Well I have the boat to the left and to get to the point it can be a PIA to get it in the garage due to my driveway configuration.  From the road my driveway drops down about 25' to the basement level then a sharp 90 into the garage.  On the opposite side of the driveway form the house is a gradual slowing downward hill to my neighbor's yard.  I pull the boat with a Ford F250 Crew Cab Short bed and always have to put it in 4 wheel drive once I get out in the grass to back it up.  Anyway as I am sure you can gather it's a mother to get it in.  I was wondering if anyone in the same situation uses a 4 wheeler to get there boat in out of there garage?  Does it make it easier to maneuver with a short wheel base vehicle?  Is there an ATV out there that can handle the weight of the boat?  Does anyone have any other option other than leaving it out side which is not an option?

Thanks in advance.

Jerrod

Install a hitch on the front of your truck.

You should see what I have to go through to get my boat in the garage. I first pull down the hill into my driveway and then back straight up and then turn the boat down the hill. Then I pull the truck back up the hill to straighten the boat out. I then back into my main driveway, which is an S-turn around spruce trees, rail fence, and flower beds. The grand finally is a 90 deg. turn into the garage over the hill from my house. I unhook the boat, drop the wheel jack, and the push it manually the last six feet into the garage. Don't feel so bad. This took lots of practice and I still mess it up sometimes. ;D BTW, I have found for my situation it is easier backing the boat when the truck is out of 4WD. This may help if your situation allows.

Front mount hitch is a good idea but doesn't allow me to get the ATV.  Looking at the new Polaris Ranger RZR 800.  It's only rated at towing 1500lbs but I am talking about only pushing it 80 to 100 feet once down at the bottom of the driveway.  Also would like to have a new toy but only if it can handle the weight.  Not using 4 wheel drive isn't option until the back wheels are back on concrete.  9000lb truck on grass and a slope pushing the boat (not sure what the weight is?) mean ruts in the yard in 2 wheel drive.  Just looking to see if anyone else uses there ATV to park the boat.

Jerrod

Nope, but please have your wife video all future attempts for the World's Funniest Videos show.

I am sure that sooner or later, with your setup, you will make the big time TV show! ;D

Good luck.

I have a similar issue which my driveway. It is  long almost 1/4 mile and narrow with hills. To make it worse there is no room to turn around the boat up by the house.  Having a crew cab truck doesn't help the matter. I have wondered too about a ATV to get it turned around and in the garage. I have to drive it up past the house into the back yard and turn it around there and then get it in place. The neighbors must think I am nuts   Let use know about what you come up with on the ATV. Plus I have been trying to convince the better half I need an ATV to plow the driveway in winter.  

How big is your yard I have a kubota tractor I use with a front end loader

I have a Honda 300 ATV and I pull my boats all over the place with it. I did have to modify the hitch a little, it was to close to the ground to get my boat jack to swing up.

Thanks for the replies from everyone.

Sam:  I'll post the Parking your boat in the garage idiots video.  I'll have the neighbor film it and commentate in it. ;D

Mayassa:  Really don't have a need for a tractor.  I cut the grass with a push mower.  Good idea though.

Frogtog:  Thanks for letting me know that it's possible.  I think I am going to go the route of the atv.  I'll let everyone know how it works out.

Jerrod

Front mount hitch is a good idea but doesn't allow me to get the ATV.

Put a hitch on the front of your new ATV.    ;D

First of all, I doubt your truck is 9000 pounds.  

Have you thought about backing it down the driveway and jacknifing it?  Then, the boat is almost in line with the garage, and the truck is still on pavement.  Then, even though it is a tandem axle, you should be able to push it in fine, as long as you don't need to turn it.  I move boats, and other trailers, well over 2000, on up into the 3000 pound mark by myself on pavement.  And, I am 14, and not quite grown all my bulk yet.  (Just a lil' lacking around the ribs ;D)

The place we boat our boat from uses an ATV to move almost all of the boats in their yard. Anything thing from new Tritons like yours to small john boats. By the way, the RZR seems really nice from all the reviews and what not I've read about it. People seem to really be happy with them. Plus the aftermarket is quickly growing.

bassdoktor thanks for the tid bit of info.  All of the local marinas around here use tractors and I don't have a need for that yet.  I've been reading the reviews on the RZR also and like what I am reading.

No offense bassboy1 but my truck does weight that much.  Curb weight on a 2005 Ford F250 4X4 with 6.0l turbo diesel engine loaded with all of the goodies is 8,800 pounds.  Add myself, and all of my work gear puts my up close to 9,500 pounds.  A lot of the gear stays in my truck during the weekend and doesn't get removed from the truck.  Also pulling a trailer daily during the week I have to watch my total weight.  I usually check myself once or twice a week at the Flying J truckstop to see what my total weight.

Jerrod

I would think that the ATV would have no problem pushing the boat on a flat surface.  I might get a little concerned about braking on an incline.  It would really suck to find out that your new ATV does not have the balls to stop your boat on the 25' downhill roll or even the gradual downhill slope to the neighbors yard.  Just something to think about.  I might be totally wrong.

bassdoktor thanks for the tid bit of info.  All of the local marinas around here use tractors and I don't have a need for that yet.  I've been reading the reviews on the RZR also and like what I am reading.

No offense bassboy1 but my truck does weight that much.  Curb weight on a 2005 Ford F250 4X4 with 6.0l turbo diesel engine loaded with all of the goodies is 8,800 pounds.  Add myself, and all of my work gear puts my up close to 9,500 pounds.  A lot of the gear stays in my truck during the weekend and doesn't get removed from the truck.  Also pulling a trailer daily during the week I have to watch my total weight.  I usually check myself once or twice a week at the Flying J truckstop to see what my total weight.

Jerrod

Sorry about that.  I didn't realize how much the weights have changed in the past 10 or so years.  But, what surprised me after researching it, was the GVWR is about the same, so the heavier truck has less capacity, than say our old work truck sitting in the back yard, even though the GVWR is similar.

Learn something new everyday.