Ok, I seem to be re posting this a few times a month, so I am going to make a thread about it so I can just link back to it instead of retyping every time, I know I am lazy!
Ok, This is what I have made, its a system to launch your ski out of the bed of your truck by yourself. I decided to go this route because I didn't have a trailer at the time, and I also tow my boat, so for me to be able to take both, I made this. Now, for every truck and ski, there will be some different ways to do it, but the biggest part is making sure the rails stay in the bed of the truck! I used bolts, but whatever you use, it needs to work. I did modify some things for my 550SX, but it works the same. Also I can take full credit since others have made them too, some much nicer than mine, but here is mine...........................
The system is made up of 3 parts, the ramp, the rails, and the winch. And the pictures speak for themselves, but I will add a few things.
The ramp is simple, it is just 2x4's with wheels! I got them at home depot and they a 2" wheels. The reason for wheels is you have a steep angle to the bed of the truck, and with a winch, getting it up can be tough, so the wheels make it a cinch. The ramp is 8 feet long, and I added a 1 foot leg to the end, this is so when you launch it, the ride plate doesn't hit the bottom.
The rail system is as wide as needed, I made mine 15" wide, and as long as the bed of the truck and tailgate. I also angles the ends to make it easier. I decided to use PVC for the bunks because I had some 2 inch and I cut in to fit, and used a heat gun to bend it. The only thing holding it to the bed of the truck are 2 anchor bolts from home depot that are called bed bolts (http://www.bedbolts.com/products-page/) I just got longer eye bolts and used them threw the 2x4's.
Next is the winch, I just made a space in the rail system to hold a 4x4 post that I mounted a standard winch to, all it does is slide in, and then it has a eye bolt that I run a ratchet strap threw, and to the eye bolts in the bed bolts, so that when you are winching, it wont try and pull the winch post out, and then the ski is in, I can take it out and slide the ski further forward if needed. But if you can mount the winch to the bed, and not care about drilling holes, its much easier.
When I use it with my 750 SS (~600lbs) all I did to launch it after I got used to it was attached a rope to the bow, and I set the ramp in between the rails, and push it off. I can be in the water in 2 min max, just as long as anyone with a boat. To pick up the ski, its just undo the winch line, then winch it up! It take a bit to pull in 16 feet of cable, but it happens quick.
Video of it in action!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6AQdWzzoKU
Now onto the pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok, This is what I have made, its a system to launch your ski out of the bed of your truck by yourself. I decided to go this route because I didn't have a trailer at the time, and I also tow my boat, so for me to be able to take both, I made this. Now, for every truck and ski, there will be some different ways to do it, but the biggest part is making sure the rails stay in the bed of the truck! I used bolts, but whatever you use, it needs to work. I did modify some things for my 550SX, but it works the same. Also I can take full credit since others have made them too, some much nicer than mine, but here is mine...........................
The system is made up of 3 parts, the ramp, the rails, and the winch. And the pictures speak for themselves, but I will add a few things.
The ramp is simple, it is just 2x4's with wheels! I got them at home depot and they a 2" wheels. The reason for wheels is you have a steep angle to the bed of the truck, and with a winch, getting it up can be tough, so the wheels make it a cinch. The ramp is 8 feet long, and I added a 1 foot leg to the end, this is so when you launch it, the ride plate doesn't hit the bottom.
The rail system is as wide as needed, I made mine 15" wide, and as long as the bed of the truck and tailgate. I also angles the ends to make it easier. I decided to use PVC for the bunks because I had some 2 inch and I cut in to fit, and used a heat gun to bend it. The only thing holding it to the bed of the truck are 2 anchor bolts from home depot that are called bed bolts (http://www.bedbolts.com/products-page/) I just got longer eye bolts and used them threw the 2x4's.
Next is the winch, I just made a space in the rail system to hold a 4x4 post that I mounted a standard winch to, all it does is slide in, and then it has a eye bolt that I run a ratchet strap threw, and to the eye bolts in the bed bolts, so that when you are winching, it wont try and pull the winch post out, and then the ski is in, I can take it out and slide the ski further forward if needed. But if you can mount the winch to the bed, and not care about drilling holes, its much easier.
When I use it with my 750 SS (~600lbs) all I did to launch it after I got used to it was attached a rope to the bow, and I set the ramp in between the rails, and push it off. I can be in the water in 2 min max, just as long as anyone with a boat. To pick up the ski, its just undo the winch line, then winch it up! It take a bit to pull in 16 feet of cable, but it happens quick.
Video of it in action!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6AQdWzzoKU
Now onto the pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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