new trailer, will it work?

[NYGiants]

I recently just purchased a trailer and rowboat combo to flip, and decided to keep the trailer as the trailer for my 14' lund is too small boat weighs 450 lbs and motor weighs 160lbs aprox? (1999 2 stroke oil injection mercury 30 hp. this trailer is solid steel and just a very heavy trailer. Its designed for a v-hull boat and my boat is flat bottom with a v in the front. The bunks obviously are off since they're setup at an angle for the v-hull problem is that the brackets are welded steel and i can't weld. the pic of the left bunk it looks like the boat isn't on the bunk it isn't in the back i need to push the boat a little bit farther back as the front to back ribs on the bottom of the boat are on the bunk in front can i just leave it the way it is or what. the old trailer was just a crappy trailer with an extra long tongue making it "14'" this is more like a 16' boat trailer. (boat is 14'6 loa) i towed it about 1/4 of a mile to the ramp to switch trailers and am generally pleased with it. ALSO whenever i come to a hard stop i feel the boat hitch slide forward on the ball. does that mean the ball is too small (1 7/8) it happened on the old trailer though so I'm not sure.

 

[JDA1975]

Re: new trailer, will it work?

you could cut off the welded bunk brackets (or leave them there and go higher than to clear them) and purchase bolt on brackets (with square U-bolts) and set to what ever configuration you need. as far as ball size goes, the coupler should say what size it is. 1 7/8" will hold on a 2" coupler but will shift, and there is that chance it can come loose, so make sure you have the right ball for the trailer...i have 2 reciever hitches in my truck 1 7/8 and 2 inch balls so I am usually covered.

 

[NYGiants]

Re: new trailer, will it work?

would leaving the bunks as is be a big deal?

 

[JDA1975]

Re: new trailer, will it work?

Depends...looking at your pictures, that leaves the boat unsupported horizontally...could slide from side to side, especially since I dont seen ay transom straps...(could just be angles of pictures)...getting your bunks properly positioned for the boat and using transom straps will help your ride, the shifting might not have been your ball but your boats weight shifting...proper securement prevents all kinds of bad mojo. 1.5 million miles in a semi taught me that lol

 

[zopperman]

Re: new trailer, will it work?

you could cut off the welded bunk brackets (or leave them there and go higher than to clear them) and purchase bolt on brackets (with square U-bolts) and set to what ever configuration you need. as far as ball size goes, the coupler should say what size it is. 1 7/8" will hold on a 2" coupler but will shift, and there is that chance it can come loose, so make sure you have the right ball for the trailer...i have 2 reciever hitches in my truck 1 7/8 and 2 inch balls so I am usually covered.

This.

You must have the properly sized ball and hitch combo or bad stuff will happen -- and you're near me so I don't want to get hit by a runaway trailer on the highway

The bunks do not look like they support the hull well, but maybe if you add some transom tie downs or throw a strap or two through the midship cleats you could get away with it.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: new trailer, will it work?

I too have a 14' Lund and sorry but in my opinion that trailer is just way over kill for the Lund. Also from the pictures it looks as though the bunk brackets are welded into position so they won't be easy to move.

 

[NYGiants]

Re: new trailer, will it work?

trailer is way overkill i know, but the other trailer is too small and such a bear to load and i got it for real cheap. i would have to search cl for a correct sized trailer and pay a solid 400$ i paid 200$ for this one. I'm gonna take it to a friend to weld the bunk brackets and have the bunks even. and yes theres no straps b/c i was backing it into the boat yard in that alley. of course i travel with straps.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: new trailer, will it work?

I'd say you got it for a nice price so use it! Looks like a solid trailer. Always better too big than too small as far as trailers.
I was fortuneate enough to find a very nice Spartan trailer that fits my Lund very nicely for just $200.00

 

[NYGiants]

Re: new trailer, will it work?

Yeah the other trailer wheels would hit the fenders going over speed bumps if you weren't going 2 mph. While the wheels stick out past my tow vehicle ill manage. Friend said he'd weld the brackets to free so looks like I'm set. just need a new winch. i forgot it had no winch handle when i was switching trailers:facepalm: and used vice grips as a handle.

 

[jacoboregon]

Re: new trailer, will it work?

First, nice find! It looks like a nice trailer.

Check on the receiver. It should indicate whether a 1 7/8 or 2" ball is needed. I'm betting it is a 2" that you need. It is very dangerous to tow with an undersized ball.

An easy fix is to buy some heavy perforated angle from your local hardware or building supply, use a hack-saw (or the best means available to you) to cut appropriate lengths for new attachment brackets, remove your bunks, drill a couple of holes to attach the brackets at the appropriate angle, bolt them on and reattach the bunks.

 

[NYGiants]

Re: new trailer, will it work?

Thanks! it was pretty rough when i got it but after some rust reformer ands 5 cans of rustoleum spray paint it looks pretty great. need to invest in a paint sprayer luckily christmas is right around the corner

First, nice find! It looks like a nice trailer.

Check on the receiver. It should indicate whether a 1 7/8 or 2" ball is needed. I'm betting it is a 2" that you need. It is very dangerous to tow with an undersized ball.

An easy fix is to buy some heavy perforated angle from your local hardware or building supply, use a hack-saw (or the best means available to you) to cut appropriate lengths for new attachment brackets, remove your bunks, drill a couple of holes to attach the brackets at the appropriate angle, bolt them on and reattach the bunks.

 

[JDA1975]

Re: new trailer, will it work?

Can buy these bolt on brackets...my center did not have bunk brackets so these were added to stiffen the bunks...look at the center bunk brackets. They are adjustable in height so you could leave your existing ones alone, if you dont want to cut them off and just got a little higher. or cut them off is what i would do and adjust these how you want.

 

[NYGiants]

Re: new trailer, will it work?

I think ill just weld the brackets the easiest thing to do. and i found a picture of the old trailer. i think its a little bit small and even though this is big its better

 

[oops!]

Re: new trailer, will it work?

the trailer will hurt your boat.

it will cause it to leak.....

i just went thru the same thing..

a mis matched trailer to a tinny......driving it around town back and foruth from the shop to the launch...

the bunks were mis aligned to the hull, it was tied down good....but rollers were in the wrong places, the bunks not set up for the hull.

the boat developed serious leaks in a month. serious leaks......half filled with water in 4 hours of sitting.

i would do what the judge did with the adjustable bunk holders, grind off what you have, and bolt the adjustable style on. amke sure the hull is correctly sitting on all bunks and rollers properly.

keep in mind......this MUST happen every time a boat gets a new trailer. each boat is different, and each trailer set up is different. so they must be matched to each other.
no big deal