Adding a Trailer Hitch to the Boat Trailer

[woodard1983]

I think a couple people have done this if I remember correctly?

I'm looking to had a hitch to the back of the boat trailer so that I can pull the jet ski behind it. Has anyone done this? If so, where did you go to get it done, a regular body shop? I've called the local marina and a few other places I thought might do it and they all said they aren't sure where I should go

Also, how much work/modding is involved?

 

[Ronnie]

I recall seeing a pic of a setup like you described, I think it was an avatar of a YJB member. Anyway, it didn't look complex, the receiver for the tongue was welded to the bottom rear cross support.

I would be more concerned with the legality of such a rig. In ca if you want to tow two trailers with one vehicle the first one needs to be attached via a fifth wheel. I'm sure this applies to other states as well but I'm not sure which.

 

[GiddYupJoe]

@woodard1983
Here is the thread from the other place that @Ronnie was talking about. On one of the 30 pages there is a whole write up about the hitch on the trailer. Enjoy!

http://yamahajetboaters.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=34481&start=435

 

[jdonalds]

That would be illegal in California.

I had a receiver welded to the back of a tent trailer so I could attach our bike rack. The local trailer shop did it for me.

 

[sstegh]

In Missouri we can trailer like that. I've thought about having that done so we could take a popup trailer and the boat camping. It would scare me if I had to back up....

 

[woodard1983]

It's legal in IA, KS, MO, & NE. Not sure about other places, but that has been 100% of my boating to this point so it should be good....

I'll check the welding shops around and see what I can find, Thanks everyone!!!

 

[CDENsomnia]

Actually in KS you have to have a fifth wheel as the first trailer and it must have electric brakes and a breakaway. The second trailer just needs to have lights. I researched the heck out of it because I had a fifth wheel with a waverunner on the back.

 

[woodard1983]

hhhmmm, I'll have to check into that....I spoke w/a KS state trooper and he said it was fine...thanks for the heads up, I'd rather not get in trouble for something like that

 

[CDENsomnia]

Ha! I too was worried about getting stopped. I also spoke with a State Trooper but actually went to the local inspection station and they said it must be a fifth wheel for the first trailer. I think I have a PDF somewhere of the actual verbiage the state uses. I will see if I can dig it up.

 

[itsdgm]

I think a couple people have done this if I remember correctly?

I'm looking to had a hitch to the back of the boat trailer so that I can pull the jet ski behind it. Has anyone done this? If so, where did you go to get it done, a regular body shop? I've called the local marina and a few other places I thought might do it and they all said they aren't sure where I should go

Also, how much work/modding is involved?

Not sure what you're using as a tow vehicle, but it might be easier (and safer) to put the jet ski in the back of a pickup truck, then tow the boat behind the truck. There's some pretty nice carriers that are made to fit into truck beds.

 

[Wayloncle]

I saw a boat trailer on here (I think) that had a ski carrier in front of the boat, the person had bought the boat and was wanting to get a normal trailer if I remember correctly.

 

[woodard1983]

Not sure what you're using as a tow vehicle, but it might be easier (and safer) to put the jet ski in the back of a pickup truck, then tow the boat behind the truck. There's some pretty nice carriers that are made to fit into truck beds.

cost of $1-200 vs a few thousand for the haulers has me nixing that idea....It's a single ski, nothing unsafe about it...the only limiting factor is that you lose the ability to back up

with that being said, i wouldn't ever think about it in Cali...much different traffic/roads here in the midwest

 

[mmgg]

In Canada I heard there is a max. length something like 50 feet for truck and trailers.