Common problems with trailers???

[bkaloy]

Hi,

I am a student in the University of Portsmouth and we're doing a project. For this I need to think of improvements to boat trailers so if you could tell me some common problems you've encountered with trailers or changes in the design that you think could be made, I would be very grateful. I know there are different trailer designs out there so if you can think of anything I could work on please also tell me what type of trailer you are talking about (if it's not some general problem). I myself have no experience with trailers since I don't own a boat so I am counting on the experience of other people. Thanks in advance!

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

As much as engineers like to improve upon the design, the KISS principle applies to trailers... There really isn't much to a trailer. Couple pieces of metal, a tongue, an axle. Almost ALL common failures relate to corrosion in one way or another, so if you want to fix something...

 

[mla2ofus]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

IMO most boat trailer problems are caused by the owner's lack of maintenance ie: wheel brgs, tires, lug nuts, lighting & wiring, sanding and touching up rusty spots. In some cases even overloading caused by either the owner or dealer. I think the manufacturerers make good tlrs, the buyer just has to keep in mind the old saying: " ya get's what ya pays for". Some co's. need to pay attention to design for tlrs used in salt water so water doesn't get trapped in places causing frame components to rust out.
JMHO,
Mike

 

[N3UP]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

One word...Corrosion.

Everything comes back to corrosion.
Rust....is corrosion
Bearing failures caused by water intrusion which results in......corrosion.
Tires dry rot due to UV exposure, which could be considered a kind of corrosion.

They very act of launching and/or retrieving requires that the trailer be submerged in water which results in......wait for it........CORROSION.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

While I agree that corrosion is a problem it's not one that can be easily dealt with by an engineer other than available coatings and material choice. What I would like to see in a trailer is a way to vary the height, possibly with hydraulics, so that you can launch in varying conditions. This feature should be remotely controlled. You should be able to launch your boat with plenty of axle clearance when ramp conditions are poor (low water) but be able to lower the bunks or rollers so the boat can float off. This is sort of the concept behind the tilt trailer and rollers vs. bunks. I really prefer a bunked trailer over rollers and a system like I've sort of described might just be the ticket. I'm sure it's been thought of before but it isn't popular so your challenge would be to come up with something simple and reliable that would become mainstream.

 

[raven7]

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.

 

[jayhanig]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

I'd like to see trailers come with the high PVC type guides that would have LED turn signals around midshaft (chest high as you are standing next to them in the driveway) with additional positional lights at the very top of the guide. Make the top lights easily removable. Furthermore I would have all of the rear wiring come together immediately under the top lights so that they would 1) never get dipped into the water and 2) make for easy access for wiring issues.

Not only would these guides make for easy loading of the boat onto the trailer, they would be highly visible to others following while at the same time be easily visible to you when backing your trailer down a ramp.

 

[zopperman]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

http://www.thebeachlauncher.com/

It's too expensive ^^

Corrosion sucks...

Raven's idea is cool too.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

back up sensors not only to warn you before you back into something but also help you keep it straight.
alot of folks like myself have been back'n trailers forever and are pretty good at it but still worry about backing in to stuff in tight quarters. May be remote tire pressure & hub temps too.

My idea has nothing to do with boat trailers really but a traffic syncronization(spelling) system-red/yellow/green light on the dashboard of your car that is tied in to a simple radar system so that when a traffic light is changing, every one steps on the gas pedal the same time instead of waiting for the cars ahead to accelerate ...one...at...a...time.... red=brake/yellow=coast/green =stomp on gas!

pm me for my info to send royalty checks. lolView attachment 122763

 

[Black Snow Slide]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

Work on a design for rear seals. When they let go damage begins and the owner has no idea unless he sees the grease on the hull or inside the wheel. Desighn a rear seal that gives better performance then current design. Keep it simple so it can be fixed on road side. Most trailer break downs usually start with the rear seal.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

OK, if you look at this site and other sites in terms of posts about trailer issues . . .

#1 lights & electrical. Lighting tends to be the most inferior components of a trailer and the wiring is often to blame. The wiring, lights and related components are not designed to be immersed in water, but it is unavoidable.

# 2 brakes. they often do not work or lock up. this too is due to exposure to water, particularly salt water.

Wheel bearings used to be a bigger problem, but modern bearing lubrication systems have reduced this as a common problem.

finally as some of the other posts have mentioned . . . rust/corrosion. Galvanized & aluminum trailers are designed to go in salt water. Plain painted trailers are not designed to go in salt water, and therefore they rust. As a matter of fact the hardware on trailers generally rusts to the point of siezing and often have to be replaced upon servicing.

That's my 2 cents.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

I'd like to see trailers come with the high PVC type guides that would have LED turn signals around midshaft (chest high as you are standing next to them in the driveway) with additional positional lights at the very top of the guide. Make the top lights easily removable. Furthermore I would have all of the rear wiring come together immediately under the top lights so that they would 1) never get dipped into the water and 2) make for easy access for wiring issues.

Not only would these guides make for easy loading of the boat onto the trailer, they would be highly visible to others following while at the same time be easily visible to you when backing your trailer down a ramp.

there are a few trailer companies around Tampa that make this exact trailer. Aluminum, float on with high mounted trailer lights. PVC covering the vertical guides.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Common problems with trailers???

the lights are the soft spot.

As for the idea of sliding bunks, that issue is solved with rollers and a power winch. Otherwise, you will have rollers between the bunks.

Many problems can be avoided by keeping the axle dry, especially the hub/bearnig issues. Many problems have arisen from the invention of "float on" trailers. Invention is the mother of necessity.

 

[bkaloy]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

Thanks a lot to all of you, you've given me some pretty good ideas!
But I have another question. In theory many things can be done - different materials & technology could be used, but as in all things in life, in the end it comes down to cost and even though this is only a university project I have to stay realistic. So my question is: what would you consider a reasonable price for a trailer?

 

[JDA1975]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

Thanks a lot to all of you, you've given me some pretty good ideas!
But I have another question. In theory many things can be done - different materials & technology could be used, but as in all things in life, in the end it comes down to cost and even though this is only a university project I have to stay realistic. So my question is: what would you consider a reasonable price for a trailer?

that's a loaded question given the scope and size of available trailers....your willingness to bring a junk-pile back to operating quality, look around and see what you find that is appealing and meets your needs, then toss us some pictures and we can help ya decide if its a good deal

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

Bearing problems ARE dangerous!!

If they fail at night anywhere you are SCREWED !! Daylight & a call to 911 or a AAA plan starts the repairs in a distant area.

Old trailer that suddenly breaks the neck as your 270 pound fishing buddy steps on it at the ramp, is a exercise in finding & cutting down the correct sized tree branch in a protected wood land area..........My fault for being unemployed.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

As an ex-design engineer I see a couple of good ideas but most would have a significant impact on the cost which would not be tolerated by the consumer. When designing consumer products, your price point is of prime importance.

Most of the problems like rear seals, lighting, etc., could easily be remedied with more expensive, off the shelf components. The seals I use on my trailer are $25 a piece retail but they are reusable and I?ve never had seal problems. Lights are another of the problems that is easily resolved by substitution. Get rid of the cheap plastic connectors and run a good quality multi-conductor cable and quality ?sealed? connectors.

A trailer that rusts from the inside out is of poor design. Not allowing for the free movement of water and air inside the frame is a cost cutting measure. There is no reason why a painted trailer is not galvanized before being painted except for cost.

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

While I worked in redesign. I learned about " stick hard bearing grease ". It melts & flows as the bearing temperature rises. The logic sounds good. They reality was it was not that great in trailer use. It would not soften & constantly recoat the airspace metal parts as well as hand packing did.
Trying to improve does not always happen.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

In regards to cost. I think current quality trailers are priced about right. I don't currently see any relevance to the cost of the boat but since it is an essential element for many boat buyers it may be possible to correlate the cost of the trailer to a percentage of the cost of the boat. That would be a tough challenge but if you considered that the cost of a trailer is less signifcant when buying a 50,000.00 boat then it is with a 2500.00 boat and the added amenities don't really come into play as much with a 14' fishing boat as they would with a 22' bow rider sport boat then you may be able to approximate a percentage based cost that would be usable in determining what people would be willing to pay.

If you could, then you could approximate what would be affordable and profitable. You can't disregard the profit margin or no one will even think about selling your trailers for you.

 

[gtochris]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

Wiring/ Lights!

Although now, most tow vehicles come standard with a round recepticle, why not make every TV have the standard issue 4-5 blade flat plug standard and any auxiliary needs separate (brakes, exc...) It would make connecting basic wires as simple as having the correct ball size and by separating the 2 it might make trouble shooting simpler when their is a problem.