desparate female needs help driving challenger 180 onto trailer

[smilingprof]

Many thanks

Thanks for all the suggestions. I have successfully gotten it on the trailer twice not as easily as my previous 16 ft Boston Whaler but at least I have done it. It seems to be particularly sensitive to how deep you put the trailer in. Today I bought Liquid Rollers at West Marine and I am going to try that so that it is easier for me to winch it up. And since my norm for launching is to do it solo with a 6 year old daughter and a Jack Russell Terrier I always keep my winch and safety hooks on backing down the launch so hopefully there will be no horror stories of my boat slipping off the trailer prematurely while putting it in the water (I read quite a few of those on different forums). Again, thanks. I will hopefully report soon that I am a pro at the launch!

 

[scooper77515]

:hurray::hurray::hurray:

Glad you got it figured out and didn't give up on the boat!

Just takes a little experimenting :cheers:

 

[JustinM]

Im late but i know exactly what you mean, but i live along the columbia river and there is about 6 launches in 10 miles, and had this problem everywhere. one launch is less of a slope into the water, and using that one realy helps. but i debated putting a roller on the v section of the trailer too. in the end i lowered the whole winch and roller on the trailer one notch (about an inch). this helped alot and also i have always 6-8 people with me so i make them stay in the boat, but sit in the back to bring the nose up. also i am one of those guys who back in deeper (usually alot in the boat) and let my buddy just ease up to the trailer, (more of a float on then drive on).

 

[nelzar13]

the super easy way for me to do it is... back in so the tires of my trucks just touch the water. This will leave you with the front of the bunks just under the water.. After you get out of the truck unwind your winch strap or cable out a couple of feet and rest it on the rubber bumper on the front of your trailor.. now when your in the boat approaching come in slowly...when your about two feet back off of the back of the tralier back off the throttle as far as you can... walk to the bow and grab your winch hook..wait till your boat idles up to that rubber bumper and rests against it. Then attach your hook to the d ring on the front of your boat take up the slack in the winch cable and shut off the engines. hop out pull up. your all set.. let me know if it works out for ya... its all new to me but it works out fine for me....since my wife for the mean time is scared to death of driving in confined areas... This is with a 98 speedster and i also do it with a jack Russell co pilot! well parson russell actually

 

[mikelly]

I had the same problem, you have to put a lift under the front bunk boards to get the front of the boat over the hitch, I unbolted the front bunks and inserted a piece of 2x6 and rebolted it , it lifts the boat enough to clear the hitch, works perfect now, good luck

 

[ddaverowee]

you could allways find your self a man lol

 

[James.Moon]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I have successfully gotten it on the trailer twice not as easily as my previous 16 ft Boston Whaler but at least I have done it. It seems to be particularly sensitive to how deep you put the trailer in. Today I bought Liquid Rollers at West Marine and I am going to try that so that it is easier for me to winch it up. And since my norm for launching is to do it solo with a 6 year old daughter and a Jack Russell Terrier I always keep my winch and safety hooks on backing down the launch so hopefully there will be no horror stories of my boat slipping off the trailer prematurely while putting it in the water (I read quite a few of those on different forums). Again, thanks. I will hopefully report soon that I am a pro at the launch!

I find that backing in to the water at the correct depth is the key - such that the boat floats almost all the way up so very little winching or force is required, however if there is a current, don't back in too deep as the current will skew the back over as you drive/coast on. This may vary depending on the ramp slope, but with my suburban and 180SE Challenger just putting back wheels of the Suburban on the water's edge seems to work best. I do it solo and reach over the bow to attach the winch line, then jump over to winch snug, the pull out. You will be fine with a bit of practice. Don't be afraid to vary the water depth noting the back wheels of the vehicle until you find the ideal depth for the particular ramp that makes it real easy.

 

[WOOSAB]

I am a lot bigger then you 6"6 270 but i normally launch and retrieve with the help of my 3 year old son. This is what you need. Put these on the trailer all it takes is 2 screw. Also install them while your boat is on the trailer. Make them a little snug. So when you retrieve the boat will be held center. When its time to retrieve the boat i back the trailer all the way in the water. The boat is still floating 100% percent when i put it on the trailer. I get it to the top attach the strap and make it as snug as possible very easy because boat is still floating no resistance) and then attach the safety chain and just pull your vehicle out the water. this makes it very simple. The guides will keep the boat center and the strap and chain will keep the boat tight. Longest part for me is walking to get the truck and trailer.

 

[James.Moon]

First time I loaded my 2009 180SE (solo). I had a bit of a problem as the back end skewed in the current. The guy next to me on the double ramp said I was in a little too deep. I pulled up probably to about the fender wells just out of water and it pulled up perfectly under minimal power. Winched the last 6 inches or so, but didn't take a huge effort.

I don't load too often as I use a dry dock valet service in the summer, however I am thinking a pair of roller type bow guides would be a worthwhile upgrade. Has anyone added such to their 180 trailer? I am wondering if the very wide middle of this boat in relation to the narrower stern presents any problems? I expect if it is fitted to guide the mid part in, there will be quite a lot of clearance at the stern once loaded. Is this OK and normal?

 

[dootndo2]

The 180 is tricky with it's odd bow configuration. Generally, I will bury the tires completely under water when putting it in. When pulling it out, I go about 3/4 of the way up the tires. The bow of the boat sits high on the trailer and when putting it in the water, it literally falls off the post on the front of the trailer.

I can understand the issue that she is having. It is really about getting the water level under the trailer at the right height. Even after 5 years of ownership, it is still a challenge.

dootndo2

 

[fable]

You had me at 112lb single female.

Trailer has to go in the water until bunks are under and drive on. Then hook it on and pull it in.


Have the terrier drive it on.

 

[Lightningtruck]

With jet boats, you generally don't drive it all the way up.

Put the trailer in the water and back all the way in so the bunks get wet for lubrication.

Pull back out until your entire wheel wells on the trailer are out of the water.

Then drive straight up onto the trailer, give it a little gas, then when it stops, you will need to winch it up the last bit.

You may find that going in or out of the water a little more will help, but I do it with the wheel wells out and only have to pull the boat up the last 6", so that is what I found works for me. Experiment with it a little until you find where your most effective depth is.

I recently bought an 05 C180, and have been finding that it is tricky to load. But I did exactly as above, and it worked perfectly! Thanks!!!

 

[John in Valley Forge]

I've got a Sportster 1800 and had lots of trouble my first few times loading it. I could never get the bow all the way up to the roller.
The Coast Guard guy that give safety inspections at my ramp told me I was backing the trailer in too far.
I came back to the ramp on a weekday evening when no one was around, and went through the loading unloading cycle about 15 times. By the 9 or 10th time I got the hang of it, then did it a few more times to be sure. Much better to do it in the off-hours when no one is watching than trying to do it when people are lined up and grumbling at you.