Reversing up a steep incline

[Bittentobuggery]

We've put an offer in today for a house that pretty much works for us in all areas, except one. The house is situated at the top of a cul-de-sac and it has a carport that would offer some protection from the sun but there is a very steep incline to get to it.

The boat & trailer weigh 1,850 kgs and I have a 3 litre diesel Navarra for towing. Without disconnecting the brakes, is there any way to stop the wheels locking up ? The clutch would take an awful hammering as it is.

Other potential problems are the possibility of the trailer grounding out at the bottom and top of the incline and I am also concerned as I would need to reverse partially across the slope that I might lose the boat off the trailer.

I was thinking that I could launch the boat and have a dry run with an empty trailer but storage is looking a distinct possibility.

Anybody got any experience in this area ? Thanks in advance.

[Jeff Hutcheon]

Originally Posted by Bittentobuggery

We've put an offer in today for a house that pretty much works for us in all areas, except one. The house is situated at the top of a cul-de-sac and it has a carport that would offer some protection from the sun but there is a very steep incline to get to it.

The boat & trailer weigh 1,850 kgs and I have a 3 litre diesel Navarra for towing. Without disconnecting the brakes, is there any way to stop the wheels locking up ? The clutch would take an awful hammering as it is.

Other potential problems are the possibility of the trailer grounding out at the bottom and top of the incline and I am also concerned as I would need to reverse partially across the slope that I might lose the boat off the trailer.

I was thinking that I could launch the boat and have a dry run with an empty trailer but storage is looking a distinct possibility.

Anybody got any experience in this area ? Thanks in advance.

I think your main problem is grounding, the others you can get around.

[Andy B]

electric winch

[rayfish2]

i use a mr shifta 2, made to move caravans and boats i use mine to push and turn round a corner on an incline, find a stockist near you and ask for demo, if it works buy second hand it worked for me, no more broken backs, and shouting at the wife from the drivers seat. hope this is an option.

[Nos4r2]

Different house

[Jeff Hutcheon]

Originally Posted by rayfish2

i use a mr shifta 2, made to move caravans and boats i use mine to push and turn round a corner on an incline, find a stockist near you and ask for demo, if it works buy second hand it worked for me, no more broken backs, and shouting at the wife from the drivers seat. hope this is an option.

still depends on the approach angle even with a mover?

[rayfish2]

kato crane hire it is then !!!!!

[ChristopherA]

Put a tow ball on the front of the motor and push it up.

[Trailer Guy]

I agree with the above - stick a towball and that'll negate your clutch problem. You can buy a front fit towbar, with a detachable neck, for a Navara, for around £160.

Your boat won't move on your trailer if it's strapped down correctly - promise!

If you mount the towball on a plate, to bring it up high enough, you might not ground it either.

To stop the brakes coming on you could get a collar made up, to fit between the coupling head and body, this would stop the drawbar compressing and actuating the brakes.

[mick]

Put it in low box it will just creep up then no need to ride clutch

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by Trailer Guy

If you mount the towball on a plate, to bring it up high enough, you might not ground it either.

Surely you meant to lower the hitch to bring the back end of the trailer up ?

[jyasaki]

He may have problems with the back of the trailer dragging, but more likely the tongue will hit as the tow vehicle drops below the level of the trailer wheels (from the description, as he's leaving the garage.) It's more likely, as the length from wheels to tongue is longer than wheels to tail, so the angle exaggerates the difference. Depends on the rig configuration, though.


jky

[Bittentobuggery]

Thanks for the excellent suggestions (except Nos , she's set her heart on it)

Will try the dry run with an empty trailer to look at the grounding aspect and if that can be overcome, I'll get a front towbar fitted (never occurred to me )

[wellhouse]

Originally Posted by rayfish2

i use a mr shifta 2, made to move caravans and boats i use mine to push and turn round a corner on an incline, find a stockist near you and ask for demo, if it works buy second hand it worked for me, no more broken backs, and shouting at the wife from the drivers seat. hope this is an option.

been thinking about one of these for mine. Do you think it would move a 6.2m rib on a trailer (about 1300-1400kgs) up a slope in reverse? Here's a picture of the slope outside the gate. Due to the overall length of the car and trailer, it's very awkward reversing into the gateway as the drive width outside the gate isn't quite enough. I have to pull over to the garage on the other side of the gate/drive and wiggle around until i can get it lined up in reverse. What do you think? (you can see the slope disappearing off to the right)

http://i634.photobucket.com/albums/u...0/IMG_0096.jpg

[chewy]

I was expecting quite a steep slope, it should easily get your trailer up in reverse either in low or high box.
Your biggest problem will probably be the grounding out, I wouldn't be worried about the Navara.

[Bittentobuggery]

Oi, don't hijack my slope.

This is my slope. Like waves the photograph flattens it out quite a bit

[wellhouse]

Originally Posted by Bittentobuggery

Oi, don't hijack my slope.

This is my slope. Like waves the photograph flattens it out quite a bit

nice slope (about the same angle as mine)

[Jeff Hutcheon]

Nice house/slope, you should'nt have a great problem with that, drop plate and low gear as said by fellow members

[9D280]

I have the opposite problem - steep slope down to the garage, then the garage floor sloping towards the door to presumably loose any water ingress. The tail end of my trailer chassis is 0.25" above the floor as the wheel hits the drain at the door and the hitch on the car. At the top, the [pavem,ent also slopes the opposite way to the driveway, so I have a "peak" to get it over.

Bottom line is these things are designed for cars, which should mean that grounding probably won't be an issue - I had to put 10" road wheels on my trailer to allow the frame through the garage door. Closely followed by having to move the spare wheel (which had been fitted exactly halfwaty between hitch & axle) to stop it grounding every time, and moving the midle rollers outboard (located exaxly in line with the spare!) so they could go up a bit & reduce the "drop" below the chassis. Having moved the guibbins, I have plenty of clearance on that hump - even with the smaller dia road wheels.

Your biggest problem might be smacking the top of the A- frame off the car port roof inches before the trailer wheels go over the "hump".......


Regarding keeping the brakes off if they are properly adjusted as long as you don't "shunt" the hitch (e.g bouncing over your non-existant kerb) they should reverse up the hill OK. If you find something that triggers the brakes, (the kerb is a good example) the trick is to attack it at speed to give the trailer a bit of momentum and let the trailer get itself over the bump / hole.

[Trailer Guy]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

Surely you meant to lower the hitch to bring the back end of the trailer up ?

Yes sir, if it's the back that's grounding. I wasn't sure if it was the front of the trailer or the back.