How do I move boat from trailer to pontoon caddy's?

[OldeFart]

I'm considering pontoon caddies to store my boat. But for the life of me I cannot figure out how one moves a boat from the trailer to the caddies. I know a dealer can do it with a forklift, but at home....?

Has anyone got any experience with doing this at home?

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: How do I move boat from trailer to pontoon caddy's?

Hah, that's just begging for some kind of redneck solution, involving a sky-hook, a block and tackle, a bunch of baling wire, and a dead possum...

 

[WaterDR]

Re: How do I move boat from trailer to pontoon caddy's?

That's what scissor trailers are for. I have no idea how to do this with a bunk style trailer, unless the caddy had some sort of adjustible jacks on it.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: How do I move boat from trailer to pontoon caddy's?

OK, I'm a dummy, what's a pontoon caddy? Getting the toon off the trailer is no problem. Is that primarily what you're looking for?
To remove the boat from the trailer:
-Set the boat on the trailer farther back than normal, ideally with approximately a foot hanging over the back. Be careful as you now will likely have negative tongue weight.
-Disconnect your vehicle from the trailer. (Weight the front of the trailer if you have negative tongue weight)
-Lower the tongue all the way to the ground (or as low as you can)
-Block up under both toons at the rear.
-Raise the tongue as far as you can
-Run a long 4x4 (12' long) across under the deck at the front and block up each end securely
-Lower the tongue and slide the trailer out

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: How do I move boat from trailer to pontoon caddy's?

Its a cradle that fits the logs with wheels jeep man their often used in dealerships. Makes them easy to move around.

 

[WaterDR]

Re: How do I move boat from trailer to pontoon caddy's?

OK, I'm a dummy, what's a pontoon caddy? Getting the toon off the trailer is no problem. Is that primarily what you're looking for?
To remove the boat from the trailer:
-Set the boat on the trailer farther back than normal, ideally with approximately a foot hanging over the back. Be careful as you now will likely have negative tongue weight.
-Disconnect your vehicle from the trailer. (Weight the front of the trailer if you have negative tongue weight)
-Lower the tongue all the way to the ground (or as low as you can)
-Block up under both toons at the rear.
-Raise the tongue as far as you can
-Run a long 4x4 (12' long) across under the deck at the front and block up each end securely
-Lower the tongue and slide the trailer out

I think Jeep Man has it figured out.

 

[The Rooster]

Re: How do I move boat from trailer to pontoon caddy's?

OK, I'm a dummy, what's a pontoon caddy? Getting the toon off the trailer is no problem. Is that primarily what you're looking for?
To remove the boat from the trailer:
-Set the boat on the trailer farther back than normal, ideally with approximately a foot hanging over the back. Be careful as you now will likely have negative tongue weight.
-Disconnect your vehicle from the trailer. (Weight the front of the trailer if you have negative tongue weight)
-Lower the tongue all the way to the ground (or as low as you can)
-Block up under both toons at the rear.
-Raise the tongue as far as you can
-Run a long 4x4 (12' long) across under the deck at the front and block up each end securely
-Lower the tongue and slide the trailer out

Oh yeah, "Jeep Man" has it going on !!!

 

[OldeFart]

Re: How do I move boat from trailer to pontoon caddy's?

Thanks, Jeep Man,

That's exactly what I was looking for.

A pontoon caddy is simply 4 cradle shaped blocks that allow pontoons to be set off-ground - they're just a few inches high. It allows one to work on all of the boat, including the pontoons, and keeps the boat low enough to be garaged.
You can see them here: http://www.amazon.com/Pontoon-Caddy-Set-of-4/dp/B000YHCCYQ

The part that I was missing: moving the toon back on the bunk trailor before starting, allowing it to overhang the bunks. Ah, simple thoughts.....

Thanks again...

 

[Rancherlee]

Re: How do I move boat from trailer to pontoon caddy's?

I use 3 pickup camper jacks modified with 3x3x1/4" steel angle iron bolted to them so they each catch at least 2 cross-members. Works great for lifting my toon off my Bunk trailer! My dad came up with this idea! and I got the Jacks off craigslist for 75$!

 

[EricJRW]

Re: How do I move boat from trailer to pontoon caddy's?

I use 3 pickup camper jacks modified with 3x3x1/4" steel angle iron bolted to them so they each catch at least 2 cross-members. Works great for lifting my toon off my Bunk trailer! My dad came up with this idea! and I got the Jacks off craigslist for 75$!

I'd like to see a picture of that if you have one.

 

[EricJRW]

Re: How do I move boat from trailer to pontoon caddy's?

OK, I'm a dummy, what's a pontoon caddy? Getting the toon off the trailer is no problem. Is that primarily what you're looking for?
To remove the boat from the trailer:
-Set the boat on the trailer farther back than normal, ideally with approximately a foot hanging over the back. Be careful as you now will likely have negative tongue weight.
-Disconnect your vehicle from the trailer. (Weight the front of the trailer if you have negative tongue weight)
-Lower the tongue all the way to the ground (or as low as you can)
-Block up under both toons at the rear.
-Raise the tongue as far as you can
-Run a long 4x4 (12' long) across under the deck at the front and block up each end securely
-Lower the tongue and slide the trailer out

Very cool. I did not think something like this was possible. Thought scissor was my only option.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: How do I move boat from trailer to pontoon caddy's?

I wanna know where the dead possum goes.

 

[JGator]

Re: How do I move boat from trailer to pontoon caddy's?

OK, I'm a dummy, what's a pontoon caddy? Getting the toon off the trailer is no problem. Is that primarily what you're looking for?
To remove the boat from the trailer:
-Set the boat on the trailer farther back than normal, ideally with approximately a foot hanging over the back. Be careful as you now will likely have negative tongue weight.
-Disconnect your vehicle from the trailer. (Weight the front of the trailer if you have negative tongue weight)
-Lower the tongue all the way to the ground (or as low as you can)
-Block up under both toons at the rear.
-Raise the tongue as far as you can
-Run a long 4x4 (12' long) across under the deck at the front and block up each end securely
-Lower the tongue and slide the trailer out

Great outline of the process! One question, if the boat isn't on the trailer as you say, a foot off, how best does one move it a foot~ off the rear of the trailer? I've moved mine with a come-a-long hooked to my tractor and long chain hooked to the rear of each tube. All went OK, but wondering if there's a better way.

 

[EricJRW]

Re: How do I move boat from trailer to pontoon caddy's?

I figure the best method would be to load it up that way... Of course this assumes you don't have very far to go. Makes me wonder if you could have a trailer where the back foot of bunk was removable so that you could get the tubes on the ground? Seems that would be less expensive than a scissor trailer.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: How do I move boat from trailer to pontoon caddy's?

Great outline of the process! One question, if the boat isn't on the trailer as you say, a foot off, how best does one move it a foot~ off the rear of the trailer? I've moved mine with a come-a-long hooked to my tractor and long chain hooked to the rear of each tube. All went OK, but wondering if there's a better way.

I braced up the front and lowered the tongue. Then I slipped in a sheet of plastic under each toon from the front and slid it in as far as I could, tied the stern to a tree and drove forward. It was like butter. Probably could have pushed it by hand.

 

[Silver Eagle]

Re: How do I move boat from trailer to pontoon caddy's?

The easiest way to move your toon back a foot is to float it back. Just make sure you still have the strap hooked up when you tow it home.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: How do I move boat from trailer to pontoon caddy's?

Seems like "trade bunk trailer for scissor trailerr" would be the easiest option

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: How do I move boat from trailer to pontoon caddy's?

Seems like "trade bunk trailer for scissor trailerr" would be the easiest option

I agree - I just happen to have one to trade
Run it over here to Texas & we'll swap