tahoe 1950 trailer guide pole

shassell1

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Joined
Jul 5, 2020
Messages
15
Has anyone installed the trailer guide poles on a trailer for a Tahoe 1950 deckboat? If so where did you get, did you install at back or trailer or middle since boat is wide?

Thanks
 

airshot

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
5,567
In my opinion, pokes are decorations and won't stop a heavy boat from turning on a windy day. In my 60 plus years of boating the longer side guides have always worked better for me.
 

JASinIL2006

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Feb 10, 2012
Messages
5,731
The poles are mainly useful as a visual indicator of where the trailer is, which can be helpful if you have trouble seeing the trailer when backing up or when trying to load the boat. But they are not so good for guiding the boat onto the trailer; their brackets bend pretty easily if the boat slams into them.

The poles I installed are "CE Smith Trailer Post Guide-On with LED Lighted Posts" and they allow you to extend the poles pretty far out from the trailer. How much clearance do you need?
 

toadaly

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Sep 22, 2024
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2
Has anyone installed the trailer guide poles on a trailer for a Tahoe 1950 deckboat? If so where did you get, did you install at back or trailer or middle since boat is wide?

Thanks
Did you ever figure it out? I have the same type of custom trailer, and there does not seem to be a way to attach guide poles. Seems like it would be possible with some kind of adapter, which I may try get custom made if they aren't sold anywhere.
 

cyclops222

Commander
Joined
Mar 21, 2024
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2,376
I had a commercial Electrical Contractor use his hydraulic pipe bender to bend 4 Aluminum heavy walled pipes in to L shapes. Then auto store for exhaust pipe clamps. For clamping to the trailer frames. The pipes allow 1" of clearance to boat rub rails. They work great in brown muddy water. With wind and high currents. The poles and frame clamps are unbendable.
 

shassell1

Cadet
Joined
Jul 5, 2020
Messages
15
The poles are mainly useful as a visual indicator of where the trailer is, which can be helpful if you have trouble seeing the trailer when backing up or when trying to load the boat. But they are not so good for guiding the boat onto the trailer; their brackets bend pretty easily if the boat slams into them.

The poles I installed are "CE Smith Trailer Post Guide-On with LED Lighted Posts" and they allow you to extend the poles pretty far out from the trailer. How much clearance do you need?
By any chance do you have a 1950 Tahoe and can share a pic?
 

Mc Tool

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 7, 2024
Messages
467
Huh , the poles on my trailer are at the back and are heavy wall 2"galv pipe and are welded to the frame and dont bend . I slid a bit of 2½" alkathene tube over the pole so it can rotate when the boat contacts it . I often use the pole as a fulcrum in side current or wind .🙂
 

cyclops222

Commander
Joined
Mar 21, 2024
Messages
2,376
My trailer has 4 heavy vertical poles. The boat can push the poles hard enough to move the trailer in big current and wind.
 

airshot

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
5,567
Poles are good, but many years back, I had a trailer with side guides that were the same as a carpeted bunk added to the poles. They were perfect and makes centering a " can't miss" situation. I launch and load by myself, with self centering rollers and side guides, my boat never fails to center itself on the trailer, no matter what I do wrong ! Pokes are good, but side guides are even better.
 

dingbat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
16,471
I launch and load by myself, with self centering rollers and side guides,
Switching to a drive on trailer with target bunks was a no brainer once I saw one in action.

The poles are mainly used to line up the boat with the trailer. The poles only contact the hull on the rub rails. Don’t have to worry about debris (sand) getting stuck in rub board (side guides), scratching up the gelcoat. The bunks that do all the heavy lifting.

 

airshot

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
5,567
Switching to a drive on trailer with target bunks was a no brainer once I saw one in action.

The poles are mainly used to line up the boat with the trailer. The poles only contact the hull on the rub rails. Don’t have to worry about debris (sand) getting stuck in rub board (side guides), scratching up the gelcoat. The bunks that do all the heavy lifting.

No need to buy a " drive on" trailer, most any trailer can be turned into a drive on trailer with a few addons and adjustments.
 
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