Hitch extension

usafaviator

Ive been searching the web with no success. I am looking for a hitch that i can extend when i launch and recover my boat then for hwy trailering move it back to the standard length. Reason being is I have a short box bed and the ramp that i use is not very deep at all and ive noticed i have to get the truck into the water just to get the boat off the trailer in almost full reverse. Yes it has been up to the exhaust pipe witch makes me a little uncomfortable.  Any thoughts on this?  A simple hitch that is extended, chock the trailer remove the lock pull forward to the extended lock hole launch then recover then move it back to the standard length to haul.  Does such a thing exist?  If not.  Why not?

joe

Cableguy Greg

Do you mean something like this?
http://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Accessories/Hidden-Hitch/HE18.html

Cableguy Greg

That would get you back another 18" or so, but you would have to place it and remove it each time you are at the ramp. It looks like etrailer has some other bars, but you would have to modify the longer ones.

usafaviator

Kind of greg more along the lines something like this. I guess ball mount is the correct nomenclature for the hardware.  This one by curt is all that i can find and its only a 3" adjustment.  Im looking for something between 8-12"

bigal6030

I would have something fabricated at a local shop. It would have to be some type of heavy duty sleeve that would handle the tongue weight of the trailer with minimum sag. One end would slip into the receiver of the truck and the hitch would slip into the sleeve extension.

TikiHut2

As an old trailer sailor we often had creative trailer sailors who pulled up with a sliding tongue extension that could be extended just before launching and retract for hwy use. Some would also strap launch the trailer with a stout nose wheel at the hitch. I was never a fan of a either but trailer sailors are an ingenious lot when it comes to getting the beast down the hwy and into deep water.

If you absolutely want to use a marginal/low angle ramp then do some research on sailboat trailer tongue mods. Good luck and be safe.
Mike