Tongue too light!

S

slapshotct

Cadet
Joined
Jul 13, 2011
Messages
11
I just bought a boat with trailer today and have a quick question:

The tongue weight is so light it doesn't rest on the ground when it is not attached to the truck. In other words, I have to control the weight of the tongue as I raise it up until the back is resting on the ground and the tongue is in the air (it looks like it is doing a wheelie in my yard). I suppose I could put a rock on it or something to keep it down, but I would be afraid it could slip, flip up and do some damage.

The simple answer is to move the axle back but here is the weird part: it towed great on the highway! No sway. Nothing. I didn't even know it was back there. I am nervous about moving the axle since I have seen others on the board with swaying issues, etc.

The other way might be to move the boat forward, but it seems like it is as far forward as it should go. The last roller is already off the back of the boat and moving it forward doesn't seem like an option.

Could I just add enough weight to keep the tongue down when it isn't attached to my truck? Any ideas on how I could do that? Since I got home at 11pm, I haven't figured out how many pounds it would take to make the trailer stay down, but I don't think it would be much more than 20 pounds.

Thank you all in advance for your suggestions!

-Steve
 
H

H20Rat

Vice Admiral
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
Messages
5,203
Re: Tongue too light!

just because it didn't sway this time doesn't mean it won't. Upset it the right way and its going to wipe the tow vehicle off the road... Might take a certain road surface, speed, or wind, but it WILL happen.

Pics would be helpful, but it sounds like your axle should go back. If the boat isn't hanging over the back of the trailer a little, and it sounds like it isn't, I suspect you might have a very poor trailer->boat match unfortunately.
 
roscoe

roscoe

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
21,746
Re: Tongue too light!

Moving the axle is not a problem.
Some people seem to get all excited about alignment and tire wear, and blowing up the moon, when it is a real easy and simple issue to deal with.

As long as its a single axle without brakes, you have nothing to worry about.
You mark where the axle is bolted up.
You measure back a ways, say 8".
You move it back and try it out.
 
P

PS94

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 1, 2009
Messages
293
Re: Tongue too light!

The sway WILL happen if you have no tongue weight....If it's wheelie-ing, it's actually UN-Loading your rear tires on the tow vehicle..not cool. move the axle, or you WILL lose the boat.
 
K

kahuna123

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 2, 2011
Messages
703
Re: Tongue too light!

I had a BIG boat on the wrong trailer the did not have any tongue weight pulling it with too small a truck that almost got away from me. Scared me pretty good when 8000 pounds starts swaying and picking up the rear tires of the truck. Thank God I have enough sense to not hit the brakes and ride it down. It will sway and get away from you. The sad part is it won't happen until you are at speed.

Its not a big deal to just move the axles back. Get the boat off the trailer and just loosen the u bolts and get them back about a foot. It aint rocket science.

Or if you have to leave the boat on the trailer and jack the trailer up to get the weight off the axle and them move it back.
 
paultjohnson

paultjohnson

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jul 29, 2010
Messages
1,560
Re: Tongue too light!

You dont say what boat or how heavy it is. Or what your tow rig is. Those are nice details to include when asking questions like this. I have seen people with improperly balanced trailers having a heck of a time pulling their boat/trailer up steep ramps. When they try to yank the boat out of the water , momentum really lifts on the rear of the tow vehicle. With a wet, sandy, mossy, steep ramp, you can end up stuck as the rear tires spin. That along with the safety issue of less rear tire traction while towing, as already stated.........
 
S

slapshotct

Cadet
Joined
Jul 13, 2011
Messages
11
Re: Tongue too light!

Thank you all for the input. I guess I will just move the axle back a few inches. To answer the above question: The boat is a 15 foot Starcraft Jet. The hull weighs 400lbs, the motor is probably around 200lbs, plus the trailer (maybe 400 lbs). I am towing it with a Nissan Xterra. The X is capable of towing 5000lbs with 500lbs on the tongue.

Again, thank you all for your replies!

-Steve
 
Snowfish

Snowfish

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 3, 2009
Messages
234
Re: Tongue too light!

Thank goodness! At first I thought you were trying this.

NerysGeoBoat.jpg



Not my rig. From another forum. Not a good idea either.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top