Trailer questions... New guy needs set straight

[lts70]

I am hoping to get my trailer finished in the next week so I can start using my new to me jet skis (1996 750 Kawasaki sts & 1979 Kawasaki 440). I plan on getting the trailer all prepped out and sprayed in gloss black epoxy. I have already sandblasted the wheels and shot them in gloss white epoxy. I just have a couple questions for you experts before I am ready to lay some paint down on the trailer. Hopefully I will be able to attach photos to help with my questions.

1)First off the trailer landing rails look different from all other PWC trailers I have ever seen. They are made out of 1? wide strips of white plastic. The plastic is cracked and needs replaced I can?t seem to find any. Is this a good system or should I go to the carpeted 2x4 setup I see so much? Can anyone point me in the right direction as were to find this plastic?

2)Second the back of the trailer has upright box tubing on each corner. Should I cut these off or do they serve a purpose that will be useful?

3)The trailer does not have a trailer jack just a caster welded right behind the hitch. Should I put one on?

 

[bently]

Re: Trailer questions... New guy needs set straight

Pictures will help on your second question. I use the carpeted 2x4's, I make my own and I sand down the corners and edges to help the carpet last longer. You should position you ski's on your trailer so there is a 60/40 split of the weight on the trailer, 60% on the tongue. Then I would decide if you wanted a jack.

 

[Baytown.boy]

Re: Trailer questions... New guy needs set straight

Quote from above:
1)First off the trailer landing rails look different from all other PWC trailers I have ever seen. They are made out of 1? wide strips of white plastic. The plastic is cracked and needs replaced I can?t seem to find any. Is this a good system or should I go to the carpeted 2x4 setup I see so much? Can anyone point me in the right direction as were to find this plastic?

This is probly teflon to help the boat slide on and off a lot better. Most trailers have carpet on the bunk boards and then the strips applied to that. A lot of boat trailer have it. Cabelas, maybe bass pro shop, trailer shops in town.

 

[lts70]

Re: Trailer questions... New guy needs set straight

pics

 

[bently]

Re: Trailer questions... New guy needs set straight

I would cut the uprights off, that's my opinion. You may hit them or a friend not used to loading your ski's can hit them and add more "wear and tear marks" to your ski's.

 

[lts70]

Re: Trailer questions... New guy needs set straight

Do you know what the uprights are for?

 

[lts70]

Re: Trailer questions... New guy needs set straight

Does anyone have this style of landing rails? Do they work good?

Does anyone know what the back corner posts are?

 

[vegasphotoman]

Re: Trailer questions... New guy needs set straight

Im gonna say its possibly homemade??? (decently)

.........and that the builder didnt want to have the ski trailer to flip backwards when moving it around the garage......so they welded the wheel so short (lots of tongue weight)
since you are there and we arent, once you get it loaded with the skis see how heavy the tongue is and then decide for yourself on adding a fold up trailer jack with wheel etc.....

look at some local jetski trailers for design ideas.... (suzuki/polaris etc shops or at the docks) Im sure you have one close by somewhere...or look at pics online

alot of the new ones have winches (espec 3 place skis since they are pretty much small boats practically), they help hold the skis on etc, the rear uprights appear from the pics to be some sort of holding device (the crossbar is missing from the prev owner perhaps?)
I agree to wack em off....grind the cuts nice and smooth.....(bare feet cuts OUCH) Im guessing those things up front are for holding the skis in? (Im a boater not a jet skier) then use some cargo straps to hold down the back of the jet skis for safety......

and I might be compelled to primer the bare metal spots and hit it with 600 grit wet to rough it up a bit (the primer) mebbe even primer the whole thing and wet sand it 600 to 800 grit wet, wipe down with degreaser cleaner and spray it.... depends how much you care about the trailer ......

hope any of this helps.........