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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Looking for Trailer "launch wheel"

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teamwike
1st Mate

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82 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/18/2004 : 19:27:38

Question for you "trailers" : I am looking for a spare tire that can be lowered to help support the trailer tongue while launching with a hitch extender. I have seen in the past the term Launch Wheel on the forum. I believe this is what I am looking for. I have had no luck doing a web search. I would rather buy one than weld one up my self. You know you never want to reinvent the WHEEL( sorry for that).
Thank you,
Max in MD

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 01/18/2004 : 19:46:44

http://www.trailrite.com/prod05.htm

yep yep uhuh

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 01/18/2004 : 20:31:56

Max, what sort of hitch extender did you have in mind? Most of the 'dolly wheel' setups I've seen weren't used in conjunction with a tongue extension but are used to roll the trailer down the ramp connected to the tow vehicle only with a cable or web strap.

I don't think the trail-rite accessory that Frank posted would work unless you were backing in a perfectly straight line (it can't turn). Any dolly wheel that you'd use with a tongue extension will need to have very easy turning (castoring) capability or you'll bend the tongue extension. The dolly wheel will also cause grief when you go over the "breakover" point of the ramp, where it transitions from level to inclined.

If you have an EZ-Loader, it's very easy to make/mount a tongue extension to the trailer that supports the weight easily without a dolly wheel.

There's not much to making one up. You need a couple pieces of flatbar, some pieces of 3/4" pipe for spacers and some stainless all-thread. The tongue extension itself is just a piece of 3" x 4" rectangular tubing about 12' long... with a trailer coupler mounted on the end. If you have a hacksaw and a 1/2" drill you could make your own easily or I imagine that most any fab shop could pop one out in an hour's time or so.

If you have an EZ loader and are interested, post back or PM me and I'll send you some photos.

Edited by - on

teamwike
1st Mate

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82 Posts

Response Posted - 01/18/2004 : 21:44:10

I have a long(20ft) piece of square pipe the has a ball on one end and a hitch on the other, but I don't plain on using it. I think the heavy line/web will work better with my ramp. I'm on the same page with you when it comes to problems using a rigid extension and a fixed wheel. (trailer builder added it without much thought about what was going to support the tongue)
Thank you for the information and pictures.

Background: Plan to use this setup to dry sail my 82 fin keel this year. The faculty where the boat is kept has an old seaplane ramp the opens nicely to the Chesapeake
Max

Edited by - on

teamwike
1st Mate

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82 Posts

Response Posted - 01/18/2004 : 21:51:00

Going to try this kind of setup.
http://www.sanjuan28-29.com/launch.html
Max

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 01/18/2004 : 22:17:31

I think you've got the proper approach figured for a fin keel...

Enjoyed the parting quote in the article you posted.

"One thing about launching a boat like this is to remember that people will flock to the area like yellow jackets and ants to a picnic, setting up lawn chairs and opening beers to watch the folly"

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2004 : 15:49:53

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ClamBeach

"One thing about launching a boat like this is to remember that people will flock to the area like yellow jackets and ants to a picnic, setting up lawn chairs and opening beers to watch the folly"
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yes, and I've often considered magnetic signs for each side of my tow vehicle stating:

Free and unsolicited advice not welcome.

Edited by - on

blueheaven
Deckhand

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USA
4 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2004 : 21:43:41

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by teamwike
 Question for you "trailers" : I am looking for a spare tire that can be lowered to help support the trailer tongue while launching with a hitch extender. I have seen in the past the term Launch Wheel on the forum. I believe this is what I am looking for. I have had no luck doing a web search. I would rather buy one than weld one up my self. You know you never want to reinvent the WHEEL( sorry for that).
Thank you,
Max in MD
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Edited by - blueheaven on 01/19/2004 21:46:11

Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 01/20/2004 : 19:25:50

Kewl....just make sure the ramp is long enough. Some ramps I've been on ended abrubtly......luckily there was always either a sign, or a local with knowledge. And, Lady Kay needs about half of what you need......Also, high tide is your friend in this regard.....

As far as gawkers......I rig away from the ramp. Mast up, everything ready, then quickly back up and splash. The lack of imminence is more than most adrenaline loaded thrill seekers can stand......they usually take a quick look and move on.

Oscar

Lady Kay 250 WB #618
Sunrise on the Neuse River...

Edited by - Oscar on 01/20/2004 19:27:21

tmhansen
Captain

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USA
397 Posts

Response Posted - 03/29/2004 : 15:29:30

Has anybody purchased and installed one of these bow wheels? I called trail rite and they make them to fit. I would have to drive to Santa Ana to have the part made. I can have it made locally but I would just as soon buy one already made.

Edited by - on

BJ Wagner
1st Mate

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USA
50 Posts

Response Posted - 03/29/2004 : 20:13:47

I have been using a caster wheel from the company listed below for about a year now to strap launch our 98 C250 wing keel with no problems.

While the rating is a little low, it really only travels about 25 feet in and then 25 feet back out. The 8" wheel gives me plenty of clearance while moving it back and forth from the storage area to the ramp and is still high enough to allow my swing up wheel jack to clear. I had custom u-bolts bent at a local spring shop to fit around the tounge for attachment.

http://www.hamiltoncaster.com/Parts/Default.asp?Page=PartInfo& PartID=R-7008-PR& ProductCode=HC& CommodityCode=PRCASTER

Edited by - BJ Wagner on 03/29/2004 20:55:49

Lowell
1st Mate

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USA
30 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2004 : 00:23:38

I bought a dual wheel swiveling caster from McMaster-Carr (www.mcmaster.com, part no.53795T21). I then fabricated a plate with a pipe attached that will fit over the trailer jack tube. The part from McMaster-Carr is very high quality. It has a electroplated zinc finish, grease zerks, pneumatic tires, and swivles very easliy. I use it to move my boat around with my garden tractor. The castor supports the weight so all my tracor has to do is push or pull. I like the pneumatic tires because they give me some floatation in deep gravel and soft grass. I don't need to use it to help launch but I think it would work very nicely for what you guys are doing.

Lowell
Dreamer 1987 WK/SR

Edited by - on

tmhansen
Captain

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USA
397 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2004 : 02:45:33

Brad that is an interesting idea. Do you ever have it contact the ground while you are towing on the highway, like in a driveway? The thing I like about the spare set up is it does several things at once, spare tire holder, spare wheel bearings, nose wheel.

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.