Trailer modification

[Inveresk]

Thought I'd share a minor mod I made to the trailer to allow me to jack up my 2007 Trophy 1902 so that I can access the areas normally concealed by the skids. I've fixed four auto jacks to the I beams of the trailer at the four locations where load is transferred from the skids, through the cross beams to the outside I beams. Each jack is 2 ton capacity, more than double needed for the purpose. The jacks are bolted to 3/4" ply plates that are U bolted to the I beams so the assembly is secure but demountable. It only takes a few minutes to bolt on the jacks when I need to raise the boat and their extension is sufficient to give me the few inches clearance needed to carry out maintenance. Total cost - a around $190.

 

[GA_Boater]

You can crawl under there if you want to.

It isn't safe enough for me unless proper cribbing or blocks are placed between the boat and ground with the weight of the boat off the trailer.

In my opinion that is not safe. The trailer frame isn't made to support weight like that. Be safe.

 

[Inveresk]

Accept your point about cribbing but not about the trailer. Normal loadpath is that the weight of the boat transfers to the skids, then two cross rails that in turn connect to the outer I beams at the 4 points the jacks are located, then via the I beams to the wheel housing and into the ground. All that is happening in this instance is that The loadpath bypasses the skids and cross rails and transfers to the I beams via the jacks. There's no difference in loading conditions otherwise.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Uh yeah .... Looks scary to me

 

[bonz_d]

OK, now tell us why you would have to do this?

 

[gm280]

My only suggestion is be careful with the small footprint of the jacks. Skids cover a much wider and longer footprint thereby spreading the load over the larger area of the hull. If you simply jack up one small pad area, the increased load to such a small area could punch through the hull. A good example would be to jack up a nail head in a similar fashion and see what would happen. So just be careful... JMHO!