Boat position on trailer...

[Nico2112]

...can it be adjusted with the boat on top?

Here's what's happening, it seems the trailer can be used to carry bigger boats, and my transom is about 8" inside the end of the bunks (pics to follow). My winch post and bow stop is too up front, and I think it needs to be be pushed back those 8" to balance the weight better and make the tongue weight proper.

I was thinking of this procedure:
1) Attach the trailer coupler to my towing vehicle ball. On P and with parking brakes engaged.
2) Tie both transom's U bolts to my other car to pull the boat back.
3) Wet the trailer's bunks and bottom of the boat
4) Pull the boat those 8"

Can this be done?

Thanks in advance.

 

[QC]

Re: Boat position on trailer...

Is the tongue really too heavy? Or is it that you don't like the bunks sticking out? If it is the latter, I'd leave it alone. If it is tongue weight then I wouldn't go too far. You want the bunks to stick out a little . . .

 

[Nico2112]

Re: Boat position on trailer...

Well, I really don't know. My inlaw always told me "a well balanced trailer should allow you to lift the trailer tongue by hand". One of his boats was a Quest 207 20', resting on a double axle trailer, and I was amazed I was able to lift the tongue a bit when hooking it on the towing ball.
I can't do this with my boat, can't lift it; maybe that's why I think I should be moved back.

I really don't know if what he told me is true, but when it came to boating, I always beleived him (30+ years of boating experience). Too bad he isn't around anymore

Anyway, I'm open to hear from your experience too

Maybe I'm being to anal about it and should just leave it as it is

Thanks for your input.

 

[spktho]

Re: Boat position on trailer...

The trailer tongue weight should be about 10-15% of the total trailer+boat weight. If you get too light a tongue weight, then that causes dangerous driving conditions as the trailer wants to lift the back of the tow vehicle when going over bumps.

 

[blousteau]

Re: Boat position on trailer...

A well balanced trailer will allow you to pick up the tongue by had, a properly setup trailer may not based on its weight. Think of it this way, if you have a hitch that can tow 3500 pounds, the max tongue weight is usually 350 lbs. A hitch that has a max towing of 5000 pounds, has a max tongue weight of 500 lbs. So the 10-15% makes sense.

 

[bowman316]

Re: Boat position on trailer...

you could hook up the bow eyes to a car and pull it back, but the best way to do that would be to go the the ramp and float it back. Float it back about 10 inches, then pull out of the water, and fix the bow stop to have it further back, then crank it forward out of the water.

But in that case, you are doing all of the work in the ramp parking lot. So it may be easier to just pull it back with a car, or even back up and step on the brakes quick, so the boat slide back.

I did this with my boat, but i have rollers.
I made sure it would only slide a few inches, by only letting that much of the bow strap out.

on my trailer, i can tilt it back when unhooked if i just sit on the transom. like a see saw

 

[QC]

Re: Boat position on trailer...

I don't necessarily agree about the lift by hand thing. Especially with a single axle trailer. The fact is a two axle trailer and tongue weight is a little different than a single. Can you lift 250 lbs easily? that would be 10% of a 2500 lb setup . . . Got a bathroom scale? Have a buddy help you lift the trailer and set the jack down on a piece of wood sitting on the bathroom scale. If it is anything less than 200 lbs I would not be moving that thing back at all . . .

 

[Nico2112]

Re: Boat position on trailer...

Thanks for all the info guys

QC, I will do that this weekend. So basically, if it weighs under 200 lbs I'm ok, right?

Just in case it weighs more than 200 lbs, I will take your suggestions Bowman. I thought about floating the boat back while in the ramp, and doing the adjustment there; but usually, doing that on a boat busy sunday, the other boaters will hate me, that's why I prefer doing it at home.

Cheers!

 

[QC]

Re: Boat position on trailer...

So basically, if it weighs under 200 lbs I'm ok, right?

Or maybe even better said: If you are under 200 lbs. AND she tows OK (no sway) then just go fishing . . .

If you are over 200 lbs. you may still want to leave it alone. If your truck isn't squatting, then I wouldn't worry about too much tongue weight.

 

[Nico2112]

Re: Boat position on trailer...

...If you are under 200 lbs. AND she tows OK (no sway) then just go fishing . . .
...If your truck isn't squatting, then I wouldn't worry about too much tongue weight.

Valuable addition QC

Yes, I towed this boat home for 25 km (approx 16 miles) with a Rav 4 when I picked it up, and no problems whatsoever!

I guess reading this much information makes you wonder if you're doing the right thing, while you're already doing ok

Thanks again

 

[bowman316]

Re: Boat position on trailer...

Can't you tow more with more tounge weight, kinda like how you can tow heavier loads with goose neck hitches. Less weight on the trailer wheels, and more on the truck.

they say you can tow a lot more with the same truck, just by using a goosneck hitch.

 

[Nico2112]

Re: Boat position on trailer...

Gooseneck hitch?

 

[bowman316]

Re: Boat position on trailer...

when you hook up a trailer into the back of a pick up bed, kinda like how a big rig trailer hooks up to the truck.

you know those campers that kook up to the bed of a pick up?
is that a goose neck hitch?

 

[QC]

Re: Boat position on trailer...

If you figure out a goose neck on a Rav4 I want pictures . . .

 

[Nico2112]

Re: Boat position on trailer...

Yup, just googled it; nope, you can't use those on a Rav 4.

I was thinking of not bothering myself with any adjustments, if my trailering is going to be only for like 20 miles to the lake, and then, from the hangar to the ramp (30 mts). My boat is staying in a hangar at the marina, so the other ocassion I'm going to be trailering, is when I buy another boat

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Boat position on trailer...

60% of the load should be forward of the axle. The tongue weight is a good indicator of a balanced load. If you move the boat to far back you could end up in a catastrophic situation on the highway. Sway can get away from you very very quickly when you're trying to get up to highway speed. I've seen the results of this personally twice (other people).

Ian

 

[QC]

Re: Boat position on trailer...

Good choice . . .

FWIW, my first boat was on a single axle trailer and I was a newbie (1984). They put a 17 footer on a 16 foot trailer and she was sticking out behind the bunks . . . Soooooo, I had to move the winch forward to get her all of the way on to the bunks. Ended up a little too heavy on the tongue but it towed very well.

 

[bowman316]

Re: Boat position on trailer...

i have a farily heavy tounge, and i have never had any problems with sway. I guess this helps with sway.

I just mentioned goose neck hitches, to bring up the point that (i think) the more weight on the back axle of the truck, the more you can tow.

 

[Nico2112]

Re: Boat position on trailer...

All your opinions are welcomed and well taken

Thanks for sharing the knowledge guys, really appreciate it!

Now, I just can't wait for it to be May 3rd (launching the boat for the first time)

Cheers!

 

[J. Mark]

Re: Boat position on trailer...

How did the launch go?