[Bruce3966]

I really think I am going to need a extension to my trailer tongue being that I am hauling and launching it with my Jeep Wrangler (short vehicle). I know the marina that I am keeping it at in a slip has pretty deep launch pads but I still think I am going to need one. The ones listed online are outrageous in pricing. This is so simple. It would just be an extension to launch and not while pulling the boat on the roads.

I was just thinking about going to the local welding company and asking them to just take a 2" square pipe about 4 feet long that would just fit in my Jeep receiver and then put a ball at the other end. The tongue weight on the 165 is light enough for me to lift it with one hand (empty anyway) so It's not that heavy.

Thoughts or anybody do this or something else cheap? I have searched online for a day for ideas but haven't found any really good ones.

 

[denverd0n]

Sounds like a plan to me. In fact, I've done something similar before.

(Although, I have a drill press, so I just bought a cheap piece of scrap 2" tubing and did it myself.)

 

[krisscross]

A lot of ramps are quite steep and you will likely not need an extension, even with a short vehicle. I get in the water deep enough so that my tail pipe is above water. The extensions rust and can be a PITA to deploy. And if you keep them extended all the time while on the road they can be hazardous, leading to twisting of the frame. I would check first on the launch site to see if I really need it.

 

[SHNOOL]

Kriss has you covered, you likely won't need the extension for the P165. You WILL be rolling down to your muffler bubbles though (likely)...

First year I had the Capri 25, I managed to launch it an retrieve it with no extension, trailer still attached to the bumper. There was however water lapping at the back doors of the truck.

I've done this stuff before... I strap launched my Capri 25.

 

[krisscross]

I've done this stuff before... I strap launched my Capri 25.

You can launch boats that way, but you can't retrieve them.

 

[gptyk]

You can immerse a Jeep quite a ways. I've been crossing creeks where my feet were in water, it was over the door sills. Just back it up and launch. I'd have it in 4hi once the ramp is wet and you're straight so you've got traction if the ramp is slippery. No 4wd if it's not slippery at all.

(This advice significantly not optimal if it's salt water)

 

[mike dryver]

Just watch out for your axle vents if you have any. They will allow water into the axle, not good for longevity!!!!!! If you have a dual axle trailer it should be fine, but remember when you extend you change the leverage. It could take your front wheels off the ground with that length, not even talking how much stress your putting on the receiver, and frame!!!!!!

 

[aloof]

We used to launch *and retreive* a 33 foot keel boat, 6 foot draft, using not especially steep ramps. The trailer would go completely underwater ... way in. It's a little complex but very doable.

First the trailer tongue was fitted with a bracket to accept the spare tire at a nice height as the silly little caster that trailers have is not up to the task and the spare tire trick makes the trailer go in a straight line. The trailer is backed down to the waters edge, blocked, the truck unhitched and driven a hundred feet up[ the ramp. A long line tied between, pulled up a bit, lowered onto the spare tire, unchecked, and eased into the water until the boat floats off.

Not something one in going to want to do every day. not easy too do singlehanded. The trailer bed had some extra guides to help center the keel as the trailer raised up on retrieval.

Easy!

I've seen rigid extensions used as well. They had a two-wheeled dolly under the trailer end to take the load off the silly trailer caster.

 

[gptyk]

Just watch out for your axle vents if you have any. They will allow water into the axle, not good for longevity!!!!!!

Wrangler axle vents are raised to around the height of the steering wheel. They're run way up high in the engine compartment. Somebody was thinkin when they made Jeeps.

 

[SHNOOL]

Slight thread hijack.. by me... but funniest boat ramp event ever for me was while I was a kid, we were watching the local Lake Hickory boat ramp.

Guy with Jeep Wrangler shows up pulling a 20 foot tournament series Bass Boat (you know the type, with a V6 motor bigger than the Jeep, some 300 HP). He backs the boat down immediately upon arrival... straight down the ramp, stops on the ramp realizes he has to release the straps... Must have left it running and used his park brake. He didn't get a step out of the Jeep, and the boat dragged the Jeep down the ramp... like a comedy act. When the Jeeps rears hit the water it moved like it was on ice... all the way down and into the water until all you could see was the Jeeps CB antenna. Boat still attached to the trailer, and floating. Was entertainment that kept on giving.. between them swimming to get to the boat, to then try to unstrap it... then motor it back to the dock, then the next hour was watching these geniuses trying to get the Jeep out. They DID get it out, not sure if he was ever able to start it... I gave up after watching for about 4 hours.

 

[capt jgwinks]

Slight thread hijack.. by me... but funniest boat ramp event ever for me was while I was a kid, we were watching the local Lake Hickory boat ramp.

Guy with Jeep Wrangler shows up pulling a 20 foot tournament series Bass Boat (you know the type, with a V6 motor bigger than the Jeep, some 300 HP). He backs the boat down immediately upon arrival... straight down the ramp, stops on the ramp realizes he has to release the straps... Must have left it running and used his park brake. He didn't get a step out of the Jeep, and the boat dragged the Jeep down the ramp... like a comedy act. When the Jeeps rears hit the water it moved like it was on ice... all the way down and into the water until all you could see was the Jeeps CB antenna. Boat still attached to the trailer, and floating. Was entertainment that kept on giving.. between them swimming to get to the boat, to then try to unstrap it... then motor it back to the dock, then the next hour was watching these geniuses trying to get the Jeep out. They DID get it out, not sure if he was ever able to start it... I gave up after watching for about 4 hours.

I once had a slip next to a public launch ramp. Talk about entertainment! I hated to go sailing and miss all the fun at the ramp. You could sell tickets to that kind of show!

Back on topic now, I built an extension on one of my trailers, was just a three foot length of 2 1/4 or 2 1/2" square tube, slide fit over the 10 foot x 2" extension. Welded the bigger tube to the trailer frame and drilled two holes through for pins to hold the extension in each position. I put a second hitch coupler on the extension so that the extension was not used on the highway, but I suppose it was strong enough to use for that too. I did tow the trailer once with it extended, I was transporting a mast the was too long for the trailer without the extension.

 

[SHNOOL]

You know this is way overkill for a p165, but I liked the setup that Triad created for larger trailerables to allow you to "float off." It involved a set of landing gear dolly wheels, and a welded, but vertically rotating square tube receiver mount on the trailer. The 24' extension sits locked on the trailer when not launching but clips in place to add about 10-15' of tongue when you launch. Maybe you can get ideas from their setup, I dunno. Since your P165 doesn't have dual axles not sure how much of this you can do, or maybe you can... the question would be how "tongue heavy" the boat is on the trailer. This again ONLY if you really require it (my bet is you won't). Below is one of Triads pictures of a Catalina 28 on one of their heavy duty trailers, with the float off package. Yeah it's extreme, I removed their logo, and number so this doesn't become an advertisement (I do think most reputable trailer manufacturers could replicate this)... But I thought it was valuable for ideas on how to best setup yours. You can see in my prior picture I bought square channel, bolted it to the frame of the trailer, and used 2 heavy duty pneumatic casters, 8" for my "dolly" for launching my keelboat. I'm just throwing out ideas here.

 

[SHNOOL]

You can launch boats that way, but you can't retrieve them.

Actually I think I lied, I do believe that picture was from haul out... Given the fall foliage, I'd bet it was haul out, not launch.

 

[denverd0n]

You can launch boats that way, but you can't retrieve them.

You can, but you might have to go swimming!

 

[Bruce3966]

I'll just wait and see if I need one I guess. If I do I can strap launch it and then have one built over the summer since I'll keep the 165 in a slip for the summer.

 

[DonScribner]

I've seen 2X2X3/16 steel tube sliding in brackets under the traveling tongue. It has coupler and a pin that passes thru a hole at the stored position and at the working position. So,
1) stop the boat and set up.
2) chock the wheels, pop the hitch and reposition in the extension coupler.
3) pull the pin and drive the Jeep forward to the working length and replace the pin.
Now you have a wick'd long tongue that works pissah!

Cost is about $200 unless you have a buddy with a metal shop and scraps. Then it's Papa John's and a six of long necks.

 

[krisscross]

Actually I think I lied, I do believe that picture was from haul out... Given the fall foliage, I'd bet it was haul out, not launch.

Hat's off to you, dude.
Good trailer for these larger boats is very valuable. Like yours, with 2 axles, front wheel, and nice support for the boat that helps you find the spot where the boat has to sit. And it helps to have a long, smooth ramp with a steep grade. I have experienced a lot of close calls with my 20 foot Merit and a single axle trailer on various sketchy ramps over the years. One of these days I'm going to get me a proper boat that needs no trailer.

 

[L.A. Sail]

If you upsize the square tube (like a sleeve), you can drill holes and use through bolts eliminating the need for a welder and having the advantage of going back to regular size.