trailer extension?

[Isaacm1986]

I just picked up a 17ft trailer for $50. It is in overall good shape, and i figured for that price I can't go wrong. Needs new bunk and tires, but there is very little rust and it has a 4000 pound axle under it.

I am considering cutting off the tongue and welding up a 5ft extension on it to fit my 21ft starcraft. Before I did this, I wanted to ask you guys what you thought? This would be my first time modifying a trailer, so I don't want to do anything stupid.

Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks

 

[Isaacm1986]

Re: trailer extension?

forgot the pics....

 

[geeco1]

Re: trailer extension?

I can't see the pics from my work, but my first question is, do you have enough room to slide the axle forward to even-out the increased tongue weight of your 21 foot boat?

 

[jtmarten]

Re: trailer extension?

No brakes will be an issue for a 21' also.
Nice looking trailer for $50!

 

[Isaacm1986]

Re: trailer extension?

No brakes will be an issue for a 21' also.
Nice looking trailer for $50!

It is a 21ft all aluminum boat, very light. I am not worried about brakes so much. My buddies 17ft fiberglass boat weighs more than mine does.

 

[bob1340]

Re: trailer extension?

I just did similar to that. But in my case I moved the winch and bow stop forward 16" and extended the tongue about 18". I was going from a 12' to a 14'. I don't think you need 5' there. What are you using for an extension? I'd suggest 1/4" wall 2"X3" stuff.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: trailer extension?

With the design of that tongue....... why not extend the back of the trailer?

 

[bob1340]

Re: trailer extension?

With the design of that tongue....... why not extend the back of the trailer?

Ditto. It looks like the axle is plenty rearward. Move the bow stop forward and add as need be to the rear.

 

[Turx]

Re: trailer extension?

Ditto. It looks like the axle is plenty rearward. Move the bow stop forward and add as need be to the rear.

This.....

 

[jusfloatin]

Re: trailer extension?

As with any post someone always comes in and pee's against the wind.
Well this time it appears to be me.

As a old 17' boat trailer that needs some TLC for 50.00 you got a great deal.

To take that same old and heavy 17' boat trailer and modified it to accept a 21' boat is a lot of work not to mention it will always look like an old trailer that was modified to carry something it was never designed to do.
I took a quick look at your thread on rebuilding your Starcraft. I did not look thru the whole thing as I have seen enough threads on them I could build one in my sleep. At the moment your boat does not weigh much but as soon as you throw a deck down it will be 500lbs heavier. You have a big boat that needs two axels or 1 with brakes.
Where did you get the axel rating of 4000lbs
If you feel you have the abilities to do the work needed to accomplish a modification like this, why not build one for your boat. You can build a new single axel/with brakes boat trailer for under 1000 or a tandem axel no brake trailer for under 1000. It would be a shame to restore a 21' Starcraft only to have it sit on a modified antique trailer that was not designed to carry.
The chances of you adding metal either on the front of the trailer or back and not have to move the axel to get proper tongue weight is slim at best.
There is more but I think you understand my point.

You can fill any hole it just comes down to the point is it worth it.

I built this one for my pontoon W/O brakes Total $863.00

 

[Isaacm1986]

Re: trailer extension?

As with any post someone always comes in and pee's against the wind.
Well this time it appears to be me.

As a old 17' boat trailer that needs some TLC for 50.00 you got a great deal.

To take that same old and heavy 17' boat trailer and modified it to accept a 21' boat is a lot of work not to mention it will always look like an old trailer that was modified to carry something it was never designed to do.
I took a quick look at your thread on rebuilding your Starcraft. I did not look thru the whole thing as I have seen enough threads on them I could build one in my sleep. At the moment your boat does not weigh much but as soon as you throw a deck down it will be 500lbs heavier. You have a big boat that needs two axels or 1 with brakes.
Where did you get the axel rating of 4000lbs
If you feel you have the abilities to do the work needed to accomplish a modification like this, why not build one for your boat. You can build a new single axel/with brakes boat trailer for under 1000 or a tandem axel no brake trailer for under 1000. It would be a shame to restore a 21' Starcraft only to have it sit on a modified antique trailer that was not designed to carry.
The chances of you adding metal either on the front of the trailer or back and not have to move the axel to get proper tongue weight is slim at best.
There is more but I think you understand my point.

You can fill any hole it just comes down to the point is it worth it.

I built this one for my pontoon W/O brakes Total $863.00

Thanks for the reply,

I have been looking at trailers for a while now. I have never modified one before, and thought I would ask before i started cutting it to pieces. It sounds like more work that I have tools to do. I figured for $50 i will pick it up and look into extending the trailer. I figured the worst that happens is I just resell it for a few bucks.

Thanks guys for the advice. I think i will just sell it and keep looking.

Thanks.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: trailer extension?

I extended my old trailer's tongue on a frame like you have and it was easy. Grind the welds off the old tongue, add in a new stick of steel tubing (3x5 in my case), square it up and weld it in.

From your pics, it looks like the axle/fenders are welded on and would be a pain to move.The axle/fenders of my trailer were on a sub-assembly that was easy to move, so relocating the axle for proper load balance was a snap.

How long is the trailer, is it 17' or was a 17' boat on it? I think you'll need to slap a couple temp bunks on the trailer, put the boat on, move it forward-back and see how the trailer needs to be modified, more tongue, more tail... The crossmember right below the bowstop could present a problem though, not allow the boat to slide forward enough.