Here's a challange to all you.......

[MeMe]

....would-be engineers. Although I've received a little advice on this matter already from a trusted forum member, I can not help myself but open this up for discussion and advice, furthermore, I'm sure it will prompt some decent jibes.

Here's the problem / question.

I wish to launch and recover my boat without getting the chassis of my jeep too wet whilst also alleviating the fear of getting stuck in the sand. So far the only idea I can come up with (stolen to be honest) is to extend the distance from the vehicle to the trailer by way of a 15ft (ish) extension bar (see picture).

Unfortunately I'm informed that by simply placing this bar between the two I will create a consatina effect and simply sandwich the bar between the boat and trailer whilst possibly causing damage due to the forces created through the leverage of the bar, just as one might purposefully manufacture force with a pipe on the end of a spanner to loosen a nut and bolt - are you with me so far ?

Anyway - any ideas ?

[TQBoater]

I think you will find the end connecting to the trailer will need to be a fixed solid connection.

Another ball into a scocket won't work as you then have 2 moving joints between you and the trailer which will make it uncontrolable.

Can you not mount the bar to the trailer frame somewhere ?

[Jono]

Mmm.... interesting concept... you may just find it impossible to reverse with two pivot points. However I have seen several alternatives that make a rigid joint on the trailer end, which seemed like a practical idea to me. It was a ball hitch with a claw arrangement that fitted over the drawbar of the trailer allowing vertical movement (to a degree) but prevented lateral movement. I'm sure it was on this forum somewhere..... alternatively.. dump the 4X4 and buy a tractor.. I hear they’re all the rage on the Llyn peninsular..

[fred bolton]

Graeme I think you are approaching this from the wrong angle the solution is simple see this link http://www.jmgphotolibrary.co.uk/misc/M1515.htm

[MeMe]

Originally Posted by MeMe

I'm sure it will prompt some decent jibes.

.....rely on you Fred. Some how I don't think the Warren would approve, do you ?

[Matt]

I prefer the idea of the extended draw bar being rigid so that the nose weight is still taken by the tow vehicle. Otherwise you're relying on the jockey wheel, and they're pants in anything soft.

If you are keen for the jockey wheel to take the load, but have it fixed horizontally, you can still use the ball hitch, but also have a pair of rigging wires running from some point along the extended bar back to a wide point each side on the trailer (ie just in front of the wheels perhaps). Ya could go as far as to use a dinghy rig tensioner to tension the wires after connecting to hold the whole lot firm. The angles wouldn't be ideal, but it should possible to get to work.

[Scary Des]

The fixed extended drawbar idea is used by some on the slip at Beaulieu and it does seem to work, but I think you would want to increase the cross section of the drawbar because it is more likely to bend the longer it gets. Des

[fred bolton]

Doh didn't fink of dat anyway I thought you posh gits on the Warren had aMan with a tractor to do your bidd ing

[MeMe]

...really names that envoke trust ?

The wire tensioning idea sounds good, I'll give it some thought as I was contemplating an A Frame type set up but that would have just been a ball ache and as Jono pointed out I may as well just buy a tractor.

[Matt]

You're right of course, I wouldn't trust anything that I say.