New Pro Team 185

[Christopher Laurencio]

Ok, I know I kinda asked this question already, but does anyone know the exact trailer tongue height of a 2004 PT 185 when the trailer is level. Picking up the new boat tommorrow and don't want to mess up the new boat before I get in the water. My truck hitch receiver is exactly 20 inches from the ground.



Also, how far do I put the trailer into the water to get it back on the trialer, should the bunks be completely submerged? Cannot use gas motor to put boat back on trailer electric only lake.



Please advise and thanks in advance.

 

[Scott Hammer TOXIC]

CJ,



Have the dealer or owner of the boat put it on the tounge wheel level and measure from the top of the hitch to the ground. Take a good guess on what your tow vehicle will sag with the tongue weight and you'll have your number. I have seen very few that have to lift the tounge height meaning normally you will use a straight or drop hitch. 20-23in is normal. If you are off, it's not gonna hurt anything to tow it home and then modify it. If you have to "float" your boat on the trailer (I feel for you, my 929 is a bear to lod that way) you will need to first dunk your bunks so that they are slick and then get it deep enough to float on but not so deep it won't go on the trailer straight. Usually if your bunks are a couple of inches under the water it will work. A lot of trial and error. Take your time and don't get rattled.



TOXIC

 

[Christopher Laurencio]

Toxic,

Thanks, you see I was thinking the other way, that the hitch would be to high not to low, the reason for my concern is I tow my buddies Ranger sometimes and the Ranger trailer is much lower than 20", I guess the Tracker Trailers are designed to be higher, in any event thanks, I did ask the dealer and he said 20" but I was not that confident in his answer so I wanted to ask actual owners,

 

[Scott Hammer TOXIC]

My explorer sags pretty good but at full sag, LOL, the trailer is level (straight receiver bar). My 9 has good amount of tongue weight. Now the new truck (a 3/4 ton Silverado) is gonna be a whole new ballgame. With the HD suspension, I doubt I'll get any sag and may have to drop the hitch. It is more important to be level with a tandem.



TOXIC

 

[Christopher Laurencio]

 

[Christopher Laurencio]

Yes that's exactly what I meant, I have a Dodge 2500 HD pickup, when I put my friends Ranger 522 It has almost zero sag, since I can pick up the tounge on the Tracker with one hand I don't think the truck will sag at all, I was concerned that I would bump or drag the lower end of the motor if the hitch is to high, it would not be a problem if the dealer sold trialer hitch parts, but it is just a showroom.



I guess I am getting exited about he 185, I am going striaght to the water withit after I pick it up.

 

[Thad Fineran]

CJ,

I tow my PT 185 with a Durango R/T (BIG tires), and it's just the right height. I also have to load quite often without the use of the big motor, and the process is to wet the entire bunk, then pull out so that the top of the wheel wells are just at the water surface. (I actually use this position for both types of loading)



You can run the trolling motor all the way up to the end of the trailer, then coast up onto the bunks. I then climb over the bow, onto the trailer, and attach the strap and crank the last 6-12 inches with the winch. Pretty easy to do if the winds aren't bad.



It's a good boat, and easy to do the loads/unloads with one person after some practice. Let me know if you have any other questions.



Thad