Purpose of a tilt trailer

[cbjfan75]

What is the purpose of a tilt trailer for a boat? Recently purchased a 14' aluminum V-hull and have discovered the trailer is of the tilt variety. Thanks!

 

[hidef]

Re: Purpose of a tilt trailer

Makes launching and recovery of the boat in shallow water very easy.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Purpose of a tilt trailer

Hi cb. Tilt trailers allow you to launch and retrieve your boat from places where you don't have a proper launch, such as the side of a lake, pond or beach. They also make loading the boat on/off the trailer while on land much easier. You can slide the boat off, work on the trailer as needed, then wench it back on. MagicTilt is probably the most well know brand, but there are many others. You don't necessarily need it on a trailer, but it's nice to have. Here's a vid of one in action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdXL8W4RYTo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-tTyZr6wtA&feature=relmfu

 

[cbjfan75]

Re: Purpose of a tilt trailer

Interesting stuff. Thanks. I had no clue why they'd do that. This one is a Yarbrough.

 

[Sabbath]

Re: Purpose of a tilt trailer

Just make sure you dont pull the pin too early.

Somehow this guy managed to release it about 2m short of the water. Took myself, my mate and his mate standing on the tilt part of the trailer while he handwinched it up the trailer again...only after having to skull drag it up the ramp to flat ground.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Purpose of a tilt trailer

Makes launching and recovery of the boat in shallow water very easy.

It's really the only reason to have one! I know because I have one under my boat now and I coulsn't fish where I do w/o it.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Purpose of a tilt trailer

Makes launching and recovery of the boat in shallow water very easy.

Makes launching and retreiving in ANY water easy!

Boating is supposed to be fun. If launching ain't easy, it ain't fun....LOL.

I get such a kick out of people with the cheaper bunk trailers that have to back in till the exhaust is bubbling under water, and then don hip boots and break their back trying to push the boat off.

Tilt trailer - back in till the trailer tires are wet, pull the pin and watch the boat literally launch itself. No wet feet, the car is on dry pavement and there is no effort involved. Sure, a necessity in a shallow water ramp, but no reason not to use it even in a real deep one.

The real important question is why don't the manufacturer's make them any more?

 

[jestor68]

Re: Purpose of a tilt trailer

The idea of the tilt trailer first appeared back in the fifties. The idea was to be able to launch and retrieve your boat without putting your trailer wheel bearings in the water.

The trouble is that when you only back the trailer in that far, there usually isn't enough water depth behind the trailer to float the boat off. It rolls back and more times than not, hits the ground/ramp, because the water back there is not even knee deep.

You ended up having to back the trailer in far enough so that the back of the trailer is in the water in order to have enough depth to float the boat as it comes off the trailer. So much for keeping your wheel bearings dry.

Still, the tilting ability can come in handy some times, but I can assure you that you will get your wheel bearings wet.

 

[jestor68]

Re: Purpose of a tilt trailer

Interesting video. I liked the way the (loud) sound of the winch clacking pretty much drowned out the sound of the boat scraping on the rocks.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Purpose of a tilt trailer

The trouble is that when you only back the trailer in that far, there usually isn't enough water depth behind the trailer to float the boat off. It rolls back and more times than not, hits the ground/ramp, because the water back there is not even knee deep.

Sorry but I have to whole heartedly disagree. As I've stated here many times, I mostly use a primative gravel ramp and I only have to back in until the axle reaches the water. A small push and the boat rolls back, bed tilts and the boat floats away. I've never had the stern contact the ground this way as you describe. And yes this area is only knee deep at the end of the trailer. Only once have I eer had the stern hit bottom on launch and that was at a ramp were the water was only ankle deep at the end of the ramp but I still got IN and OUT! Try that with out a tilt.

I will also ad that I've been loading this way for so long that I even still do it this way at regular deep concrete ramps.

 

[colbyt]

Re: Purpose of a tilt trailer

When I buy a new boat I am keeping my old tilt trailer since I consider it the greatest thing since pre-sliced bread.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Purpose of a tilt trailer

The idea of the tilt trailer first appeared back in the fifties. The idea was to be able to launch and retrieve your boat without putting your trailer wheel bearings in the water.

The trouble is that when you only back the trailer in that far, there usually isn't enough water depth behind the trailer to float the boat off. It rolls back and more times than not, hits the ground/ramp, because the water back there is not even knee deep.

You ended up having to back the trailer in far enough so that the back of the trailer is in the water in order to have enough depth to float the boat as it comes off the trailer. So much for keeping your wheel bearings dry.

Still, the tilting ability can come in handy some times, but I can assure you that you will get your wheel bearings wet.

The golden age of boating was the 1950's. The "how to" guides published back then are still relevant today. Problems started in the 1980's when the boating boom accelerated and competition took over. Now, dealers were trying to cut costs to make a sale. The trailer was the first thing to cut.

My '64 has a '64 tilter under her. I haven't needed to pack those wheel bearings in 25 years because they have never been submerged. Never hit the bottom either.

Knee deep water....wow, what a luxury.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Purpose of a tilt trailer

... I haven't needed to pack those wheel bearings in 25 years because they have never been submerged.../QUOTE]

I am humbled by your optimism!

 

[JimS123]

Re: Purpose of a tilt trailer

... I haven't needed to pack those wheel bearings in 25 years because they have never been submerged.../QUOTE]

I am humbled by your optimism!

I knew somebody would say that. That's why I was careful in my wording.

"haven't needed to" not "haven't done"

I pull em and check em and every time I find out they are perfect and didn't need to be done after all.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Purpose of a tilt trailer

Trailers have changed a lot over the last 5 decades.

Even small 16' boats used to sit 20"-26" above the road surface when on the trailer.

Now, trailer frames are wider and the frames are lower, the boat usually fits between the frame rails, resulting in the boat being closer to the ground, and not needing as much water to launch and load.


Launches have been much improved as well.

The need and market for tilt trailers has diminished quite a bit.

My boat, as it came from the factory, sat 24.5 inch above the ground.
Now it on a new trailer, and it sits just 14.5" off the ground.


Tilt trailer have there place, and they have been very helpful to me in the past.