Is this normal on tandem trailer?

[blacter]

I just took delivery on a new boat and trailer. We noticed that when the boat is off the trailer, the real wheels don't touch the ground. Seems very odd to me, but the dealer said not to worry. Could this be the normal function of a tandem axle setup?

 

[Northern Eclipse]

Re: Is this normal on tandem trailer?

Check your hitch height it should between 13 to 15inches from level ground to top of trailer coupler with boat loaded or at least be level if trailer is low up front then it may raise the rear axle beyond the spring equlizer (thats the link between the front and rear springs assumming your trailer as springs and not torsion axles. No its not normal for the rear axle to be hanging in the air, It would seem when boat is loaded the front axle is taken most the load. What type of boat/trailer combo do you have, did dealer set boat on trailer ? How does the trailer handle at highway speeds, does it stay straight or does is sway?

 

[Boatist]

Re: Is this normal on tandem trailer?

I agree with Northern. Another way is with the boat on the trailer and on a flat surface is to put a level on the trainle frame. It should be colse to level. If not get a different reciever to raise or lower the tongue.<br /><br />One advantage to your way is it is eaiser to run down the ramp and make a U turn. Really if with the load of the boat on the trailer the wheeles equalize and you have proper tongue weight it should not hurt anything.

 

[blacter]

Re: Is this normal on tandem trailer?

Thanks, guys. The boat is a Mastercraft X10 on a Mastercraft trailer. We drove home from the dealer yesterday (about three hours on two-lane roads) and the trailer did sway a time or two. Not a fun experience. I'm going to check tire pressure and see how level it is this morning.

 

[ThomWV]

Re: Is this normal on tandem trailer?

It sounds to me like something is all @#$%ed up. The wheels should be on the ground - no ifs, ands, or buts aoub that. If its not a torsion axle trailer there should be an equalizer between the two sets of springs. It looks like a sittle SeeSaw, it should be able to move freely under the load of the trailer. Usually you think about sway when you see a tailer that has way to little tongue weight, or even way to much. But if you are bopping around with two wheels off the ground it is just plain and simple to immagine what kind of tongue weight you might have there. I guess a good a place to start is to get the hitch height right, which is to say so the trailer itself is level when on level ground. It is just amazing that the Dealer didn't do something about it.<br /><br />Thom

 

[poolshark38759]

Re: Is this normal on tandem trailer?

may sound odd but i have seen drag axel trailers.. one axel is in hte air with no load. and when loaded its on the ground. maakes it easier to monuver the trailer.... they are rare though....

 

[Northern Eclipse]

Re: Is this normal on tandem trailer?

Its surprizing how many dealers do not set up a trailer correctly and or use trailers that are to small for the boat its carrying, I actually saw a guy on the 400 highway last summer towing a brand new boat about 18foot, the axle failed on the trailer, The trailer had like 12inch wheels on it and looked as if it should have been carrying a 14foot tinny instead. I would think your trailer is set correctly, since it would have been done at the factory, But hitch height is important.

 

[blacter]

Re: Is this normal on tandem trailer?

I did some measuring this afternoon and the hitch ball was three or four inches below where it needs to be for the trailer to be level. Seems like that might explain why the rear wheels were off the ground. I switched ballmounts and we'll see when we take the boat out tomorrow whether raising the ball solves the problem. I'm disapponted in the dealer. He told me to set the top of the ball at 16-inches, which was clearly way off. He also saw the rear wheels off the ground and said it was fine. Bummer.

 

[djvan]

Re: Is this normal on tandem trailer?

If it is a leaf sprung trailer be sure the shackles (the pieces of flat metal attached to the "see saw and the springs) are below the springs and above the "see saw", if they aren't the springs have "gone over center" and will put to much load on one or more wheels. While not common I have had it happen to me and it is a pain to "snap" it back to the correct position.<br /><br />HTH's<br /><br />DougV>

 

[DJ]

Re: Is this normal on tandem trailer?

blacter,<br /><br />Mastercraft very carefully matches their trailers to their hlls.<br /><br />My suspicion is with what you are pulling it with.<br /><br />It is obvious that your hitchball height is too low.

 

[blacter]

Re: Is this normal on tandem trailer?

Yup. Raising the hitch ball solved the problem. It tows perfectly now.