Extend the dooger?

[mdunn]

I don't know what else you call it.
Anyway the boat ramp close to home I'm using is not a very steep angle and I have to go up to the drums almost on my Tacoma. That's with 16" wheels.
I'd rather not have to do that and what I'm thinking of as a solution is buying another dooger and ball and welding in about a 3' extension.
I'd just use this when I got to the park where the ramp is, not to tow with.
See any reason why that wouldn't work?
I could see it being maybe a little more of a challenge to back up.
Any other solutions? I want to stay with the bunks.
Even up to the drums it takes some muss to push the boat off.

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Extend the dooger?

By "dooger" I think you mean tongue. I don't see how you can weld a tongue (dooger) in, and then use it only for the ramp. I think you may have left out a crucial bit of information. Are you planning on making a telescopic one or something?

 

[mdunn]

Re: Extend the dooger?

Tongue. That's what I was looking for.
What I was thinking of was having the extended tongue loose as an extra and when I get to the park where I launch disconnect the trailer and plug the extended tongue into the reciever in place of the standard.
It's an extra step but not that big of deal I think.
If it was fresh water I wouldn't have the concern about the truck but it's Puget Sound.

By "dooger" I think you mean tongue. I don't see how you can weld a tongue (dooger) in, and then use it only for the ramp. I think you may have left out a crucial bit of information. Are you planning on making a telescopic one or something?

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Extend the dooger?

Ahh, I see. You are extending the part that attaches to the truck receiver, not the trailer. In that case, the piece that holds the ball, and goes into the truck receiver is called a draw bar. The make store bought ones, but a piece of thick walled square tubing, with a 2" OD (outside dimension) with a ball on the end should be plenty, since it is just for the ramp.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Extend the dooger?

I don't think mdunn was talking about the trailer tongue. I think he was talking about extending the ball-mount that plugs into the reciever.

Like these:

http://www.drawtite-hitches.com/product_categories/ball_mounts

The tongue is the front beam of your trailer that the hitch coupler is attached to.

Only thing about extending the ball mount is it will put a long lever arm on your hitch mount and put a lot of load on it. Be careful or you'll bend your mount down.

 

[mdunn]

Re: Extend the dooger?

Good point on the extra leverage.
I think I'll be alright for just using it at the ramp.

I don't think mdunn was talking about the trailer tongue. I think he was talking about extending the ball-mount that plugs into the reciever.

Like these:

http://www.drawtite-hitches.com/product_categories/ball_mounts

The tongue is the front beam of your trailer that the hitch coupler is attached to.

Only thing about extending the ball mount is it will put a long lever arm on your hitch mount and put a lot of load on it. Be careful or you'll bend your mount down.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Extend the dooger?

this is the solution "http://www.xtend-a-hitchnorthwest.com/"

 

[mdunn]

Re: Extend the dooger?

this is the solution "http://www.xtend-a-hitchnorthwest.com/"

I figured there might be a product out there. Thanks.
I may try my own 4' extension on the cheap for now but that's good to keep in mind.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Extend the dooger?

Pretty neat tashadaddy! Never seen that before.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Extend the dooger?

little more info http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=205414&highlight=tongue+extention

 

[mdunn]

Re: Extend the dooger?

Tested out my 4' draw bar today and it worked great.
Kept mt truck tires right at the edge of the water and the boat floated right off.
A little bit more work to do the switch but not that big of deal.