Northern Tool Boat Trailer - can axle be flipped under leaf springs to lower it?

[90stingray]

Re: Northern Tool Boat Trailer - can axle be flipped under leaf springs to lower it?

Would it be possible for a moderator to change the title of my post...

Pretty sure YOU can change the title by editing your original post.

 

[Bronlonius]

Re: Northern Tool Boat Trailer - can axle be flipped under leaf springs to lower it?

No need to get touchy. How about a trailer tongue extension to get the boat farther back so the car doesn't get swamped

Extend a hitch boat and sailboat trailer hitch extensions



Extend a hitch boat and sailboat trailer hitch extensions

Thanks, That's a really good idea, and would also keep the whole rig small enough to fit perfectly in my garage like it does now.

 

[Bronlonius]

Re: Northern Tool Boat Trailer - can axle be flipped under leaf springs to lower it?

Pretty sure YOU can change the title by editing your original post.

I can only change the text in the original post, the title is not editable once posted. Not a big deal, it's fine.

 

[colbyt]

Re: Northern Tool Boat Trailer - can axle be flipped under leaf springs to lower it?

Thanks, That's a really good idea, and would also keep the whole rig small enough to fit perfectly in my garage like it does now.

A folding hinge kit is about 1/3 the price of that tongue extension. I will be adding almost 4 feet to mine next week.

 

[Bronlonius]

Re: Northern Tool Boat Trailer - can axle be flipped under leaf springs to lower it?

So I flipped the axle yesterday, and it really made a difference. The key to getting enough clearance with the frame is you need to take the centering bolt out of the leaf spring pack and turn it over, and then put the Ubolts on upside down so that the u-bolt plates don't interfere with frame clearance. As long as the u-bolt plates face down, I think there is more than enough clearance. The only real drawback of this setup is that the cheesy axle is not square tube, it's U shaped, so the U faces up now, creating a place for weeds/water to get stuck. I'm going to try launching first to see if this lowered it enough, then either get someone to weld a piece of flat stock on the open edge of the axle to box/seal it, or at a minimum drill some drain holes in it.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Northern Tool Boat Trailer - can axle be flipped under leaf springs to lower it?

gotta change it! the U shaped axle will have MUCH less strength upside down PLUS camber will be wrong and cause tire wear... likely tho the axle will fail before tire wear can occur. In fact I personally wouldn't tow it 10 feet that way

You can PROBABLY have some @ 4" long strips flat steel welded on the open end of the U to provide center pin engagement and allow the axle to be mounted upright

 

[Bronlonius]

Re: Northern Tool Boat Trailer - can axle be flipped under leaf springs to lower it?

Okay, good to know.

If I'm going to have to do any welding, I think it makes the most sense to completely box the U channel all the way across just to make it stronger. I'll have to look again, but I think the area above the spring is solid steel, the spindles are welded into the "U" and extend a few inches inward past the springs. So if it's flat enough there, I think I might be able to get away with just drilling into that enough for the centering pin to take hold. But seeing how there are other things on the trailer that could benefit, it probably makes more sense to just bite the bullet and do some welding.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Northern Tool Boat Trailer - can axle be flipped under leaf springs to lower it?

I'd be hesitant to box the whole tube... IF you warp it at all you will eat tires