trailer tugs

Started by oldjim, May 04, 2017, 09:48:20 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

oldjim

Made my own using a winch motor but i found it had so much torque it would spin the wheels on the hub.
Wife got me a Trailer Valet -TV5X for my birthday. Supposed to move a 5000lb trailer with 500lbs of tongue up a incline driveway. Has auto brake if you let go of stearing lever and can be powered with crank or portable 20v drill.
It arrived yesterday and was easy to mount and seems to work ok. Will use a bit and report on how well it actually works.
It also is removable by pulling a pin so you doint have to take it to the lake.
Only problem so far is the handle crank slips on a 15mm square rod and they wanted $45 for an adapter that will allow use of the drill. Could not see that as anything but a rip off. Made one from parts from home depot for $10
Oldjim

Mike Cork

This sounds awesome!!! Keep us posted, a picture would be cool too :-*

Fishing is more than just a hobby

Dobyns Rods - Monster Fishing Tackle
Cork's Reel Service

Oldfart9999

Picture please, no pic it don't exist, we must have lots of pics, we live for winch porn and we are going through withdrawal, it's not nice to tease!!
Rodney
Did I mention we need pics?
Old Fishermen never die, their rods just go limp.

oldjim


Oldfart9999

Old Fishermen never die, their rods just go limp.

Princeton_Man

That's really cool!  I looked it up, here's a YouTube of it.
https://youtu.be/pMQEIoKIuWM
Stratos 285 XL Pro 150 Evinrude ETEC

Dobyns Rods - LSCR Club

Donald Garner

Now that is just too cool. 
Belton Texas part of God's Country
Stratos 285 Pro XL Yamaha 150 VMax; Lowrance Hook 7 Electronics; Minn Kota Foretrex Trolling Motor

G3 1548 Alwed Jon boat Yamaha 25hp outboard 

Oldfart9999

There is no way I'm going to crank that puppy up a driveway then into a garage, I think we all know how to back a trailer into a garage. lo lo ;)
Rodney
Old Fishermen never die, their rods just go limp.

oldjim

As promised my first up date on tug. Works as promised, moved my skeeter zx190 up slight incline in drive and make a 90 degree turn using my 20v electric drill.
1. problem steering when bent over as unil  is very short, hard on back.
2. quick changes in direction must be made when moving as it is very difficult to move when stopped. instructions say not to try to change when stopped.
3. my electric drill while  only runs 800 RPM is too fast for small moves when in tight spaces in garage, had to use  crank.
4. Brake is to good will jerk you and boat to an instant stop if you let handle down even slightly, finally tied it up for small moves in garage
5. my home made drill connector does not work well may have to buy the manf. connector.

All that said it does allow me to move boat without pushing, have a bad knee and cannot push boat. going to try and air powered ratchet which runs only 150RPM to see if that will be better than drill. also have a 90 degree drill adapter that will give me more  height. will make a pipe extension for handle to rase it up and make stearing easier

Oldjim

Oldfart9999

Thanks for the update OJ!
Rodney
Old Fishermen never die, their rods just go limp.

oldjim

Here is last update.
1. 2ft plastic pipe on handle makes for use with out bending.
2. instructions say 85 psi in tires, had to by new tire gage to propery inflate they only had 65psi. With 85 and pipe handle it is much easier to steer.
3. Must be gettiing dimentia have a 1/2 in electric drill I just remembered, makes a great difference. It has speed control and lots of torque so I can set it so it is just barely turning and move boat in tight spaces easly.
4. tried ratchet, but it is sort of jerky and did not go slow enought.

I am pleased with set up and i can now move boat easly and make turns to fit into very tight places. Would recommend to anyone with problems in pushing boats in your driveway and garage.
Oldjim

Oldfart9999

Thanks for the new update. Everything runs better with electric help!! :) :)
Rodney
Old Fishermen never die, their rods just go limp.