I hate my trailer......

[TwoWatt]

I posted this at another forum but haven't receieved much response. So here it is......<br /><br />Ok. Now I got everything else done with my boat it's time to do something with this gosh darn trailer. <br />I hate it hate it hate it hate it. (did I mention I hate it?)<br />I actually try to avoid the ramps if I think someone it going to it or at it. <br /><br />The problems I have.....<br />1: the sidebunks are not wide enough (see pics) the front of the boat gets stuck while off & on loading. I added a roller where it was getting stuck the worse because it was dropping in the gap & getting stuck hard in the sidebunks. This helped but it's still getting stuck.<br />2: the trailer is short, so I have to back up quite far, the trailer has a nice little stand on it, but to get the boat on I have to push it out a long way & then rush to try to get it centered... if I'm off even a little bit the she's not going on.<br />So I guess #2 is..... can I get rid of the sidebunks? I have rollers up through the middle & bunks underneath the boat that the weight of the back end of the boat rest on. <br />I'd love to cut those off, but don't want to be unsafe trailering. I use a nice rachet strap to keep the back end from bouncing around while trailering, I could do the same minus the sidebunks.<br /><br />So I beg for you help. Look at the pictures & give me some suggestions. <br /><br />Click for big picture....<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><br /><br />You can see in the last picture how far I have to push it out, then try to pull it back on center. Any current or wind & I'm having a bad day <br /> <br />If you need better pictures to make a better judgement let me know. I know #2 pic isn't very helpful, just wanted to show that I had bunks under the back side of the boat <br /> <br />Oh. In pic #3, she is nice & stuck there... that's where I have to walk out & attach the winch strap, then muscle it on.

 

[all thumbs]

Re: I hate my trailer......

Just curious ,is that a tilt type trailer? If it is mabey the boat will run more true when launching.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: I hate my trailer......

The side bunks are there only as a guide, they don't need to be so tight against the hull. I noticed that they are not adjustable, maybe a bit of oxy and bend them out slightly - give yourself a bit of freeplay when retrieving. As for wind and tide problems, your not alone. <br /><br />Aldo

 

[Realgun]

Re: I hate my trailer......

You barely have the trailer in the water can you find a steeper ramp? Water should be right at the top of the fenders about 4 inches in your photo.

 

[TwoWatt]

Re: I hate my trailer......

It does tilt some but doesnt help much as it still gets stuck in the sidebunks. <br /><br />

maybe a bit of oxy and bend them out slightly

Could you explain more? Oxy? I thought about this also, bend the bunks out, but not sure they will.<br /><br />

You barely have the trailer in the water

That's part of the problem, I cant go back any further. The trailer is short, in that last pic I have to step over the water to get on that little stand you see. <br />That ramp is one of the better ones, you should see how far I have to back up on a shallow ramp to get the boat off, I have to climb in the back of my truck bed & walk out.<br /><br />Thanks for the help.<br /><br />(edit: I 'think' my best bet is to try to bend the sidebunks out?)<br /><br />oh. I also forgot to mention. I did buy some "Glyde Sliks" that mount on the lower bunks. Basically just like a plastic type device that is supposed to reduce friction on the lower bunks & boat. I'm not due to get these till tommorow so I haven't tried them, but they should help. (?)

 

[Silvertip]

Re: I hate my trailer......

Those side guides are made with what looks like 3-inch structural steel. You don't bend that stuff easily. The whole setup looks like it was made for a different boat. That said -- rather than put up with the problems they are causing, cut them off. Thats a small boat and loading it should not be a problem without them.

 

[TwoWatt]

Re: I hate my trailer......

Thanks Smoke. You replied while I was editing. <br />I was hoping someone would say that as I think that may be the easiest way to solve the problem.<br /><br />Also agree with the trailer wasn't made for this boat comment.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: I hate my trailer......

I was also contemplating suggesting cutting them off but they do help to guide the boat on, especially seeing as there isn't an extra pair of hands helping.<br /><br />Oxy = oxygen/acetylene torch. Heat up the upright and bend it out but be careful of surrounding areas. Best to do it with the boat removed.<br /><br />Aldo

 

[Formula1974]

Re: I hate my trailer......

Maybe cut one side off? you could use the other to line it up?

 

[Northern Eclipse]

Re: I hate my trailer......

If you are able to remove the side boards you can add guide post, get rid of the hull bunks and replace with longer 2x6 bunks mounted on swivel brackets if possible, this might help prevent the front of the boat getting stuck, plus give the hull better support.

 

[ChaosDad]

Re: I hate my trailer......

Hey Ot. <br />remember this is just me, I would remove the winch stand and that piece of angel up front and put it a little more forward, that way you can pull the boat up more on the trailer, I think you have plenty of trailer, just need to move the boat up some more, get the back of the boat as close to the end of the bunks as you can. then add another short bunk up front on each side of the boat to keep it level when pulling it up, <br />That is if the winch stand can be moved, and is not welded on. As for the side bunks, there needs to be a little play between them and the boat on both sides, <br />Good Luck<br />..D...

 

[chuckz]

Re: I hate my trailer......

Raise the lower, pivoting bunks. That will give you more clearance on the side bunks and increase the angle that the boat slides off.

 

[jtexas]

Re: I hate my trailer......

Your trailer is too short - the transom needs to be on the bunks. Take that diagonal piece of angle iron off the front, replace it with a regular bow stop, & move the winch forward, might have to move the spare tire. Then check the tongue weight & move the axle if you have to.<br /><br />That ramp is so shallow anybody'd have trouble there. You got to get more of the trailer in the water. Do they allow power loading?<br /><br />Can you raise that forward-most keel roller a couple inches? Might help.<br /><br />I agree with bending or removing the side bunks - if they're bolted on, put a 2x4 shim in there to give you more clearance.<br /><br />In the middle pic it looks like you cut a big gash in the hull!<br /><br />Good luck, hope this helps.<br /><br />jtw

 

[Mark42]

Re: I hate my trailer......

You could mount smaller rim/tire combos. Those look like 12" rims. A set of 4.80x4 x8 will lower it a couple of inches making the boat float sooner. <br /><br />My trailer is short too. On some ramps I have to back in until the exhaust pipe is gurgling. I checked the axle vent to be sure it won't be sucking water. I have 12" rims too, but I do long trips on the highway and don't want the higher wheel rpm and bearing temps that the 8" rims will give me.

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: I hate my trailer......

I'd cut the side mounted guide boards & frames off too. If you really need a guide, they sell a bolt on post sort of thing that works, but will bend out of the way if you bang into it too hard. <br /><br />And the transom really needs to be supported at least under the engine by the rear portion of the trailer. Otherwise the sides of the hull (rather than the trailer) bear all the force of the engine's weight as it bounces over bumps while going down the road.<br /><br />And you'll need to back on down as far as you dare to float it onto the trailer easier.

 

[Mark42]

Re: I hate my trailer......

Another trick to lowering the trailer is to move the axle from below the springs to above the springs. Get a new set of longer axle U bolts and about 2 ft of flat steel stock 1.5 x 1/4. Cut some spacers from the steel stock about 3 inches long each and stack up on top of the springs to further lower the axle. With those 12" rims (21" tall tire) you could easily lower it 3 or 4 inchs and still have 6" ground clearance. That might save you as much as 2 or 3 feet backing in to get it floating, depending on ramp angles. Will have to move fenders too, but it looks like you have all the clearance you need to raise them 6". You will need to measure the available space from spring to frame to determine how much the axle can be raised. Most springs are consitered fully loaded or overloaded when flat. Of course it all depends on the weight of your boat and capacity of the trailer, so you be the judge if it will bottom out our not. <br /><br /><br />Much cheaper fix than buying new wheels & tires and its adjustable with the shims, and probably more effective overall. Plus you still keep the better 12" rims/tires for highway towing. <br /><br />The only real drawback is that you will not be able to tow with the motor in the upright position (like in your 1st pic) because the skeg may strike something. You will need to buy a transom saver, about $40, to tow with the motor in the full up position.

 

[one more cast]

Re: I hate my trailer......

I would leave the guide bunks on. Just make a cut where I marked your photo and you can bend them out a little and reweld. I would also remove that angle iron bow stop so you can get your boat on the trailer where it belongs as stated above.<br />

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: I hate my trailer......

Oldtyme,<br /><br />Looking at your first pic, it seems that your side bunks are jamming right under that ridge molded into your gunwales. Hard to tell from the photo. If so, they need lowering. In any case, they could do with extending further forward.<br /><br />Here, we regularly run a line around the vehicle hitch, release the trailer from the hitch and ease it into the water with the line. The trailer goes in much deeper than your bottom pic, and the boat floats off. Vehicle stays dry (we run in salt). When loading, we do exactly the opposite. And we keep a long light line tied bow and stern, so that we can guide and tie up the boat exactly as we want. Usually works a treat.<br /><br />If the boat is fully floating, both releasing and loading work more smoothly. Maybe getting your trailer deeper into the water will help.

 

[Elmer Fudge]

Re: I hate my trailer......

Originally posted by jtexas:<br /> Your trailer is too short - the transom needs to be on the bunks. Take that diagonal piece of angle iron off the front, replace it with a regular bow stop, & move the winch forward, might have to move the spare tire. Then check the tongue weight & move the axle if you have to.<br /><br />That ramp is so shallow anybody'd have trouble there. You got to get more of the trailer in the water. Do they allow power loading?<br /><br />Can you raise that forward-most keel roller a couple inches? Might help.<br /><br />I agree with bending or removing the side bunks - if they're bolted on, put a 2x4 shim in there to give you more clearance.<br /><br />In the middle pic it looks like you cut a big gash in the hull!<br /><br />Good luck, hope this helps.<br /><br />jtw

What jtexas said

 

[milkyway]

Re: I hate my trailer......

Looking at the placement of your bunks, I think the bunks are placed too wide apart, too wide from the center of the hull. That's an easy reason why your boat is slipping the bunks. My bunks are placed no less than 15" from the corner of the hull. Yours are right on the corner- easy for the boat to slip out. And you used a roller to keep it center. Read on...<br /><br />What do you call that long protruding part of the hull where you set up the roller? Are these for stability on water? Whatever-- These are like creazes on your pants. My bunks are placed right beside those on both sides, port and starboard. Whenever I retrieve the boat, assuming I have the trailer just at the correct on the water, the bunks would always place themselves beside those creazes and my boat is dead center. The boat never moved out of center because the "creazes are leaning on the bunks". <br /><br />If my boat slips off center and is leaning on on side when I retrieve, that's because the bunks did not grasp the creazes. That's because I had the trailer too deep and the boat is literally floating. So I would pull up the trailer so that the boat would not float too much and sway during winching.<br /><br />My boat weights 5500#. The creazes prevent the boat from slipping to either side if the bunks are placed right beside them. <br /><br />This is my own observation and I think my dealer did a terrific job adjusting the trailer.<br /><br />I use no guide posts. I have no side bunks. I have no roller at the center. The center roller disrupts the load of the boat on the bunks. The bunks are supposed to carry the boat. The bunks are supposed to hug the hull.<br /><br />Before pushing the boat towards the trailer, I always wet the bunks which are topped with rubber, not carpet. Helps the hull slide easier.<br /><br />You mentioned about the transom bouncing whenever you trailer. the transom are supposed to be fully supported by the bunks, so if the rear of the hull is sitting 100% on the bunks and you have strap, the transom should not bounce. It will bounce if the bunks are not supporting the transom but instead supporting more forward of it. Hulls are not flat and bunks are not contoured with the shape of the hull, throughout. But the rear of the hull is almost flat and should rest on the bunks.<br /><br />I'm no expert but my boat is placed exactly the way I describe it to you and I have no problems. My first boat and trailer,and this is my second season only. I paid my dealer $250 to set up the trailer so they must have done a terrific job.