Is this trailer for a 12' or 14' boat?

[Mule Laker]

It's a 14' Lund in the photo but look how it's almost up to the coupler. The trailer has bunks so it's really hard to launch the boat, you almost have to drive the truck in the water to float the boat. If you move the winch back there's negative tongue weight. I'm not sure what to do.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Is this trailer for a 12' or 14' boat?

Position looks fine. Can you lower the bunks or swap the axle to the top of the springs?

 

[64osby]

Re: Is this trailer for a 12' or 14' boat?

Hard to tell by the pic, is that a tilt trailer?

Need a few more pics. Bunks at rear of boat.

Can the bunks be lowered?

How shallow of a launch are you working with?

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Is this trailer for a 12' or 14' boat?

That is a keel roller setup.

The short bunks are there to keep the boat from flopping sideways.
You should be able to unhook the tie downs and hand push the boat right onto the driveway.
If all the rollers roll properly and the bunks are not too tight against he hull;
There is no need to get so far into the water that the boat is floating off the trailer.

Back it over the water, push it off, winch it on.

 

[Mule Laker]

Re: Is this trailer for a 12' or 14' boat?

Yes, it does tilt. Yes, it has a few rollers. Yes, I believe there is a bit of adjustment in the bunks. Good replies, very helpful.

This trailer has a title and a brand name but to me it looks like something built in someone's garage. It just seems to need a longer tongue.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Is this trailer for a 12' or 14' boat?

The boat is sitting on it fine but the tongue looks way to short to me.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Is this trailer for a 12' or 14' boat?

AHHH the beauty of a tilt trailer. I have been using tilt trailers for years and w/o it I doubt I'd be using my local ramp. Spring will tell, new boat isn't on one.

When I bought my 14' Lund it was on a trailer very simular in size and worked fine. Tongue looked short and probably was. The thing to do with a tilt trailer is to back in until the axle is at water level, unhook the winch, release the tilt and give it a push. Same with retrieval. Pull the winch strap to the end of the trailer, back in the same way, release tilt, hook strap to eye and winch on.

What you can also do is take the trailer to a weld shop and have then extent the tongue a foot or two. Shouldn't cost much either.

 

[JB]

Re: Is this trailer for a 12' or 14' boat?

Looks okay to me IFF there is 10% of the weight on the tongue. Agree with the above remarks.

 

[Mule Laker]

Re: Is this trailer for a 12' or 14' boat?

Thanks again fellas. I love this forum.



I can weld pretty good so tongue modification is not out of the question. Well, I'm a good aluminum welder, never really had a go at steel, but anyways.

I never gave much thought to the tilt as I've never used one. So something new that may work fine.

 

[preskitaz]

Re: Is this trailer for a 12' or 14' boat?

I've got a 14' on a similar sized trailer. I couldn't drop the tailgate on my mid size pickup as it would hit the bow of the boat. I solved the problem by getting an extra extra long (16" from center of pin to center of ball) ball mount. Gave me plenty of clearance to truck and made maneuvering easier.
It was a Hidden Hitch Ball Mount -#80233

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Is this trailer for a 12' or 14' boat?

Thanks again fellas. I love this forum.



I can weld pretty good so tongue modification is not out of the question. Well, I'm a good aluminum welder, never really had a go at steel, but anyways.

I never gave much thought to the tilt as I've never used one. So something new that may work fine.

The tilt trailer enables you to launch in pretty shallow water. I had a 14' with a Spartan tilt. You "may" need to push the boat back some to transfer weight to the back of the trailer before you release the tilt lever, otherwise, it may not tilt. Just hang on to the boat as you trip the lever to ease it in the tilted position. I always backed the trailer in the water far enough to still keep 1 foot dry while pushing the lever with the other foot.

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Is this trailer for a 12' or 14' boat?

mule. if that was my boat and trailer? I would not change anything. Tilt is sweet.