Inflatable Boat Modification - Trailerless Transport and Launching

[@danielwatkins877]

I adore my inflatable, but the worst part of the experience has been pulling it up boat ramps on dinghy wheels after being out--going down is easy and not a problem. Can't believe I never thought of just hooking my carry strap around my trailer hitch. Would've never thought of it without this video. Thank you!!!

[@socalangler951]

Great set up for RV camping. Launching and transporting to/from RV site to launch ramp is what fishing Rvers need to know! Thanks fir sharing!

[@MotionSmurf]

This is genius! I have pondered countless hours to create an efficient mount for the same purpose of using throughout a campsite. I subscribed hoping you will post a video of the complete setup. Thanks for keeping campers inspired!

[@sammyjimsmith6100]

BISQUIT 303 thanks for the comment , I will post more photos and video of setup

[@srileo]

One of the best videos on the topic. Great ingenuity here.

[@shifty7739]

Awesome and ingenious design! Simple and effective when a trailer is not an option.

[@captainmarkgray8856]

Great mod! I liked my dinghy mods but now you have me thinking about how I can leave it all set up to transport. What a great idea! Thanks :-)

[@KaourantinDuplenne]

That's a very good idea. Some RIB have an aluminium hull, so it very strong to install supports for wheels and hook.

[@dannyrusso8279]

Great video. Funny, I was looking for a similar video and never found it, until now. I just finished my own similar project. My marina is literally around the corner from my house, so I went the same route. I use a different system for the hitch attachment. I made a clamp, that sandwiches the D-ring securely, and mounts on a 1/2" pin on the hitch. Works great, but I added a safety line, just in case. I also used single 13" pneumatic wheels, but are held on with a bracket on each side of the axle. Like a upside down "U". The wheels are stored under each seat, and are held to the bottom of the seats using bolts and wings nuts. Luckily, I don't have to get wet launching or retrieving, since I have a dock next to the ramp. Definitely would not chance this setup on anything further than 1/8 of a mile!

[@irmaeichler2639]

Good idea, great video too!

[@DavidGriffis]

Good moves. Get some swimming trunks and you're set.

[@galeto007]

Great video!!!! Where can i find the brace you have over the front of the boat and the dolly / jockey wheel with the handle set up for pulling the boat around? Awesome set up!!!

[@racemode]

Just genius

[@robmaxwell5465]

I do the same thing with my inflatable as well. Aluminum floors, extra gas, wheels, fishing gear, etc. make it a little heavy to drag any distance. My RIB has a handle on the front, which I use to tie to the latch on my TOAD. I braided a 8-strand piece of para cord to do the job, and left a long loop at the boat end to loop through the handle - made it long enough to hold from inside car instead of tying it. Worried about the strength of the handle, although I go super slow in the campground and around corners (as I don't have a natural pivot point like yours does..... I may work on some sort of hang-on contraption on the car to extend past the bumper and give me a pivot (no hitch on car). Also will be investigating options to distribute the stress on the handle of the dinghy - I like your ideas.....great work and thanks for sharing!

[@rezaheidari2841]

great idea. thanks for sharing. What's the name of that metal piece with the pin you mounted in front of your boat to be able to put it on your car towing hitch?

[@robkelderman1572]

I like your trailer less set up . Could you tell me where you bought it on bow and how it is attached . Or if you built the set up would you share .

[@tomokin666]

Good design. I really want to make one for myself. Is it possible to make another video showing the bottom of it. I want to see the entire structure. The ramp I use is steep, and the 18' inflatable with 25hp I recently bought is a bit heavy to pull with my legs. If I can hook it up to my truck just like you do in the video, that would be so much easier.

[@sammyjimsmith6100]

Yes, the emt is welded together with a small triangle gusset in the corners. The emt is then covered with foam pipe insulation, which is taped on . The straps from the bottom loops are crisscrosed before running up the side of the boat and through the handles and back to the top loops. I have used this method for the last 4 years without any problems with the hitch. I cannot say the same for the harbor freight wheels, junk tires, carry a spare. Rgrds.

[@ChristopherJones-td4ox]

Sammyjim Smith Thanks. I have a heavy 15 foot inflatable. This would be perfect for retrieving it and getting it to the parking lot for breakdown.

[@geraldpaul1870]

Nice now how did you make that

[@ia6980]

What is that rod sticking out in front of boat that goes into hitch? What is it called pls? And where can you get it?

[@protechnh]

Don't you have to register this as a trailer?

[@ia6980]

Where can front pin on inflatable bow that goes into receiver be bought?

[@Campers_Anonymous]

What are you using to connect the hull to the car? I have transom wheels on my dingy and would love to do this, however cant figure out how you guys got the front attached to the car so it can pivot. Any advise helps, thanks!

[@NghiaPham-xi5so]

What type of hook up is that in the front? What materials did you use?

[@johanwithag2432]

Are these launching wheels from a Boeing 747?

[@ChristopherJones-td4ox]

Excellence. Is the electrical conduit welded together?

[@28ebdh3udnav]

How much does it cost to add the center console?

[@reempire888]

I definitely wouldn't do it for an extended period of time. Driving at any speed on the road with the weight of the boat puts too much stress on the transom and may damage it over time.

[@sammyjimsmith6100]

Yes I agree, but think of the stress goung 30 mph on the water, twisting and turning and hopping the waves

[@thomassodomizer764]

Those are some nice looking launch wheels. What brand are those?

[@sammyjimsmith6100]

The legs are 1 1/2 steel tubing with a hole drilled about 1 inch from the bottom. A 4 inch piece of pipe with 5/8 in id is welded on. The axel is a 10 in lenth of 5/8 in rod with holes drilled at either end for cottor pins. The wheels are 13 in harbor freight which go for about 14 bucks each

[@dannyrusso8279]

@@sammyjimsmith6100 Just a heads up. I returned the 13 Harbor Freight wheels I had bought, and instead bought a more heavy duty 13" pneumatic wheel/tire from Home Depot. These have grease fittings, and are tubeless, and have one piece welded wheels. Seem to be a more heavy duty option, at about the same price. That said, your HF wheels, since doubled up, should work fine for you.

[@yrevelations1924]

So do you drive far like that you said you have no trailer ? Do you take the air out and pack it up ?

[@andrewfreeman88]

Very cool but now you get them shorts all wet and soggy...Transom wheels should fold up so you jump in from the front of the dinghy..

[@sammyjimsmith6100]

I don't drive far. I drive slow, and not on roads. The boat is very strong without the trailer.

[@ChristopherJones-td4ox]

I've been driving slowly on roads passing cops without an issue. I don't leave the motor on. I drive a mile each way on the shoulder

[@sammyjimsmith6100]

It's probably not legal. Just for moving in campgrounds

[@FL-gg4dq]

Can you tell us how to build it. ?? I just need it to move it around the parking lot after I inflate my boat! Thanks and cool work!

[@ChristopherJones-td4ox]

Are the joints welded at a T where the pin is welded?

[@perceval7790]

I see that you have the 20hp tohatsu....What is the cruising range you can do in a day with that kind of boat and engine??

[@sammyjimsmith6100]

MR Bloom it s very economical, I go about 4 1/2 hrs on 3 gal at half throttle, lots of power. Easy start, even with pull cord. I take extra 2 gal for all day.

[@perceval7790]

Let say you go on a longer trip for the day what the %throttle you are using...I mean are you at full throttle all the time...or do you cruise at lower Rpm to not damage the engine? Thanks for your help!

[@sammyjimsmith6100]

The nose part is simply 1/2 in emt electrical tubing bent to the shape of the boat, with cross pieces that attach to the boats front attachment point, with a 5/8 steel pin welded on to it. The underneath has a steel loop on each corner with straps that crisscross under the boat then up and through the handles and back to the upper parts of the nose with tighteners on the straps. I don't have the boat inflated now but will have soon. i use it on the Colorado in the winter and lakes and rivers in BC in the summer. I have used this for three years without a hitch. (joke). i will post a better video when I get my boat inflated. The same pin the fits the trailer hitch is used with the handwheels to tow it around camp.

[@tomokin666]

Thank you sir. After reading your message and watching the video a few more times, now I see how it's made. Bending the emt to the shape of the boat sounds difficult ( I'm not good at those thing ) I might pay someone to make one. Thank you so much !!

[@gyroscope9228]

Is this legal driving on the road?

[@thomassodomizer764]

Nope just probably from the boat ramp parking lot to the ramp. Those wheels will come apart at anything over 20 Mph.

[@sammyjimsmith6100]

This is how I launch my boat when away on vacation. As my van is towed by my RV I have no way of bringing my boat trailer with me. I came up with this method. What do you think of it?

[@jamesallbright3170]

Sammyjim Smith Brilliant, would use this as a primary cost effective trailer substitute

[@yrevelations1924]

I wanna do that to my boat but I wanna transport all the way to the the water like that down the freeway

[@onexiz1991]

hey do you need a license in the "trailer" for move that??

[@sammyjimsmith6100]

Bryan Rodriguez i jjust move it in campgrounds, it's not for the road. inflatables are very strong, so why bother with a trailer or dragging it by hand. regards.

[@koo207]

it is illegal to drive on the road , cops will stop with tickets 😂🤣🤣

[@gogan3429]

I hope you arent driving on the highway like that.

[@shifty7739]

Clearly says offroad in canp site in the video. He also said the van is towed by his rv so he cant have a real trailer. This is an ingenious solution.