How to get a big Stratos into a narrow garage.

[Mrmikonline]

Thought I'd share an example of how to get a big 201 into a small garage opening.

I used positioning dollies to solve this problem.

My specific problem was that I have a 3 car garage with a double door and a single door. I wanted to place the boat of course in the single bay.
When I bought the boat (a Stratos 201 pro XL) i checked the specs and measured the garage opening and depth. I knew I would have to punch out a few inches of block in the back wall since I was short a few inches(even with the retractable tounge).
What I didnt realize was the trailer is about a foot wider overall than the boat. I needed 99" of clearance and the 8 foot garage door opening is 96".

I have kept the boat in the double bay for the past year while getting quotes on expanding the single bay opening. As you can imagine, the concrete cutting, rebuillding, engineering, new garage door, and block work is north of 5K.

Solved the problem with these positioning dollies from Harbor Frieght tools.

Narrow single bay opening


Back boat into double bay.


Slide positioning dollies under wheels

Push boat into place in single bay

[stratos22ssextreme]

You lucky dog My 22 SS won't fit in a 23 ft deep garage diagonally , thats what happens when a redneck gets a boat bigger than his garage can handle. I feel a man cave project in the future !!!

[pickupman66]

I must be lazy cause that just looks like too muck work. I am a hook up and go person. If only I would figure out a way to automate the tarp. ( have a 2 car garage that the 201 pro cant even dream of fitting in.

[JJohnSind]

You should check again, a 201 should fit through an 8 ft. garage door, mine did. It IS tight though, I'm guessing less than a couple of inches on each side -you'll get good at getting it through.

[Neilslure]

Now that you got it in that bay, just hook it up and pull forward, things will give enough for it to fit

[dk239]

I had a 8ft door and replaced it with a 9ft. made life a lot easier. My garage used to be 20X28 but I added a 28x40 addition with garage doors on both ends now I can get my 66 Chevelle the truck and the boat in at the same time. Love it.

[fishnfool38]

JJohnSind You may want to double check your numbers!I have a javelin 389 and it is 98'' or 8'2'' outside tires. And I know the 201 is wider than mine! I bet a dollar to doughnut you have 9' garage door.

[Justin T - CT]

Yeah my 201 fits into my garage door with only about 3 inches on each side of the trailer. I have a 2800 sq ft garage with tiny doors....... You get really good at backing it in after a while. I have yet to hit the sides.

[JJohnSind]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fishnfool38 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">JJohnSind You may want to double check your numbers!I have a javelin 389 and it is 98'' or 8'2'' outside tires. And I know the 201 is wider than mine! I bet a dollar to doughnut you have 9' garage door. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I owe you a dollar. I just went out and measured, I do have a 9ft opening.

[EDEERNET]

How much did those dollies cost you? I priced the "go-jacks" (I think thats what they are called) and they were like $350 a pair. Harbor freight usually has some cheap stuff.

[Lookin4Bass]

EDEERNET,

You can get them for about $90 each (shipped) on EBay.

[Mrmikonline]

Harbor Frieght had them for $139/pair.

Generally their stuff is pretty cheap, these seem to be fairly well made..

[utfisherman]

My wife wanted a newer house and I was tired of narrow and low garage doors. All the new houses have short garages, so we decided to build. I've got a 10 ft wide x 8 ft tall door on a 32 ft deep basement garage just for the boat. I can't wait to move in!!!! My current garage door is only 7ft tall. I actually tore the opener out of the ceiling the first time I backed the boat into the garage! Man did I feel like an inbecile! Had to lower the jackplate and buy a different type of opener and modify the linkage to the door just the get the boat inside.

[barrysbassworld]

My new boat has a swing away tongue. I couldn't even get close to putting my boat in the garage with out this added feature. I love it, it takes about 2 foot off the front.

[ChampioNman]

Hmmm I didn't know FL boat numbers started with SC? Must be something new they do down there?

[EDEERNET]

Could you get by with just 1 pair of these jacks? I know the other axle will sag and let the tires drag on the ground, but would it be enough to still push the boat sideways. I have my 201 in a 22' X 22' garage, so no matter what I do I'm not parking anything else in there. It is just a pain trying to get the front pushed over, the tires don't want to pivot like they do with a single axle

[Mrmikonline]

With one set of jacks it becomes extremely easy to pivot the boat. Even easier than with a single axle trailer. You cant however push the boat exactly sideways because the tires are still touching the ground a bit. For the need you describe, one set should be just fine...