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New (to me) trailer too tall #11278311 12/12/15 10:12 PM
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NightStalker79 Offline OP
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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

Re: New (to me) trailer too tall [Re: NightStalker79] #11278361 12/12/15 10:52 PM
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trlrman Offline
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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 ?

Re: New (to me) trailer too tall [Re: NightStalker79] #11278459 12/13/15 12:07 AM
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heybaylor Offline
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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
Re: New (to me) trailer too tall [Re: NightStalker79] #11278500 12/13/15 12:32 AM
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Tommie Offline
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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.

Re: New (to me) trailer too tall [Re: NightStalker79] #11278805 12/13/15 03:43 AM
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Bobby Milam Offline
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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.

Re: New (to me) trailer too tall [Re: NightStalker79] #11279178 12/13/15 03:32 PM
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NightStalker79 Offline OP
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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. smirk


Died and Gone to Granger

1946 14' LoneStar

Re: New (to me) trailer too tall [Re: NightStalker79] #11279725 12/13/15 08:56 PM
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Bobby Milam Offline
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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.

Re: New (to me) trailer too tall [Re: NightStalker79] #11279791 12/13/15 09:31 PM
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Tommie Offline
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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

cheers

Re: New (to me) trailer too tall [Re: NightStalker79] #11279828 12/13/15 09:45 PM
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smooth move Offline
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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
Re: New (to me) trailer too tall [Re: smooth move] #11280467 12/14/15 02:05 AM
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Po Boy Offline
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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.

Re: New (to me) trailer too tall [Re: NightStalker79] #11281391 12/14/15 04:22 PM
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NightStalker79 Offline OP
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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

Re: New (to me) trailer too tall [Re: NightStalker79] #11283751 12/15/15 05:21 PM
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tincan86 Offline
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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
Re: New (to me) trailer too tall [Re: NightStalker79] #11283958 12/15/15 07:00 PM
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bogey♂ Offline
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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)


Originally Posted By: Dan90210 ☮
you know, nothing wrong with seven men who met on the internet going for a swim together
Re: New (to me) trailer too tall [Re: NightStalker79] #11298228 12/22/15 10:39 PM
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lcbl75771 Online Happy
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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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