Common problems with trailers???

[Lowe170]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

I just knew this thread was going south real fast...

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Common problems with trailers???

"They claim that because thay are sealed, there is no need to unplug the wires before backing the trailer into the water."

Rules of Life on the water:

Nothing is waterproof.

All metal rusts or corrodes.

This weekend a boat builder/fishing guide pointed out that they call it Stain Less, not Stain Never.

 

[dlngr]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

I just knew this thread was going south real fast...

is that the South Pole,just up ahead?

 

[Lou C]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

My demands here are simple:
galvanized or aluminum only
high quality u-bolts and other threaded fasteners to resist corrosion
springs coated to resist corrosion
tinned marine wire for harness, with a full ground harness, not depending on the bolted together frame for a ground path
wheel cylinders for drum brakes that are made to keep water out (had to make my own)
disc calipers that keep water out the piston dust boot
caliper slides that don't seize
better hub seals
super lube style system to grease bearings
good quality trailer tires.....

 

[Lowe170]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

is that the South Pole,just up ahead?

"So far, so good" said the Captain of the Titanic

 

[dlngr]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

Like a tiller man on a firetruck? I feel like that's overkill... and wouldn't be very effective...

It'd be spooky riding back there steering that axle too!

 

[j_martin]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

Don't need led's to have a decent trailer light. TruckLite has been making modular truck and trailer lighting for years. Lights either snap into a holder or jam into a grommet. Connection is by a well made connector protected by a gob of silly-cone tune up grease.

When I quit fishing, I have to have the trailer lights on so I can hit it with the boat in the dark. I just aim the nose between the submerged tail lights.

 

[ToemanDoug]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

While not a common problem, but if you are looking for creative design idea to facilitate use of a boat trailer, here's a simple one:

A telescoping trailer tongue.

Some launch ramps have a shallow angle requiring the boat / trailer be backed farther into the water to launch. Using appropriate sized square tubing, the tongue length can easily be increased or decresed like a hydraulic crane boom. I'll leave the design details to you.

Things to consider:

How to deal with light (and elec. brake) wiring and or hydraulic brake lines.
Rattle / wear due to loose fit/ wear.


have fun.

 

[bkaloy]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

Thanks everyone once again! There is only one more thing I need to do this semester (actual designing is next semester) and that's a so-called "interview". Actually I need two of them. I know you've answered most of the questions already but I need to have this in a sort of organized Q&A way. So here are the questions:

1) How often do you use a boat trailer?
2) Is it easy to get a boat onto a trailer?
3) Is it easy to offload a boat from a trailer?
4) Do you find the trailer heavy and fuel-consuming?
5) Do you prefer a bunked trailer or rollers?
6) Do you think that a trailer whose size can be adjusted could be useful?

I need two people to answer these questions. Thanks in advance!

 

[halfmoa]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

Thanks everyone once again! There is only one more thing I need to do this semester (actual designing is next semester) and that's a so-called "interview". Actually I need two of them. I know you've answered most of the questions already but I need to have this in a sort of organized Q&A way. So here are the questions:

1) How often do you use a boat trailer?
2) Is it easy to get a boat onto a trailer?
3) Is it easy to offload a boat from a trailer?
4) Do you find the trailer heavy and fuel-consuming?
5) Do you prefer a bunked trailer or rollers?
6) Do you think that a trailer whose size can be adjusted could be useful?

I need two people to answer these questions. Thanks in advance!

1) How often do you use a boat trailer? Once if not twice a week to and from the launch mid May through mid September.
2) Is it easy to get a boat onto a trailer? Depends on the trailer's design and operators skill level. I don't have a problem now but when I was 16 years old trailering a 27 foot cabin cruiser and dealing with a crosswind things got hairy a few times!
3) Is it easy to offload a boat from a trailer? Always.
4) Do you find the trailer heavy and fuel-consuming? The issue with weight and more importantly fuel consumption is with the load sat upon the trailer. My trailer is ~400 lbs so it's not too big of an issue, the boat is.
5) Do you prefer a bunked trailer or rollers? Bunks.
6) Do you think that a trailer whose size can be adjusted could be useful? Of course. Then again, most of them are adjustable within reason.



FWIW I agree with quality wiring and quality lighting being an issue. Bought a brand new trailer and had to replace lights within a year...

 

[maproy99]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

After looking at my problems and the problems I have read here, the only thing I cannot think of a solution for is tandem axle scrub. You know when you take a decently tight corner with a tandem axle and you can almost go and measure how much tread you lost? I like tandem axle trailers for the redundancy, always slowly creep down the highway on one axle, but the scrubbing takes away 15-25% of my tire's life. If you could invent something to allow the tires to come out of line to make the turn but go back in line later. This would take some rethinking of axle, springs, and hub assembly. I assume you could end up with a way to realign your axles just by tightening or losing a heavy duty spring too as part of this. TANDEM TIRE SAVER!!! LOL

 

[maproy99]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

-_-

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

Thanks everyone once again! There is only one more thing I need to do this semester (actual designing is next semester) and that's a so-called "interview". Actually I need two of them. I know you've answered most of the questions already but I need to have this in a sort of organized Q&A way. So here are the questions:

1) How often do you use a boat trailer?
2) Is it easy to get a boat onto a trailer?
3) Is it easy to offload a boat from a trailer?
4) Do you find the trailer heavy and fuel-consuming?
5) Do you prefer a bunked trailer or rollers?
6) Do you think that a trailer whose size can be adjusted could be useful?

I need two people to answer these questions. Thanks in advance!

1. 3 times aweek during boating season-- April to Nov here.
2. very easy for me.
3. easier than loading. The only difficult part is climbing in & out if launching solo.
4. No- the trailer weight compared to the boat's weight is very little. (1/3rd to 1/4 maybe)
5. I have had both- i think it depends on size of boat- larger & heavier roller for sure. But Bunks for smaller less than 23ft.
6. YES-- I think the telescoping tounge would be great.( fit in smaller storage- extend out for shallow ramps--longer trailers are easier to back up{jet ski trl})

 

[sam60]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

I would like to see a trailer designed with sliding bunks,( electric or hydraulic) that would extend into the water, while the trailer has no chance of backing off the end of a ramp. Once the boat is settled into the bunks, remote control the bunks to return back to transport position. This would eliminate power loading also.

I second this. A large, long boat with a slight grade at the launch ramp is difficult to launch and load.

 

[Slow Ride]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

I'd like to see some sort of adjustable tongue. My boat is heavy and requires a really strong ball and hitch. The problem is that the stronger hitches are not adjustable and I need to be able to raise the tonge of my trailer to get rain water or wash water to drain from the hull. Otherwise, when I leave the car wash or travel through the rain, the boat is much heavier because much of the water stays in the hull.

 

[papyson]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

the quality of the trailer is almost ignored by too many boat buyers.....and that is where the most exposure to boat damage occurs...i see rear seals mentioned a few times in the answers here....buying the buddy bearings with the relief hole will take care of that....