Re: Tandem Axle Trailer FLOATS!! What can I do to sink it?
Front port side tire is flat, sorry.. That's why the other tires are weird looking...
What is an Ideal trailer length I should be looking for?
That tire threw my sight off as well.
I have seen the floating trailer thing before though I have not owned one, and most all were float on aluminum trailers. I think the problem is two fold and one is the combo of light trailer with too much flotation/wood and the other is the need for the trailer to be further into the water and the fact that most go well beyond where they need to.
There was a ramp not far from a place I used to fish for eel when I was a kid that saw all kinds of action, and was really fun to watch all the goof ups and boats falling off trailers into the road etc (actually the action is even better now as the ramp sees more use, but I dont get there too often any more) but while there a few years back after watching a guy trying to overcome the floating problem alone we came up with an easy fix. and it was just to not back in as far so it did not float and then after getting the boat as far up as practical then attach the winch cable and slowing back down while getting a bystander or friend to winch the boat onto the bunks till it was fully up etc. The ramp is a solid surface and has deep water so it is a little easier than some. Still it is surprising just how far you can winch a smaller boat onto a float on trailer. Not as easy as a roller but does work. Just be careful with any slippery ramps and how far you back down etc.
I have done some interesting (ok a few were a bit stupid as well) things with trailering, but that was always at slow speed and short runs for the most part. Not that pulling this set up is the same, but it would benefit everything involved if the weight of the boat was more centrally supported on the trailer. This is especially true for longer hauls or higher speeds.
Some thoughts before you get a larger trailer, or even if you decide not to etc.
Move everything as far forward as practical. I know some AL trailers do not allow too much movement of the post, but gain as much as you can. I would see how far you can get and how changing the axle positions would effect the weight distribution before making any drastic changes there, but it does look like you could go a couple feet back without too much concern and may even want further back to better center things.
One thing just on stopping floating is to replace the side rails used for centering with some sort of solid plastic (star board comes to mind) as that will reduce float while adding some weight, and since you see problems with the actual support wood on the bottom I would just replace it and see if it helps. I think it has to help as green wood is wetter anyhow.
I have a friend who borrows a roller trailer set up for 25-26ft to haul and launch his 30ft baja. It hangs off much more than yours, pulls and works just fine, but and this is a big but lol he is going 2 miles not interstate. I have even used a neighbors roller he has set up for his 24 for my 26/28 (I still have to list it both ways cause I hate the confusion of hull vs overall length lol) and it works fine no matter if I move the front post up the 1-1/2ft it can be moved. It fits a little better when moved, but doesn't need to be etc. I think yours looks worse than it actually may be due to wood rails going beyond the end of the AL rails of the trailer frame (something that the rollers do on most roller trailers I have seen). Depending on the design that may not actually be a problem, but still I feel it should be up another foot or two on the trailer for long distance hauling.
So get rid of all the flotation, move everything up far as you can, don't be afraid to winch a little on retrieval if needed, and post back how it works out as I am really curious what you find.
, but you gotta ask yourself were is the rest of the grader?????
