Moving a large boat trailer?

[ccsial]

And then there is landing the boat at the boat launch, they say more divorces start at the boat landing than anyplace!

I remember a couple that when he finally got the boat on the trailer he drove off and left his wife standing there. I don't imagine that ended well. I always move my trailers with the end loader, much better than the rear hitch. Our boat stays at the marina now since it is too big to tow. I don't miss boat ramps.

 

[mcfarmall]

Use the BX23 to remove the ugly pillars FIRST and then back it in with the truck. If you can't thread a needle backing up the trailer, then you need more practice!

 

[aczlan]

I built one of these, it's nice to be able to lift tongues up an down.

We have one of those as well. The nice thing about a three-point trailer mover like that is that it pushes the pivot for the tongue of the trailer back a couple of feet from where it would be if you attached to the back of the tractor.
That means that it moves more for a given movement of the front wheels and it lets you turn sharper, perhaps even to 90° with a boat trailer.

Aaron Z

 

[LD48750]

Without question I have learned how much easier it is to move a trailer around using a FRONT mounted hitch rather then anything rear mounted.
You can get a 2" receiver for your truck and/or your tractor and thread a needle with it or run a slalom course up or down hill between buildings.
It took me nearly 60 years of trailering to find this out & can't recommend it enough.
It will cost you VERY little to at least try it.

 

[Ford850]

Use your tractor to cut down the undergrowth along the road, across from the drive (that has grown in since your photo). That looks like plenty of room to swing in a truck and trailer especially if the ROW is clear across the road. What's the distance between the pillars?

 

[Hanshans]

I have a 24' boat and moved it around quite a few times with my old bx2360 with no problems. Pick up an attachment for the 3 point hitch with the 2 inch receiver (I think Titan sells them on eBay) and you should have no problem.

 

[RaydaKub]

I'd use whatever is convenient. The picture doesn't look that bad to me to use the truck.
As for taking it slow with the tractor, you're talking about a BX here. Flat out they do between 7 and 8.5 mph forward, reverse is a fraction of that. Slow is the only option here. If it lifts it on the 3ph, I bet you have no problem.

 

[MossRoad]

Without question I have learned how much easier it is to move a trailer around using a FRONT mounted hitch rather then anything rear mounted.
You can get a 2" receiver for your truck and/or your tractor and thread a needle with it or run a slalom course up or down hill between buildings.
It took me nearly 60 years of trailering to find this out & can't recommend it enough.
It will cost you VERY little to at least try it.

THIS! :thumbsup:

Put a hitch on the front of your truck. You'd be amazed how easy it is to maneuver a trailer when you're facing it. Also, with the truck's steering wheels so much closer to the trailer hitch and pivot point, it gives you a lot more maneuverability.

 

[aczlan]

I have moved trailers around on the front (RTV front hitch), on the rear hitch and on a 3 point trailer mover.
Of the three, I prefer the trailer mover for haywagons as the RTV isn't heavy enough to push around a loaded haywagon, it just spins its tires (when trying to make it turn into the shop) and the trailer mover works great on the back.

Aaron Z

 

[Fallon]

I really dont use my 3pt trailer mover now, or even with my old L3200. I got pallet forks with a shank sized hole pre-drilled in the tip. Way easier to grab my SSQA forks than mess with the 3pt (even with TnT & a Quick Hitch). Even with longish forks way out there I had no issues with 4-5k lbs trailers on the L3200. Even less of an issue on the L4060.

The offset from the ball being on one fork off to one side is somewhere between s mild annoyance & a benefit being able to see around the trailer a bit.

It can put s good load on the front axle, especially on a smaller machine. Lifting the rear can be extremely dangerous. A 3pt trailer mover can be just as bad if the tongue of the trailer bounces or ends up with negative weight the 3pt will lift. If the force is off center at all that can tell the machine as well. Not usually a concern on flat ground, but if you arent careful it can get the best of you.

All things considered I'd take a slow tractor over a truck for maneuvering a trailer short tight distances any day. As long as I wasnt pushing lift capacities to much.