Moving trailer axle

[JDP]

Has anybody ever moved the axle on their trailers either forward or back? I have a 19' Bayliner Cuddy with a 125 Force OB. The trailer is really light in the front and doesn't tow as smooth as my other boat. The other day I was in the boat while it was parked and I had my wife get in to give me a hand with something and with both of us at the back of the boat it started to lift the front of the trailer. The step on the trailer is really far foward so I have to use a small step ladder to get in. It looks pretty easy to slide the axle back but I was just worried about the weight distribution on the trailer if I move the axle. The boat itself is only sitting on the bunks but there is a rubber pad on the axle that looks like the boat should be resting on that somewhat as well. I did some measurements and it looks like to get the step in the right place I would need to slide the axle back about 16". With that amount of movement I'm pretty sure the boat will sit on the bunks as well as the rubber pad on the axle. It doesn't look like the axle has ever been moved before because there is no marks on the main rails of the trailer. Is it possible that the original owners just got a generic trailer and the dealer didn't have everything adjusted properly? What do you guys think? So I be alright to move the axle back that far?

 

[petriw]

Re: Moving trailer axle

I think you can do it 'cause it was done to my trailer. About 4 inches back on mine.







Wade

 

[JB]

Re: Moving trailer axle

Sixteen inches sounds like an awful lot to me.

The first thing is to position the boat on the trailer so that the transom is fully supported by bunks, keel roller or both.

The axle should be positioned so that the tongue has about 10% of the total trailer/boat weight on it. On your boat I would guess at somewhere around 250lb.

I have shifted an axle. With the trailer on the hitch (to keep the frame level), I jacked the back of the frame just enough to take the weight off the axle cradle. Then I unbolted the cradle and shifted it one set of bolt holes in the frame and rebolted it.

After checking the new tongue weight I was satisfied. If I hadn't been satisfied I would have repeated the above.

 

[bassboy1]

Re: Moving trailer axle

One BIG problem in your plan. You do NOT want the boat to rest on that rubber pad on the axle. If you notice, the axle is sprung, so it will move up and down. If the boat is resting on it, it will try to lift off the bunks. But, since the boat is strapped down, it will punch a whole in the hull. The pad is there in case the boat hits it while loading. I think you will gain the desired weight by moving it 3 or so inches.

 

[JDP]

Re: Moving trailer axle

Sixteen inches sounds like an awful lot to me.

The first thing is to position the boat on the trailer so that the transom is fully supported by bunks, keel roller or both.

The axle should be positioned so that the tongue has about 10% of the total trailer/boat weight on it. On your boat I would guess at somewhere around 250lb.

I have shifted an axle. With the trailer on the hitch (to keep the frame level), I jacked the back of the frame just enough to take the weight off the axle cradle. Then I unbolted the cradle and shifted it one set of bolt holes in the frame and rebolted it.

After checking the new tongue weight I was satisfied. If I hadn't been satisfied I would have repeated the above.

I see what your saying. I'm almost positive that the tongue has less than 10%. Not saying I'm extremely strong but I can pickup the tongue of the trailer with one hand and not put much work into it. I looked at it some more after posting earlier and the U shaped bolts that attach it to the rails are right up against the rubber grommet for the wires. I'll mess with it and see what I come up with. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Wotam]

Re: Moving trailer axle

Can you move the boat forward instead? i.e. Moving the winch/bow stop assembly. Some are welded on... but others are bolted.

Did somebody put a different trailer under the boat? Most 'factory' setups I've seen are balanced properly. (IMHO due to liability concerns)