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New (to me) trailer too tall
#11278311
12/12/15 10:12 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 204
NightStalker79
OP
Outdoorsman
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OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 204 |
Help, any suggestions. Just replaced the trailer on my 14ft aluminum fishing boat. Bought used trailer. After re configuring the bunks and rollers to fit the new boat, I took it down to the lake to try it out. After backing the truck down until the rear truck tires just touched the water, the boat is still not really floating free, not free enough for the motor in reverse to pull the boat off the trailer. It it a break-back trailer, but hinge never budged. Should I be backing the truck further in? I never had to put the truck tires in the water with my old trailer.
Last edited by NightStalker79; 12/12/15 10:17 PM.
Died and Gone to Granger
1946 14' LoneStar
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Re: New (to me) trailer too tall
[Re: NightStalker79]
#11278361
12/12/15 10:52 PM
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,324
trlrman
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,324 |
Is the axle on top or bottem of springs ? Don't know if they are drop axles but as long as you have fender clearance you can move the axle to top of spring and drop the trailer height ?
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Re: New (to me) trailer too tall
[Re: NightStalker79]
#11278459
12/13/15 12:07 AM
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,896
heybaylor
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,896 |
good idea on the axles, also your bunks are vertical. can you lay them down flat? or cut them down to lower the boat ?
heybaylor
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Re: New (to me) trailer too tall
[Re: NightStalker79]
#11278500
12/13/15 12:32 AM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 907
Tommie
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 907 |
Good suggestions on your trailer. I may be wrong, but it looks like your front roller/winch is very close to the back of your truck. Could you just move the boat back on the trailer 6" to 1'? That would be a lot easier than moving the axles.
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Re: New (to me) trailer too tall
[Re: NightStalker79]
#11278805
12/13/15 03:43 AM
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,340
Bobby Milam
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,340 |
I wouldn't want the truck tires in the water just for sliding reasons. Looks like those bunks are making it sit high on the trailer. You might also want to add some sliders to the bunk to help it slip off easier.
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Re: New (to me) trailer too tall
[Re: NightStalker79]
#11279178
12/13/15 03:32 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 204
NightStalker79
OP
Outdoorsman
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OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 204 |
Thanks for all the suggestions. I can't move the boat back on the trailer because the transom is weak and needs to be supported with that heavy 4 stroke on it. The bunks are end-on to accommodate the curved bottom of the boat, but I probably can cut them down by 1.5 inches off the bottom edge and still have enough strength. (after all, the center rollers carry 70% of the weight). I will have to look at the axle attachment.
Died and Gone to Granger
1946 14' LoneStar
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Re: New (to me) trailer too tall
[Re: NightStalker79]
#11279725
12/13/15 08:56 PM
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,340
Bobby Milam
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,340 |
Looking at the height of your bunks and the bottom of your boat in relation to the top of the tires, you'd have to back it in pretty deep to float the boat. Your back bumper also is sitting pretty low to the ground. I'd look at maybe some air shocks on the back of the truck so it would drop the transom of the boat a few inches and that might be all that you need to float it. I'd also put something like these on http://www.basspro.com/EZ-Slide-Trailer-Pads/product/1072/ just so you can reduce the friction on the bunks and allow it to slide off without needing to float as much.
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Re: New (to me) trailer too tall
[Re: NightStalker79]
#11279791
12/13/15 09:31 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 907
Tommie
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 907 |
No offense here, but I would be more concerned with a weak transom and correcting that and not worrying about getting my rear tires in the water. I can't move the boat back on the trailer because the transom is weak and needs to be supported with that heavy 4 stroke
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Re: New (to me) trailer too tall
[Re: NightStalker79]
#11279828
12/13/15 09:45 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,925
smooth move
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,925 |
looks like the axle is pretty far back. can you move it forward untill you get about 50 or 60 lbs tongue weight? that would put the rear of the boat more into the water and still support the transom.
es le bon ton roulet
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Re: New (to me) trailer too tall
[Re: smooth move]
#11280467
12/14/15 02:05 AM
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 669
Po Boy
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 669 |
you can get an 18 inch extension for your hitch if 18 inches will buy you enough. I did this when the lake levels were so low to keep the rear tires out of the water.
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Re: New (to me) trailer too tall
[Re: NightStalker79]
#11281391
12/14/15 04:22 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 204
NightStalker79
OP
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 204 |
More great suggestions! Yes, the axle is currently resting underneath the leaf springs, looks like it will be very feasible to move it to the top, which will gain me 3.5 inches of depth. (The bolts are big, clearly will hold the tension) Moving the axle forward also looks pretty easy, 4 bolts and there are already pre-drilled holes in the frame for the forward mounting. The tongue weight is pretty hefty right now, which contributes to the truck rear riding low.
I think I will move the axle on top of the springs to get 3.5 inches, and move the axle up 12 inches to reduce the tongue weight, which will buy me another half an inch as the truck rear rises. 4 inches is a lot for an aluminum boat. If it still wont float, then I will add progressively: cut an inch off the bottom of the bunks, add the hitch extender, then add the bunk sliders.
No easy or obvious way to strengthen the transom, as desirable as that would be.
Thanks all! This is a great forum.
Last edited by NightStalker79; 12/14/15 04:33 PM.
Died and Gone to Granger
1946 14' LoneStar
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Re: New (to me) trailer too tall
[Re: NightStalker79]
#11283751
12/15/15 05:21 PM
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,293
tincan86
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,293 |
I had a similar set up a few years back, I took a swing away tongue hinge in it and added a couple feet to the length of the trailer that way I could back further in with out getting my tires wet. I also switched the axles, my problems were fixed
Hope for the best,but prepare for the worst
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Re: New (to me) trailer too tall
[Re: NightStalker79]
#11283958
12/15/15 07:00 PM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 15,651
bogey♂
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 15,651 |
You might be able to get away with one of the 4" drop hitch and reverse it. That will raise the tongue and it might help. Don't know if you have tried this, but it would be the cheapest solution (if it works)
you know, nothing wrong with seven men who met on the internet going for a swim together
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Re: New (to me) trailer too tall
[Re: NightStalker79]
#11298228
12/22/15 10:39 PM
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,384
lcbl75771
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,384 |
Also, it could have been the ramp. Every ramp is different, some slope more than others. After you do any changes to the trailer, try a different ramp just to see the difference.
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