Oversized trailer, rebuilding to fit. Any help?

[Xesvuli420]

Bought a 17' Dixie. the trailer is obviously for a much longer boat.

When the boat is far enough forward to rest on the rubber "V" of the wench, there is so much tongue weight, a very large man couldn't budge it. This is killing my gas mileage, and also causing horrible wear and tear on my truck.

If you look at PICTURE 1 You can see that the boat is too far forward of the axle causing a bad weight distribution. Bringing the boat back some (hopefully about a foot) should get it closer to correct.

If you look at PICTURE 2 you can see my existing wench. I have labeled "A", and "B" to help explain what I'm about to do.

If you look at PICTURE 3 You can see I have a little more than a foot to come back and still be on the existing standards. Not saying it will take that much, but, you can tell the trailer wasn't made for this boat.
***I actually had to remove a roller at the back to allow the stern to come full DOWN.

HERE is our plan

We are going to lift it with either 2 2" 20,000lbs straps or 4" 40,000lbs straps and a Front-End Loader. Reposition the boat on the trailer, and then pick up on the tongue. HOPEFULLY we will get it close to "balanced" before we run out of sliding room from the wench. IF we do, then we will have our positioning, and only have to worry about moving the wench back, and standard height.

As far as the wench, if you look at PICTURE 3 we will be completely removing "A", and sliding "B" as far as needed. Then we will have to fabricate and weld a new support arm for that rubber "V" stop.

HERE is where I need you experts
First off do any of you see any issues so far (besides buying a new trailer)?

Secondly here is my concern. If we move the boat back on the trailer, will I have to do anything with the height of the Hull Support Standards? I'm not sure if I will have to back the trailer in water MORE or LESS. I'm thinking that since the boat is further back, then it will start floating sooner, and require less trailer in the water then now.

Anything else I need to keep in mind, or anything I've over looked? I like to have as much anticipation as possible before I do something like this, so your opinions are appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Oversized trailer, rebuilding to fit. Any help?

Secondly here is my concern. If we move the boat back on the trailer, will I have to do anything with the height of the Hull Support Standards?

It looks like you may be ok without moving them, the angle of deadrise in the hull shouldn't be too different a few feet forward of the stern.

I'm not sure if I will have to back the trailer in water MORE or LESS. I'm thinking that since the boat is further back, then it will start floating sooner, and require less trailer in the water then now.

That is absolutely correct, the rig will be easier to launch and your truck tires should stay a little more dry.

Looks like you've put a lot of planning into this, good luck, hope it works out for ya!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Oversized trailer, rebuilding to fit. Any help?

HERE is our plan

Ayuh,... Sounds pretty Involved,...
I'd take an Easier route,..

Hook the trailer to a tow unit,...
Hook the loader to the back of the boat,...
Pull the boat back til the transom is flush with the ends of the bunks,...
Test the tongue weight...
If it's Good,... refit the winchstand... 10% is Good,.. 15% is Fine...
If Not, drag it back alittle more...
'course, then you'll wanta extend the bunks for support...

 

[tschmidty]

Re: Oversized trailer, rebuilding to fit. Any help?

Bond-o has a good answer. With that bow stop you can change the height to fit so...what he said.

 

[Doryboy]

Re: Oversized trailer, rebuilding to fit. Any help?

Bond-O is definitely on the right track, but after looking at you photos, make sure you put your outdrive back on, and ensure the engine is in the boat. That's 2 heavy items behind the axle, without them your tongue weight will be quite heavy.

 

[Xesvuli420]

Re: Oversized trailer, rebuilding to fit. Any help?

UPDATE...

So here is how it all went down. Thank everyone for their comments. Unfortunately I forgot to hit subscribe, so I didn't get any alerts on my phone for advice. I just have realized that you guys had replied.

We decided that instead or taking a chance with supporting the boat with the loader (it has leaking hydraulics) we would just pull the boat backwards. We pulled all the way to the end of the standards. That probably took 650lbs off the tongue weight. I could actually lift it for the first time! Since the stern is removed, I used the next best thing... I had my gf (110lbs) sit on my ladder rack. I'm sure the stern don't weigh that much, but I figured that a little tongue weight is good. So as long as it didn't balance out with her sitting on it, it def wouldn't with the stern. Once she sit on the boat I could lift the trailer with 1 finger, but if I let go, it would fall back to the ground. So even with her on it, there was still weight on the tongue. With the stern OFF I would guess I have about 60lbs tongue weight. Once the stern is BACK ON I am assuming it will be more around 40. Either way, its better than 700+ lol

Once we got the weight where we wanted it, we jacked the back of the boat up off the trailer, and replaced 2 of the brackets that determine the height of the trailer, and then proceeded to go figure out what to do about the wench.

We got EXTREMELY LUCKY here, we didn't have to weld a thing! I actually owe the engineering to my friend. We were sitting at it staring, and brainstorming, and if your a House M.D. fan, you know that look he gets on his face at the EXACT POINT he figures it all out... We my buddy got that look on his face and said just trust me, I think I got it! Before it was said and done, we were flipping things around, beating the 1/4" steel with axes, and sledge hammers to straiten, and long story short, it came out perfect. Even had to lift the boat up just a little to install the rubber "V" (meaning it is firmly seated on the "V" once I let go).

All in all, I think we moved the boat back about 16 inches total. On the way home I had to be careful not to side swipe other cars because I kept forgetting I was pulling a boat. Once I was home, and started to crank the front wheel down to unhook the truck, the truck only raised about a half inch from the weight of the boat as opposed to 3-4 inches before!

Anyways here are some pics.

Thank you guys for all your help

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: Oversized trailer, rebuilding to fit. Any help?

dont want to be the bearer of bad news...but thats too LITTLE tongue weight...not enough tongue weight can make the trailer sway badly and is very dangerous. you want 10 to 15% of your load so you are looking at 200 lbs at least....

 

[skyking897]

Re: Oversized trailer, rebuilding to fit. Any help?

Another vote for too little tongue weight. 10-15% of your total weight should be on the tongue. Use a bathroom scale and check it. You don't want to be towing that boat when it starts to fish tale behind you. Without trailer brakes it's damn near impossible to stop the swaying. It's just an accident waiting to happen.

 

[Xesvuli420]

Re: Oversized trailer, rebuilding to fit. Any help?

actually Im stronger than I thought lol =o) 107 on a bathroom scale with the stern removed

 

[jfadool]

Re: Oversized trailer, rebuilding to fit. Any help?

actually Im stronger than I thought lol =o) 107 on a bathroom scale with the stern removed

Still not enough. Weigh the whole rig then find 10-15% of that. I would bet that 200-300 lbs would be good.

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Oversized trailer, rebuilding to fit. Any help?

Still not enough. Weigh the whole rig then find 10-15% of that. I would bet that 200-300 lbs would be good.

+1 on 10-15%. Otherwise the tail might be waggin the dog.

 

[skyking897]

Re: Oversized trailer, rebuilding to fit. Any help?

With the boat sitting further back on the trailer now once you install the stern drive that #107 MIGHT only be #50-#60. NOT ENOUGH weight on the tongue. Like said above, weigh the whole rig and then adjust, then re-weigh to verify the 10-15%.

 

[bob johnson]

Re: Oversized trailer, rebuilding to fit. Any help?

dont forget a saftey chain....

I really dont like the looks of the bow set up..

i am not sure if it needs to be this way, but most of the boats i have seen have the bow eye under the bow stop...so when you tighten the bow winch is actually pulls the boat DOWN INTO THE bow stopp!!!


yours will just keep pulling the boat up and over the bow stop!!!


if it were me id look at some kind of new winch set up or replace that small support arm with a longer one and force that bow stop up above the bow eye!!!

good luck

PS I also agree with tongue weight,..it is way light a boat that big should always have at least 200 lbs of tounge..

some boats are just so heavy you CANT lift the tounge period.

bob