Who needs a stinking trailer? Not Me! (Update: Version 2)

[eeerieski]

Suck it dmv...
I needed a way to transport my ski on a budget, this is what I came up with:

and after 5 minutes or less I can unload everything:

Now the issues which are numerous:
-the front end lifts up 8" because of the overhang in the back (I don't trust the tailgate even for loading)
-had to leave room for the winch handle and therefor the ski is back pretty far
-casters are rated at 75lb each vertically but flex easily side to side
-bottom of ski isn't flat, only 4 casters in contact at any one time

Potential fixes:
-removable winch, remove winch and roll ski forward then secure to get the gc closer to the axel
-mount winch off to the side with the crank vertical and a pulley in the center to re-orient the strap, winch handle would be above the bed sides
-side bunks for more security in a lateral direction
-if I move the winch then I could strap the front down
-electric winch baby!
-spacers under the front 2 casters so they all touch at once.

I also plan on making a removable hinged "louge board" for actually launching it.

 

[Penken]

but that is what a pickup truck is made for.

 

[SXIPro]

What kind of truck is it? I put over 500 lbs on my tailgate all the time. Still looks and works like brand new.

 

[j0hnny]

i removed the passenger seat from my cherokee and have just been throwing it in there. awesome project man. looks good

johnny

 

[JD_WWI]

looks like something I would do. nice. wonder if you could use plastic strips and glide/slide instead of the rollers.

 

[Waternut]

JD_WWI.... PVC pipe cut in half actually works really well. Slides easily and doesn't trash your hull like wood or carpet does but if you can't make casters work, that's far better.

Some possible solutions for you... If you go buy some leaf spring helpers (not add a leaf) from autozone or something, it will significantly help the rear end sagging. They cost like $30, install in maybe 30 minutes and make a huge difference! I used the leaf helpers on my cherokee when I put my ski on my hitch hauler and it felt like the ski wasn't even on the jeep anymore. As far as lateral movement is concerned, you could screw some 2x4 blocks halfway up on either side of the casters to help prevent the peewee sheet metal from flexing.

I like your idea of moving the hand crank on the side but you're talking about a lot of work for a few inches so I don't think it's worth it. Does the hand crank have to make a full rotation? Maybe you could get away with making half cranks and gain the same distance forward. Also, 12 volt atv winches can be bought for $30 as well. I'm lazy so that would be high on my list of things to get.

 

[JD_WWI]

JD_WWI.... PVC pipe cut in half actually works really well. Slides easily and doesn't trash your hull like wood or carpet does but if you can't make casters work, that's far better.

Some possible solutions for you... If you go buy some leaf spring helpers (not add a leaf) from autozone or something, it will significantly help the rear end sagging. They cost like $30, install in maybe 30 minutes and make a huge difference! I used the leaf helpers on my cherokee when I put my ski on my hitch hauler and it felt like the ski wasn't even on the jeep anymore. As far as lateral movement is concerned, you could screw some 2x4 blocks halfway up on either side of the casters to help prevent the peewee sheet metal from flexing.

I like your idea of moving the hand crank on the side but you're talking about a lot of work for a few inches so I don't think it's worth it. Does the hand crank have to make a full rotation? Maybe you could get away with making half cranks and gain the same distance forward. Also, 12 volt atv winches can be bought for $30 as well. I'm lazy so that would be high on my list of things to get.

air bags/suspension are a great alternative the the buggy ride of stiff leafs. just add some pressure when hauling. yeah the electric winch would be a must

 

[eeerieski]

truck is a 4wd chevy s10, it rides level with the ski in the back. I wanted to get the ski farther forward so there is less of a tendancy for the entire thing to rock backwards. the tailgate is tweaked because a cable snapped while I was standing near one end of it, one side has the stock cable and the other a chain for a dog. the bottom edge of the tailgate is also rusted through. I plan to flatdeck my truck bed sometime in the future after the bed rusts through, then I could put 2 skiis on side by side...then I may need helper springs.
half cranks will not work with this winch, 12V winch upgrade in the future
blocks half way up the sides of the casters, I had thought of this already and will probably implement this.

Edit: also got some good ideas from pwctoday HERE

 

[Speedfreak]

Why not get one of these and not worry about the tail gate or anything just slide it up and take off.

http://www.x-h2o.com/threads/79570-Standup-Hitch-Carrier-for-vehicle&highlight=hitch

http://www.x-h2o.com/threads/77353-JetSki-Carrier-Hitch-Mount&highlight=hitch

OR build your own this is the BEST way to haul a ski

 

[eeerieski]

Why not get one of these and not worry about the tail gate or anything just slide it up and take off.

http://www.x-h2o.com/threads/79570-Standup-Hitch-Carrier-for-vehicle&highlight=hitch

http://www.x-h2o.com/threads/77353-JetSki-Carrier-Hitch-Mount&highlight=hitch

OR build your own this is the BEST way to haul a ski

Thats great except my ski is 20" longer than my little s-10 is wide, not to mention I would then definitely need helper springs and besides, I don't trust a device like that.

 

[j0hnny]

yeah im not sure about those either. i thought about it and used to use one for my dirtbike but idk.

 

[SJBrit]

Here's my setup which is a similar idea including the street luge. I used rollerblade wheels which can take a lot of weight and spin very freely. I don't use a winch - you don't need it: one quick blip of the throttle and the ski pops right up into the back of the truck. The top wheel;s are very important or it's a big problem to get the ski over the hump.

 

[eeerieski]

thanks sjbrit, I had already seen your setup while doing research for mine. I am not good enough yet to blip the ski up onto the truck yet so I'll stick with the winch. It would also help when transferring the ski.

 

[Don 79 TA]

. I don't use a winch - you don't need it: one quick blip of the throttle and the ski pops right up into the back of the truck.

hmmmm
now the pondering question on a million jetskiers minds.... ummm what happens if there is no water or you are at a VERY shallow landing ramp hmmmmmmmmm

a nice little cranky at the end could be an awesome addition

we had someone that had a setup like this in an F250
when the tide was high, the ramp access is a PITA, needless to say we had to carry it up onto the truck, somehow.... skis are always heavier at the end of the day lol

 

[SJBrit]

It's a problem when the water is shallow, but I nearly always launch on a concrete ramp at the lake so it's doesn't affect me. At the beach I put the ski on my beach cart which lines up at exactly the right height with the rollers. You can push it up single handed from there - it really glides easily over the wheels. Same for when I unload the truck - I roll the ski onto the beach cart and wheel it into the garage.

 

[Mr Bojangles]

hmmmm
now the pondering question on a million jetskiers minds.... ummm what happens if there is no water or you are at a VERY shallow landing ramp hmmmmmmmmm

a nice little cranky at the end could be an awesome addition

we had someone that had a setup like this in an F250
when the tide was high, the ramp access is a PITA, needless to say we had to carry it up onto the truck, somehow.... skis are always heavier at the end of the day lol

yup, thats why I have a winch on mine, all the ramps are so shallow, you would have to back to the end of the ramp where you would fall off

 

[Speedfreak]

Yea the ski is wider than the truck but it isn't that much. I have been carrying my ski that way since 2001. I use mine and tow a double trailer with 2 sitdowns. I have had a number of trucks with the same setup. Dodge dakota, Jeep Wrangler, Dodge ram, Ford Lightning, Chevy Avalanche, Dodge Durango, Chevy S-10 blazer. And with some additional arms on the back of one of those things the ski can't come off. I used to street rack the lightning with the ski hanging on the back... LOTS of traction.... Here is a picture of the arms on my setup.

 

[JD_WWI]

Yea the ski is wider than the truck but it isn't that much. I have been carrying my ski that way since 2001. I use mine and tow a double trailer with 2 sitdowns. I have had a number of trucks with the same setup. Dodge dakota, Jeep Wrangler, Dodge ram, Ford Lightning, Chevy Avalanche, Dodge Durango, Chevy S-10 blazer. And with some additional arms on the back of one of those things the ski can't come off. I used to street rack the lightning with the ski hanging on the back... LOTS of traction.... Here is a picture of the arms on my setup.
View attachment 130397

how do you strap down the tail? gotta say it looks like a lot more fun than pulling a trailer.

 

[Speedfreak]

NO straps the only way it will come off is if you hit a bump big enough to have the ski jump over the vertical pieces at the back. But that won't happen the roads in Illinois SUCK and I have never had a problem. It is a nice setup. Just back into the water until the tires touch the water and that is usually deep enough. Blip the throttle and the ski slides up on the tray, drop the bow pin in and your off.

 

[eeerieski]

Version 2!


Taking ideas from other members and those of my own I came up with this. The winch is removable and the ski can go all the way to the front of the bed after reaching flat ground and removing the winch. Securing to the truck bed will take place with tie downs, I'm not sure how to deal with the bow eye yet. Working on a stand for the ramp portion so the ramp will be part of a stand, ramp(obviously) and beach cart maybe? The 2x4's fit in the 2" SCH40 pipe courtesy of excessive table saw ripping and hand planing.