Loading onto pickup with flow rails???

[Newport Coaster]

I have searched as much of the internet as possible and have not been able to discern for sure. I am 70 years young and have a back to match my age. I always boat alone. I have a mid sized pickup truck, and a Newport Vessels "Dana" 9 foot inflatable.


Inflating and deflating this boat every time I make a trip to the water is not working out. Just getting the wooden floor boards installed can take an hour or more!


I have an excellent wheel system on the transom that allows me to hand launch or use a trailer tongue attachment on the launching ramps.


So, all that being said, I need to be able to (safely and efficiently) load the boat, inflated, with the floor boards in it, onto the bed rails of my pickup. I have a fairly stout ATV type winch mounted on the front of the bed. So, from the ground to the top if the bed is my dilemma.


Here's what I'm thinking about: mounting 2 "flow rails" onto dimensional lumber (2"x6" 8 footers) that would set on the ground and the top of the bed at that angle.


Please have a look at this type: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6LG8WY2...8CKZ391EZ3A64C


I'm not real computer savvy so I don't know if this link will work. If not, go to Amazon and search for: Galvanized Conveyor Flow Rail 5′ with Staggered Plastic Skate Wheels

Any and all advise will be greatly appreciated !!! Thanks

[Steve509926]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I think you would need flow rails longer than your boat to make it work otherwise the transom of your boat is going to ground as it's being winched onto the bed of your truck.

[Newport Coaster]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Hi and welcome to the forum.

I think you would need flow rails longer than your boat to make it work otherwise the transom of your boat is going to ground as it's being winched onto the bed of your truck.

Hi Steve,
Thanks for the reply and the welcome. The only consideration on length will be the resultant angle of incline. No real worries about the transom as I have the best set of transom wheels you can find. Oddly, they are sold by Newport Vessels as well. They're tall and very adjustable.


So, my thought is buy either 3 of these flow rails, cut one in half to make 2 - 7.5' ramps. Or, buy 4 of them to make 2 10 footers, with a hinge in the middle of them. The 10 foot ones, hinged, would store inside the truck bed rather than sticking out.


More thoughts?
Thanks

[jeffstevens763@g]

Sounds doable to me as long as the boat stays on track maybe side guide rollers to keep it on track

[Newport Coaster]

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

Sounds doable to me as long as the boat stays on track maybe side guide rollers to keep it on track

I thought about that but so much more work (and $$$) involved. Once the boat is headed up the ramps I should easily be able to nudge it, side to side, if needed.


Thanks!

[jeffstevens763@g]

Originally Posted by Newport Coaster

I thought about that but so much more work (and $$$) involved. Once the boat is headed up the ramps I should easily be able to nudge it, side to side, if needed.


Thanks!

Fair enough maybe a suck it and see