Post guides

[thedinz]

Hello,

I'm thinking of adding these to my trailer and I was wondering how big of a job it is to add these to a trailer that never had them.

Something I can do in the driveway?

Any specific guide posts you recommend?

 

[thedinz]

Apparently easier than I thought.

These should do and look easy.

 

[jbcurt00]

No pix posted so what guides?

 

[boatman37]

with no pics hard to say but mine has a clamp that clamps around the bottom of the frame channel and the 1/2" CPVC gets pinched in it. not sure where they came from

 

[JASinIL2006]

I added some C.E. Smith trailer guides to my trailer. They clamp on with U-bolts. Very easy to install. They had great reviews... Unfortunately, I don't think Iboats carries that brand, or I wouldhave bought them here.

They are very well-made. Mine have LED lights on top of the poles. Really makes backing the trailer (when empty) a lot easier, and they help me line up the boat when I'm retrieving it.

 

[jayhanig]

Hello,

I'm thinking of adding these to my trailer and I was wondering how big of a job it is to add these to a trailer that never had them.

Something I can do in the driveway?

Any specific guide posts you recommend?

They are very easy to install in the driveway with just a few ordinary tools. If I had to make one suggestion, it would be to buy the tallest posts you can get away with. Having them higher than the gunwales of your boat make them much easier to see in the rear view mirrors, particularly as you back down a ramp. They also are a very handy place to mount lights. I went as far as to buy an add-on backup light/turn signal LED doodad that allowed me to extend my posts even higher. The LED lights are mid shaft, and then I mounted more LED turn signals on the very top. Having your lights high like that keeps them out of the water so corrosion and bulb breakage become just that much less of a problem.

I'd show you a picture but I keep getting upload errors. Then it tells me to please upload at least one photo. It's not like I haven't tried. Here's Plan B:
http://i481.photobucket.com/albums/rr178/jayhanig/Boat Cover 005_zpsn6g2dkfo.jpg

 

[oldjeep]

If you use pole covers like tow boats come with then you don't need freakishly tall guide posts. The pole covers cause the PVC outer poles to float up off of the steel poles. Mine will get as much as 3 feet taller and still be usefull if for some reason I was in the water that deep.

 

[joetheis]

I HAD those on my 18' Grumman fishing boat trailer.
They were fab. when the trailer was built, nice, sturdy, 4 bolts at metal base, PVC pipe as a roller.
I took them off last summer...........
They ALWAYS caught the bumper when I was launching the boat, or the dock lines would snag them no matter HOW I rigged it!
(9 times out of 10, I launch my boat alone, no "dock crew").
They are great if you get a cross wind, but I just aim the boat on the way in and adjust to the windage.
Joe
Just my 2 cents!

 

[thedinz]

Sorry guys it was these ones i was trying to link.

http://www.iboats.com/48-Boat-Guide...53337160--session_id.250210102--view_id.40431

 

[thedinz]

They are very easy to install in the driveway with just a few ordinary tools. If I had to make one suggestion, it would be to buy the tallest posts you can get away with. Having them higher than the gunwales of your boat make them much easier to see in the rear view mirrors, particularly as you back down a ramp. They also are a very handy place to mount lights. I went as far as to buy an add-on backup light/turn signal LED doodad that allowed me to extend my posts even higher. The LED lights are mid shaft, and then I mounted more LED turn signals on the very top. Having your lights high like that keeps them out of the water so corrosion and bulb breakage become just that much less of a problem.

I'd show you a picture but I keep getting upload errors. Then it tells me to please upload at least one photo. It's not like I haven't tried. Here's Plan B:
http://i481.photobucket.com/albums/rr178/jayhanig/Boat Cover 005_zpsn6g2dkfo.jpg

Those look awesome!

 

[jayhanig]

Those look awesome!

Thanks. They are probably the best thing I've done to that trailer.

 

[thedinz]

Thanks. They are probably the best thing I've done to that trailer.

Would you perhaps be able to provide links to the materials and lights you used, id like to make a pair of those myself.

 

[fishin98]

I added some C.E. Smith trailer guides to my trailer. They clamp on with U-bolts. Very easy to install. They had great reviews... Unfortunately, I don't think Iboats carries that brand, or I wouldhave bought them here.

They are very well-made. Mine have LED lights on top of the poles. Really makes backing the trailer (when empty) a lot easier, and they help me line up the boat when I'm retrieving it.

I had the same ones on both of my last 2 boat trailers...OUTSTANDING...going to install on my current trailer when I have some more BOATING BUCKS to spend.

 

[jayhanig]

Would you perhaps be able to provide links to the materials and lights you used, id like to make a pair of those myself.

The guides with the LED end caps are available here. The end cap can be installed on the end of any appropriately sized PVC pipe; not just the one it comes with in this kit.

I can't find the LED pipe light kits here but I bought mine at Ace Hardware, IIRC. They also sell them at that large marine supply chain that starts with W and ends in T, though their customers don't rate them highly due to some reliability issues. The one I bought at Ace has been rock solid for me.

So you buy the guide ons, slide the pipe kit on the end of it instead of the cap light, then add another length of PVC to the top of the pipe kit (whatever length you want), and finally cap it with the LED fixture that came with the guide on kit. None of your connections should ever get wet, and you will have position lights, turn signals, and brake lights.

BTW, I read a negative review of the guide on posts whining about having to drill holes in their trailer to mount them. I certainly didn't. Mine are attached with U-bolts quite solidly. Hope this helps.

 

[thedinz]

The guides with the LED end caps are available here. The end cap can be installed on the end of any appropriately sized PVC pipe; not just the one it comes with in this kit.

I can't find the LED pipe light kits here but I bought mine at Ace Hardware, IIRC. They also sell them at that large marine supply chain that starts with W and ends in T, though their customers don't rate them highly due to some reliability issues. The one I bought at Ace has been rock solid for me.

So you buy the guide ons, slide the pipe kit on the end of it instead of the cap light, then add another length of PVC to the top of the pipe kit (whatever length you want), and finally cap it with the LED fixture that came with the guide on kit. None of your connections should ever get wet, and you will have position lights, turn signals, and brake lights.

BTW, I read a negative review of the guide on posts whining about having to drill holes in their trailer to mount them. I certainly didn't. Mine are attached with U-bolts quite solidly. Hope this helps.

thank you kindly, i saw the lights you mentioned at the store you mentioned. $130 a set. yikes. found them on amazon for $79.99. ill go with that.

i will show you pictures when im complete, this will be a fun project.

 

[JASinIL2006]

$130 just for the lights? That's about what my set of lighted poles cost!

 

[thedinz]

$130 just for the lights? That's about what my set of lighted poles cost!

yes i thought it was pretty crazy which is why i love amazon. However i find w**T marine is pretty expensive anyway, its nice if you need something asap and can afford the jacked up prices but otherwise i avoid them.