Single Axle Scissor Trailer - 24 foot older toon? Dangerous?

Harris Flote

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I just bought my first toon. A 1974 Harris FloteBote 240a. No motor, nor much superstructure. I notice Harris specs show weight at 1900 pounds. Not sure with or without Motor (?) I DO have a single axle and the tires are quite small, compared to my larger 14" tires on utility trailers. Feels a little shaky to me with a single axle on a 1900 pound boat.

Not knowing better, I just drove about 150 miles towing this on the expressway at 55mph. Intuitively I did think about going around turns and all was well. However getting home and getting on the internet wondering what to do? Add another axle? (I can weld and fabricate) I want to pull it about 20 miles to a small lake I own, where it may stay, though I was thinking about making some fishing trips.

Other than being careful on turns, what else should I do

IMG_8443 (Large).JPG
 
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Harris Flote

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Picture of my boat with single axle trailer.
 

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MH Hawker

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as long as its in good condition it shouldn't be any problem and yes it can be a problem on sharp turns but other than that is fine
 

jbcurt00

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When you say that the trailer tires are quite small, how small?

Even a load range C 13in tire might only have a 1000lb load capacity per tire..

W a 1900lb boat, you might be over the tire capacity w the trailer weight, esp if the 1900lbs is dry w out motor.

And small, light load tires would often be found on light load axles. So check you axle capacity too.
 

Harris Flote

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as long as its in good condition it shouldn't be any problem and yes it can be a problem on sharp turns but other than that is fine

I will be careful on sharp turns.

I estimate about 13". Looks undersized. I may have a look when I get the trailer out and see about upgrading.

When I drove in my compound I hit a few small chuckholes, going slowly, and it rocked back and forth a bit. One of my tires are a bit low. I now have the boat where I plan for it to stay a while and may ;lower it and pull the trailer out and have it a look. It has some surface rust and I want to be sure nothing eaten through.

IMG_8443 (2) (Medium).JPG
 
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jimmbo

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If the axle and tires are both rated above the combined weight of boat, trailer, and if there, motor, then there is nothing wrong with a single axle trailer.
 

MH Hawker

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btw thats a real good looking Harris i use a 1988 riviera cruiser, that i did a full rebuild on a few years ago lol and i did it a lot cheaper than new and i got it exactly the way i waned it, i boat on a 10 hp lake so its mostly all pontoons, the marina holds 270 boats so we have boats from 1967 to 2016 your boat is a classic, and you will find it to be a very well built boat and can be built into what ever suits your needs, i did mine over a 3 year period altho it never really stops, if you look at the bottom of my signature it will show you a bit of what i did
 
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Harris Flote

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btw thats a real good looking Harris i use a 1988 riviera cruiser, that i did a full rebuild on a few years ago lol and i did it a lot cheaper than new and i got it exactly the way i waned it, i boat on a 10 hp lake so its mostly all pontoons, the marina holds 270 boats so we have boats from 1967 to 2016 your boat is a classic, and you will find it to be a very well built boat and can be built into what ever suits your needs, i did mine over a 3 year period altho it never really stops, if you look at the bottom of my signature it will show you a bit of what i did



WOW! You really worked hard. Do you like Sunbrella? Thanks for compliments on our boat. I love vintage!! Just finished restoring a 1920 Cadillac Phaeton. Thinking about getting a trailer hitch to pull by my 1959 Cadillac. Pontoon should look good.
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Back to my boat, just got a copy of the brochure on my 1974 Harris FloteBote from Harris website. Seems the weight is either 1025 lbs with a 19" pontoons, or 1225lbs if it has 21" pontoons. So my single axle trailer should be good enough. I may ask you for advice to get my boat in shape. Want it nice.

Here is my '59 Cadillac. Took the picture at Stone Mountain GA
1959 Convertible-01.jpg

Brochure for my boat
View attachment 1974 240 SPECS HARRIS (1).pdf
 
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MH Hawker

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i have had a sumbrella cover and Bimini top for 6 years and it still looks new
 

jimmbo

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Nice Land Yacht, I mean Caddy, a bit lethal for the poor cyclist who pedals into those fins on the back. Back then, Cadillac knew how to make a car, unlike the high priced suspensionless things they build now
390 for an engine?
 
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