Trailering a canoe

[WEH]

I have a River Ridge Custom Canoe (a canoe specifically designed for fishing - sort of a cross between a canoe and a bass boat) and I want to trailer it behind our RV (a 19 ft. Roadtrek - van conversion). The RV has a spare tire kit that sticks out 12 inches on the left rear.<br /><br />The canoe weighs 85 lbs, is 12' 9" long and I will haul maybe 200 or 300 lbs of "stuff" in it or attached to the trailer.<br /><br />I'm looking at a 1250 Karavan boat trailer, bunk rather than rollers I think. The Karavan is a welded frame as opposed to a bolt-together frame. That seems to me to be a plus. The trailer I'm looking at is just over 17 ft long with 12" wheels and weighs about 250 lbs. <br /><br />I've never trailered anything before.<br /><br />I would really appreciate any comments, recommendations, thoughts, opinions, insights, experiences, or messages from deceased distant relatives regarding the subject.<br /><br />Thanks in advance -

 

[TX 66]

Re: Trailering a canoe

The trailer sounds fine except for the wheel size. I would go with 13" wheels/tires minimum, 14" if available. You want to reduce the wheel rpms per mile. Those 12" will be spinning very fast when going down the highway, which will wear the bearings faster than with larger wheels.<br /><br />I am sure that they will say the 12" wheels are more than adequate for highway use with the light load you will have. I would want something a little bit larger.<br /><br />I have a small utility trailer that originally had 8" wheels. The hubs would get so hot that you could not touch them. I put 13" wheels on and now the hubs only get warm.

 

[Pony]

Re: Trailering a canoe

Well I am one who thinks 12" wheels would be adequete for your purposes. Generally I go with the largest wheel that fits under the rim. Depending on the trailer a 12 can be the biggest you can go without modifying things. I had 12.80's on a fiberglass trihull and have 12"s on my smaller alumacraft.<br /><br />Yeah you want to reduce revolutions, but if you cant get around to getting bigger tires now I wouldnt worry......maybe get bigger ones later on down the line when you have to replace them. <br /><br />TX 66, did you have ANY grease in those hubs an were the bearings good??? I dont think any hub should get that hot.................

 

[JB]

Re: Trailering a canoe

I agree with PONY. Twelves will be more than adequate with the correct tires. Bigger tires would only increase the weight and the ground clearance to more than needed.<br /><br />If 8" wheels get hot bearings it has nothing to do with the wheel size. Anytime bearings get hot they need replacement or greasing. No exceptions.<br /><br />I have trailered boats as heavy as 2200lb on 185st12 (C range) wheels and tires for as far as 1500 miles one way.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Trailering a canoe

12" wheels are fine.<br />Welded frame, definitely.<br /><br />Do you plan on using the trailer to "launch and load" your canoe?<br />Or are you going to pick it up and set it in the water?<br /><br />I used to haul my canoes on top of the truck.<br />Decided I heeded a trailer for them, and to haul other things.<br /><br />I went to the local trailer shop, picked out a 5'x10' flatbed. I had them put an extra long 9' tongue on it so that the canoes could hang over the front of the bed, so they wouldn't hang over the back and drag when entering driveways.<br /><br />The canoes are long since gone. But we have used that trailer for hauling many many things. Currently being used for a small boat.<br /><br />Just something to think about.

 

[TX 66]

Re: Trailering a canoe

PONY and JB:<br /><br />The bearings were properly packed with grease. Pulled it 450 miles at 65-75 mph with no more than 800 lbs. total GW. Summer temps 85-90. When I first felt the hubs I thought all of the grease was gone. It has Buddy Bearing caps. Found a gas station that had a grease gun and put in a few pumps just to make sure. (They already had plenty of grease, I just made a mess.) Checked the bearings when I got home, they looked brand new, smooth operation, no pits or burn marks and plenty of grease. I switched to 13" wheels/tires and pulled it all over Texas the next summer. No more hot bearings. <br /><br />Just my unique experience, I'm sure many others have had no problems whatsoever with small diameter wheels/tires.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Trailering a canoe

be sure to add tongue length. i have an suv i tow with. have 3 boats. 2 of them i have no problem, get the rear hatch open. the 3rd on i have to drop the trailer to open the hatch.

 

[T S N]

Re: Trailering a canoe

Last time out I checked bearing temp after 5 miles. One was warm & one cool.<br />went home to check and found good grease in both, but one was tighter than the other.<br />Now they both run cool.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Trailering a canoe

Originally posted by roscoe:<br /> ..........Welded frame, definitely................

There's nothing wrong with a bolted frame on a boat trailer. Many boat trailer frames are bolted together, especially galvanized ones. Mine is bolted and carries 6,000 lb. Torison axles must be bolted on, the heat from welding would ruin them.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Trailering a canoe

There's a guy around here who trailers a small canoe behind a moped! <br /><br />And the "trailer" is just a hand truck laid down with a piece of water pipe clamped on with hose clamps for a tongue!