New Trailer...Need some help.....

[SolomonMan]

All,
Recently picked up a 2014 Pontoon Trailer from a local Trailer supply. The trailer is a Wolverine and is a float on type trailer. Originally ordered a scissor type but somewhere along the line that's not what showed up to the dealer.

Anyways the reason for the purchase of the trailer was the previous owner of the boat did not have a trailer as it sat at his Lake Cabin and his neighbor allowed him to use their trailer to get the boat out of the water every year.

Anyways I bought the boat and had the boat set on blocks, last fall, from a scissor type trailer.

With the Pontoon being 24' 8" long what is the best approach to get this pontoon on the new trailer?

Originally I was thinking.... jack up the front of the pontoon with a board platform of sorts at about half way mark and let the natural back end weight of the motor/seating to tip the boat back. Then try to slide the trailer under. as far as possible. From there jack up rear of boat and use the strap and possibly a come-a-long to pull the boat forward the rest of the way on the trailer. Probably will need to wet down the float on area to promote slippage.

One thought also was rent a scissor type and drop boat in the water and then use my trailer to pick up the boat. Unfortunately, with recent ice breakage/debris in our river/lake this may be late April/latest Early May. (real bad this year)

Looking for guidance here as circumstances kind got me in a unknown solution situation.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[BatDaddy1887]

Re: New Trailer...Need some help.....

Yes, use of a scissor trailer would be the ideal answer, if you can borrow, barter, or rent one. Perhaps an ad in your local CL and offer some cash for someone with a scissor trailer to move it to water. Maybe a forklift .....

Also, here some helpful hints:

Hint 1

Hint 2

Hint 3

Hint 4

 

[1983 ercoa 21']

Re: New Trailer...Need some help.....

I have used over head camper jacks to remove my boat from the trailer and put it back on . If you have access to any of them

 

[SolomonMan]

Re: New Trailer...Need some help.....

I have used over head camper jacks to remove my boat from the trailer and put it back on . If you have access to any of them

Unfortunately that is one set of Jacks I do not have access.

Thanks
Chris

 

[SolomonMan]

Re: New Trailer...Need some help.....

Yes, use of a scissor trailer would be the ideal answer, if you can borrow, barter, or rent one. Perhaps an ad in your local CL and offer some cash for someone with a scissor trailer to move it to water. Maybe a forklift .....

Also, here some helpful hints:

Hint 1

Hint 2

Hint 3

Hint 4

Some of the above look promising.....

Thanks
Chris

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: New Trailer...Need some help.....

A lot unhook the trailer and tilt the front up high and just use the winch and pull it on after using some of the silicon spray to slick up the bunk carpet. I have done that with mine.

 

[MaPaHa]

Re: New Trailer...Need some help.....

I would say to pull the trailer under the pontoon rather than try to winch the boat on the trailer. I've unloaded and loaded mine several times in the shop to work on it or the trailer.
Set the front blocks far enough back to get the pontoons started on the bunks. Start winching the trailer under till they hit the blocks. Take pressure off the front blocks and remove them with the front of the pontoons on the trailer. (hook it to a truck if it wants to lift up the front) Move the blocks back if you don't have a set about mid way and winch some more. You can build a set of blocks in the center at the front of the boat to help the slide if it's too heavy, but you can only move it a few feet before you hit the next cross member of the trailer. Then re-do the center block set for more range.

Mark

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: New Trailer...Need some help.....

Raise the rear blocks high enough to allow the trailer to get underneath.
Then raise the front to the same height.
Place a 4x4 approx. 12 ft. in length across the underside of the bow and block it up at each end.
Remove the front blocks and roll the trailer under.
Drop the trailer tongue to the ground. This should free up the rear blocks.
*hint* Placing a strip of 6 mil plastic between the toon and the bunk will allow it to slide easily. It can be retrieved when the boat hits the water.
Raise the tongue all the way up and pull the 4x4 clear.
Use the winch to pull the boat forward into position.

 

[ahicks]

Re: New Trailer...Need some help.....

My bet is you can make arrangements for the seller to borrow his neighbor's trailer one more time. Put the boat in the water, then use your trailer to retrieve it. No chance of damaging it this way. Blocking incorrectly (when your in a hurry), can leave the bottom of a pontoon with a big dent in it pretty easily....

Be prepared to adjust the winch stand and/or axle placement to set that new trailer up for proper tongue weight. My new Wolverine (scissor type) wasn't even close! Our first ride home with it loaded (40 miles), was done at 45mph. The trailer was set up so far off, any faster would make the rig fishtail big time! I ended up moving the winch stand forward as far as possible (a foot or so), then moving the axles back about 18". Wasn't a very happy camper at the time (seemed like Wolverine would have had a clue?), but after that, it's proven to be a great trailer. Best of luck. -Al

 

[SolomonMan]

Re: New Trailer...Need some help.....

My bet is you can make arrangements for the seller to borrow his neighbor's trailer one more time. Put the boat in the water, then use your trailer to retrieve it. No chance of damaging it this way. Blocking incorrectly (when your in a hurry), can leave the bottom of a pontoon with a big dent in it pretty easily....

Be prepared to adjust the winch stand and/or axle placement to set that new trailer up for proper tongue weight. My new Wolverine (scissor type) wasn't even close! Our first ride home with it loaded (40 miles), was done at 45mph. The trailer was set up so far off, any faster would make the rig fishtail big time! I ended up moving the winch stand forward as far as possible (a foot or so), then moving the axles back about 18". Wasn't a very happy camper at the time (seemed like Wolverine would have had a clue?), but after that, it's proven to be a great trailer. Best of luck. -Al

Thanks for information!

Unfortunately the previous owner (my pastor) and the neighbor both sold there lake homes next to each other. Both decided to get out of the "extra" house scenario ($). My pastor built his two story on the lake cabin home which was absolutely gorgeous.

Also the 120 mile round trip would not be worth it as I could rent a scissor trailer for $40 locally....Our river (Maumee) is looking better and the flood stage (supposedly once over by 7 foot I have been told) has quickly receded down. Hopefully I can just rent a scissor trailer and find a launch and swap trailers.

Is there any adjustments that I should be aware of when pairing a new trailer to a boat for the first time?

I will be pulling this monster with a C1500 GMC Pickup (350 with 4L60E transmission) or a Ford E250 Mark III (5.0 Liter and 4 Speed auto Transmission (AXOD?)). The truck already commonly pulls a 2300 lbs. camper (empty) which I believe is heavier then the boat.


Thanks
Chris

 

[Bamby]

Re: New Trailer...Need some help.....

Is there any adjustments that I should be aware of when pairing a new trailer to a boat for the first time?

You could measure the pontoons center-line front and back and then check to see if the measured width is the same as the trailer bunks as purchased. If not you then could re-adjust the bunks to suit the width needed for your boat.

 

[ahicks]

Re: New Trailer...Need some help.....

Yes, regarding setup, you have to make sure the bunks are set for the correct width (to match the boat), but you also have to make sure the boat is located on the trailer (front to rear) so that you have the correct amount of tongue weight? That's generally done with the bow stop (part of the winch stand) to locate the boat on the trailer properly from front to rear. Once that's set you need to make sure there's adequate tongue weight to assure proper handling (no tail wagging like I had to deal with). The most common thinking will have 10 to 15% of the boat's weight on the trailer ball. So a 2000 lb. boat should have between 200 and 300 pounds of tongue weight for good handling. Rough guideline here is if you can pick the trailer tongue up easily with the boat on it, it's too light. To adjust that, the trailer is set up so you can move the axle(s) forward and backward by loosening the U-bolts that hold them to the frame rails and moving forward/backward as necessary to balance the load as desired. Moving the axles back increases tongue weight, forward decreases it.

Good plan renting the scissor trailer, or maybe hire somebody locally that moves boats locally for about the same price? Advantage there is you would have somebody on hand with some serious boat handling experience to give you a hand if necessary?

Either of the trucks should make an excellent tow vehicle. Just keep an eye on the gas gauge. You're not going to believe how much fuel either of them will use with the pontoon behind it. Make sure the bimini top and loose cushions are all well secured!

 

[Silver Eagle]

Re: New Trailer...Need some help.....

Make sure you have a garden hose near by, wet the bunks real good. Screw the front trailer jack all the way up, that will lower the rear end, then after you have raised the front of the toons,, back the trailer up to meet the toons, crank the boat on the trailer.

 

[SolomonMan]

Re: New Trailer...Need some help.....

All,
Got the boat on the trailer....

I ended up just jacking the boat up with 4x4's and a 2X4 'T' and setting it up on blocks (3 large blocks high) and slowing cranked the trailer under the boat. Then removed the front blocks (once boat on the trailer significantly) and slowing jacked it up with the T and slid the trailer further back. Moved the T and jack and then jack it up again and moved it back (repeat until squarely on the trailer). I wetted things down first. In all took me about 2.5-3hrs slowly doing it but its on the trailer and the trailer boat combination pulls great.

Thanks all for the input/advice.
Chris
(Original Thread Poster)

 

[Silver Eagle]

Re: New Trailer...Need some help.....

Good.