Stupid question #578: How do I get my toon off the trailer

[RonKMiller]

on LAND...

I've got 2 tow vehicles - one with a bumper mounted electric winch - so can I just drag it off backwards and put carpet padded cement blocks under it as I go? I would probably need to pull the trailer forward at the same time so that I would not be be sliding it over the blocks.

I've seen the V-shaped toon blocks, but I'll need 6 of them for a 28 footer and at $100 a pop...

[GXPWeasel]

If it were me, I would slowly jack up the toon off of the trailer about an inch or so, starting at one end, and brace accordingly. Then once the entire boat is off the trailer and resting on your blocks, pull the trailer out from under the boat. I wouldn't drag the boat off the trailer onto something, as I'm not sure that the boat is made strong enough from any point to pull hard enough to take the boat off the trailer, without something braking.

P.S. Don't forget to undo the transom straps as well as the front winch strap before jacking. I know that is something I would probably overlook if trying to go too fast.

[RonKMiller]

If it were me, I would slowly jack up the toon off of the trailer about an inch or so, starting at one end, and brace accordingly. Then once the entire boat is off the trailer and resting on your blocks, pull the trailer out from under the boat. I wouldn't drag the boat off the trailer onto something, as I'm not sure that the boat is made strong enough from any point to pull hard enough to take the boat off the trailer, without something braking.

P.S. Don't forget to undo the transom straps as well as the front winch strap before jacking. I know that is something I would probably overlook if trying to go too fast.

I'm with you on that - especially since I just replaced the front winch strap with a 10,000lb. test strap!

I agree with your method but unsure what to use for the braces... and where to put them?

the lugs on the rear outside toons sure do look strong enough to handle sliding it off, or I could always use a nylon sling around all three toons - which is probably a better idea.

[GregF]

I assume this is a bunk trailer and nut a center support trailer?


The way I did mine was to build a support for the back out of 2 patio ties planted in the yard with a 2x lumber pad on top of each one that was carefully aligned to be the height of the stern stringers and catch 3 with the tongue all the way down. I rolled the trailer over this and jacked up the tongue. This lifted the stern off the trailer. Run the tongue up as far as you can get it (blocking the tongue at the top of the jack, adding a block under the jack and going higher). Then I used a 10' 4x4 to support the bow on blocks wider than the trailer so I could lower the tongue and pull the trailer out. (you will need to take off the guide ons) Use another 2x under the toon on top of the 4x4 to spread out the load.

I had my boat as light as I could get it at that time since I was also replacing the rug.

[RonKMiller]

Bunk.

The trailer - not your advice.

Thanks, that sounds like an excellent way to do it, but a bit more work than I am willing to do. I'm kinda' lookin' for a more temporary way. I've got to replace the bunks, service the wheels and get it painted too. I doubt if I'll ever have a need to have it off the trailer on land again for a long time...

[curtiscapk]

rent a slip.....if you have one close may be the easiest.

[texaspontoon]

Is this a day job, or a couple of days? I think so (if you have all your stuff prepared and ready to go). I have done this before, and have put my boat in the water (either at a slip, or at a dock that will just let me tie up to the main pier, someon with a house on the water etc) for a while. You could also take something really heavy out a ways in a lake or small body of water close to you, drop it overboard and have a line with a milk jug and a bowline attached to it. The milk jug will become your mooring anchor for a day. I guess it depends how close you are to water..but this would MUCH easier than trying to get it off on the dry land.

Would this work where you live? Are you planning on taking your trailer to the shop? Do you know anyone else with a pontoon that keeps theirs in the water? Could you arrange to borrow his trailer for a few days, (put your boat on his trailer, while you take your trailer into be worked on?)

[RonKMiller]

Two hour drive to the closest ramp... but - I do have a pond 200 yards away. Seems like this might be the easiest way, but no ramp, just a 1 foot bank and drop off to a muddy bottom. Since there is literally nothing on top of the toon at this point it is VERY light.

I've got some 6 foot ramps that I could use to "bridge" the bank and get the butt end of the trailer and the wheels in the water. I could probably position my other tow vehicle on the opposite side and still use the winch to get it off backwards. Probably a lot less of chance of damaging it doing this...

I've got to eventually figure out a way to get it into the pond anyway so I can find my center of mass once fully loaded.

[lakerunner]

Are you removing the motor first?

I would soap the heck out of my bunks, Holding the boat back I would then start pulling trailer out from under it. Add supports as it comes off trailer. When just the nose cones are on trailer have 2 2x6 min and 2 floor jacks. using the 2x length ways under the nose cone seam jack both up at same time to just off trailer and pull trailer out and add permenant supports under it.

[oldmn19]

I would really hesitate to use the pond. It your trailer wheel's sink in the mud just a little you won't believe what it will take to pull it out! You can bet the mud is pretty deep and 6 inches of a wheel sunk in it won't roll, it just plows through it. I'd vote for borrowing a trailer, or tieing up on water to a dock. But that's just me, older and not always wiser, LOL!

[GregF]

Since you don't need to get the trailer out and you aren't doing bottom paint, just teeter totter the boat up on blocks under the toons using the jack as above with some 2X pads to spread the load.
A bunch of cinder blocks will do it. (CMU's to you purists)

[RonKMiller]

I would really hesitate to use the pond. It your trailer wheel's sink in the mud just a little you won't believe what it will take to pull it out! You can bet the mud is pretty deep and 6 inches of a wheel sunk in it won't roll, it just plows through it. I'd vote for borrowing a trailer, or tieing up on water to a dock. But that's just me, older and not always wiser, LOL!

That thought DID cross my mind.

I've got a one ton dually with a 454 for my tow vehicle - it can pull Nebraska.

If that fails I've got a tractor on standby - but if I have to get that out it is sure to come with an audience and lots of bad jokes from the local cow pokes.

[GregF]

If you do decide to go the pond route, get some 2x12s to use as runners under your trailer wheels so you can get back out. The problem will probably be when you are pulling the boat out, not when you are just retrieving the empty trailer.

[RonKMiller]

Great idea, thanks.

Now, where's my snorkle and Speedo?

[WaltF]

Ok... ya lost me right at the Speedo part....