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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Douglasville, GA
    Posts
    284

    Default Boat Trailer Parking - Crowded days!

    OK, so I've been boating now for over 5 years and LUCKILY!!... I've always managed to make it to the ramp before everyone else decided to show up and have not had the problem of parking in one of the very last open spots at the ramp! However, I am fearful of that day coming! So my question for you guys is!... (drum roll please!)

    How in the WORLD do you wiggle and park a 23 ft tandem axle trailer in a tight opening, trailers on all sides of you? Forward, backward, side and side. I've never actually watched it be done! but I have been so tightly squeezed in from other folks that I had to take my trailer off (it was a single axle) and finagle that thing around just so I could get my truck out. I've searched the web, searched YouTube, but all I find is trailer parking advertisements and "how to back your trailer." I feel I've pretty much mastered that part of it as I can put that darn thing anywhere in reverse!! It's just the whole pulling into a REAL tight parking space with NO room to swing out.

    I don't know if you guys have the same maneuver space as we do here on Lake Allatoona but man it gets tight sometimes. And when that last space is the only space you legally can park in without getting ticketed!
    Stephen
    2009 Mobius LSV
    Black and Yellow

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    North End Lake Lanier GA
    Posts
    8,155

    Default

    The few times I have gone and it was super busy at the ramps, the first thing I do is actually find my space I want to park when I launch the boat.

    I tend to take the last space so no one can park on the side of me.

    Also IDK maybe I am lucky enough in OR that we have pretty decent sized parking lots for the boats.

    When I do have to park it in crowded areas I will <example the space is between two others and center row, on my Left> drive down the isle, as fare on the right as I can. I will slightly drive past the space I want turning the truck very sharply to the left, just missing my truck to his trailer. This will allow your trailer to turn slightly wide and come into the space lined up. Then i drive through the space as much as I can and I can normally back it up some to center the trailer in the space.

    I honestly hate parking between others because then they leave if they turn to sharply they might catch my truck with your trailer.
    Malo <--- Means--Evil or Mean One. This explains a lot.
    2013 Mojo 2.5 Skylon Tower. Bestia < Beast >
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  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Tallahassee, FL
    Posts
    14,071

    Default

    He's got it right there. It's about all you can do. We only have a couple days a year when they use all the parking and those are days I usually stay home cuz the coppers are all over.
    My Mom said I'm not allowed to get wet!
    2008 LSV (sold)
    2000 Outback LS (sold)
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  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Douglasville, GA
    Posts
    284

    Default

    I'm going to give that a try sir! I have a parking lot behind my house. Thinking about taking it up there, marking off some cones and giving it a shot!!

    I hate having to park near someone else too especially in the middle of folks for the fear if being hit too, but when that's the only spot you can go, sometimes it gets complicated!..
    Stephen
    2009 Mobius LSV
    Black and Yellow

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    2,522

    Default Re: Boat Trailer Parking - Crowded days!

    Bump steering and practice..
    http://www.instgram.com/jlyons30
    2002 Moomba Mobius LSV - Sold
    2006 Moomba Mobius LSV - Sold
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  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Eugene OR
    Posts
    1,786

    Default

    Mike has it right. take a wide turn so you have the best hopes to get your trailer as lined up as possible. Best thing to do is practice, practice, practice and take it slow. You are not in a race. The more you drive with your trailer the better feel you have on were your turn points will be.

    Now remember you can do everything right and have the trailer in the perfect position to back out and idiot to your right can mess everything up and be so jacked up and blocking your trailer that you have to unhook it from the truck and push the trailer out then back the truck out.
    2008 Outback V - Sold but never forgotten.
    “Do not wait; the time will never be “just right.” Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along." -Napoleon Hill

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    North End Lake Lanier GA
    Posts
    8,155

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by jester View Post
    Mike has it right. take a wide turn so you have the best hopes to get your trailer as lined up as possible. Best thing to do is practice, practice, practice and take it slow. You are not in a race. The more you drive with your trailer the better feel you have on were your turn points will be.

    Now remember you can do everything right and have the trailer in the perfect position to back out and idiot to your right can mess everything up and be so jacked up and blocking your trailer that you have to unhook it from the truck and push the trailer out then back the truck out.
    You speak from experience? LOL
    Malo <--- Means--Evil or Mean One. This explains a lot.
    2013 Mojo 2.5 Skylon Tower. Bestia < Beast >
    [COLOR="#696969"]

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Vancouver WA
    Posts
    5,019

    Default

    I had it happen once last year where I got there early and parked fine. the lot filled up as it does regularly during peak summer weekends. They designed it poorly IMO and it was SUPER stressful to get out. I swung as wide as I could to start my left turn out of my spot. I backed and jockied a lot. In the end, I had to have the suv (light green in the diagram) move their gear that they had put on the pavement just behind their car AND had to have people spotting me. my trailer cleared the trailer to my left (black in diagram) by INCHES. It was nuts. and that was with a midsized truck and a trailer for a 21 foot boat.

    Short of pulling out and turning right and driving out of the parking lot to turn around and drive back in (and get further back in the already building line to pull the boat out) there wasn't a ton of available options. I was really thankful I didn't have to unhook the trailer.

    2008 Moomba Mobius XLV. Monster Cargo Bimini, WS Rev 410's, Polk Cabins, 3 Infinity Subs, PPI amps, WS420, Exile BT, upgraded ballast pumps, up to 3,500+ pounds of ballast, Blue LED's...
    1992 Supra Sunsport. **SOLD** 2k pounds ballast, Surf System, Blue LED's everywhere, decent audio system.
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  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Ft. Collins, CO
    Posts
    688

    Default

    The lots around here are pretty tight but designed well enough to be functional at the very least. The overflow lots use some parallel parking spots perpendicular to regular pull-in spots. These are definitely more exciting.

    The best thing you can do in really tight places is to use a spotter, but it has to be someone that you are used to working with and have a system. It won't help to have someone back there just waving their arms saying "you're good on this side" - that's almost more stressful.

    Keep in mind that your truck's wheel base plays the biggest factor in how your trailer handles. I'm not saying that you should go buy a new truck but if you have a 4 door long bed dually, realize that the cards are stacked against you. You might need to use a shorter truck/Jeep for the tightest maneuvers. If it's possible to get totally jammed, I'd have one of those hand trucks available or put a hitch on the front of your truck. I've used a Jeep with a front hitch to wiggle in the tightest garage spots.
    2007 Mobius LSV
    1989 Sanger Skier DX - sold

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Katy, TX
    Posts
    6,368

    Default Boat Trailer Parking - Crowded days!

    Pull in with your truck and get a couple buddies to help you pick up the trailer and straighten it out


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    David

    2017 Moomba Mojo Max Surf Edition, 2 Pair Wetsounds Rev10s powered by an SD2, 6 pair Wetsounds XS650M and Wetsounds XS12 powered by SD6 all controlled by a WS420. 2 Lumitec SeaBlaze X2 Spectrum underwater lights

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