Fishing Forum

Friends,

Recently, I have rented a storage unit for my boat that has barely enough room to fit it through the opening and there is a slight incline inside the storage unit once inside ... two perplexing problems.

I did a little searching on the Internet for anything that could help me back in my boat through the tight opening and push it up the incline.

I found this device called a "Trailer Valet".

It is a fancy trailer jack of sorts.

Here is a [url "https://youtu.be/oG7tUsajqe0"]link to a video of it[/url]:

[url "https://youtu.be/oG7tUsajqe0"]https://youtu.be/oG7tUsajqe0[/url]

Do any of you use or own one of these?

Here's a [url "https://youtu.be/zzW6J8CLYEw"]link to a video of a larger[/url], more heavy duty one:

[url "https://youtu.be/zzW6J8CLYEw"]https://youtu.be/zzW6J8CLYEw[/url]

The size for my boat is only about $300. Bigger ones for bigger boat/trailers are around $600.

I am seriously thinking of getting one.

Here's a link to eTrailer's page that shows lots of pictures of it:

[url "https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Jack/Trailer-Valet/STC-V211.html?feed=npn&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-_zqiaiX3AIViYrICh0bdwVqEAQYASABEgLJ3_D_BwE"]https://www.etrailer.com/...qEAQYASABEgLJ3_D_BwE[/url]

Whether you own one or not, what do you think of it?

--- Coot ---
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Never tried one of those, but here's another thought. Put a receiver hitch on the FRONT of your truck / tow vehicle. It can be a little easier to push a boat/trailer into a tight space or maneuver it with a front hitch than a back, and you won't have yet another item cluttering up your garage when not in use.
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I'm not a fan of it, but I feel comfortable backing any boat into tight spaces. However, this thing may work if the parking area is paved and the incline you speak of is not too steep. If you're using it on gravel, I'm betting it will slide around, etc. Finally, I think it is pretty costly for a smaller boat like yours, so to get your money's worth out of it, you'd have to really use it a lot.
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I am am not able to use a vehicle to to push my boat into the garage behind my house. Not enough room to make the turn. When I was younger no problem pulling the boat out and pushing it back in. It is slightly uphill going back in. Nowadays I can pull it out to hitch it up OK but pushing it back in can't quite do it. I mounted an electric hoist from Harbor Freight on the back wall of my garage. It has a remote so I just have to let the cable out. Hook it to the back of my boat and hit the in button on the remote, it pulls it right in. I have to turn the boat into the garage as I am pulling it in.I have a single axle trailer so steering the boat is easy by hand a double axle trailer is hard to turn by hand. If you were able to go straight back very easy even with double axles. $100 for the set up.
[url "https://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?dir=asc&order=EAScore%2Cf%2CEAFeatured+Weight%2Cf%2CSale+Rank%2Cf&q=electric+hoist"]https://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?dir=asc&order=EAScore%2Cf%2CEAFeatured+Weight%2Cf%2CSale+Rank%2Cf&q=electric+hoist[/url]
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I've got a better idea for you....Let ME be your boat valet!

Don't worry about backing your boat in at all anymore! Drop it off in front of my house on your return trip from any fishing trip, etc. I will then back it into my garage, and there it will be stored safely and securely until the next time you want to use it. When you want to use it next, just text me and if I'm not already out using it [] I will hook up to and pull it out of my garage and put it in my driveway so that all you have to do is hook up to it and go!

P.S....we need to get out again!

Randy
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Not a bad idea Randy! Would you consider doing the annual maintenance on wheel bearings too?

Yes, we do need to get back out.
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