[Rhodes22-list] Saroj hitch up solution

[Peter Thorn]

Saroj,

If you have a pickup or SUV, then I have a suggestion you might like.  A few
years ago I found a convex mirror that mounts on my pickup tailgate.  From
the driver's position in the cab looking through the rearview mirror and
looking at the convex mirror on the tailgate, you can see the hitch and
coupler in just the right scale -- it covers about a 5' diameter circle.

Kevin at Plattsburgh Spring  (http://www.drawtite.com/) sold me this mirror,
although I could not find it on his website.  He told me then it was very
popular with the "horse trailer" crowd.  It was about $35 then -- and worth
very much more to me now that I've come to depend upon mine.  With this
simple tool, I connect to any trailer coupler the first try each time!

Good luck.

PT



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Saroj" <saroj at pathfind.net>
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Sunday, August 29, 2004 3:01 PM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] New Rhodie in N.J.


> I highly recommend learning to do with mirrors.  You have a far greater
> range of vision field and saves your neck, too!!
>
> What I have the devil of a time with is getting the hitch and the tongue
> lined up without being able to see either.  Any suggestions?
>
> Saroj
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Bill Effros" <bill at effros.com>
> To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Sent: Sunday, August 29, 2004 1:50 PM
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] New Rhodie in N.J.
>
>
> Phyllis,
>
> Congratulations.
>
> Backing up trailers is fun once you get the hang of it.  Take the boat to
a
> supermarket parking lot after the store has closed and practice when there
> are no cars around, and nothing to hit (and nobody to laugh at you while
> your mind figures it out.)  Decide if you are going to back up by turning
> around and looking backwards, or by looking in mirrors while facing
forward.
> There is a case to be made for either method, but your mind works
> differently depending on which you choose, and it can be very confusing to
> switch methods while you are in the middle of a maneuver.
>
> Also, remember that the boat is balanced on the trailer so that there is
> only roughly 200 pounds on the jack wheel.  Sometimes the easiest way to
> move in tight quarters is to detach the trailer, rotate it into position
by
> hand, (like the way they turn the cable cars in San Francisco--easier with
> single axle trailers) and then either move the trailer by hand (it's on
> wheels--this is easy on level driveways) or reconnect the tow vehicle so
it
> can push the trailer into final position.
>
> Lots of safety warnings here.  Make sure the trailer won't roll away when
> detached from the tow vehicle.  Make sure it won't kick up because of too
> much weight in back.  But once you know what you are doing (write it
> down--make a checklist--follow it and improve it every time) you will find
> you can put your boat exactly where you want it every time--even when
people
> are watching.  In fact, once you get good at it, people will literally
> applaud when they see what you can do.
>
> Bill Effros
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: P&M Beals
> To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
> Sent: Sunday, August 29, 2004 1:08 PM
> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] New Rhodie in N.J.
>
>
> Thanks to Joe Ware who introduced me to Whisper, formerly his Rhodes 22,
and
> to the art of trailering (set up and all) I am pleased to say there is a
> BEAUTIFUL recycled Rhodes in our driveway in Central NJ.  I made the 6
hour
> 58 mph trip from Onancock, Va. solo with my 6 cyl. minivan.  I put Joe to
> work yesterday getting him to get Whisper out on the water, mast up and
mast
> down in the heat, test-sail and all.  It will take some time to learn the
> art of sailing with the big Genoa jib, and I may still take Jay up on his
> offer to sail at LBI area-  My family is excited and we look forward to a
> lot of good sailing ahead.  Now if I can just teach myself how to back up
> the trailer into the yard.  Within a couple weeks I hope it will be in a
> different place for Sept, Oct. and maybe even Nov? sails.
>
> The list has been very helpful, and I count on future expert advice from
> all.
>
> and yes I will give Rummy the ID # though what was Joe's for Whisper is
now
> mine.
>
> Joe mentioned that a while back someone had info. on how to avoid the hex
if
> you change a boat's name....I might keep the name but it's not certain.
>
> Phyllis Beals
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list