So the goal was....

[Pacoson]

Right before Christmas I found a good deal on My first 94 GTX. My lova and son go boating almost every weekend and a few days during the week too.

So the goal was to tow the boat (20ft centurion) and have the GTX too!

It took all winter to research and decipher ideas (and beer) but I have created a "shuttle" that the GTX will be strapped to making it a GTX with four wheels!

I have a 6.5ft bed on My Ford 150 and the tailgate needs to be removed or it collides with the trailer. The shuttle is just over 6ft so the tires stay in the bed.

It's still a work in progress and I have a few pics I'll try to put up.

I have the ski on the pressure treated shuttle now and all is good!

 

[Pacoson]

Pics of the shuttle and its cargo

 

[Dennis]

How are you gonna get it in and out of the bed?

 

[bigJake]

How are you gonna get it in and out of the bed?

it's a shuttle Dennis, he'll launch it, drop the booster rockets, then just land in the bed of the truck :lols:

so how are you going to get it in the bed of the truck?

 

[Pacoson]

I have a set of ramps. They tuck under the bed liner and each has a belt to tie down to the bumper so they don't move.
I have a crank winch attached to the bed of the truck to pull it up the ramps.

We usually are out for 7 to 10 hrs on the water so it'll be drop the boat, park the trailer, drop the GTX, reload the shuttle and park the truck. oh, yes, then crack a beer.

 

[griz400]

you must be kin to ole gitar boy

 

[Pacoson]

pics of the winch on the bed

 

[griz400]

you are kin, lol, ist or second cousin ????

 

[Pacoson]

Not sure who Gitar boy be but are you pokin fun at me and my aunti mom and uncle dad lol

 

[griz400]

you got 1 2x4 holding a 700 lb gtx on wheels in back of truck with no tailgate ??? i dont wanna be behind you, but the sheriff does, after you get a ticket and they impound it, this picture will on their bulliten board at headquarters

 

[RFoster130]

you are from CT????? That looks like some ky redneck stunt there. I can't knock ya for trying though.

 

[Pacoson]

Not quite, once the shuttle is in the bed I have anchor points in all 4 lower corners.

I've quite thought this through and want the boat, GTX, truck and self to arrive be happy and safe.

94 GTX weighs in @ 500lbs shuttle @60 plus 50 for sundries all weights for the truck ( and breaking) are twice what I am carting and towing.

 

[harryb]

Griz; Be gentle now, it's probably got something to do with all that Molson Ice ya see stacked up there. Apparently Genny Cream isn't available there.:lol:

 

[griz400]

wish u luck, i think your nuttier than squirrel shit though, this is just like riding a fat chick, fun to ride, but u dont tell your buddies about it

 

[Pacoson]

Why would you say that? You wouldn't want to transport multiple toys in one truck?

What's your deal! Can you weld Me up a rig based on My specs for under 100$ because that's all I have spent.

 

[Dennis]

Deer Jake, thanks fer clearin' that up for us. Me and Otis wurnt awar of any boosters an such. It's all makin' cents now. Otis is a thinkin that this Pacoson feller better make sher his hi falootin' shuttle craft doohicky is tide down reel good like so as not to launch out of the back of that truck in case of a panic stop or accident.

Me and Otis

 

[bigJake]

How do you secure the ski to the shuttle?
might want to put some carpet on the shuttle "bunks" too

umm, seems you got this all thought out except for one minor detail. How you getting the ski out of the water back onto the shuttle? If you think you are going to back the shuttle into the water and drive the ski onto it, here's a news flash for ya - WOOD FLOATS. That ain't happening.

"Go for throttle up".

 

[Pacoson]

Got me! never thought of that! I did say work in progress did I.

good thought to plan ahead for a solution, thanks.

tomorrow, I feel my lawn might not be mud, I'll load the ski and take some measurements (and pics).

I've googled and searched for this kind of set-up and its a "tried to build a better mousetrap" kind of thought.
I like my success so far, goal is to have a good time

 

[bigJake]

I ain't just busting your chops about your shuttle floating. This is a picture of my ski ramps at the lakehouse. The end of the ramps extend 3 feet into the water. I had to drive 3' lengths of rebar into the shore to keep the ends of the ramps from floating. There ain't no way that I see you getting that ski back onto the shuttle in the water.

 

[Pacoson]

no chops busted, I appreciate the view point, I didn't have it and now I can prepare. I wouldn't mind being that spectator on shore watching the idiot lose the shuttle juggling the ski, rope, beer and hook.

 

[bigJake]

yea, it would kind of ruin your day if you got the ski in the water but then couldn't get it back out.

 

[bigJake]

yea, it would kind of ruin your day if you got the ski in the water but then couldn't get it back out.

I'm thinking you're going to beef up that winch rigging too. I don't think the tensile strength of a 2x4 is 600 pounds. 2 bolts thru the middle of the 2x4 meaning you got 1" of cross grain wood supporting the pull of 600 pounds. I can picture that 2x4 snapping with your shuttle halfway up the ramp and you lose the whole thing into the lake.

 

[griz400]

here is an idea, its not the rocketship though, lol, i seen jethro clampett strapped to a rocket one time, that was all bad though, --
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6AQdWzzoKU

 

[Dr Honda]

Looks like I good idea. Just don't take too much time on a busy ramp. You may find yourself surrounded by bunch of pissed off boaters. BUT... I'm sure once you do it a few times... it won't take long.

 

[bigJake]

i thought of something that might work for you. Rather that trying to load the ski onto the shuttle at teh ramp, leave the ski in waist deep water and bring the shuttle into the water. This would probably be at least a 2 man operation but press the shuttle under the water and put it under the ski, lash the ski to the shuttle, push it to the ramp then attach your winch. A bit redneck, but it might work better than trying to get the ski on the shuttle at the ramp.