Check Craigslist for welders: there could be one located in your neighborhood nearby who might "charge beers".A machine shop will charge about $25 to weld your spindle.
If your tow vehicle is FWD, consider a hitch mounted to the front bumper. (If your tow vehicle has a bumper!)"...Tongue extensions are too short as well...Appreciate the ideas but a 3rd wheel is really what I'm looking for. I just don't have a welder to weld a spindle/hub to a mounting plate...Maybe just have to open the wallet....before the glass daggerboard and rudder blade. Dang!
I think you have found the solution by yourself.Trailer Spare Tire Carrier and Dolly Bracket by Dutton-Lainson Dutton-Lainson Trailer Cargo Control DL22144
This is the ticket too...only $45. But I fear too light duty over gravel. Pushing on hard level surface by hand, probably ok
I was going to suggest "Air Jordans"!Its not the fear of sinking wheels. Whereas I can manipulate going downhill...I can't pull it uphill, especially with sand, gravel, mud, etc.
Hence a 25+ rope tied to my "tri"-trailer attached to my tow vehicle.
Why not dispense with that third wheel altogether?Google "Bush hog tail wheel". If I can find one I'll make an attachment to the trailer
Thanks...I've got a decent tongue jack, probably as good as those from Harbor Freight. Sometimes the wheel can get "cocked" and I didn't want to bend the jack accidently. BTW, I'm not going down a paved boat ramp doing this...just grassy or sandy/gravel beaches, where my van would get stuck.... but solid enough for the boat trailer. Lots of areas good for launching with these shorelines, but the parking lot or road is 25 feet away and didn't want to risk backing over these "non-ramp" areas.replace your tongue jack with one from Harbor Freight
I would also question unhitching your trailer at a boat ramp, with the trailer able to go downhill. I hope you have a solid plan to control and recover it.
Early biplanes had lightweight curved "tail skids"--some of which could be steered from the cockpit!I'm tired of looking for hubs and such without having to weld something. I'll try this today or over the weekend. Wish me luck!
In that case, you'd definitely need a skid.I'm wondering if the empty trailer will be easy to pull up a slight uphill, gravel beach, without the boat on it to help lighten the tongue load.
If the spring has a hole in one end--even better!A piece of a leaf spring would be perfect The bottom of my trailer tongue has an "V" shaped piece of metal, meant to set the trailer end down on. Attaching to that....facing aft, would be perfect.
To go with the leaf spring--what I had in mind--using a spare hitch ball:Good idea. A piece of a leaf spring would be perfect. The bottom of my trailer tongue has an "V" shaped piece of metal, meant to set the trailer end down on. Attaching to that....facing aft, would be perfect.
I'm wondering if the empty trailer will be easy to pull up a slight uphill, gravel beach, without the boat on it to help lighten the tongue load.
No wind today so I didn't test things out
Sometimes, in locales of heavy trailer use, they can be found at yard sales. Note the price tag:this is what we use.
600 lb. Heavy Duty Trailer Dolly
The first 30 seconds of this video show a "trailer extension" in use:If your trailer's tongue cross-section is rectangular, you can go to a recycle yard and find an extension that might even be too long! (First check that no indispensable bolts cross the tongue's interior). A replacement hitch is $12, and can be welded or bolted on.