New Trailer.-

[Sea Rider]

My 4 year old Rib trailer has had its final Waterloo Time when Rib sat on top after last outing, fell apart due to excesive erosion while living all year round on top of a wooden pier 12 ft above sea level.




Was custom built to Rib specs with1.5 mm metal frames cut and soldered together. Plan building a second exact same one but with thicker 3.0 mm frames to better withstand the tough inclemency of its marine surroundings.

The gross weight of the 450 Mt Rib, OB and new trailer combo should weight aroung 450-500 kilos, what's the Ideal tonge weight it should have when a scale is placed under it ? Will be adjusted by moving wheel axis back and forth till the ideal tongue weight is reached.

Leasson learned : Never build a trailer with thin frames...

Happy Boating

 

[M2HB]

It pays to use decent material. The labor is about the same so it pays to do it right.
also, that is a trailer that could use hot dip galvanizing.

 

[JimS123]

That service is no place for bare carbon steel.

 

[NYBo]

That'll buff out...

 

[Sea Rider]

Have had same type of carbon steel trailers before with other type boats. To last long it's a matter of doing a full re prime & paint once a year and rinse trailer with fresh water soon afterwords returns from its last salt water outing. Going for other material to buil it will be too costly.

Going to the original question, which is the ideal tongue weight for this trailer in Lbs. Is there a formula for it ? The combo and trailer will weight 450 kilos max. Its full lenght from rear trailer to front of tongue will be 18 ft.

Happy Boating

 

[M2HB]

Most trailers should have a minimum of 10% tongue weight.

 

[Sea Rider]

Thanks M2HB,

Assuming trailer weight, OB and boat will weight 450 kilos, that's 45 kilos ideal tongue weight. Or 10% of the total combo weight whatever it weights when weighted with a proper scale.

Happy Boating

 

[M2HB]

Keep in mind, that is a MINIMUM tongue weight.

 

[Silvertip]

The weight is GVW (gross vehicle weight) which is boat, motor, trailer, gear fuel and other contents. 10% of that number is what you are looking for (as a starting point).

 

[kawakx125]

Have had same type of carbon steel trailers before with other type boats. To last long it's a matter of doing a full re prime & paint once a year and rinse trailer with fresh water soon afterwords returns from its last salt water outing. Going for other material to buil it will be too costly.

Going to the original question, which is the ideal tongue weight for this trailer in Lbs. Is there a formula for it ? The combo and trailer will weight 450 kilos max. Its full lenght from rear trailer to front of tongue will be 18 ft.

Happy Boating

more costly than building a new trailer every 4 years?

 

[Sea Rider]

That issue won't happen again not even in the very long run. I'm building same new trailer with High Quality German Carbon Steel 3" x 2" frames and 3.0 mm thick wall. Will update pics as the work is being done..





Happy Boating

 

[M2HB]

You either need to keep it primed and painted or have it hot dipped galvanized. The galvanizing lasts the longest but is expensive.

 

[Sea Rider]

Trailer Progress :

This is after 2 coats of green anti rust primer and 3 coats of black enamel paint, high bed trunks which are horizontally adjustable are already secured in place. Hull wooden supports are adjustable to any given angle for better hull fitting and support.



Happy Boating

 

[Sea Rider]

Trailer Progress 2 :

It's almost finished needs the following to complete work :

Tongue Coupler, Front keel Support & Wheel Grease Caps, Metal Skate under vertical support..



With pier crane sit combo on top bunks and move axle towards front or aft trailer to achieve a light tongue coupler weight to manipulate with bare hands and move combo from its resting space to crane and vice verse, no more than 25 meters both ways. As this nice trailer won't ever be towed on a highway won't need to count with a front retractable vertical support.



Happy Boating

 

[M2HB]

The trailer is coming along real nice.

Are those “slipper” leaf springs? They don’t look like it. If not, and they have eyes on both ends, they won’t work properly.

 

[Sea Rider]

The trailer is coming along real nice.

Are those “slipper” leaf springs? They don’t look like it. If not, and they have eyes on both ends, they won’t work properly.

Will check that, the Rib/OB combo only weights 275 Kilos.

Happy Boating