Ramlin Trailer Swing Tongue Mod |
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Swatkinz
Platinum Member Joined: December-03-2003 Location: Lexington, SC Status: Offline Points: 1307 |
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Posted: December-14-2016 at 8:51am |
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Fellas,
On the older style Ramlin trailers, the tongue can be removed apparently to shorten the trailer, but it does not appear to be a left or right swing "easy thing to do" kind of thing. Has anyone modified that design with a simpler hinged setup that would make the removeable tongue easier to move and thus the trailer easier to shorten? I.e. How easy would it be for an experienced welding shop to take that old Ramlin trailer design and modify it so that the trailer tongue can quickly and easily swing to the right or left and do so without tools? |
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Steve
2011 Sport/Air 200 Excalibur 343 2017 Boatmate Tandem Axle Trailer Former CC owner (77, 80, 95, 88, all SNs) Former Malibu owner (07, 09) |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41040 |
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Steve, Very easy for a shop but, have you looked at premade kits? |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41040 |
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Steve,
Here's a bolt on DIY |
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TRBenj
Grand Poobah Joined: June-29-2005 Location: NWCT Status: Offline Points: 21115 |
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Presumably you are talking about the 1993-2002 correct craft/ramlin swing up tongue trailers? 03+ swing to the side and 92 and prior wouldn't benefit more than a few inches from a swing tongue...
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Swatkinz
Platinum Member Joined: December-03-2003 Location: Lexington, SC Status: Offline Points: 1307 |
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Thank you.
Pete, the kits are exactly what I had in mind and a bolt on might be a way to go. Tim, yes. I'm speaking of the 93-02 swing ups. I have a 23' deep garage limitation with an 8' high garage door. I'm interested in a 2000ish and up CC. The way I see it, I'll need to find a rig with a folding tongue and a removable platform to fit the garage depth (even if I purchased a Ski) The ability to modify a trailer to swing easily opens up the possibility to early 2000s boats. Next question. How easily can a platform be removed and reinstalled? My setup would require that I remove platform, fold trailer tongue and fold tower (if equipped) for every outing. FYI, my choice in boats (if they'd fit) would be a Sport/Air, 206 196 I don't believe a Sport/Air will fit or if it did, it'd be so tight, it might not be practical for regular use. The Ski would have limitations, but if it were a 2002 or newer, the trunk space would make it doable. The 206 is probably the best option for my family at this time. Comments, considerations welcome. |
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Steve
2011 Sport/Air 200 Excalibur 343 2017 Boatmate Tandem Axle Trailer Former CC owner (77, 80, 95, 88, all SNs) Former Malibu owner (07, 09) |
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TRBenj
Grand Poobah Joined: June-29-2005 Location: NWCT Status: Offline Points: 21115 |
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Platform is a piece of cake.
If I am not mistaken, I am fitting my 19'6" SN in a 22.5' (inside depth) garage with the platform removed only. Very tight, but it fits, even without taking advantage of the swing up tongue on my '93 trailer. I would not rule out a 21' sport/air, but I'd measure the length very closely. Also need to be particular about trailer brand... Anything (non-cc/ramlin) has a chance of having frame rails that converge too far forward to take advantage of a swing tongue. Any ramlin 03+ should already have the swing tongue, and will shorten more significantly than the 93-02 version (due to the frame geometry). |
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Swatkinz
Platinum Member Joined: December-03-2003 Location: Lexington, SC Status: Offline Points: 1307 |
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Thanks, Tim.
With regards to the platform. When you say, "piece of cake" does that mean it's easily a one man removal/installation? Family of women here so I get little to no assistance. |
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Steve
2011 Sport/Air 200 Excalibur 343 2017 Boatmate Tandem Axle Trailer Former CC owner (77, 80, 95, 88, all SNs) Former Malibu owner (07, 09) |
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TRBenj
Grand Poobah Joined: June-29-2005 Location: NWCT Status: Offline Points: 21115 |
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A 2nd set of hands makes the solid platforms a little easier to keep even (side to side) but I do my slatted version solo regularly. 10sec job including pin removal.
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C-Bass
Platinum Member Joined: November-18-2008 Location: Columbus, IN Status: Offline Points: 1248 |
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quinner
Grand Poobah Joined: October-12-2005 Location: Unknown Status: Offline Points: 5828 |
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If you turn your hand over it feels like someone else is doing it!!
Solid platform install solo is doable, removal not so much, either way a helper is your best bet!! |
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NCH20SKIER
Grand Poobah Joined: December-16-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2206 |
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I have your ramlin trailer with swing away toungue, removable platform that will require 2 people (my wife helps me and we are still married ). It comes with a gently used, well maintained 206 in just the colors you want. Delivery can be arranged prior to Christmas. |
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'05 206 Limited
'88 BFN |
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Swatkinz
Platinum Member Joined: December-03-2003 Location: Lexington, SC Status: Offline Points: 1307 |
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I need dimensions, Greg Length (sans platform and with tongue folded) Width (total on the trailer) Height (with tower folded) Oh and a price! |
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Steve
2011 Sport/Air 200 Excalibur 343 2017 Boatmate Tandem Axle Trailer Former CC owner (77, 80, 95, 88, all SNs) Former Malibu owner (07, 09) |
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TRBenj
Grand Poobah Joined: June-29-2005 Location: NWCT Status: Offline Points: 21115 |
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Id bet length is between 20'6" and 21'. Width will require a 9' door... 98" or so?
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MrMcD
Grand Poobah Joined: January-28-2014 Location: Folsom, CA Status: Offline Points: 3597 |
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I have a 10' door on my garage entrance, Backing in my 1995 Ski Nautique fells very tight even with a 10 foot door. I have not measured but if you center my boat in the door and the trailer tires are in the entrance there is not really room to walk past it on either side.
You have to shimmy past. I would not want less than the 10 foot door. My Ski Nautique with the swim deck and trailer tongue removed sits right at 20 feet long. Pretty good for a 19'6" boat. |
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Swatkinz
Platinum Member Joined: December-03-2003 Location: Lexington, SC Status: Offline Points: 1307 |
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Clarification. Garage door is 8'high. I'm guessing 16' wide.
Tim are you suggesting that with the swing tongue, overall length will not exceed actual boat length? I hope you are right. |
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Steve
2011 Sport/Air 200 Excalibur 343 2017 Boatmate Tandem Axle Trailer Former CC owner (77, 80, 95, 88, all SNs) Former Malibu owner (07, 09) |
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Donald80SN
Grand Poobah Joined: January-12-2009 Location: Denver, NC Status: Offline Points: 3888 |
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Steve, Yes, that is what Tim is saying and he is correct. With the platform off and the tongue moved the length will be no longer than the boat length. Then you have to look at width. At least on my 2002 swing up Ramlin. FYI, Donald |
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1980 Ski Nautique SOLD Back to Cypress Gardens
2002 Sport Nautique, GT-40, FCT2, Cover Sports, Tower Bimini, Inc., Wet Sounds Audio System, Star Gazer Wake Edition S. 1968 Ski Nautique, Project. |
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MrMcD
Grand Poobah Joined: January-28-2014 Location: Folsom, CA Status: Offline Points: 3597 |
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My 95 Ski Nautique trailer with the tongue removed is about 6" longer than the actual boat but it is really close and sure helps fit in a garage.
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TRBenj
Grand Poobah Joined: June-29-2005 Location: NWCT Status: Offline Points: 21115 |
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Correct Steve. A 206 on a Ramlin with a swing tongue will have a storage length equal to the boats length. About 18-24" shorter than a 2001 on a cc trailer (no folding tongue or removable platform brackets).
My '90 on dad's former '03 Ramlin: |
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Swatkinz
Platinum Member Joined: December-03-2003 Location: Lexington, SC Status: Offline Points: 1307 |
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All of this helps, tremendously.
Thanks folks. |
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Steve
2011 Sport/Air 200 Excalibur 343 2017 Boatmate Tandem Axle Trailer Former CC owner (77, 80, 95, 88, all SNs) Former Malibu owner (07, 09) |
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M3Fan
Grand Poobah Joined: October-22-2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3185 |
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My original 2000 RamLin had the old-school "hinge up" tongue which I hinged up and down before and after every use of the boat for 10 years. It can be done in 30 seconds. Pull out the bow stop, set it under the trailer, pull the main pin on the tongue, hinge it up and hook the safety chain to the bow eye to keep it hinged up. Easy and effective.
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2000 SN GT40 w/99 Graphics/Gel
2016 SN 200 OB 5.3L DI https://forum.fifteenoff.com |
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quinner
Grand Poobah Joined: October-12-2005 Location: Unknown Status: Offline Points: 5828 |
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206 with tower folded will definitely fit under an 8' high door, It's possible the 206 with a Ramlin and swing tongue "might" even fit your garage with the platform on.
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NCH20SKIER
Grand Poobah Joined: December-16-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2206 |
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The width is roughly 100" or 8'-4". I will uncover and measure the length after morning conference calls . |
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'05 206 Limited
'88 BFN |
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Swatkinz
Platinum Member Joined: December-03-2003 Location: Lexington, SC Status: Offline Points: 1307 |
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Follow up comments and questions. Correction on the garage door. The door is 8'high and 18'wide. Inside garage dimension is a comfortable 23.5'Deep x 22'W. Having said that, any boat purchased will be sharing the space with a Toyota Sequoia. Yes, it will be tight, but currently the Sequoia and a Double Cab Tundra share the space so we are accustomed to the space being a little tight.
I'm going to have a challenge in that the garage is a side loader and the topography won't allow for me to easily back the boat into the garage. It may not even be possible without 15-20 pull up, back up, pull up back up cycles. How easily can a boat similar to what I've described as ideal, be maneuvered (manhandled) with one of those non-powered trailer dolly things? I'm thinking I could get it close with the truck and with a relatively level drive surface, "push" it by hand where I need it to go. Thinking single axle trailer of course. Am I expecting too much out of me physically and a non-powered trailer dolly? |
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Steve
2011 Sport/Air 200 Excalibur 343 2017 Boatmate Tandem Axle Trailer Former CC owner (77, 80, 95, 88, all SNs) Former Malibu owner (07, 09) |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41040 |
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I randomly picked the year but get one of these for the Tundra. No dolly, just push the boat into the garage. Before I downsized my vehicle, I had a front mount receiver on every truck I owned and really miss it for tight maneuvering.. You won't believe the difference it makes! |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41040 |
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Steve,
I forgot to mention the bad with a dolly. DO NOT use one on ANY slope. Even with the small slope of a garage apron, the boat/trailer will get away from you. Ask me how I know!! |
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Gary S
Grand Poobah Joined: November-30-2006 Location: Illinois Status: Offline Points: 14096 |
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Like Pete says front mount hitch are great. I put this one on to back in a boat once a year,no need for help,it's a one man job. Only down side,at least in my case,it will hit every curb or concrete parking stop. I want to check into cutting the receiver tube off the bottom of the crossmember and welding it on to the top of it. Then cut the bumper cover out from behind the license plate. When you need to use it remove the license plate and connect the ball mount.
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NCH20SKIER
Grand Poobah Joined: December-16-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2206 |
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Gary and Pete are correct. Back in the day my dad had a front mount hitch on the front of the plow truck and it was very handy. I have many times considered adding one to the Fossett fleet but simply have not pulled the trigger and with the boat lift added this spring the need simply is not as high and the cost of the hitch is about the same as a new BF suit.
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'05 206 Limited
'88 BFN |
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Swatkinz
Platinum Member Joined: December-03-2003 Location: Lexington, SC Status: Offline Points: 1307 |
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Fellas, thanks again for all of the information. Please see the attached photos. Both trailers are Ramlins. The red trailer is a single axle 2002. The blue trailer is a tandem axle 2001.
Joel commented above about how easy it was on his former Ramlin to remove the bow stop and then swing the tongue up. That's easy to understand and visualize when you look at the red trailer, but not so much with the blue trailer. Anybody seen the blue trailer setup and can someone explain how that trailer tongue swings or shortens? Also, I'm guessing that if a tongue is going to swing (up/down or side/side) there must be a length of flex brake line at the hinge point or some sort of quick connect, correct? Can someone confirm that or explain? |
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Steve
2011 Sport/Air 200 Excalibur 343 2017 Boatmate Tandem Axle Trailer Former CC owner (77, 80, 95, 88, all SNs) Former Malibu owner (07, 09) |
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