04-11-2006, 09:41 PM
One thing I forgot to mention with the rope wrap thing: make sure not to leave the top of the metal posts exposed at all. If you run your trailer in a little deep, or if you have a really steep ramp, those guides will be a bit lower and the metal top can make a helluva gouge down the side of your boat. If you can't get it covered, a PVC cap might cover it. In the long run, the carpeted bunk guides are probably a bit easier to install if your trailer is compatible.
The best thing is to practice loading with the trailer at different depths until you get a feel for your boat and the trailer. Some ramps aren't as steep and you will need to back in a little further.
Just don't do like the guy I saw at chicken creek (Strawberry) a couple of years ago that backed his whole truck into the water. If you know Chicken Creek, you know that is some sticky mud there. His 4x4 got stuck good and spun to the point that he was high centered in the mud under water. We ended up daisy-chaining 2 trucks together to get enough traction to pull him out, and these weren't little trucks. Mine was an F250 with a 460, running it in 4-low. The other was an older full-sized Jeep Cherokee with the v8. It wasn't a pretty site and went through a couple of tow ropes before we got him out of there.
It looked like it was a company truck....I wonder how he explained that one to his boss......
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The best thing is to practice loading with the trailer at different depths until you get a feel for your boat and the trailer. Some ramps aren't as steep and you will need to back in a little further.
Just don't do like the guy I saw at chicken creek (Strawberry) a couple of years ago that backed his whole truck into the water. If you know Chicken Creek, you know that is some sticky mud there. His 4x4 got stuck good and spun to the point that he was high centered in the mud under water. We ended up daisy-chaining 2 trucks together to get enough traction to pull him out, and these weren't little trucks. Mine was an F250 with a 460, running it in 4-low. The other was an older full-sized Jeep Cherokee with the v8. It wasn't a pretty site and went through a couple of tow ropes before we got him out of there.
It looked like it was a company truck....I wonder how he explained that one to his boss......
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