REALLY Scary Trailer

[luv2b0at]

I own a 1985 custom made 21.5' tri-hull. It weighs 5000 lbs empty. It came with a trailer that seems to be very squirrely. If the boat is not set on the trailer with the strap hook past the front roller, it want's to buck around. Once I do have it forward enough, it still want's to rock back side to side a bit. It has worked for the previous owner since he bought it new in '85. He has towed it with a few different vehicles as (ridiculous as it sounds) like a corvette, minivan, and maybe even a Jeep Wrangler. I would never tow this monster with such a small vehicle. I use a 2001 F250 2 wheel drive capable of twoing 10,000 lbs. I have considered moving the wheels to the outside of the bottom of the boat, but that would make it too wide for the street. It's not too top heavy as during one trip to a local lake, I saw it sideways behind me due to improper tire pressures and tongue weight. It did not go over.

Any suggestions other than a completely redesigned trailer?

See attached photos.

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: REALLY Scary Trailer

WOW, that is a really scary trailer. It seems like the best approach would be to re-design the trailer but how I'm not sure. I would think a more conventional trailer with modified bunks could work but that is a tough one. There are MANY knowledgable people here who will probably be abel to help. I will be watching with interest, good luck to you... and thanks for your service.

 

[lmannyr]

Re: REALLY Scary Trailer

That does NOT look safe! Custom eh? How wide is your beam? If it's the standard 8'6", then I say get a wider trailer 8'6" wide and tie the bunks as they are now. I would add the long side guide ons. Also, the bow hook should be below the bow stop/roller. The bow hook should be just below (still touching) the bow stop/roller. Your gonna need some fender too. Without fenders, your gonna kick up rocks and chip your gel coat real quick. Are there any chips to the gel coat now down there? Wonder if this is in fact the trailer he used since 85.

sincerely,
Manny

 

[lmannyr]

Re: REALLY Scary Trailer

I also think the bucks should be wider to fit between the hulls a bit tighter. This would limit the amount of shifting while turning, towing, etc.

Took another look at the pics and man, that trailer can't be the standard 8'6" trailer, it's probable about 2 ft less. I would get a wider trailer and swap the bunk brackets.....

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: REALLY Scary Trailer

With a C.G. that high you'll have alot of roll, your going to need a very steep ramp to get it into the water deep enough to offload. If you have a slip it'l do if not look for a bigger trailer.

 

[5150abf]

Re: REALLY Scary Trailer

Almost looks like a modified scissor trailer, YIKES.

I would be really nervous pulling that thing around, keep your eyes open for a new one maybe.

Good luck, you may need it.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: REALLY Scary Trailer

you could change the springs to a higher rating. and maintain tire pressure. but the rest is nature of the beast, could try and anti sway bar hitch.

but what you have is the same condition as a sissor pontoon trailer. narrow stance. i don't see any way to modify the trailer, you can lower the boat, and tire as you said would have to extend past the boat, thus no support for the axle, and the boat could hit the axles when loading.

 

[luv2b0at]

Re: REALLY Scary Trailer

tashasdaddy seems to understand my problem. No way to widen it a little. It's put the wheels on the outside of the hull, but then it's legally too wide for the road. I have considered the anti sway bar hitch. Maybe wider tires next time it needs them. I just bought new ones last fall. I may move the front roller more forward to fix the bow hook problem.

This is the original trailer as I have photos of it being delivered to the previous owner (my step father). It goes in and out of the water no problem, it only has a 2 to three foot draft and the motor's on the back have plenty of clearance when raised.

The wider bucks is a great idea. It naturally wants to sit to the right just a bit so it looks funny in the rear view mirror.

So far I have towed it 10 to 12 times and other than my inexperience with the one time I had a problem, it's done OK.

Keep the suggestions coming. Some have been very helpful so far.

BTW, how did scissor trailer get it's name? Does it hinge somewhere or something. I am not familiar with them.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: REALLY Scary Trailer

My only question is: have you tested the tongue weight? with a 5000 pound boat and that trailer, I suspect you need damn near 600 lbs tongue weight to keep it from swaying. Doesn't look like you have too much room to move the winch post and boat forward on the trailer though.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: REALLY Scary Trailer

That trailer can be modified to 8 feet wide but it won't be cheap. Convert it to a tri-axle with 20x8x10E tires. Those tires would provide the needed clearance under the sponsons and each tire has a capacity of a little over 1500#. A tandem axle would put you at 6000# GVWR but if the boat weighs 5000+, the trailer will weigh about 1200 so you would need to go tri-axle which would give you a 9000# gvwr and it would tow great. It would appear the bunks could also be modified to sit under the sponsons. That would greatly increase stability as well. Sway is almost always due to tongue weight but with a CG as high as this, wind can create sway problems as well. This rig as it is just looks like a disaster ready to happen.

 

[Bondo]

Re: REALLY Scary Trailer

Keep the suggestions coming. Some have been very helpful so far.

Ayuh,...

That would be much easier if you posted some #s, instead of generalities,...
How Wide,..??
What size tires,..??
How heavy, Total,..??

How about somemore pictures, from different angles,..??

It's no doubt a custom built wagon for your custom built hull,...

The weaving,+ booping you're getting is because the bow is pretty much unsupported,...
I think just Wider planking on the bunks will tighten up it's side to side slop....

We need #s,+ Pictures,......

 

[cribber]

Re: REALLY Scary Trailer

Also, the bow hook should be below the bow stop/roller. The bow hook should be just below (still touching) the bow stop/roller. sincerely,
Manny

That was the first thing that caught my eye... the front of the boat needs to be "nosed down" so the bow eye is under the roller when winched up. Do you have enough keel clearance between the front brace and your boat or a keel roller mounted on the cross brace? I'm not the most experienced here so others may chime in... your trailer setup just doesn't look right.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: REALLY Scary Trailer

a scissor trailer has an mechanism that lowers the trailer so it goes between the pontoons, then raises under the boat to pic it up. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=290550

 

[DDog11]

Re: REALLY Scary Trailer

Id say get bunks that ran the length of the trailer sides and put in wider axles with fenders welded in with some bracing. This almost resembles a yard trailer used to pull a boat out of the water for land storage not meant to be towed a considerable distance. Also I would heavily envest in a bow and aft tiedown straps to properly secure the boat while towing.

 

[luv2b0at]

Re: REALLY Scary Trailer

The trailer was made completely from scratch, not a prebuilt modified to fit the boat.

I'll do some measuring and see if I can widen the axels, but just from looking at it up close, it doesn't look possible. I like the idea of adding an axle and or changing the angle of the bunks to get the nose heavier.

I'll keep ya'll posted as I have a chance to make mods.

Thanks Again,

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: REALLY Scary Trailer

The trailer was made completely from scratch, not a prebuilt modified to fit the boat.

I'll do some measuring and see if I can widen the axels, but just from looking at it up close, it doesn't look possible. I like the idea of adding an axle and or changing the angle of the bunks to get the nose heavier.

I'll keep ya'll posted as I have a chance to make mods.

Thanks Again,

Until then...can I offer my $.02 of advice?

Three words...'Insurance', 'insurance', and 'insurance'!

Pick the lowest deductible....

P.S. Hat's off for your service to our Republic! Did my 4 years active, 2 years inactive, during Nam. You are a part of the reason, that we can even talk, and go, boating...at will.

 

[ridesapaint]

Re: REALLY Scary Trailer

If you really want to keep the trailer, put some wide axles on it and figure out how to put fenders on it too. Or, go straight and never turn hard. That is the most odd trailer I have seen.

 

[Mark42]

Re: REALLY Scary Trailer

I'd look for a drop axle trailer, with the lowest profile tires available. Than add the appropriate bunks and bow/keel rollers.

Neat boat.

 

[luv2b0at]

Re: REALLY Scary Trailer

Thank you too Comrade Rockyroad.

Ever since the fishtail incident, I load it front heavy, stick to 55 or less, and SSSLLLOOOWWW on any turns.

 

[Titanium48]

Re: REALLY Scary Trailer

Low profile tires under the sponsons looks like the best idea for stability if putting the wheels outside the hull puts the trailer over legal width. Adding a new set of bunks over the new wheels would keep the boat from rocking and they would double as fenders. Biggest problem I can see is that 10 inch wheels will limit your options for brakes. The 7 inch drum brakes that fit under 10 inch wheels use 1 inch bearings and are usually found on axles rated for 2000 lb. You might have to look hard to find the 2200 to 2500 lb load rating you need on axles with 1 inch spindles. You should be able to use 20.5x8x10 LRD tires though (1300 lb load rating) which might be a little cheaper than the LRE. 12 inch wheels might be another option - ST145/R12 or ST145/B12 LRD have a 1200 lb load rating and are only 1 inch taller than the 20.5x8x10. Unfortunately they still won't fit over 10 inch brakes though.