Jet Ski in truck bed?

[nyrocketkid]

Okay I want to get a Super Jet after winter so bad. I have 2 nice sit down kawasaki 1100's on a double trailer so I don't really have room for a third on the trailer. I have heard of people putting a ski on the back of a truck, but I'm not really sure how to get it on and off or if I could even fit a SJ on the back of my truck. I have a 1996 4cyl S10 pick up with a short bed.
Any ideas of how to carry the third? Or an easy way of getting on & off the truck? I cant just back into the water till my tailgate touches can I?

 

[WaveDemon]

beach wheels.

 

[wydopen]

just carry it w/ a buddy..a skiman has to have a strong back:biggthumpup:

 

[SJ/XPBri]

I've got a Chevy fullsize, that sits pretty high off the ground. I just back the truck down the ramp until the tailgate is about to hit the water, then just push the ski off. The fun part is putting it back in, usually ride it up to the truck, hop in the bed and pull it in. I get some strange looks from people at the ramp.
Bri

 

[wydopen]

I've got a Chevy fullsize, that sits pretty high off the ground. I just back the truck down the ramp until the tailgate is about to hit the water, then just push the ski off. The fun part is putting it back in, usually ride it up to the truck, hop in the bed and pull it in. I get some strange looks from people at the ramp.
Bri

i just parksideways on the ramp and lift it in if im not using my trailer..i dont like backing my truck into the salt

 

[Snackem]

I have a S10 w/ a short bed and I put my X2 in there w/o a problem. When it comes to unloading just unload the trailer first then back down a bit more and slide the ski out. When you load it load the SJ into the truck first. Two guys should be able to lift the SJ into the back of the truck w/o much problem.

 

[nyrocketkid]

Wow thanks alot guys for all the quick answers. I just wanted to make sure this would work. Can't wait until I pick up a Sj.:brap:

 

[boggs]

i'm a small guy (5'6 ish) and i carry my sj in the back of my shortbed s-10 no problem. i back down to almst water level push the ski out, when i am ready to go i lift the nose above the tailgate, turn the ski on and gas it. that normally gets it about 3/4 the way in, pull it the rest of the way. the only problem for me is getting it out of my bed when i'm not on the ramp. i just have a cheapo rubber mat in the bed so its a pain to slide the ski out unless the rubber is wet

 

[SJBrit]

Here ya go: some 2x4 and some rollerblade wheels. The ski slides off nicely and you just blip the throttle to get it up the ramp and into the truck. The ramp also doubles as a street luge (with no steering)!!

 

[Ross_C]

Brit,
You always have the best setups for this kind of stuff!

In fresh I always would just back the truck in till the tail gate is close, then rider er up. But I would never do that in salt water...um...yea. Never.

 

[professor961]

This is a ramp and winch system I have owned for about ten years. The bar mounts in the front of the bed, and the winch slides in and out of the way. The ramps mount nice against the tailgate, and they slide in under the tote and just fit and eight foot bed.
The tote is hand made, and fits JS and SX stand up hulls. I can winch the ski up into the truck myself, and also easily winch it down out of the truck. I have the cable marked with tape, loosen the cable to the mark, lock the winch, get tote just over the hump on the ramps, and crank her down.

Nice system.

Prof

 

[amemoryoncelost]

Well, considering the trailer, you can do it the easy way, depending on the launch, how far your trailer sits from the truck and a couple other things, but I'll go over how we got three superjets and one X2 to the lake with one suburban.

By the way, the suburban had the entire top chopped, nothing but a windshield.

So yeah, almost jack knife trailer so the backend has good access, load your superjet with the help of whatever. Couches should be on trailer already. Drive to the lake. Back down the launch. If you have enough clearance, jack knife trailer in water until the back of the truck is somewhat open enough to get superjet out. Pull back forward and launch other boats. Do whichever in whichever order you like. Couches going first might make more sense.

Obviously this worked in our case, my friend is pretty good with a trailer and yeah, it works out. Just another way to do it if you dont have friends with big arms around.

I'll try and get a pic of us doing this, just because I know some people will find it amusing...

 

[cdubb]

Why not move the couches back and put the SJ on the front of trailer sideways? tons of posts here on doing the conversion and lots of good ideas. search for trailer.

Me and my ol lady throw my ski in the truck and I just back in till i can just throw it out,never had to put it back in though(I only throw it in the truck when metting up with others and I got to drag their trailer and skis back)

 

[amemoryoncelost]

oh and I've backed my truck up until water was coming in. Granted I ride a smaller S10, but really, you should be able to back i tup pretty far. My friend has a fullsize F150 and he backs it up pretty far, until his tailgate is touching.

If it's salt water, maybe a different story...

 

[rkymtnrider]

i back my truck in till the water is just below the doors and slide er out

 

[stanton]

freshwater i just back up. do the opposite when leaving. getting it hooked is the hard part wet bedliner and hull slide FAST!
salt means your picking it up until you get a tote.

or just get a tote.

 

[sxi steve]

The System

I wanted a one man system, which was easy and not strenuous.

1. Build a garage cart the same height as the gate of the truck.
2. Build removable rails for bed of truck. Using same materials as the cart:
wood, screws, glue and PVC (for easy slidding).
3. Weld attachment at bed wall (at cab).

Easy out: At the lake I back my truck into the water to the centerline of my rear wheel (keep engine on). Step out and into bed, remove pin at bow, slide out into the water and move it to the side.

Easy in: Back truck into the water, as above. The water will be aprox 6-8 inches from gate. Pick up front end of ski and rest bond flange on liftgate edge. Move to rear of ski, start engine, right hand on throttle-left hand at rear end of tray. Slowly push down rear (left hand) then gently and smooth gas it and blip it in. Once it hops in, push ski in about 2-3 ft till totally in. Add pin at bow hole. After out and parked, I strap the rear hole to the bottom edge of my bumper and of course, the pole down too.

Easy, and no damage, no skid marks to ski or my sweet truck. Good System!

See pics below. :biggrin:

 

[douglee25]

Does anyone that backs their truck into the water have problems with their brakes grabbing for the first 5 minutes or so afterwards? I had this problem often when my brakes would get the tiniest bit of water on them. You guys that back the water up to the gate are covering the axle. Aren't you worried about water getting in through the vent?

Doug

 

[professor961]

When you back your vehicle into the water you need to assure the vent for the rear differential does to get water into it..... mixing water and oil does not sound like a good idea.

Prof

 

[kskip]

Make sure the vent tube that comes out of the Diff is routed to stay above the water, On my 4 wheel Ford Ranger I ran some extra hose up to the front of the bed and secured.
kskip