Common problems with trailers???

[sschefer]

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.

I understand what you're saying and it would be nice but it's not a problem at the trailer it's at the vehicle. You can put any connector you want on the trailer and do that easy enough but going from one vehicle to another is where to problems start. They are getting better, at least the flat connectors all seem to be the same. It's the round plugs where the brakes and aux power are that seem to always vary.

 

[ufm82]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

There used to be a manufacturer in Australia that was making trailers out of plastic. (???) OK, it was a composite material but completely non-corrosive and they were directed at the salt market. They couldn't make one very big as flex became an issue but for 20' and smaller boats they were excellent. They weren't expensive either as the bulk of the materials were recycled materials. They weren't pretty but they worked. We are stuck with steel or aluminum; a composite material capable of handling the stress of being loaded at all times and with extreme corrosion resistance would be a great thing. I don't know if that company is around anymore but I saw a video of their product. Seemed pretty cool when I saw it.

 

[Philster]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

If you tack any design or enhancement to a trailer, the wisest thing to do is advertise the return on the investment to the buyer as part of the deal.

For example, if you have a great hub system that resists corrosion, allows faster lube and easier maintenance, it would be wise to show that adding in another 250 for the option reduces cost of ownership over the long run.

Since trailer maintenance is often neglected, we can try to change humanity, or try to make self adjusting brakes, self lubricating hubs or make them less needy in terms of the attention they need.

 

[emilsr]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

If you want to fix something, fix the electrical. I've NEVER owned a trailer that had working lights 100% of the time. Seems like even the expensive manufacturers cheap out when getting to those components. The sealed LED lights are great, but the wiring is garbage. Always.

After buying a trailer with oil bath hubs (no maintenance) I'll never go back. That's the single best improvement in trailers I've seen in the past 30 years.

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

How about steerable axle(s) and a submergable back up camera.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Common problems with trailers???

On pricing trailers, I think the market is a little skewed, b/c I think few boat buyers even think about trailer cost. The seller, new or used, quotes the price for the BMT, and the buyer takes it.

Once when "window shopping" for a new boat, I asked the dealer to swap out the new trailer for a used one and he said he would, dropping the price by a couple grand--perfect for me since I did not plan to use the trailer hardly at all. But I sense that few buyers do this.

So with a market of "they'll pay what I quote them" there won't be much adjustment based on market forces you would find with other goods. It's like how the funeral homes work.

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

I've NEVER had a trailer failure, of any kind. I've towed some at freeway speeds of 75+, over 1000 miles and never had a failure. But, I pay attention to details. Wiring, frame, tires, axles, bearings.

Most do not. Most are clueless regarding trailer care.

 

[dingbat]

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.

I cut those cheap plastic 4 and 5 pin connectors off every trailer the minute I get it home and install the good quality 7 pin molded pigtail. The wiring on the 7 pin round plugs have been standardized on tow vehicles since at least 1995. It?s the trailer manufactures that needed to get on the ball.

 

[dlngr]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

How about steerable axle(s) and a submergable back up camera.

If someone can't back a simple trailer with one steering axle,how are they going to back one with two ??

 

[KD4UPL]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

While you've been given some interesting and creative ideas I personally wouldn't pay one dime more for most of them. Steerable axles, back-up cameras, radar, extra lights, hydraulics, etc. are all just additional weight and items to need maintenance. My 7 year old tandem axle Shoreland'r bunk trailer works great and doesn't need anything else. I know how to back it and how to load and unload the boat. As most have said, make sure the lights and brakes work and call it good.
Good luck with your engineering project.

 

[cribber]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

Design a composite bunk material that doesn't flex under load and is totally rot free and has the resistance force of Teflon.

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

The wireless backup camera mounted on top the boat trailer guide sounds like a winner.
Under a hundred dollars and would give a wide view. The electric draw for just the camera is low and could be hard wired to the lights with a quick disconnect, NO batteries, and stored when not in use.

View attachment 123245

I forget the unplug the trailer thing, half the time anyway. :facepalm:

Santa are you there ? The driveway at home is a bear, mirrors are useless, and I promise not to hit the garage again.

 

[rbh]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

Only issue I have had is the wiring!!
All wires need to be protected from rubbing!
(rubber grommets when passing through the metal bulkheads)
And either loom is used or they start running something like a SOW style cable,
PVC/single coated insulated wire?? does not cut it alone!

 

[CurrentObsession]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

I have owned 2 boats, both with bunk style trailers and from my experience I would agree that the only major improvement for me would be a bunk that extends and retracts, that way you can compensate for the differences in ramps, but that would be so expensive, few would even opt for it.

Realisticaly I would say LED light packages would make the most impact per dollar spent. How many accidents and deaths a year are tied to improperly functioning trailer lights? I recently noticed that my lights were not working and replaced them with sealed LED type lights. They claim that because thay are sealed, there is no need to unplug the wires before backing the trailer into the water. Although it is a simple thing to do, most of us forget at least half the time (myself included). This often leads to burned out bulbs that may happen even after leaving the ramp after checking that they are functioning properly. I assume that for $20 more per unit, a manufacturer could use LEDs and that would make a big impact on safety and reliablity.

 

[bkaloy]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

There used to be a manufacturer in Australia that was making trailers out of plastic. (???) OK, it was a composite material but completely non-corrosive and they were directed at the salt market. They couldn't make one very big as flex became an issue but for 20' and smaller boats they were excellent. They weren't expensive either as the bulk of the materials were recycled materials. They weren't pretty but they worked. We are stuck with steel or aluminum; a composite material capable of handling the stress of being loaded at all times and with extreme corrosion resistance would be a great thing. I don't know if that company is around anymore but I saw a video of their product. Seemed pretty cool when I saw it.

Do you remember the name of this company? I thought about using plastics/composites but I thought the types of plastics that could do the job would be too expensive.
My aim is to make the design as fool-proof as possible, needing as little maintenance as possible since most people don't really think/care about these things(as some of you have pointed out).

 

[the vision]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

How about after a hot dip in galvanize a dip in rubber coating to further delay corrosion. Kind of like Rhino lining for the trailer.

 

[OutOfControl]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

How about after a hot dip in galvanize a dip in rubber coating to further delay corrosion. Kind of like Rhino lining for the trailer.

winna winna, chickn' dinna

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

Steerable trailer axles don`t have to be used only for backing up. Could be used going forward. Would be especially useful in going around sharp corners.

 

[zopperman]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

Steerable trailer axles don`t have to be used only for backing up. Could be used going forward. Would be especially useful in going around sharp corners.

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

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Common problems with trailers???

many, many years ago mfg's made a utility trailer that had NO axles... It clamped on to the steel bumper of a car, and had a single castor wheel on the back of the trailer. Backing with that wasn't an issue, it essentially was part of the car. Going around turns and not clipping things on the outside, however... (disclaimer, I am no way saying this is remotely practical for a boat!) I could see a use for it like the picture below... you can carry some long things on that, it is essentially a long pickup box extender.



**found a whole website dedicated to it...

http://www.singlewheel.com/