Trailer too small???

H

Hobby Boat

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Hi everyone,this is my first post on iboats.Just bought a 1987 Chris Craft 210 LTD Scorpion Bowrider with a 5.7,260HP engine.The interior needs to be replaced,the engine will not turn more than a half a turn than locks(sat last 2 years,rust?)and I was told as soon as I got it home that the trailer is too small.I could not be happier,as my 14 year old son has not stopped saying,"We got a boat". My question is my new trailer Reg. says total weight not to excede 4000lb.s.The previous Reg. said 3400lb.s.I spoke to someone at Chris Craft in Fla. and was told they had little info but they thought that the boat and engine weight was 3000lb.s. My trailer is a Magic-Tilt,single axle, galvy roller with 5 lug wheels rolling on 14" tires.Based on the tire and rim info the salesman at the local boat store said my trailer was under sized.Does anyone know the correct weight of my boat.If it is too heavy for my trailer what are my options besides buying another trailer.Also,having a hard time finding photos of my model and year boat.Last owner stripped half of the interior out of the stern portion of the boat and I am not sure what it looked like.Any help would be greatly appreciated.Thank You.
 
tpenfield

tpenfield

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Re: Trailer too small???

NADA shows a "net weight" of 2390 lbs . . so I would think that is without engine. Figure 3400 lbs with the engine.

Check your trailer for the manufacturer's sticker . . . it should have a total GVWR and the weight of the trailer itself. (I'm guessing 900 lbs for single axle). So, your total weight (dry) is around 4300 lbs . . . add some fuel (250 lbs) and some junk . . . 100 lbs, and you are probably at about 4650 lbs. Compare that to the GVWR of the trailer and you have your answer.
 
H

Hobby Boat

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Re: Trailer too small???

tpenfield said:
NADA shows a "net weight" of 2390 lbs . . so I would think that is without engine. Figure 3400 lbs with the engine.

Check your trailer for the manufacturer's sticker . . . it should have a total GVWR and the weight of the trailer itself. (I'm guessing 900 lbs for single axle). So, your total weight (dry) is around 4300 lbs . . . add some fuel (250 lbs) and some junk . . . 100 lbs, and you are probably at about 4650 lbs. Compare that to the GVWR of the trailer and you have your answer.
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Thanks for the NADA info.All info on the manufacturers sticker is washed away.Waiting to get the new title for the trailer back from the Mass. RMV,maybe there is some info on that.
 
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louiefl

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Re: Trailer too small???

You mention single axle, 14" wheels. In that size wheel, tires are typically 205/75-14 (1,760 lb capacity with C rating) or 215/75-14 (1,870 lb). Most 3,500 lb capacity axles and wheel hub / bearings use either tire above. So it looks like your max load (including fluids, motor, and gear) shouldn't exceed 3,500 lbs. Looks like your weight without the trailer is right there, but clearly undersized.

Could you upgrade the trailer without replacing it? I'd think that a new axle (5,200 lb) with larger bearings and wheels (225/75-15 gets you up to 2,150 lb each) would help, but the rest of the trailer would be undersized.

Ideally you should look for a tandem trailer - better towing stability and a little safer if you get a blow out. Could you tow as is? Probably for a short distance at low speeds, but wouldn't go far or fast. There are a million used boat trailers in south florida, I'd think that if you are near the water, you should be able to buy a used trailer that meets your needs and could be partially offset by selling your existing trailer.
 
H

Hobby Boat

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Re: Trailer too small???

louiefl said:
You mention single axle, 14" wheels. In that size wheel, tires are typically 205/75-14 (1,760 lb capacity with C rating) or 215/75-14 (1,870 lb). Most 3,500 lb capacity axles and wheel hub / bearings use either tire above. So it looks like your max load (including fluids, motor, and gear) shouldn't exceed 3,500 lbs. Looks like your weight without the trailer is right there, but clearly undersized.

Could you upgrade the trailer without replacing it? I'd think that a new axle (5,200 lb) with larger bearings and wheels (225/75-15 gets you up to 2,150 lb each) would help, but the rest of the trailer would be undersized.

Ideally you should look for a tandem trailer - better towing stability and a little safer if you get a blow out. Could you tow as is? Probably for a short distance at low speeds, but wouldn't go far or fast. There are a million used boat trailers in south florida, I'd think that if you are near the water, you should be able to buy a used trailer that meets your needs and could be partially offset by selling your existing trailer.
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Thanks for the info.You were right about the specs on my tires(1760).I spoke to a trailer dealer in FL today who ran my trailer VIN and got me some more info.He said my boat weighs 2570lb.s with the engine.The trailer is a model R19-3100 with the 3100 being the trailer capacity.Thats cutting it real close weight wise.After looking up the model number it appears that my boat is is also too long for the trailer.A newer trailer with that model number is for a 17 to 19 ft. boat.I like the idea of a tandem trailer also.The boating season is just getting going up here on the Massachucetts seacoast, most boats are just getting the winter shrink wrap taken off.Again, thanks for the info.
 
H

Hobby Boat

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Re: Trailer too small???

Hobby Boat said:
Hi everyone,this is my first post on iboats.Just bought a 1987 Chris Craft 210 LTD Scorpion Bowrider with a 5.7,260HP engine.The interior needs to be replaced,the engine will not turn more than a half a turn than locks(sat last 2 years,rust?)and I was told as soon as I got it home that the trailer is too small.I could not be happier,as my 14 year old son has not stopped saying,"We got a boat". My question is my new trailer Reg. says total weight not to excede 4000lb.s.The previous Reg. said 3400lb.s.I spoke to someone at Chris Craft in Fla. and was told they had little info but they thought that the boat and engine weight was 3000lb.s. My trailer is a Magic-Tilt,single axle, galvy roller with 5 lug wheels rolling on 14" tires.Based on the tire and rim info the salesman at the local boat store said my trailer was under sized.Does anyone know the correct weight of my boat.If it is too heavy for my trailer what are my options besides buying another trailer.Also,having a hard time finding photos of my model and year boat.Last owner stripped half of the interior out of the stern portion of the boat and I am not sure what it looked like.Any help would be greatly appreciated.Thank You.
Click to expand...

Well I got another trailer,tandem axle galvy roller running 14" 5 lug wheels and this trailer is full box tubing vs the other trailer which is only c channel.The data plate on this one is also unreadable.Any idea on the capacity of this tandem axle trailer?. This trailer I like a lot better because it came with a 1987 Four Winns 21.5 Sundowner and all for $500.00 bucks.
 
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