Boat hitching question

[Waz]

Are there any devices out there that could help with lining up a ball and trailer tounge. I get Tired of getting in and out of my vehicle and lining them up.

[yeah! Another person!]

[Rick]

Cabela's has several different things in their marine catolog. Something there might work.

[Juls_WI]

Save some money...

If you can see the bow of your boat in the back window when it's trailering, then all you need is some tape.

Here's my idea:
When the trailer is hitched to the vehicle, go inside the back window and place a piece of tape on the window, so that it is lined up with the bow of the boat. The bow should be inline with the hitch. Right? Simply line the tape up with the bow when backing up, and in no time you should be able to hitch up pretty quickly. I did this with my camper trailer, and it has improved my hitch-up time considerably.

Just an idea.... ideas can be improved upon...;-)

Juls

[doug]

Camping world has several different things for that. One is a mirror that sets on your tailgate. You just take it on and off after you use it. If you want the number to camping world let me know I can get it for you.

[ezmarc]

If you have or can make a level smooth hard surface, it is much easier to just get close and then roll the trailer to the hitch. You'll need a wheel on you're trailer jack of course.

I also have a friend that clamps a mirror on his bumper, he parks in grass and can't move his trailer by hand.

Have boat will travel

[T-Mac]

Do like the rest of us do.
Have your neighbor stand back there to guide you............. with his hands in pockets and speechless except to tell you "I knew you were gonna do that" when you crunch your tailgate on your pick up truck with your trailer tongue.
Oh joy!

[Hans]

Saw a gadget at the Mpls boat show today, basically a mirror on a tall rod. You put this contraption next to the tongue of the trailer, and pointed in such a manner so you could see the end of the tongue out your rear window, then I suppose you'd see the tongue hit your tailgate. Or something like that. It was near the "Frankies" booth, but I didn't see Granpa Joe who I was gonna buy a beer but he missed out on that deal too, cuz I drank both the beers.

Hans

[NetLoss]

Here's a FREE option instead of buying the commercial applications.

1. With boat connected, drop your truck tailgate.
2. Take a tall aerosol can (WD-40) and position the can at the edge of your dropped tailgate.
3. Lower the can to rest on top of the trailer tongue/coupler.
4. Take a marker and outline the bottom of the can on the trailer.

5. Next time you hook up place the can on the outlined area.
6. *Make sure your coupler height is above your ball, yet below dropped tailgate.
7. Back up with tailgate dropped until the gate kisses the can.
8. Connect and hit the road. *You will need to mark the center of the gate as well.

[funny as a crutch!]

nice, well written, authorative answer. Does mommy know you are playin with the computer again Junior?

[Nofish]

Hey T-Mac,

I have that guy's brother as my neighbor!!!:P Except he yells,"Hold It!", at the exact nano-second when the trailer tongue smashes into the license plate.:o

Have fun......R

[Fin Addict]

Several years ago I had a large Sea Ray that I towed twice a year. Too heavy to move the tongue so I had to back the ball directly under the receiver and lower the tongue. After much consternation as my wife tried to direct me to the perfect spot, I finally decided to do exactly what you are doing - find a solution. I found a device that is essentially a V shaped guide in sheet metal that attached around the ball. If you could get w/i 5-6" of the right spot it would guide the tongue to the right position. I believe I picked this up at Boat US or West Marine. Try looking for solutions near either coast or great lakes as bigger boats will call for these and they will know better what you need.

[Calif Bill]

West Marine carries it, as well as Wally world (I think) It is a magnetically attached post on the trailer tongue and a similar post with a V that attaches to the hitch by the ball. Back up until they are aligned. I think they are less than 10 bucks.
Bill