Off the end of ramp..........trailer retrieval

B

bgreene

Banned
Full moon low tide at my usual ramp and story short.......didn't brace all 4 wheels so SUV slipped backwards a bit....as both sets of trailer wheels dropped off the end of the ramp.

Tough situation ? Not really....... for anyone who might benefit, here's the solution:

1. pushed boat back off trailer and tied it off.
2. took anchor from boat, dropped it down to " snag" under my trailer from the dock.
3. asked couple of guys near me for assistance......1 guy to drive the SUV, other guy with me to just lift on the anchor rope, lifting the trailer, then telling the SUV driver to pull forward.

When submerged, the trailer is relatively light, tire buoyancy assisting. I can almost lift this way myself.

Then I chocked all 4 wheels solidly, re connected the boat, and cranked it up without further issue. Moral of story........ chock your vehicle wheels even when it doesn't seem necessary.
 
I would have been so worked up with the trailer stuck off the ramp I would have never thought of doing that. Excellent idea.
Thank for sharing.
 
Oh yeh, otherwise it's a problem alright.... because this ramp, like most has a drop off at the end. You can't budge it with the vehicle because the wheels are stuck well below the edge of ramp.


It's almost funny how easily the " anchor snag " works. Just stand on the dock extension, lower the anchor to catch on solid trailer support beam. Then lift with the anchor line.
It only takes 2 guys......1 maybe depending on trailer weight. Just make sure someone's in the vehicle so you can yell " ok, move forward."

And as I wrote, make sure the boat is off the trailer when lifting.
 
Bgreene - 4wd low worked for me in that situation ; ) I used to drop my v20 single axle trailer off the end of the wellington circle ramp. Sometimes the leaf spring hangers would get caught on the lip and you'd have to back it up a bit and bump it. I had a standard shift rodeo so it was easy to roll back a foot to two and get some momentum.

P1010028.jpg
 
A word of advice for the Savannah V20 syndicate, the new ramp at Turner creek drops off like this, plus it's steep as hell.

Use the old ramp.

Got to love those quality government projects....I wonder how much they paid for all those new palm trees?
 
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Aluminum I -beam trailers with wood bunks and tandem axles float with no boat on them they are so bouyant. It is a PITA at times. ie. loading on certain ramp angles and stiff currents/wind taking the trailer wherever they want, meanwhile your mooring the boat or trying to get tied off and pull your truck and trailer out from the ramp. Only to find the trailer has floated from straight and is now cocked over into the side of the boat ramp and half under the dock. If you aren't paying some attention and pull straight out you will rip the side guides or fender clean off. Kudos for the MyGyver maneuver and keeping a cool head. More than one instance of letting the tires drop off the end of the ramp has ended badly as we all know.
Ever seen a young kid at a busy ramp soaking wet from helping the folks that were having, "Issues" loading and unloading? That kid was me...
 
Not to derail but the most common "Offence" or "Error" I see is the folks back their trailers too far back whilst loading. The trailer is often buried so deep that the bunks aren't even touching the hull when the bow is winched all the way up. They go to pull the rig out and, " OH NO IT IS CROOKED ON THE TRAILER WHAT DO WE DO NOW?" Well??? Yeah, you had it aligned in one spot. Arse wagging in the breeze, I love this stuff...Makes for some funny antics at the ramp. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMDKU7NFAu8
 
bigshrimpin said:
Bgreene - 4wd low worked for me in that situation ; ) I used to drop my v20 single axle trailer off the end of the wellington circle ramp. Sometimes the leaf spring hangers would get caught on the lip and you'd have to back it up a bit and bump it. I had a standard shift rodeo so it was easy to roll back a foot to two and get some momentum.

P1010028.jpg
Click to expand...

Big Shrimpin' ..........Glad you can do that at your ramp, but momentum and pulling with greater force would tear the trailer apart since this ( and many) ramps have a sharp, nearly vertical drop. The tidal pull tends to " clean out" the bottom just beyond the concrete ramp which forms this shear drop off. The tires drop down and " lock in" behind the drop off. The buoyancy with anchor pull results in no damage so works if this happens and there's a finger dock to work from.....
 
Used to build & maintain launches. It's powering on to the trailer that causes the wash out at the end of the ramp. Your method is the trick for sure.

My favorite story about this goes back many years. A friend & I were cast netting at a local launch, a guy comes in & backs below the end (it's marked on the dock) We tell him we'll help him but he just keeps pulling on it with his old ford truck. Finally he get's pissed & walks off! We weren't sure what was happening until he came back in a semi truck from the local seafood processor. He hooks it to the front of the Ford, & boom!, tore the rear bumper right off the pickup! Couldn't help but laugh.
 
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