BX-24 too small for pulling boat (went in but wouldn't come out)

[TomC]

Try raising the trailer tongue a little. In the pictures, it appears as though your trying to pull the boat INTO the beach rather than up on it. Use caution, if you lift the tongue too much as the boat comes out of the water it may lift the tractor and wind up sitting on it's butt. A real good reason to tow with the drawbar in the rear of a bigger tractor.

 

[chucko]

1st don't start trimed all the wa down and you don't gun the boat yout just looking for a little push as soon as it starts to move you kill the boat motor and hit the trim at the same time.
I have done it many times with no problems. You run into this problem in salt water a lot when the tide is low the ramp is slick and if you have a 2wd truck you need a little "help" to get the back wheels beyond the slick part.


also if you look at his trailer it is a traler that is meant to power load a boat on

 

[Blagadan]

Wow, we're after reaching 7 pages with this topic. Who'd have thought towing a boat up the beach would be so problematic?

 

[KeithInSpace]

I admit that I haven't read the whole thread but has anybody suggested getting some chain so you can pull from a level spot off of the sand?

I don't think it has, Mr. Dangerdoc. Understand that we only deal with EXTREMELY complex solutions to simple problems...spending someone else's money where none needs to be spent.

Your solution would only be applicable to the discussion if we could force ourselves to mount wheels to the chain, make it out of titanium, or figure that we needed to connect it to a pulley in outer space.

But as it is, your solution is FAR too simple and, therefore, has no merit. Just like the CRAZY thought of using the Jeep already in the OP's possession, putting the wheels of the trailer on 2 x 12's so they don't sink, or using a proper boat launch. All ideas that are SOOOO easy that they haven't made the cut, either.

 

[mswlogo]

1st don't start trimed all the wa down and you don't gun the boat yout just looking for a little push as soon as it starts to move you kill the boat motor and hit the trim at the same time.
I have done it many times with no problems. You run into this problem in salt water a lot when the tide is low the ramp is slick and if you have a 2wd truck you need a little "help" to get the back wheels beyond the slick part.


also if you look at his trailer it is a traler that is meant to power load a boat on

I do power load the boat almost up to the winch. There is no trim it's a full inboard. The water pickup is not at the rear, it's about halfway up the boat. So have to be careful. Also risk of no load on prop may have issues to. BUt I think your idea does have merit.

Possibly just a couple boards under boat trailer wheel, as suggested, sounds like a good idea too.

 

[mswlogo]

I don't think it has, Mr. Dangerdoc. Understand that we only deal with EXTREMELY complex solutions to simple problems...spending someone else's money where none needs to be spent.

Your solution would only be applicable to the discussion if we could force ourselves to mount wheels to the chain, make it out of titanium, or figure that we needed to connect it to a pulley in outer space.

But as it is, your solution is FAR too simple and, therefore, has no merit. Just like the CRAZY thought of using the Jeep already in the OP's possession, putting the wheels of the trailer on 2 x 12's so they don't sink, or using a proper boat launch. All ideas that are SOOOO easy that they haven't made the cut, either.

If you read my post I'd like to downsize the Jeep when it's replaced (probably in 2 years). Paying for the gas it sucks down every day for just the ability of launching boat in and out once a year is stupid.

To save money and time and a REAL hassle using the boat launch, it's 10x easier to do it in my own yard. I don't even bother to register the trailer any more. And the cops are at the boat launches watching for unregistered trailers and boats. The launch is on the opposite side of the lake and it's several hour project assuming it's not jammed with everyone else getting in and out the same time of year. Using a real launch would also require keeping the jeep. BX-24 could probably handle the real launch.

I have a tool called a BX-24 and I'm learning how to use it and seeing if it can handle this task.

I appreciate all the suggestions.

 

[KeithInSpace]

Just poking fun. I know how expensive it is to maintain a boat, a car, and certainly a car JUST to tow the boat. Been busted for an out-of-inspection trailer at my boat launch already. Don't they have something better to do?

Really, getting the tires out of the sand will probably solve most of your problems. If it were me, I'd have some weighted 2 x 12's, maybe with some guiding rails on either side...dunno...and the chain idea is an easy way to turn the tractor around without getting the rear tires in the water.

If this was something you plan on doing over and over, I'd come up with something just a little more scientific...simple treads in the sand for the tractor to bite into, maybe. 100 possibilities come to mind. But getting the trailer tires onto something hard should be priority #1.

 

[California]

Ok, BTDT with a similar load. Bozo delivered a 300 lb water tank using a 14k equipment trailer. The trailer was so long he couldn't turn it around without sinking his truck in the mud, so I lifted it with the ball on my loader bucket and backed it down into the orchard. Then I discovered that trailer was so heavy I couldn't pull it uphill. Not so much traction as sheer weight. Even after turning the tractor around and getting ALL the weight on the drive wheels I couldn't move the stupid thing. Note the tractor's front tires off the ground.

After a little rasseling with it I figured out the solution, and it is applicable here:

The strongest pull you have available is the backhoe bucket's curl. Push the boat back a little to get its tires out of the pockets they have settled into. Turn the tractor around. (That bend in the bucket shows that your present methods are beyond the tractor's capacity). Put planks in front of all three trailer wheels so the first foot of movement doesn't put it back in its own sinkholes.

Then anchor the tractor to the ground. Roll the loader bucket full forward and dig it in. Set the backhoe feet. Use the backhoe's curl to move the boat one foot. Move the tractor forward, repeat. Keep planks under the trailer wheels, including the nosewheel, so they roll instead of plow.

It may not look elegant to pull it a foot at a time, but this is the proper application of the force you have available, without abusing your tractor.

 

[hazmat]

As a lifelong boater I'd say KISS and use the ramp on the other side of the lake. If you get rid of the jeep you could borrow/rent a truck 2x per year or heck even hire a towing service.

As an engineer I certainly appreciate figuring out a "different" way to do it (may not be better or easier ) One of the first rules of engineering is that almost always someone else has already solved the problem or at least got close (you know the whole standing on the shoulders of giants). In this case
If you are dead set on launching from your beach (w/o the jeep) the solution is a marine railway

naylor systems or DIY version. Could be permanent or "portable" - build it in sections, use your trailer (with a dolly setup for the coupler) as the "car".

You can use the BX to aid in the construction or to power the winch.

Dangerdoc's chain suggestion and KiethinSpaces 2x12 suggestion are both variations on the railway theme. Whatever you do, the boat is too heavy for the BX to handle relying on just the traction available in the sand.

The old timers used to have the railway go right up into the boathouse to store their yacht out of the water & under cover (this is before the electric lifts became popular).

 

[hazmat]

Here's another company with some prices 4,000# $2,190 6,000# $3,170 Certainly less expensive than sinking the BX

on the water designs

 

[plastikosmd]

once had a similar situation...you have a winch on the boat trailer. I pulled the boat on...locked boat in place with travel chain (hook i use when transporting boat..so it is not hanging on winch.) ran the cable over the top of the reel...and hooked to the vehicle..and winched it out...blocking as I went, let nose ride out on the trailer jack wheel. I guess for sand you would have to go scavange a heavy duty lid from the neighbors garbage can and use as a sled...

or get a bigger tractor!
good luck

 

[mswlogo]

Way way off track.

Can't put anything permanent in the water (nor do I want it's where we swim).

I want it on the trailer so I can wheel it to it's boat port for the winter.

I think folks are right in that I just need to get trailer to not sink in the sand as much, a couple simple boards might do it. Maybe even a tandem trailer.

Renting a truck ! talk about making it an all day project.

Currently I get it out and into boat port in 5 minutes with the Jeep. If it takes more than 30 minutes I keep the Jeep !!!

 

[TomC]

If you read my post I'd like to downsize the Jeep when it's replaced (probably in 2 years). Paying for the gas it sucks down every day for just the ability of launching boat in and out once a year is stupid.

To save money and time and a REAL hassle using the boat launch, it's 10x easier to do it in my own yard. I don't even bother to register the trailer any more. And the cops are at the boat launches watching for unregistered trailers and boats. The launch is on the opposite side of the lake and it's several hour project assuming it's not jammed with everyone else getting in and out the same time of year. Using a real launch would also require keeping the jeep. BX-24 could probably handle the real launch.

I have a tool called a BX-24 and I'm learning how to use it and seeing if it can handle this task.

I appreciate all the suggestions.

Am I reading this correctly? Your goal is to save money and time and hassle by not using the local boat launch? You save what on trailer registration? In Pa. it's $12. You say it's a several hour project twice a year. Get Real! You've already trashed your FEL bucket and before your done, you'll either screw up the trailer or the boat. So you tried and it's a no go. Accept it and move on; or, as others have suggested invest $$$$$ and make your own ramp. Beware, even with a good ramp, the size of that boat is likely to pull your little tractor into the drink, then you'll have a really big anchor for your boat. Seriously, you need to rethink your position on this and don't trash your tractor or boat trying to do something that neither (in combination) was meant to do.

 

[alchemysa]

Am I reading this correctly? Your goal is to save money and time and hassle by not using the local boat launch? You save what on trailer registration? In Pa. it's $12. You say it's a several hour project twice a year. Get Real! You've already trashed your FEL bucket and before your done, you'll either screw up the trailer or the boat. So you tried and it's a no go. Accept it and move on; or, as others have suggested invest $$$$$ and make your own ramp. Beware, even with a good ramp, the size of that boat is likely to pull your little tractor into the drink, then you'll have a really big anchor for your boat. Seriously, you need to rethink your position on this and don't trash your tractor or boat trying to do something that neither (in combination) was meant to do.

Thats a bit harsh. Its perfectly reasonable that he'd want to avoid the hassle and expense of the boat ramp, and launch from his front yard.

 

[Reg]

Yes, it is too small.
Too LIGHT !
You MIGHT get it out by kedging with the hoe.
It gets tougher the farther up the beach you get as more boat weight gets onto the trailer wheels and they have to "push more wet sand".
Right up until the trailer wheels get onto dry sand.

If that is an 18 ft or so boat you probably need a 4,000 lb 4wd tractor with R4s or Ags; plus ~1200 lb loader, maybe 1000 of fill in the rear tires and an attachment on the back - say 6800 total.
Then you'll get some beach compaction, which should make it easier.

 

[TomC]

Thats a bit harsh. Its perfectly reasonable that he'd want to avoid the hassle and expense of the boat ramp, and launch from his front yard.

Reasonable? He's already spent $150+ on a receiver hitch that's destroyed his $400+ bucket. If he continues, he may well mess up an expensive boat and further damage an expensive tractor trying to do something that the tractor was not meant to do. Where's the reason in that? The tow rating on that tractor is probably somewhere around 2000 #'s on dry level land using the drawbar on the rear. There's a reason why they hitch up mules from the back end; and, there's a reason why the big tires are on the back of a tractor. So, keep the Jeep!

 

[alchemysa]

destroyed his $400+ bucket.

Destroyed his bucket? C'mon, You're the one who needs to get real.

And the slope in the beach doesn't look that steep. Unless I'm mistaken the chances of turning the tractor into a boat anchor are pretty remote.

(I do agree he's trying to do it the wrong way around)

 

[dangerdoc]

I don't think it has, Mr. Dangerdoc. Understand that we only deal with EXTREMELY complex solutions to simple problems...spending someone else's money where none needs to be spent.

Your solution would only be applicable to the discussion if we could force ourselves to mount wheels to the chain, make it out of titanium, or figure that we needed to connect it to a pulley in outer space.

But as it is, your solution is FAR too simple and, therefore, has no merit. Just like the CRAZY thought of using the Jeep already in the OP's possession, putting the wheels of the trailer on 2 x 12's so they don't sink, or using a proper boat launch. All ideas that are SOOOO easy that they haven't made the cut, either.

I guess using a come along attached to one of the trees would be out of the question?

 

[mswlogo]

Destroyed his bucket? C'mon, You're the one who needs to get real.

And the slope in the beach doesn't look that steep. Unless I'm mistaken the chances of turning the tractor into a boat anchor are pretty remote.

(I do agree he's trying to do it the wrong way around)

Correct, it's not that steep at all.

Correct again, the bucket is fine.

Like I said a zillion times only 2 feet earlier it pulled out fine. Sand just got soft enough when it was in launch position.

The texture of sand changes quite a bit as you appraoch the water. Hard packed, soft fluffy thick and dry, wet packed, then under water soft and loose.

Anyone of a half a dozen suggestions here will probably work. I just need to decide which is safest for boat and tractor and reasonably cheap.

The public boat launch requires the Jeep. If I keep the Jeep I don't the boat launch. Geesh. I suppose the next suggestion will be to buy 7000lb trailer for the BX-24 and tow it over to the boat ramp with a suburban.

 

[Berniep]

I like the idea of launching from your yard. I have used the boat engine to help boost the vehicle up the ramp many times but it will suck whatever is on the bottom through the prop( damaged a few props due to rocks/bricks even on concrete ramps). I think the chain idea would be the simplest and cheapest to try, you would also need some sort of skid or big wheeled dolly for the tongue.