Short Trailer ?( By this Much! )

[T-290]

I have a 18'Aluminum Boat w/a Shorlander roller trailer.The last roller ends up to be about 12"-14" shy of the end at transom when loaded! <br /><br />I currently have good tongue weight where the Boat is positioned,so moving the Boat forward towards the tongue will not remedy the situation.<br /><br />If I replaced the existing center Beam(Which by the way is adjustable via 2-Bolts and is extended out all the way)with a new 2' longer beam, and then repositioned the Boats Transom back further to the rear directly over the roller wheels.<br /><br />Would there be any critical effect in the Dynamics of how the Boat will trailer?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Short Trailer ?( By this Much! )

If your towing is okay and it is not "wagging" like a dog's tail and the tongue weight is okay, then you are okay. As soon as you balance is off the boat will be miserable to tow. Once you put too much weight to the rear the trailer will sway and become hard to control.<br /><br />Does it tow okay now? If it's not really broke.......don't fix it.

 

[T-290]

Re: Short Trailer ?( By this Much! )

Bob_VT,<br />It trailers quite well now, My concern was about the position of the transom in relation to the disbursement of weight over the rear rollers. Which are 12"-14" in front of the transom.<br /> <br />The Boat totals out at under 700lbs. without fuel.(It's a pup compared to most!) If I extend the beam and move the Boat forward the load now moves closer to the rear wheels as apposed to away from them! <br /><br />I was just concerned that I might be damaging the Boat by having the load to far behind the rollers.<br />Proposing the extension change,what will happen to the Dynamics of the trailer and the way it handles.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Short Trailer ?( By this Much! )

I had lengthened my own trailer by 30" and some creative welding. My boat was a nightmare to tow. If you think the weight of the boat is evenly distributed and the boat is supported properly, then it should be fine. If you are concerned with the overhang having a structural effect on the transom consider a transom saver and a slight adjustment. Most of the winch setups can be adjusted to the front/rear. Try to adjust with what you have now. If you do make the change and go with the longer beam it should just give you more room to play with.<br /><br /><br />BOB

 

[T-290]

Re: Short Trailer ?( By this Much! )

Bob,<br />Thanks very much for the information. You said that you extended your trailer by 30".<br /><br /> Did you extend to the front or add to the rear? And then after the adjustments which way did the Boat move forward or back? Did you gain tongue weight or loose some ? <br /><br />What entailed on the creative welding,the reason why I ask is, the trailer shop suggested to add additional gussets(struts) to the center beam to help minimize deflection(twist) at the rear axle due to the additional length in beam.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Short Trailer ?( By this Much! )

My trailer was way too short. The winch post was all the way to the front and I still had almost NO tongue weight. With all the weight beyond the rear axle the trailer was a challange to tow. I added 30" by matching the box beam with a piece (3"x4"x1/8"x30") I bought from a steel dealer. I cut the main beam and welded the piece in using a high quality welder. I paid special attention to the alignment and made sure I ended up with a straight beam. I used lots of braces while the butt joints were welded. I did not use any gusets or extra braces. This additional piece enabled me to move the winch rearward and the boat forward. I now maintain a 150 lb tongue weight and my boat overhangs the trailer by 4" as opposed to 24" before I added the piece. All my work was a result of wanting to obtain a safer trailer to tow. It worked.<br /><br />Bob