Moving a 30ft boat 450 miles on a converted mobile home trailer

[BrandonHa]

Ok, I know some of my fellow iboaters can give me some good pointers on this one, I hope

I should start off by saying this is Washington state and I am going to move it from Vancouver, WA to Colville, WA. Dang near kitty corner to each other in the state.

I am buying a boat, its not finished yet as you can see from the picture. She is 30ft long and 10ft wide. I am going to make it a 3 year project and change it dramatically from what you see in the pictures. I Dont want to get off topic to much. I am stuck on some logistics of moving it.

I have talked to the DOL and the permitting process to move it is apparently pretty simple. $10 for a one time move and I would have to file my route with the state or $20 for 30 days of moving it wherever and whenever I want. I guess thats how the folks with bigger boats get them around legally here is just by purchasing the $20, 30 day oversized load permit. I only need to move it once but I am thinking the extra $10 would be worth not having to file my route with the state.

He had a mobile home trailer rebuilt to hold the boat. Its been sitting for 6 years in this shop. I am thinking that I need to replace all 4 of the tires and have the wheel bearings redone while I am at it. I called Les Schwab in Vancouver to get prices on the tires and they were as follows...

7 - 14.5 $95
8 - 14.5 $126

Then $12 (ish) per tire to mount and balance (This is per the gal at Schwab, do you balance boat trailer tires?) There was a fella selling some on Craigslist for $15 and I missed the boat (pardon the pun) on them. Went back today to find it and call him and the ad was deleted. They cant put those kind of tires on with the mobile truck so I would have to bring the entire rig in to the shop to have it done.

I pulled a 25ft boat with a f250 for years, but jumping to a 30ft boat on a mobile home trailer looks like it will be quite the jump up. Especially because I am stuck using my chevy now

One of my problems is that its not really a hop skip and a jump to look at the boat. My truck towing it will get around 10mpg and I am just trying to do my best to get all of the planning done ahead of time.

I am confused about the mobile home trailer tires. If they have been sitting for 6 years and have good tread still, would you guys replace them anyway? I am trying to do this as inexpensive as I can. Money is tight but this is an opportunity that I could not let pass by me.

What else should I be worrying about? I am sure after I click submit I will think of something else to ask. I really appreciate everyones input!

Here are a couple of pictures. Thanks fellas!

 

[BrandonHa]

Re: Moving a 30ft boat 450 miles on a converted mobile home trailer

Forgot something....

She does not have an motor yet, so no shafts / rudder / hydraulics to worry about. It is a commercial hull and pretty thick, but with no engine from what I understand it was towed to where it is now with a v6 toyota (Crazy eh?)

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Moving a 30ft boat 450 miles on a converted mobile home trailer

my bet would be to run it on those tires, but... have at least one spare if not two, with enough tools to change them on the road.

 

[KellyC]

Re: Moving a 30ft boat 450 miles on a converted mobile home trailer

check for weather cracks and what not on the side walls, if there are none then I would pull it with the tires. But I would also have 2 spares and tools to change things out. Have used that type of trailer before for other large things, not boats and have had very good luck with them. As long as wheel bearings are good then there should be no problems.

 

[BrandonHa]

Re: Moving a 30ft boat 450 miles on a converted mobile home trailer

A good friend of mine just recommended to me tonight that I jack up the tires a bit and see if I can get any play out of them. If I cant, then leave the bearings alone but to make sure that I checked every one of them.

How hard is it to change one of these out if I have one go out? Will a standard floor jack / lug wrench be worthy, or should I throw the whole tool box in?

 

[Pirate_40]

Re: Moving a 30ft boat 450 miles on a converted mobile home trailer

Making a 450 mile haul I would feel better knowing that I had new rubber and my bearings were cleaned and freshly packed. Don't forget to carry a jack thats strong enough and lifts high enough for that trailer.

 

[191Seanymphstriper]

Re: Moving a 30ft boat 450 miles on a converted mobile home trailer

Mt advice is call a boat hauler and pay them the $400 dollars to move it. Its cheap there insured and looking for work so prices should be competitive! Then if you want tow that (trailer) Basically a boat stand... To where you want and they can put the boat back on it when the boat is delivered. I would use the trailer for very local tows like taking her in and out for the winter. Thats about it! And tow with a diesel daully

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Moving a 30ft boat 450 miles on a converted mobile home trailer

If it's a matter of having to spend $400 to 500 for a set of tires, plus bearings and whatever, it may well be cheaper to just hire a boat mover and have the trailer flatbedded to your new location.

I run that size tire on my 12 and 16 ton equipment trailers, those tires are downright tough, the one trailer is a 1987, it's still got it's original tires, and it just made a 2400 mile round trip run to pickup a tractor. I did service all the wheel bearings and put on six good used tires on that trailer back when I got it in 1995 or so.
On the heavier trailer, it lost a tire only once, and that was when one of the equalizer bars cracked and let the axle slip out of place. The tire ground itself to bits against the frame. I didn't even know it till I stopped for gas and found the shredded tire and all the debris collected on the frame. The trailer was empty so I just pulled that tire and the opposite tire and continued on home.

Most of those tires are tube type, and 8 or more plies, making them pretty tough to kill. So long as their not rotted away, and your not traveling at really high speeds, they should be fine. I would at the very minimum take a look at the wheel bearings, pull each bearing cap and be certain each one has good clean grease if nothing else. Also make sure each tire is properly inflated.

 

[dave11]

Re: Moving a 30ft boat 450 miles on a converted mobile home trailer

Mt advice is call a boat hauler and pay them the $400 dollars to move it. Its cheap there insured and looking for work so prices should be competitive! Then if you want tow that (trailer) Basically a boat stand... To where you want and they can put the boat back on it when the boat is delivered. I would use the trailer for very local tows like taking her in and out for the winter. Thats about it! And tow with a diesel daully

I agree, have a pro do it.

If not, get new rubber. The tires are 6 yrs old. Mobile home trailer tires are notorious for disintegrating. I would also file a route plan with the state whichever permit you get. You really don't want to make the mistake of trying to go under a 12ft bridge towing a 13ft high boat.

 

[Shrike]

Re: Moving a 30ft boat 450 miles on a converted mobile home trailer

Whatever you do about tires, repack and inspect all wheel bearings.

 

[geeco1]

Re: Moving a 30ft boat 450 miles on a converted mobile home trailer

One thing that I would make sure is to double strap the boat to the trailer. That is a lot of wind resistance hitting that boat. I would not only have the bow strap and transom straps, but I might also consider running a strap across the mid section and perhaps run a strap from the stern to a forward point on the trailer (each side).

Just a thought.

 

[BrandonHa]

Re: Moving a 30ft boat 450 miles on a converted mobile home trailer

One thing that I would make sure is to double strap the boat to the trailer. That is a lot of wind resistance hitting that boat. I would not only have the bow strap and transom straps, but I might also consider running a strap across the mid section and perhaps run a strap from the stern to a forward point on the trailer (each side).

Just a thought.

Yeah, I totally agree. I have some big straps that I can use. I figure I will use 3 straps over it just to be on the safe side. I mean its not going to hurt anything to have it strapped down with a few extra straps.

@dave11 Thats a VERY good point. If I haul it (Going to research these boat movers) I am going to take it through Oregon on I84 all the way across and then to 395 N. Problem being, I have never been that direction and I have no clue what bridges are where.

So I am going to do some calling around today and talk to a few of these guys that move boats. I googled it for that area and there was a few guys listed. Wont hurt to call them and get a quote. I want to do it myself, but I also know when its time to throw in the towel. Though I am not going to throw in the towel anytime soon I think making a few calls and asking questions to the right people is a very good idea.

I am leaving tonight to head over there. Its gonna take 9 or 10 hours to get there. My dad and a friend of ours were already going over that direction to pick up a friends boat. So timing wise it works out perfect! I am going to ride over with them and spend the day there checking out my boat. Then I can look much closer to the tires and see about trailer breaks. Swing by the tire store to see how hard it will be to pull my rig in there if I need to.

Research I guess would be the best way to sum it up.

If I go over and look and the tires are cracked pretty bad, then either way I will have to get tires. I will just have to return in a couple weeks with my i's dotted and t's crossed.

Can you guys think of anything else I should be checking for on that trailer to make sure its tow worthy?

Oh, I know I can make a call to the DOL and answer this question, but maybe someone here knows. When I do the paperwork for my oversized load permit and actually get the permit. Do I have to have the trailer licensed, or can the oversized load act as a trip permit?

 

[dmoriarty51]

Re: Moving a 30ft boat 450 miles on a converted mobile home trailer

$500 for rubber, $300 minumum for fuel i seriously doubt you will get 10mpg in a gas truck dragging that giant sail behind you, and your at $800 + bearings + at least 1 day of time more likely 2, so factor in a hotel stay, i would go 1 to get there and get it ready, stay the night and head home rested for a long trip.

i dunno i would definately call a couple pros and get an estimate at least.

you may be surprised, esp if you consider the what ifs of breaking down mid way with that boat behind you. cuz then you have the expense of getting the truck fixed after getting it AND the boat home still.

 

[BrandonHa]

Re: Moving a 30ft boat 450 miles on a converted mobile home trailer

I am going to remodel it, maybe I should just take a chainsaw to it before I hook the trailer up haha, kidding, there will be no chainsawing

With my truck, its only k1500 with a 5.7 but I put some nice air bags in the springs so I can go from 30psi to 90psi for the suspension. I just had new bigger breaks put on a couple months ago to.

I use it for firewood and hay all the time, with over a ton of hay in it, it does not sink in the rear at all. The heaviest load I carried was a Chevy Astro Van (on a flat bed trailer), totally full to the point you could literally not fit a pillow in it and truck bed filled with crap over the cab 450 miles. That was extremely heavy. Stopping was VERY hard.

That trip hauling my friends household I got just over 10mpg. Thankfully he was paying for the gas.

I am figuring (Hoping!) that I can get 10mpg with that boat in tow. Its roughly 450 miles assuming a straight shot there and back. So guessing $3.25 a gallon. So 45 gallons 1 way x $3.25 = $146.25 x 2 is $292.50.

I know I will get more then 10 on the hwy heading over there and the 292.50 is based on 10 there and 10 back. So if it was 500 miles each way @ 10mpg it would be $325 for fuel.

Anyone see an error in my math? Its not exactly my strong subject. My mom was my math teacher and she got tired of me interrupting her class and kicked me out

I am heading to Vancouver this afternoon, hopefully will get to Portland by midnight and find somewhere to stay. Then tomorrow I will be going through that trailer and making sure I am not missing anything.. Then in 2 weeks I will be going back to Vancouver armed with whatever I need and making the trip. Thats my idea anyway

Any pointers on what to look for on a trailer thats going to make a long hall?

Still on my list to call some boat movers and see what they will charge. Been a busy day so far. Might wait until tomorrow so I can give them accurate information when its in front of me

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Moving a 30ft boat 450 miles on a converted mobile home trailer

How tall is that boat???

It looks taller than the legal limit if you ask me.

 

[BrandonHa]

Re: Moving a 30ft boat 450 miles on a converted mobile home trailer

Not sure yet, I will know tomorrow.

It is to wide also, but thats where the oversized load permits come in. I have no idea where the height cut off for oversized load comes in.

But....

If its to tall and that ugly fly bridge ends up costing a lot more money it will get cut off in the parking lot. There is not much to the fly bridge at this point so it would only take a few minutes to remove that thing. I dont like it anyway. Its kind of ugly

I am gonna do my best to do it by the book. Its pink, so I imagine it will stand out to just about everyone that see's it following me down the road. Especially the state police

How tall is that boat???

It looks taller than the legal limit if you ask me.

 

[avenger79]

Re: Moving a 30ft boat 450 miles on a converted mobile home trailer

if you could get a boat hauler to do it for $400 I'd jump on that. I would highly doubt it would be that inexpensive though. I called about hauling a large truck 30 miles to my house and it was $400. No oversize permits needed.

as far as the tires, if they're not weather cracked I'd use them. pack the bearings and strap her down good. take your time and plan your route to avoid construction, and traffic and what not.

 

[fire831]

Re: Moving a 30ft boat 450 miles on a converted mobile home trailer

I would also check about the license plates for the trailer. My guess is you are gonna have to have a tag of some kind for it besides the overload permit.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Moving a 30ft boat 450 miles on a converted mobile home trailer

First let me say I had to copy that boat into my iphoto cause that's just cool.

As for height 13' 6" is the max it can be to fit under bridges, but not all bridges are high enough. That's just the federal interstate number, so check your route.

Besides looking at boat hauler have you talked to mobile home haulers? They are more then equipped to replace those axle assemblies with better ones if need be. You may even find one in your area who you can rent just the assemblies from for a week so you don't have to buy all new stuff.

Please do understand though that your 1500 chevy is NOT up to the task. Air bags and better brakes just don't make it so.

Cool project.

 

[rbh]

Re: Moving a 30ft boat 450 miles on a converted mobile home trailer

First off nice boat, should be great out on lake Roosevelt, Right?????

Anyways back to the trailer first, the mobile home's frame had better be beafed up really good and all welds double checked as they were not made as a stand alone trailer (no house section)
Second the trailer tires on the dayton rims??? (bud??)
anyways they are heavy duty, but read the sidewall as the older ones were a one time use only and do not say for "highway use" to make it legal, in BC anyways
Remember if you are at the 9.6-10 foot beam you need red flags at the stern, port and starboard sides in the day and any time between dawn and dusk you need red marker lights in the same place.

good luck