not safe, do it the right way. If I was DOT that thing would be parked.

 

Is it April 1st already?

 

Of course it's not safe, that orange wire isn't attached to anything!

 

At least he used diamond plate patterned straps to keep up with the theme.

 

Just because the ratchet straps have "diamond plate" print on them don't make them stronger. lol

EDIT: Dammit! Beat me to it....

 

What kind of 21' cuddy? Had one once and the boat only weighed around ~2,200 pounds dry; and that was with a 302 and Bravo drive. Trailer was about another 1K#.

Toward the extension, consider reaching out to one of the manufacturers and get inputs on what will work best; also, suspect they might know a thing or two about regs / laws

 

Could check out the options at etrailer. Probably want to follow install instructions pretty closely.
Hitch Adapter Hitch Extender Hitch Accessories | etrailer.com

 

Thanks for the input gals and guys! Hopefully, this will convince him to rethink this mess.

 

I love this PIC!!!!!!!!

Oh I can imagine a few of the good ol boy states where the state troopers would make a training class out of this!!!!!!!!!!

 

I have had CHP Truck guys pull up along side of me while towing a car trailer, and visual my hitch set up. I had this happen quite a few times on I-505, this was many years ago, do not know if they still do this. Im sure if anything looked obvious to them they would have stopped me.

 

Sidewyz, since we don't know specifics on the weight of the boat or the tongue load on the hitch, we can't even begin to address the potential overloading of his receiver. But, we do know that his turnbuckle/chain/strap arrangement although potentially strong enough in tension offers ZERO compressive loadabilty. In a static world, as your friend assembled his Rube-hitch he apperently thought he was onto something, but as his dynamic load shifts, such as during breaking and cornering, the only thing keeping his hitch arrangement from folding is the bending moment resistance of the weakest of his extensions. Square tube is stiff, but as soon as it begins to fold catastrophic failure will come quickly and without warning.

 

I wouldn't stand on that ball, much less tow with it. If you care at all for your friend, you will immediately bury that contraption in an undisclosed location and slap him in the back of the head.

 

If you look at the carabiners, connecting the chains, if aluminum, they are rated for 500 lbs, steel, maybe 1,000 lbs......either way, illegal

 

They do make receivers for this very issue. Check out Torque Lift. It's a much better version of what's in the picture!

 

^^^^^^^^ This........and for big trailers, I have seen a DOT approved dolly that attches to the tow vehicle. I have an aquaintance that has a huge Lance truck camper, and pulls a 24' enclosed trailer behind it with a 3500 Dodge dually.
The dolly is attached to the truck, then the trailer is coupled to the dolly, which carries ALL of the tongue weight of the trailer. If he were close by, I would take pictures and post them for all to see.