Who Dosn't Use Upright Load Guides? And Convince Me Why .

[mosquito13]

Had a discussion at the ramp parking lot with a fellow said I was a pussy for having them.  I drive my boat on  and launch solo 90% of the time and rarely have to back the boat back in to have it sit nice on the trailer .  My main ramp almost always has wind driven waves, not sure I would have the confidence to power on the trailer without them .   


www.boattrailerparts.com/Boat-Trailer-Square-Aluminum-Guide-On-Pole-Kit-_p_700.html

[Juan]

I'm a pussy too. Got em and wouldn't load without em. I pull up, power up, lock down the first time almost every time (even in a strong wind or current) Couldn't do that without em.

[gnrphil]

I don't have them but I rarely launch at a ramp, the last time I retreived at a ramp I sure wish I had them though, had to back back in to get her on the trailer right for the 8 hour drive home.

[tigerhead]

Had a discussion at the ramp parking lot with an idiot that said I was a pussy for having them.

Fixed it for you skeeter.  I can't imagine not having load guides.  I would like to take that guy to one of the places I launch to fish Lake Calcasieu in Louisiana.  I could do a YouTube video of him trying to put his boat on his trailer that would probably go viral....lol!  Short steep ramp that launches into a bayou that almost always has a very strong cross current at the ramp.  Depending on the tide, his boat would be wearing one of the docks on either side of the ramp in short order.  The ramp is steep enough that most of your boat is still floating above the bunks when the bow is touching the winch post.  There's no way I could even launch my boat solo, much less pick it up.  I also like that when I'm backing up, I can see the white pvc guides in the dark much easier than I can the trailer itself.  My trailer still has the original LED lights that came on it when I bought it.  When I replace them the new lights are going on the top of the guide posts.  They're the best thing for a trailer after the wheels and frame imo.

[985crabs]

I have them and wouldn't want to not have them. I recently put the ones that have lights on top of the poles on my trailer. As Tiger says, they make backing up in the dark on a 2-lane ramp oodles easier. The only problem is that the PVC is screwed into the pole so it can't spin and have the wrong side (amber or red) of the light facing the wrong way. That makes me scared to even hit the pole lest I torque it and rip the screw out, etc.


The new poles are aluminum and not so sturdy which makes me more scared to hit them. I try to leave enough trailer out of the water so I can get on and centered without the hull floating. When I get my Ramp 'N Clamp mounted it's going to be game over.

[985crabs]

Jul 3, 2020 5:01:18 GMT -6 Juan said:

I'm a pussy.

Wow. I thought if we mentioned the cat we'd be banished.

[Juan]

Jul 10, 2020 10:53:35 GMT -6 985crabs said:

Jul 3, 2020 5:01:18 GMT -6 Juan said:

I'm a pussy.

Wow. I thought .

Quit trying something you aren't used to doing.

[Juan]

Jul 10, 2020 10:50:55 GMT -6 985crabs said:

The only problem is that the PVC is screwed into the pole so it can't spin and have the wrong side (amber or red) of the light facing the wrong way. That makes me scared to even hit the pole lest I torque it and rip the screw out, etc.


The new poles are aluminum and not so sturdy which makes me more scared to hit them. I try to leave enough trailer out of the water so I can get on and centered without the hull floating. When I get my Ramp 'N Clamp mounted it's going to be game over.

On yours does the PVC rotate on the aluminum braces? I put the screws in my lights to hold them in the amber forward and red to the rear position and they won't budge but I also have a bolt going through the PVC pole and the brace to keep the PVC from rotating when I hit it while loading.

[985crabs]

Aiyeeeeee! You funny.


PVC does not rotate. There's a bolt going through it and the aluminum pole. You've given me an idea though (although thought is foreign to me). Maybe I should cut the PVC above where the boat would hit it leaving the bottom 2/3 to spin freely and run the bolt through the top 1/3 to keep amber forward and red to the rear. Have to see how far up the aluminum actually goes to see if this plan would work.

[Juan]

Jul 10, 2020 11:57:28 GMT -6 985crabs said:

Aiyeeeeee! You funny.


PVC does not rotate. There's a bolt going through it and the aluminum pole. You've given me an idea though (although thought is foreign to me). Maybe I should cut the PVC above where the boat would hit it leaving the bottom 2/3 to spin freely and run the bolt through the top 1/3 to keep amber forward and red to the rear. Have to see how far up the aluminum actually goes to see if this plan would work.

Good luck but if yours is like mine, the aluminum only goes up about 18". It's actually the same length as the part that bolts to the trailer. I know because I broke one of mine so just reversed the way it's mounted to fix it. Luckily there was enough left on the broken side to bolt it to the trailer.

[mosquito13]

On yours does the PVC rotate on the aluminum braces? I put the screws in my lights to hold them in the amber forward and red to the rear position and they won't budge but I also have a bolt going through the PVC pole and the brace to keep the PVC from rotating when I hit it while loading.

I made mine and notched the bottom of the pvc upright maybe 2" so it won't rotate. The allow brace I am using came from study built think it is 48" and the bottom leg got two plate clamps so wicked study. I did a write up on making them in the trailer section maybe two years ago.

[freezerfiller]

Yeah, those are no brainers. Just bought a set with the LED's for my son's boat because I couldn't see it behind my truck with the tailgate up. I really like it and may buy it for my boat for night time launch since alligator season is quickly approaching. I've been putting the boy in the lottery since he was 10 knowing he wouldn't get drawn and he wasn't of legal age (16 in Ga) to go. Looks like this might be our year!

[framer9]

I have them and loading is a breeze even in a stiff breeze. I can come in at an angle and they straighten the boat right up. Mine spin and I want them too. Don’t want pvc rash on the rub rail or a rash anywhere. 😳

[catchersrock]

I made mine pretty!

[985crabs]

Yeah, mine don't go up high enough.

Catcher, those are sweet.

[Juan]

Those are pretty. Sea Pro condoms.