Boat too heavy for tires?

[SMF]

When I bought my boat last year it had car tires on the trailer rated at 1560lbs each. They seemed a bit mushy at max psi. Nada guide said my boat weighs 2200lbs so I thought I was ok even with the trailer. I was going to replace the tires with real trailer tires so I took the boat to a truck scale and it came in at 3400lbs with a full tank (30gal). That supprised the crap out of me. The trailer came with 14 inch wheels so the highest rated tire I could get was 1750lbs. That only leaves 100lbs for gear. I had to by 205 75 14's range 'c'. Any larger would not fit under the fenders. It's the original trailer that came with the boat, so do you think that the trailer was under sized by the dealer? I think I will have to put most of my gear in the truck until the boat is launched. There is most likely some safety margin built into the tire ratings, but I would rather be on the safe side and not push the tires limits.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Boat too heavy for tires?

Hmmm....<br /><br />If the boat weighs 2200, don't forget the weight of the trailer in your calculations. That could easily add the 1200 lb.<br /><br />How old is the boat? It may have some water in it, but it sounds like the trailer could be a bit undersized for your rig.<br /><br />What to do? How does the trailer sit on its springs? Plenty of spring left?<br /><br />I'd also check to see what the weight limits are for the hubs.<br /><br />If springs an hubs are OK, look into truck tires for the trailer. I'll bet you can find something that will bear the load. You might, possibly, have to reconfigure the fenders.

 

[SMF]

Re: Boat too heavy for tires?

No water in the bilge, The boat has been well maintained, no wet wood. It's just a 17 footer, I really don't think the trailer could weigh more than 500 to 700 pounds. I could be wrong. Has anyone weighed their 17' boat and trailer? Tongue weight is about 250lbs so that would give me a little less on the tires. I have 2" of clearance from tire to fender. The sticker on the trailer says max weight is 3420lbs. Either the scale I used is off or the original dealer should have put it on a bigger trailer back in 1986.

 

[KM2]

Re: Boat too heavy for tires?

I'm not surprised by your weight. The Boats 2200lbs is "dry" weight. Add trailer 700#, gas 180#, batteries 120# and gear #100.. 3420 lbs. <br /><br />Anyway get bigger tires, and make the wheel wells works. I had a tire blow out last year on the freeway and it will scare the .... out of ya!<br /><br />15" wheels and load range D tires.