"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...
Lloyd Sumpter wrote:
On Fri, 31 Dec 2004 15:57:16 +0000, Don White wrote:


"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...

It's not fun, but it is do-able. How much trouble can a 12' cartop be
to
launch?

Might be easier to disconnect a trailer that small and launch like a
small
sailing dinghy dolly. That is...by hand.
A block or two and 100 ft of line would make retrival real easy. Just
pull
the small trailer up to the truck attach & drive away. No salt touches
the
truck.


You're right, this is definitely an option, and one I've already done in
places that weren't really a "launch" (ie something somewhat beach-
like...). It's a bit more elegant to back it down, but hell...

There's also the "correction" technique, esp. when backing down the
trailer for retrieval: back it down a bit, get out, pick up the trailer
and straighten it, back down a bit more...

It looks like four solutions: hand-launch, get BIG mirrors (I've found a
couple of options: slide-on and swing-out), front-mounted hitch, or put
flags, etc. on the sides of the trailer. In the end, I'll probably use a
combination.

As Harry says, a CCTV is a BIT overkill. I'm glad I'm on the other side
of
the continent, though: Harry, you pull a boat YOU CAN'T SEE AROUND down
the highway? scary...

Lloyd Sumpter
"The Tin Boat" Mirrocraft 12


I don't pull that Parker down the highway often. It's pretty scary
looking in the rear-view mirror and seeing nothing but a huge mass of
white plastic. With the side-view mirrors, I can see as far back as the
front trailer tire...sort of.

This past summer, I only towed from the parking spot in the boatyard to
its ramp, a couple of hundred yards usually. Oh...and one time I towed
to Solomons Island from the boatyard, about 35 miles each way.

When I back the boat down the ramp, I can't see a damned thing. I line
up, back a ways, get out and look, back down some more, et cetera. I
actually can launch and retrieve the boat by myself if I have to do so.

It is much harder to back up a small trailer behind a long vehicle than to
back up a long trailer behind a short vehicle. And if you can not see
behind you with your mirrors, the cops can give you a ticket and I hope they
do! Just what you want to see, is some guy changing lanes with out seeing
or looking. You can get clip on extension mirrors, that are only installed
when towing. Clip on the window sill and a rubber bungee helps hold them in
place, or you can buy aftermarket mirrors that are like GM's towing mirrors.
They electrically extend. When I tow with or with out the camper
installed, I press the switch and the mirrors on my Chevy 2500 Crew cab
extend out about 9 more inches.
Bill