Trailer tongue extension

[cracker39]

Has anyone used a trailer tongue extension for launching an R-21 Classic or EC and, if so, how do you like it? There is a company thay sells an "Extend-a-hitch" - or something to that effect - which I have an inquiry to at present. At 78 years old, I'm looking for something that will simply allow me to float the boat off (roller trailer) and then retrieve it, with the truck safely parked on the dry portion of the ramp, with chocks behind the front wheels, and my 78 year old wife tending the bow line. I don't trust the emergency brakes on my 2003 GMC 3500 dually or the big "skis" that the duals become on a slippery ramp. Let's just say I'm trying to figure out how to continue boating until I kick the bucket naturally - rather than as the result of an accident. Our R-21 Classic is an ideal boat for us if I can get comfortble with launching and retrieval.

 

[Brian B]

I saw a guy launch a rather large sailboat using one of those hitch extenders. Can't see why it wouldn't work for your 21' and your truck. Just make sure you are on level ground and trailer wheels chocked when connecting the extender.
Love the look of your boat, keep on boating!!

 

[cracker39]

I saw a guy launch a rather large sailboat using one of those hitch extenders. Can't see why it wouldn't work for your 21' and your truck. Just make sure you are on level ground and trailer wheels chocked when connecting the extender.
Love the look of your boat, keep on boating!!

Thanks Brian. I've actually got the boat listed for sale herein - but I'd rather keep it if I can get comfortable with launching and retrieval. To encourage me further, my wife suggested that it might fit in our heated garage and, lo and behold, if I increase the entry door height by 21", and remove the radar (--- which I had planned to do,) it'll slide in with 3" vertical clearance and 5" horizontal clearance (lengthwise.) Three cheers for the wife - although I know that her ulterior motive was to keep me busy over the winter! ---and indeed, that has opened up a plethora of opportunities for wintertime projects!

 

[NorthernFocus]

I'm not familiar with that specific product but used to own a trailer with extendable tongue. We launched a 23 ft full keel sailboat with it. Worked great. Another thing you might consider is whether switching to bunks rather than rollers will get you there. The boat typically rides lower than rollers. We float our 25 on and off.

 

[cracker39]

I hear you on the bunks Dan and, honestly, I'm treating the process as though I had bunks rather than rollers. I might be able to get another 4" or so with bunks - but that would be about all.

 

[LAKERtoo]

.. I agree with the rollers .. as well as riding a little lower, its easier to get the boat centred on the trailer and gives you a better target coming in .. Rob

 

[Red Raven]

A tongue extensive may not help if you have an electro-hydraulic brake controller. The controller and safety battery is typically mounted on the tongue of the trailer. The controller or battery cannot be submerged and with the extension the trailer tongue they would likely be submerged. If you do not have an electrohydraulic controller or any other reason your trailer cannot be completely submerged an extension should work fine.

 

[NorthernFocus]

... I might be able to get another 4" or so with bunks - but that would be about all.

Four inches lower when on a 12 percent slope (typical ramp if properly designed) is the same net effect as a 33 in. longer tongue.

 

[JamesTXSD]

A trailer tongue extension would likely get you where you want to be. If bunks would put you 4" lower, that would also be a significant difference. A rule of thumb I was taught many years ago: for every inch higher you have the boat, you have to back in almost a foot further.

Our current boat sits above the trailer tires rather than between them, so a bit high on the trailer. I bought a "stinger" (extension that goes in the receiver on your tow vehicle)...

https://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Accessor ... /HE18.html

Plus this...

https://www.etrailer.com/Ball-Mounts/Hi ... 80232.html

... from eTrailer. It allows me to get the boat in/out without dunking the rear tires on the tow vehicle, and for a reasonable price. I do NOT tow with this, only use it at the ramp, since it does reduce the allowable tongue weight.

 

[cracker39]

The hitch extender wouldn't give me the 6' or 8' I'm looking for.

 

[NorthernFocus]

The hitch extender wouldn't give me the 6' or 8' I'm looking for.

Maybe you need some of both. If you get four inches with bunks then another three ft of tongue extension gets you around the eight you're looking for.

 

[NorthernFocus]

By the way, not that it makes much difference if only used at the ramp, but increasing hitch length increases tongue load on the truck. Increasing tongue length on the trailer has the opposite effect and puts more load on the trailer axles and less on the truck suspension.

 

[Two killicks]

I am not familiar with an extension, but I own a tandem 30 feet long trailer for our 21ec, it's great, most time we launch without having the truck touching the water. Could this be an option for you to have the trailer extended? All the weight goes on the axles instead of the rear of the truck.

 

[cracker39]

By the way, not that it makes much difference if only used at the ramp, but increasing hitch length increases tongue load on the truck. Increasing tongue length on the trailer has the opposite effect and puts more load on the trailer axles and less on the truck suspension.

Agreed. I would never consider anything longer than an 18" extender, and even that length would probably cut my 1,000 lb deadload capacity in half.

 

[cracker39]

:cry:

I am not familiar with an extension, but I own a tandem 30 feet long trailer for our 21ec, it's great, most time we launch without having the truck touching the water. Could this be an option for you to have the trailer extended? All the weight goes on the axles instead of the rear of the truck.

I could live with a fixed longer tongue except for the fact that my present setup is 24'-7" long and my garage is 25'-3"" deep. I'm considering a sliding tongue extender that will actually make the trailer 30' long.