Quote:
Originally Posted by made2care
I really appreciate the creative input. I will try an attach some photos. One of the "Good old boys" that live in the area initially suggested placing an axle under her, then he changed his mind to your plan. He thought by placing some 4 " pipe under and pulling out with a backhoe might work, the issue I have here is the deck might give way and then we would really have a mess!! To give you an idea of what degree of slope I am working with, she sits parrallel to the slope with about 3 ' block on one side and 1' on the other side(not end). I live 4 hrs away and would prefer to drop off the axle, have it fitted and then pick up in a couple of weeks. Pulling it out with skids of sorts or pipe would be easier in terms of not having to be too concerned with the boathouse structure. Will continue at the drawing board.
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Hey Tim!... That's a really great looking antique TT! From your pictures and description of things, I have some observations...
You want to
FINESSE that trailer out from her place of settlement. ...As opposed to simply hooking up to her and dragging her out of there.
She needs to be tenderly and lovingly "seduced" into coming out from that shelter. Otherwise, irreparable... and I do mean "
not repairable" damage may result.
The backhoe may be the tool of choice, but only in the hands of a skilled operator who can gently take her hand (actually, her tongue ...Oh, Gosh!!
) and "lead" her do something she has not done in a long, long time. She will be reluctant, to be sure. (The pretty ones always are...
)
A certain amount of preparation is in order... think of it as foreplay in this process of the seduction of an awakened princess. (Poetic, ain't it?)
...She needs to be as light on her feet as you can make her...
Whatever is inside her that CAN be removed needs to be removed. It will surprise you how much weight you can relieve from her fragile frame by taking out EVERYTHING that is not attached ...and some of the things that can be detached with a little effort.
I noticed an AC unit of the roof. You need to evaluate whether it will damage the trailer if you leave it there... not only from a top clearance standpoint, but from "bouncing" and flexing the roof spars as you transport her. She may be solid as a rock ...but if there has been any leakage, the framing around the unit could give way and do considerable damage as the unit dislodges ...also damaging any thing below.
You should evaluate the advantage of temporarily "cross-bracing" the inside with lightweight 2x4s to make her safer to move. Simple things like truck innertubes can be inflated in certain places to provide support ...no additional weight and lots of strength if padded against sharp edges with cardboard.
There appears to be a pretty good-sized tree to the the front of the trailer. You may be able to anchor a "come-a-long" cable pull at the base of that tree and very slowly finesse her... an inch at a time.
Do not underestimate the utility of a couple of good 16' 2 X 10 "sleeper" boards, placed in line with the frame rails, greased with Crisco (a cheap temporary lubricant ...easy to wash off) to skid her along to where she can be lifted to transport. You could even use those batter boards as a ramp up to a low trailer ...using the come-a-long anchored to the low-boy tongue.
Please consider the possibility of structural failure of the boat house, the decking and even the trailer itself. Do not allow anyone to get under anything that is not safely supported.
Depending upon the local flora and fauna... I don't know what is indigenous to your area ...but down here in Florida, you would need to watch out for snakes, spiders, wasps, poison oak ...and may a gator or two. Be alert.
Man... I wish I could be there! I am already "smitten" by her...
I bid you good luck, friend,
Jim