Can I haul my trailer freeway speeds?

[Spbeyond]

Hey guys, I was going to ask what I needed to do in order to put larger tires onto my boat. But after searching around on the forum here I see that the popular opinion is that smaller wheels, if taken care of should be fine. Im not sure what the tires are (the trailer is currently in the snow ) But they are pretty small on a very basic trailer for a very basic 14' fishing boat. If you had to guess would these wheels be okay for freeway speeds and longer trips?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Can I haul my trailer freeway speeds?

They are probably 4.80 x 8 or 5.30 x 12 and either are fine at freeway speeds -- provided freeway speeds aren't 75 MPH. Condition of the tires and bearings will determine whether they should be towed at any speed. Sorry - but I just had to point out a couple things. I just returned from a wake and a 50 mile drive in a Minnesota blizzard so I am a little "out there: 1) you "tow" a trailer -- you don't "haul" it unless its broken. 2) The tires go on the trailer -- not the boat.

 

[Spbeyond]

Re: Can I haul my trailer freeway speeds?

Haha good points.... The tires seem to be cracking around the edges. I think I will be replacing them this year. And I have bearing buddies that I keep greased. But beyond that I am clueless.

 

[northernmerc]

Re: Can I haul my trailer freeway speeds?

The tires go on the trailer -- not the boat.

Ha ha! There's a thought. Has anyone tried putting a hitch on the front of the boat and an axle directly onto the boat? Maybe we've been using trailers unnecessarily all these years.

Either way, if you are using a trailer or not, check the bearings and repack them before going too far.

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: Can I haul my trailer freeway speeds?

I am not sure, but I think that in many, if not most states, legal HW speed for towing a trailer is 55MPH.

That said, check your bearings to see if they are hot. Check the speed rating on your tires and keep your towing speed well under the speed rating.

TerryMSU

 

[Southern Appal]

Re: Can I haul my trailer freeway speeds?

You might want to check your brakes as well.

 

[pac city]

Re: Can I haul my trailer freeway speeds?

Ha ha! There's a thought. Has anyone tried putting a hitch on the front of the boat and an axle directly onto the boat? Maybe we've been using trailers unnecessarily all these years.

Either way, if you are using a trailer or not, check the bearings and repack them before going too far.

sure you can. go to you tube, type the float trailer. i would like one.

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Can I haul my trailer freeway speeds?

I towed a 17 foot sailboat around on the highway a lot. Fiberglass over wood construction, fairly heavy for a small boat. Never had any issues with the little tires on the trailer.Looked like it was on an appliance dolly
Last trip was 200+ miles to the builders kids home, 35 years after she was built. Same trailer for all its life, new tires every few years, repacked bearings, no problems.

 

[Spbeyond]

Re: Can I haul my trailer freeway speeds?

No brakes... Its so small im sure no one has ever though about putting brakes on... Is it worth the extra dough to buy the more expensive tires? Thank guys.

 

[HappierWet]

Re: Can I haul my trailer freeway speeds?

No brakes... Its so small im sure no one has ever though about putting brakes on... Is it worth the extra dough to buy the more expensive tires? Thank guys.

I think he was referring to the brakes on the tow vehicle....They will see a LOT more abuse towing even a relatively small trailer.

 

[Spbeyond]

Re: Can I haul my trailer freeway speeds?

Yeah no breaks! Just kidding, I actually just had them serviced so I think they should be good.

 

[cribber]

Re: Can I haul my trailer freeway speeds?

Smaller tires turn at faster RPMs at highway speeds. So if you've noticed cracking around the edges, I'd say it's time to replace them if you're going to travel any distance at speed.

 

[Spbeyond]

Re: Can I haul my trailer freeway speeds?

Yeah this summer I plan to go from northern utah to Burnt lake on the west edge of the windriver range (wyoming) This is about 450ish miles I think. SO new tires for sure.

 

[F14CRAZY]

Re: Can I haul my trailer freeway speeds?

If the bearings are greased and in good shape, and if the tires are in good shape, I don't see why not

 

[j_martin]

Re: Can I haul my trailer freeway speeds?

Little tires wear out faster than big tires. For most of us they rot off first anyway, so it's really not an issue as long as yer within the load rating of the tires.

 

[capt sam]

Re: Can I haul my trailer freeway speeds?

Like mentioned smaller tires= higher rpm, when your speedometer says 75 those tires are doing well over a hundred, full inflation and check the bearings.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Can I haul my trailer freeway speeds?

Sorry! But since the tires are in contact with the ground, they see the exact same speed as the tow vehicle tires. If the tow vehicle is traveling 60 MPH, the tires are moving 88 feet per second. BY definition, the trailer tires can not be traveling any different speed and the trailer tire tread is also travelling 88 feet per second.

HOWEVER since they spin more times to travel the same distance, the BEARINGS experience a faster rotational speed than the tow vehicle bearings--assuming approximately the same bearing size. Now, you math type fellas out there take it down to radians per second to compare tow vehicle tire tread speed and trailer tire tread speed. Then figure out centrifugal forces on each size tire tread. That's too much math for me! BUT, I suspect that because of the smaller tire diameter, the forces will be very nearly equal.

 

[cribber]

Re: Can I haul my trailer freeway speeds?

Yeah this summer I plan to go from northern utah to Burnt lake on the west edge of the windriver range (wyoming) This is about 450ish miles I think. SO new tires for sure.

New tires will definitely get ya there and back. I'd also do an annual maintenance on the bearings and hubs while you have the tires off. Your setup should be fine without surge brakes on the trailer since you're likely under 3000# total. My 3K# rated trailer came with them so guess that's the requirement here in Fla and most states.

Hope ya have a great trip this summer and share your pics back here!!!

 

[mike343]

Re: Can I haul my trailer freeway speeds?

Hey guys, I was going to ask what I needed to do in order to put larger tires onto my boat. But after searching around on the forum here I see that the popular opinion is that smaller wheels, if taken care of should be fine. Im not sure what the tires are (the trailer is currently in the snow ) But they are pretty small on a very basic trailer for a very basic 14' fishing boat. If you had to guess would these wheels be okay for freeway speeds and longer trips?

Sems like if you had a question, you would give a little more info,

 

[Spbeyond]

Re: Can I haul my trailer freeway speeds?

"Sems like if you had a question, you would give a little more info," The information I gave got me the answer I was looking for, so it has worked out great. But hey thanks for the comment anyway.

Thank you everyone for the advice.