Trailer fishtailing

[lightwood38]

Re: Trailer fishtailing

Thanks guys, tyres are both at 56 psi.

 

[grahamh]

Re: Trailer fishtailing

I was just about to say that too: If the hitch is too high, that has the effect of reducing the tongue weight.

When I bought my boat and towed it home, it was a bouncing, swaying nightmare, since I only had 1 inch or so of drop and a lifted truck. I dropped my hitch 3 inches lower so that the boat is now more or less level, and it made a world of difference.

 

[lightwood38]

Re: Trailer fishtailing

I R A IDIOT.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Trailer fishtailing

I R A IDIOT.

Obviously, a light turned on. Care to share?

John

 

[lightwood38]

Re: Trailer fishtailing

Yes a light came on alright.

Started the day yesterday determined to get this trailer fixed, easy job just need to extend the neck and drag her forward.

Started off like this.

Ran into a small problem, I am going to hit the bracket here.

No probs, I will just lift the rollers.

Hmmmmmmmmmm, this isn't good.

What have I got myself into.

At this point I am about 3 inches further forward on the trailer, I'm off the bunks by an inch, I'm off the last roller by an inch, the winch mount wont go any further forward because the U bolts wont fit over the 75mm steel and I'm only about 10kg heavier.

 

[lightwood38]

Re: Trailer fishtailing

Dejectedly I grab a bit of cardboard to lie on and sulk back to the axle to figure out how much of a pain in the *** it's going to be to get the boat off the trailer, flip it over, move the springs and axles back and hope its far enough.

And this is what I find.

The whole f%$king frame unbolts!!!!!!!!!

Angry with myself because someone posted here that 4 bolts will move the axle back, I just didn't understand what they meant. I looked to move the axle not the entire frame.

Anger turns to joy when I snap off the 4 rusty bolts, jack up the trailer, kick the frame back 3 inches and put the nose up to 130kg. yay


I did extend the frame by about 400mm anyway, but at least i got something done.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Trailer fishtailing

Dejectedly I grab a bit of cardboard to lie on and sulk back to the axle to figure out how much of a pain in the *** it's going to be to get the boat off the trailer, flip it over, move the springs and axles back and hope its far enough.

And this is what I find.

The whole f%$king frame unbolts!!!!!!!!!

Angry with myself because someone posted here that 4 bolts will move the axle back, I just didn't understand what they meant. I looked to move the axle not the entire frame.

Anger turns to joy when I snap off the 4 rusty bolts, jack up the trailer, kick the frame back 3 inches and put the nose up to 130kg. yay


I did extend the frame by about 400mm anyway, but at least i got something done.

Your a good man when you can accept your mistake and laugh at it. You are now a welcomed member of the SHT club. Congratulations.

 

[surge006]

Re: Trailer fishtailing

another option is if you have a weight distribution hitch that will solve the problem if it is heavier than you think.

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

Re: Trailer fishtailing

Don't you have to have brakes now?

 

[lightwood38]

Re: Trailer fishtailing

Yep, next hurdle. Plus my nice new tyres are only rated at 450kg. About 40kg not enough.

 

[rbh]

Re: Trailer fishtailing

have a question about your hitch, what is it rated for and what size of ball does it take.
rob

 

[snowman48047]

Re: Trailer fishtailing

Your saying that it is the original trailer for the boat, yet does not have brakes. You need to add brakes because the boat/trailer is over the weight limit for the requirement for brakes. This does not add up. How could this be sold originally and not meet the requirements for brakes? Is it grandfathered in so brakes are not a requirement? Seems like there would be a ton of trailers that might not meet "new" brake requirements.

Say you add brakes. Then you find a requirement that says all trailers with weights over "XXX" must have a double axle. What yer then going to have to add an axle? Something just doesn't make sense here.

Did I miss something?

 

[lightwood38]

Re: Trailer fishtailing

Yea you did, the trailer is from the 80s and retrospective trailer brake laws started in 1999 from what I can gather. And in all seriousness if I wanted to get the boat under 750 I think i could. It was weighed as is for the purpose of setting the tongue weight.

Brakes are for another thread, lets just hope she tows straight now hey.

 

[lightwood38]

Re: Trailer fishtailing

And by the way, Victorian laws also state all trailers over 2 ton must have a double axle. I recon I'm safe unless I have a really good day on the water.

 

[lightwood38]

Re: Trailer fishtailing

Thanks for everybody's help, the trailer now tows beautifully.

 

[cribber]

Re: Trailer fishtailing

Glad to hear it all worked out for ya!!!!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trailer fishtailing

Is the trailer correct for the boat. If the transom hangs off the back of the bunks (or last rollers if you have them) then the trailer is too short for the boat. You cannot move the boat forward more than a few inches which will likely not affect tongue weight much.