23' trailer...25' boat ?

[Danny_Ocean]

I recently purchased a very nice (used) Continental aluminum trailer, dual axle, 5000 lbs., surge brakes, etc. Got it for a good price. Seller indicated he had towed a 26' boat with it. I had no reason not to believe him.<br /><br />Well...I later discover (after e-mailing the VIN to Continental) the trailer was designed for a 23' boat.<br /><br />My boat is a 25' Cigarette (7' beam) with a single I/O (BBC w/TRS). I estimate the boat's weight (unloaded, no gas) @ 4500 lbs.<br /><br />Can I adapt the trailer to fit this boat? The support that holds the winch can be moved forward enough to accomodate the boat (so that the transom is even with the rear bunks).<br /><br />I will not be towing long distance...only need to get the boat 1 mi. from marina to my warehouse. I will not be using the trailer to launch/retrieve the boat.<br /><br />Thanks in advance,<br /><br />D. Ocean<br />Miami, FLA

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 23' trailer...25' boat ?

moving the boat forward that much will put a lot of weight of the tongue. if you can get the guys at the marina to experment with placement on the trailer. you may move it forward some and extemd the bunks. i think mainly it' going to be the center of gravity of your boat that dictates placement.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 23' trailer...25' boat ?

The other option is to see if the axles move. This will change the pivot point and allow you to move the trailer winch foward.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 23' trailer...25' boat ?

Originally posted by Bob_VT:<br /> The other option is to see if the axles move. This will change the pivot point and allow you to move the trailer winch foward.

Ayuh,.......<br /><br />I'm with Bob,......<br /><br />I've Never seen a trailer that Can't be Adjusted,.......<br />It Might take some Drilling,.... But It CAN be Done........<br /><br />You want to end up with 10% of the Trailer's Total Weight on the Tongue, at the level of the Tow Unit's Hitch..........

 

[BillP]

Re: 23' trailer...25' boat ?

Unless the tongue weight is way too much and you are doing hi-way speeds I wouldn't worry about it. One mile down the road at low speeds (probably 35mph in Pompano)is nothing. That's the length of a small airport runway. Basically no big deal in my opinion.

 

[SwampNut]

Re: 23' trailer...25' boat ?

If you honestly won't go more than a mile, it certainly relaxes the "rules" a lot. High tongue weight is not a huge problem as long as it's not overloading the hitch and vehicle.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 23' trailer...25' boat ?

I do see one problem and that involves weight. You say the trailer is rated for 5000# GVWR and "estimate" your boat weight at 4300# dry. Most people will estimate on the light side since they tend to use published weights. With a full fuel load and gear you are approaching the trailer limit and in fact are very likely over the limit as the GVWR on the trailer includes the weight of the trailer itself. Capacity and GVWR are not the same.

 

[Danny_Ocean]

Re: 23' trailer...25' boat ?

Yes, the axles can slide forward/back.<br /><br />The 5000 lb. rating on the trailer doesn't mean you can haul a 5000 lb. boat?!?

 

[Lou C]

Re: 23' trailer...25' boat ?

You have to find out what the 5000 refers to. If it is the GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) then that is what the boat+trailer can weigh, you have to subtract the weight of the trailer from the GVWR to get the carrying capacity of the trailer. So if the GVWR of the trailer is 5000 lbs, and the trailer weighs 1200 lbs, you could carry 3800 lbs. Contact the trailer manufacturer and see how they rate their trailers. The other thing you can do is look at all 4 tires, and total up the max load they can carry, that may be pretty close to what the GVWR is, but you still need to know what the trailer weighs to get the carrying capacity.<br />It is possible to install heavier capacity springs, axles, and tires but it gets expensive to replace that stuff.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 23' trailer...25' boat ?

Look at the tag somewhere on the trailer frame or tongue. It provides the GVWR with a specific tire size and inflation pressure. A 5000# GVWR trailer is not capable of that GVWR if the tire load limits don't meet or exceed that limit. Even then, as Lou says, you need to subtract the trailer weight from the GVWR to get the true load rating. The title for the trailer probably lists GVWR as well.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 23' trailer...25' boat ?

Well,..........<br />The Issue I See is;<br /><br />Putting a 25' boat on a 23' Trailer,.......<br /><br />There Won't be Enough weight on the Tongue........<br /><br />That Alone will cause Serious handling Issues........<br />It causes the Tail to Wag the Dog............. <br /><br />Even at low speeds,.... You could find yourself Looking at your Boat.............<br /><br />Any Less than 7% on the tongue is an invitation to Disaster............<br /><br />I prefer 10% to 15%,.......'Course,.... I've got Plenty of Horse to haul the loads............

 

[salty87]

Re: 23' trailer...25' boat ?

i agree wtih tashasdaddy's idea<br /><br />move the boat a little farther forward, not too much as to kill the tongue. then get some longer bunk boards to support the transom.<br /><br />provided tires and axles can take it all.

 

[Danny_Ocean]

Re: 23' trailer...25' boat ?

Manufacturer's website indicates "load capacity" 5000 lbs.<br /><br />Which way to move the axles? Forward or rearward?

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: 23' trailer...25' boat ?

To take weight off the tounge move the axle forward, to add weight to the tounge move the axle to the rear.<br /><br />I believe the trailer will do "what your asking".

 

[BillP]

Re: 23' trailer...25' boat ?

I would check the tongue weight, tire loading and aft bunk locations before moving the axles. They are big work that may not be needed for such a short tow.

 

[Lou C]

Re: 23' trailer...25' boat ?

My trailer is kind of like that, and what it involves is first getting the boat positioned right on the trailer (the tongue will be really short though) in that you want the transom supported correctly. Then I just moved the axle back to get the tongue weight correct. I had upgraded the axle, springs, tires, and added surge brakes. The main issue is can you get the axles back far enough, to get the tongue weight correct. The one drawback of doing this is that the short tongue will make launching it at the ramp difficult if it is not high tide, but you are not launching so that is a non issue.