Current Trailer Guy Questions
Question
The Boat Trailering Guys:,
I need 4 small boats (16-22 ft), on trailers, towed about 25 miles from a warehouse to a private home in the Pompano, Florida area. Any suggestions of where I can hire someone for this? Thanks for any info you can provide
Chris
Answered on: 5/2012
Try calling BoatUS Trailering Dispatch at 800-391-4869. This is not considered an emergency tow and would not be covered by any BoatUS Membership plan, but the kind folks at Dispatch would be a great resource. They will ask you for your zip code and can put you in touch with some local providers that might be able to help you with the job. They may be able to take more than one at a time...Good luck. Ted
Keep it Rolling, Ted
Question
The Boat Trailering Guys:,
If you were going to buy or build a boat over the 8'6" legal limit how wide and tall can you go with the least amount of permiting? What would 10' wide and less than 13'6" require to service points of the Great Loop and the eastern intracoastal waterway? Thanks Michael
Michael Drummey
Answered on: 5/2012
That's a difficult question as state laws vary. I'd try contacting the experts at Mercury Permit. You can find them at this address: http://www.mercurypermits.net/boatus-members. Good Luck!
Question
The Boat Trailering Guys:,
Good morning Ted and Dustin, The mechanism on the trailer coupler seized up causing the coupler to be replaced. A friend that is well versed in towing car trailers replaced it for me but I have a concern that the installation is not correct for a boat trailer. The new coupler has three bolts (the old one had two), and the trailer has three holes, however, the coupler was installed using only the back two bolts on the coupler and the front two holes on the trailer. The installation does not look correct to me. The trailer is an EZ Loader and I am towing a 23' Checkmate, with a Ford Explorer. My girl has always towed very nicely without any problems. It's always scary to change out parts for something that can be quite dangerous, and now I am concerned. The boat is kept at the marina now and not towed very often, but I do need to bring her home for cleaning and maintenance. She did travel many road miles with the old coupler before taking up residence at the marina. Is there any advise you can give me? Do you need any other information or perhaps pictures? Thanks for helping my Lady in distress, Jo.
Jo
Answered on: 5/2012
More bolts are always best. Make sure the bolts toward the front are single bolts in each hole rather than long bolts that span from one side through to the other side. The reason is that if you tighten or pinch the front of the coupler it can cause the coupler to bind.
Dustins Hoover
Question
The Boat Trailering Guys:,
I need a trailer for my 1993 20ft Wahoo. It has a 150 hp mercury outboard. Where is the best place to shop for a used trailer that isn't going to be too expensive? I live in the florida panhandle. Thanks for your input!
MK Campbell
Answered on: 5/2012
You have a number of options: (1) Go to a marina because there will be trailers there and ask if anyone has plans on selling one of them. BoatUS has numerous Cooperating Marinas and you may find one near you that has what you're looking for. Find the coop marina list on www.BoatUS.com/ServiceLocator and click Cooperating Marinas from the list on the upper right of the page. (2) Go to a boat dealer and ask about used trailers. They may have one that doesn't fit one of the boats they offer and would be willing to let it go for a reduced price. (3) Checking local boating blogs/websites and you'll find a trailer. Usually, fishing blogs will have this kind of information. (4) Go to a local boat ramp and ask around. Someone usually knows someone and ...go from there.
The Trailering Guys
Question
Don Casey:,
I own a 2001 Chaparral 260ssi w/8.1L VP DP. I recently purchased a new triple axle trailer to replace my old triple axle trailer that came with the boat. The new trailer has torsion axles, the old had leaf springs. The trailer manufacturer set the boat at the same fore/aft location on the trailer relative to the center axle. The axle to axle dimension is the same. They are both 10,000 GVWR trailers per spec. The new trailer has about 300 lbs more tongue weight (860 vs 565)than the old. Here is the question: is there a mathmatical formula that can be used to adjust the location of the boat on the trailer when changing from a leaf spring suspension that equalizes between axles to a torsion suspension that is fully independent? The 860 lbs pushes my vehicle around a little more than I'd like so I want to adjust the position of the boat over the axles. I'd like to do the math first, if it can be done, as opposed to going through multiple efforts moving the axles forward a few inches at a time. Thanks for your help.
Bob
Answered on: 5/2012
The easy answer is no there is no mathematical equation. Trial and error is the best method.It takes time but it's safer. If you have access to a truck scale, that can be done pretty quickly and you can fine tune the movement of the boat back and forth on the trailer to find the desired weight (7-12%).
Dustin Hoover
Question
The Boat Trailering Guys:,
hi, have older 70s 23 formula single sterndrive can you tell what size trailer i should be using preferably bunk style . how much over hang should i have at stern? thanks, glenn
Glenn
Answered on: 5/2012
The first thing you need to find out is how much the boat weighs, with everything on board, including the weight of fuel and other supplies. Then you should visit a trailer dealer or their website to find a good match. Your tow vehicle must be able to accommodate the weight of the boat AND trailer. If you are close to your capacity, you might want to go for a single axle trailer which will weigh slightly less and have fewer components to maintain. You should have the bottom of the boat supported as much as possible. I wouldn't let more than two feet of hull overhang the end of the bunk.
The Boat Trailering Guys:
Question
The Boat Trailering Guys:,
I am trying to find an approx. torque for a hitch ball. The ball is attached to a forged 20,000 load reciever. The ball is a 2 5/16 ball on a 1 1/4 shank rated for 30,000. This is obviously a heavy duty instalation, with a F350 HD pulling a 10,000 boat . The total GCVW is well over 21,000. Any help you could provide would be greatly apprecated.
David Cobelman
Answered on: 5/2012
Here is what Reese Trailer Hitches say online: torque all ¾" shank balls to 160 ft. lbs., torque all 1" shanks to 250 ft. lbs., and torque 1¼" shank balls to 450 ft. lbs. So your answer is 450lbs. If you'd like to read more, visit www.reese-hitches-online.com and search for trailer hitch balls.
Keep it Rolling, Ted
Question
Don Casey:,
I have a 20 foot center console it's on a single axle trailer is ok or should boat that size have dual-axle?
Wayne
Answered on: 4/2012
If the 20 ft boat doesn't weight much, then it's fine. I like my 20 ft CC on a dual axle trailer because it rides so nice and doesn't stress the trailer. The general rule is anything over 20 feet requires a tandem axle but a number of trailer manufacturers are basing the decision between single or tandem axle on the weight of the boat being carried. I hope this helps.
Dustin Hoover
Question
Bob
Hi, I have electric trailer brake questions that I am unsure of. I installed electric brakes on my EZ-Loader trailer and am at the final adjustment stage before putting the wheels back on and rolling down the road. My questions are: 1) When my "assistant" applies the vehicle brakes, the brake lights on the vehicle and trailer come on immediately but the trailer brake magnets do not engage immediately (start humming) for a few seconds then the trailer brakes engage. Is this normal operation for electric brakes? 2) I adjust both wheel brakes per instructions. I tighten until brake drum becomes hard to turn by hand then back off 10 clicks. When the brakes are applied the left drum will lock up but the right ones grabs and can still be turned (although with some effort) by hand. I have readjusted both sides in order to get them to react the same but to no avail. I appreciate any input on this as I am a novice with electric brakes and don't know what to expect. Thanks, Bob Sawyer
Bob
Answered on: 4/2012
Electric brakes are tricky. They are not engaged at all until you apply the power coming from the controller.I would adjust them by feel and how many rotations the wheel spins by hand.You should feel and hear a slight rub of the brake shoes against the drums when free spinning. As far as the timing of when they apply, that depends on your brake controller. You have to adjust the brake controller to send the right amount of power when you want it. I am curious why you are putting electric brakes on a boat trailer? I hope they the galvanized brakes and you are not going anywhere near salt water.
Dustin Hoover
Question
Don Casey:,
I have owned an Aquasport Osprey 175 for several years. We tow the boat with a Toyota 4 runner in upstate NY. Have not had any problems, recently have been thinking about perhaps adding brakes to the trailer. I have noticed various kits from companies such as Tiedown and have considered a disc system in perhaps stainless. I am not sure if it necessary, but I assuming it would add a safety factor. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you Bruce
Bruce
Answered on: 4/2012
Brakes are a great idea for a rig of your size.I would only recommend Kodiac Disc Brakes. Tiedown actuator and rubber lines are fine, but that's the only products from Tiedown I would use. I would only use a Dacroment-plated rotor and stainless calipers from Kodiac.
Dustin Hoover
