distance from coupler to winch stand

[Newportme]

What is a safe minimum distance from the ball tom the winch stand? I'm thinking 1/2 the truck width plus some fluff for tight turns.
Thanks
Bruce

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: distance from coupler to winch stand

That might do OK for clearance (for jack-knife backing or tight turns which are not really a good idea most of the time) but really what makes the winch stand location important is where it needs to be to allow the proper tongue weight for towing. Moving the winch tower forward or backward changes the weight balance (distribution) on the trailer and proper weight balance is crucial to safe towing. So a flat answer of "X" inches is not really a good one overall. First you need to know gross weight of the trailer and boat, and usually 10- 15% of the gross weight is a good tongue weight.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: distance from coupler to winch stand

VT you are absolutely correct on the location of the winch post and boat location forward with reguard to tongue weight and gross trailer load. But is has been my experience that the tongue length doesn't change that ratio enough to matter, I'm saying that only because on my rig I can only just barely lift the tongue and thats using my leggs and really straining my back, so what I did was stuck a spud bar into the hollow trailer tongue to give me a few feet of additional leverage and to my surprise I still could only just barely lift it so there really wasn't much difference as the main weight is still forward the axle.
Longer tongue is easier to maneuver, shorter tongue get squirrely real fast when backing up.

 

[redone4x4]

Re: distance from coupler to winch stand

What is a safe minimum distance from the ball tom the winch stand? I'm thinking 1/2 the truck width plus some fluff for tight turns.
Thanks
Bruce

Almost sounds like hes referring to a trailer jack with a "winch" handle on it...1/2 the truck width for tight turns??? Ill bet thats it...not the actual bow stop and winch mount for the boat. In that case, mines pretty close to the coupler, there is no reason i should ever have the trailer that close to my truck to worry about hitting either one, even on tight turns. Ill measure later and see exactly how far back it is, but its not much.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: distance from coupler to winch stand

...what I did was stuck a spud bar into the hollow trailer tongue to give me a few feet of additional leverage and to my surprise I still could only just barely lift it so there really wasn't much difference as the main weight is still forward the axle....

Trailer length from axle to coupler and the overall weight of the package has to be considered. However, your few extra feet of leverage is not really a good indicator of proper balance on a trailer.

10% - 15% of the gross weight should be on the tongue, irregardless of the ease of picking it up. A smallish boat and trailer (2000#) should have a 200~250#+ tongue weight. Even a 1000# boat would be over 100#. The main weight should be on the trailer axle.

 

[Newportme]

Re: distance from coupler to winch stand

Thanks guys

I am in fact trying to get the proper tongue weight I am aiming for 350-500 lbs which is 7-10%. That is why I am moving the bow stop and winch forward I am in the 100-150 lb range now. I just don't want to inadvertently screw 1 thing up trying to fix another.
Ps. this is a new trailer and I want it set up properly before the season.
Bruce

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: distance from coupler to winch stand

Just pay attention to where the bunks end up, if it looks like your boat is up too far with 8" of bunks hanging beyond the transom, or your winch is getting too close the rear of your truck then you mignt want to look at relocating the axle a bit farther back, I've never relocated an axle myself but from reading different post topics here it seems common practice and not too hard to do if needed. Are you getting trailer sway?

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: distance from coupler to winch stand

....or your winch is getting too close the rear of your truck then you might want to look at relocating the axle a bit farther back.....

Good point.

My current trailer was rebuilt with new frame rails a few years ago. A buddy picked up the trailer and boat while it was full of snow and attached to a truck and bent the trailer up totaling it. I measured everything before I started cutting and actually moved the spring shackle mounts forward about an inch when I welded them back on to gain a little tongue weight. Sometimes a little goes a long way.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: distance from coupler to winch stand

My dual axle trailer was bad about swaying over 50 mph.
I had the winch stand as far forward as i could and it made very little difference.
I got looking at the trailer and realized both axles and springs were bolted to a carriage that would slide.
Took 4 bolts out and the complete axle assembly would slide front to rear.
Moved the axles back to the next hole and all the sway was gone! 70 mph and tracks perfect.
I had that trailer over a year before i realized that...Doh!!!
Point is moving the axles back 6 inches gave me way more weight up front.
Much more than moving the winch stand around.

 

[Nayan]

Re: distance from coupler to winch stand

Good point.

moved the spring shackle mounts forward about an inch when I welded them back on to gain a little tongue weight. Sometimes a little goes a long way.

Wouldn't moving the spring mount forward lower tongue weight?

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: distance from coupler to winch stand

Wouldn't moving the spring mount forward lower tongue weight?

Stated previously by Mark_VTfisherman: "Yep but I meant rearwards :redface: sorry- got my mords wixed.
Went from about 50# to 110lbs-ish"

Actually got thinking about this brain skip and remembered that I had changed the side rail length when I welded it up: I wanted a shorter package. I also moved the winch post forward about 5" further than it was originally. Therefore I moved the axle forward 1" to lighten the tongue down to about 110#. My boat and motor plus gas tank, batteries, and equipment runs 875ish lbs to 950-1000ish lbs depending on the day, so I thought that was about right.

 

[Ram58]

Re: distance from coupler to winch stand

The back of the boat at the end of the bunks is a good starting point, you can adjust from there.

 

[Newportme]

Re: distance from coupler to winch stand

Thanks guys,


Right now I have not towed the trailer with the boat yet so I don't know about sway.
I have a kind of unique situation. My boat is a 22' outrage with a whaler drive. The whaler drive is sort of a modified motor bracket this puts my motor about 2' behind the transom.
The axles are quite far back on the trailer now.The way things stand if I move the winch stand/bow stop forward the transom will land on the last keel roller. The bunks extend about a foot further back that that ( i can cut these later ).

I figured if moving the boat forward does not affect the truck clearance negatively I can "fine tune" the tongue weight with the axles at that point.

Bruce

 

[Ram58]

Re: distance from coupler to winch stand

If your axles are set back as you say you should not experience sway. Sway normally happens when you have more weight behind the axles than in front. I always went by the 80/20 rule. 80% of the weight on the trailer, 20% of the weight on the tongue.

 

[Aaron Redstone]

I know this is an older post, but for anyone still checking it out,

Great points from everyone here! When adjusting the distance between the coupler and winch stand, making sure you have the right tongue weight is key. Aiming for around 10-15% of your total trailer weight on the tongue usually helps with stability and prevents sway. If you’re too light on the tongue, you’ll definitely notice sway, especially at higher speeds.

If you need to move your winch stand to adjust the weight balance, just keep an eye on how your boat sits on the bunks. And like others mentioned, if the weight is still off, adjusting the axles can make a big difference without shifting the boat too far forward.

Hope that helps anyone setting up their trailer!