle and what used to take several tries of in and out of the truck is now reduced to just backing up and hookin' up.

:cheers:

[KingFisher85]

very good tip...thanks! I'll keep it in mind! :cool:

[Mo Money]

Thats way better than yelling at my wife(for lining me up wrong).The neighbors get mad when they hear me yellin at 4 am on a sunday.I met a guy here in nor.cal that made just what you have pictured,got a patent and will be selling them at walmart.His agent thinks he will make 1 or 2 million.Hes an electrician now.Crazy huh.I bought one from him and he said the new version will have little led lights on them.All those crazy ideas can be worth millions... Mo Money

[NorthRiverRick]

Very nice tip, thanks. Back out to the garage for me, got another project...

[Keeper]

What an awesome idea!

I have been trying to figure out how to sneak the sled out of the yard while my husband is at work :bigshock:

Now I need to learn to how to return it without taking out the gate, fence and boathouse!!

Maybe if I had a chromer he might forgive me :argue:

[Lured In]

Waterdog...great idea. :cool:

Here is another.

If you always park your boat in the same place, leave your rear chocks (sp) in the same place. With your boat hooked up and trailer wheels against the rear chocks, mark a line on the ground even with the rear driverside tire of your tow rig.

Unhook and forget about having to worry about hooking up being a pain. Simply back up to the line, drop the trailer tongue down and your done. It takes me less than a minute to get hooked up when doing this by myself. When unhooking just make sure you plant the trailer against the chocks again and you should be on your line. :wink:

It ain't as sexy at WD's idea, but it works. :wink:

[txaggie]

Great idea...I think I'll be making a couple of these shortly.

[WaterDog]

Lured, I have a couple of 2x4's I leave on the ground as stops. I also have some paint on the ground that I aim at when parking. Thing is I never get it exactly in the same spot. I dont have a straight shot at it so I'm 1 to 2 feet off one way or another. :shrug:

Glad this may help out a few others. :smile:

[Gundog]

That is very clever Waterdog! I will be building one of those for myself. You should post this in tech tips.
Mike :applause: :applause: :applause:

[Lured In]

WD...good point. You do need a straight shot at the tongue for it to work. :wink:

[Beer Waggin]

so I'm 1 to 2 feet off one way or another.




Every day of the week or just on Saturday morning? :laugh:

Sorry Brotha, couldn't resist... :redface:

[flyinfish]

0

[1pump]

That's pretty cool. :cool:
I'm an ex-truck driver, so I still do it the hard way- mirrors only. Looking out the back window is for girly-men and indicates a lack of male bravado. (Actually, it's male insecurity, but I won't admit it) :grin:

[Hanapa'a Time]

Great idea WD :cheers:

But I have cargo doors on my canopy and leaving them open obstructs my view out of the mirrors. I've learned to use the mirrors and sometimes wife :argue: Now with the camper on, that's another story :hoboy: The LED light idea is great for the night before preparations :cool:

[trap50]

Did the same with speaker magnets and flags for atvs.

[springstrughead]

Thanks WD!!!

I have a lifted truck and use an 8" drop hitch. This is just what the doctor ordered... as well as the marriage counselor. :grin:

ssh

[Traskmilemrk11]

Great idea!! Thanks for sharing, I'll be making up a set this weekend!

[gregorguy]

I did the same thing with magnets that extend, you know the kind for picking up parts. Once I'm hooked up I close the magnets up and away I go. :cheers:

[fishchaser]

I wish you would have told me BEFORE I bought my WEDGE :shocked:

No just joking, I bought my Wedge years ago. I love it. Mounted the plate under my ball and you put the back on the plate, lock it down. Back up, when you touch your there. :smash:
No fighting with the husband, no getting out, and in, out, and in. :hoboy: unhich the back and your off. :yay: :yay:

I don't know how I survived all the years before the wedge. :flowered:

[Fishplay]

Take a look at the TrailerPal in my tagline. A friend builds these and they also work great.