Trailer loading a R5

[Tuscany]

Liquid has probably had a stressful day, considering the markets and the recent unrest...

[liquid]

Love it when spell check totally changes your sentences..

1998 flat bottom. thing was awesome. Super light. You could throw your weight around on it and it would launch on regular wakes. Awesome.

I think you're in the wrong thread with this post liquid. You're moving too fast thru these!

You caught that fast, I put it in it's proper place

[liquid]

Liquid has probably had a stressful day, considering the markets and the recent unrest...

remember we buy individual equities - unrest has benefited our portfolio's... Defense!

[AsLan7]

I don't think I could ever trust myself to load or unload.... on second thought, yeah I could if I had to..
Lots of current in the Buffalo area ramps, and if you are not careful, you can get into a heap-a-trouble. Just last time in, I had it sideways right behind my trailer. One of our friends pushed the stern off the dock too hard as we were untying to load. Then the current caught me and I was the star of the comedy show for about 45 seconds..
That was fun..
Once I get in within the guide posts, I'm out of potential trouble

That would be funny watching that, T. We have all had our moments that's for sure. Hopefully forgiving ones that help us to grow from our mistakes.

With that being said, if it is on a weekday and very slow, I'll take our boat to the ramp and launch and retrieve solo. It's when it's busy that this "lone ranger" launch/retrieve will become an issue. You'll certainly forget something as everyone glares at you because you are now "that guy". Two person if busy. Solo is ok if not busy please.

....Cobalt members are too classy to do this-- or even worse--be the screamer out there yellin' at your wife and kids. Talk about scarin' folks from ever wanting to go into this wonderful boatin' past-time. Seen that more than once over the years.

The best advice I can give is to go out when it's not busy and practice!

With our first boat, after my wife and I took the USCG boating course, we went to an empty parking lot and practiced driving our new trailer carrying a new sweet 16 Donzi. Forward and Reverse. Steering. Wide turns. Learning how to back up, maneuver, etc.

Then we would go to the ramp on SLOW days and practice the checklist (which we came up with) so we did it the same way every time all the time. Everyone is on the same page with how to launch as we brought our kids into the routine. You will GREATLY reduce your chance of making mistakes or heaven forbid, hurt someone else or something else.

The practice pays off--again, so you are not "that guy"....or worse yet..that "drunk guy". (we don't drink). Lots of wisdom on this site. Feel free to add your advice folks so you can launch and retrieve safely even under strenuous weather conditions or worse yet--with hecklers ready to flame you if you make a mistake.:

.

[Bfun220]

One of the most frequent mistakes I see is backing the trailer too far in. Bow just touching bunks/rollers and stern still floating. Then they pull up the ramp and notice thier boat isn't straight. So they back in again and again until the boat is straight. Kind of fun to watch for a few minutes.

[Big Block Power]

One of the most frequent mistakes I see is backing the trailer too far in. Bow just touching bunks/rollers and stern still floating. Then they pull up the ramp and notice thier boat isn't straight. So they back in again and again until the boat is straight. Kind of fun to watch for a few minutes.

Been there done that.

[AsLan7]

One of the most frequent mistakes I see is backing the trailer too far in. Bow just touching bunks/rollers and stern still floating. Then they pull up the ramp and notice thier boat isn't straight. So they back in again and again until the boat is straight. Kind of fun to watch for a few minutes.

You can see the green boat (around 2:20 in the vid) is in that situation as the back of their boat is floating around because the trailer in in too deeeeeeeeeeep.

[Alaskabound]

Very interesting topic, comforting that all have issues. One of our "tests" after we pull up is the distance between the side of the hull and the carpet area of the fenders. The left side is usually about an inch, right side slightly less. Can't seem to ever get it perfect. I agree with Aslan & liquid that it's good to be efficient. That said, if you get flustered or hurried, that's when costly mistakes happen. I do get frustrated with the people Aslan called "u planets". I'm wondering if they're going to wax it before they pull up the ramp.

We also boat during the week, like Tuscany. Don't hate us cause we're retired!

Since the subject of wheel bearings came up, I have a question. Have always struggled with how much to grease bearings, etc. My new Heritage trailer came with the "vault" oil bath bearings that supposedly require no maintenance. Anybody had experience with these? Almost seems too good to be true.

Dub

[liquid]

Very interesting topic, comforting that all have issues. One of our "tests" after we pull up is the distance between the side of the hull and the carpet area of the fenders. The left side is usually about an inch, right side slightly less. Can't seem to ever get it perfect. I agree with Aslan & liquid that it's good to be efficient. That said, if you get flustered or hurried, that's when costly mistakes happen. I do get frustrated with the people Aslan called "u planets". I'm wondering if they're going to wax it before they pull up the ramp.

We also boat during the week, like Tuscany. Don't hate us cause we're retired!

Since the subject of wheel bearings came up, I have a question. Have always struggled with how much to grease bearings, etc. My new Heritage trailer came with the "vault" oil bath bearings that supposedly require no maintenance. Anybody had experience with these? Almost seems too good to be true.

Dub

Wax it on the ramp

I have not had any experience with those. I'm curious though.

[ajcampen]

Very interesting topic, comforting that all have issues. One of our "tests" after we pull up is the distance between the side of the hull and the carpet area of the fenders. The left side is usually about an inch, right side slightly less. Can't seem to ever get it perfect. I agree with Aslan & liquid that it's good to be efficient. That said, if you get flustered or hurried, that's when costly mistakes happen. I do get frustrated with the people Aslan called "u planets". I'm wondering if they're going to wax it before they pull up the ramp.

We also boat during the week, like Tuscany. Don't hate us cause we're retired!

Since the subject of wheel bearings came up, I have a question. Have always struggled with how much to grease bearings, etc. My new Heritage trailer came with the "vault" oil bath bearings that supposedly require no maintenance. Anybody had experience with these? Almost seems too good to be true.

Dub

My just purchased boatmate trailer has the vault also. Interested to hear if people have to do anything.

Boatmate did tell me that every 3 years I need to bleed my break fluid and replace b/c the fluid can get water on it. I believe the fluid in mine is called DOT3

[Big Block Power]

If there oil bath bearing don't grease them. They are like a semi. Always in oil. The seals can go bad and after time I would change the lube in them.It can break down. I've never had a trailer with them. They made another trailer axle that you can pump grease in them and it guess right into the bearings great set up and the extra is supposed to weep out s hole the back. Nice set up too.

[Alaskabound]

I had a fifth wheel with hubs like that but still managed to over grease them. I need something idiot proof so maybe this will work. Dealer said the vault bearings are under 3-6 lbs of pressure. It is a grease when cold but as soon as you drive, it liquifies. Sounds like something liquid needs

Dub

[Tuscany]

After another load, I'm closer to the perfect spot to stop the trailer in the water. For my trailer, the center target bunks need to be submerged right up to the front where the most forward portion of the boards are peaking out of the water. Power in and I'm there...
The R series or maybe all Cobalt's in general seem to be heavy in the front, which for me at least, requires my trailer to go in deep.

Also, after a slight vertical bunk adjustment to the forward part on the inside rear bunk, it doesn't matter if my boat comes out of the water and loads slightly off center at the rear due to current, it now settles in and perfectly centers itself within the first mile out on the road.

[AsLan7]

"For my trailer, the center target bunks need to be submerged right up to the front where the most forward portion of the boards are peaking out of the water. "

.
Hey T, great to hear we are exactly the same!

That is certainly deeper than most trailers we have owned in the past. Past trailers we have owned were submerged just to the forward tip of the wheel-well. This current trail-rite trailer cradling our 263 needs to be deeper.

I always get a kick visiting my folks at the eastern shore. At their ramps, most folks only back down to the point where their trailer wheel bearings are just above the water so that the salt water won't invade.

I still remember when this vid came out. He is in deep too. Great paint job though!

.

[Southernboatman]

Welcome from South AL Jeff! However I have no loading/trailering help to add at this time. Well maybe one thing...with another boat, after I learned how to power on well only cranked the last inch or 2 ever again. Even pushed the truck out with the boat at a particularly steep ramp. But now no trailering lately. I'm no help. Oh don't forget to tighten that hitch onto that ball. Sounds like a joke but....