trailer vs boat??

[gilby246]

Please school me!?.I have always owned a trailered boats up till now (under 24?). A few months ago I purchased a 1988 280 regal commodore with a 10? beam that lives in the water. I would like to drag this home where I can go through the whole thing in one shot (2 mile drive). Unfortunately, a trailer did not come with the boat so I will need to rent or borrow one.
The question is, besides trailer length what should I look for to make this safe.?? Will a tandem trailer that hauls a 8?6? beam boat be narrower then one with a triple axle hauling a 10? beam?. The boat is (per manufacturer) 28? x 10? and weighs 8200 dry. I have a tandem axle trailer but fear this wont be enough to make it the few miles

 

[cribber]

Re: trailer vs boat??

You'll need to check the local and state towing laws since the draft if 10 feet. Then decide what you need to get it to where you want to take it.

 

[gilby246]

Re: trailer vs boat??

Cribber
Thanks for your reply
I do know that the legal limit in WA state is 8?something and need a permit for towing a 10? beam?. Im just curious about what kind of trailer I will need to support such a boat

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: trailer vs boat??

Please school me!?.I have always owned a trailered boats up till now (under 24?). A few months ago I purchased a 1988 280 regal commodore with a 10? beam that lives in the water. I would like to drag this home where I can go through the whole thing in one shot (2 mile drive). Unfortunately, a trailer did not come with the boat so I will need to rent or borrow one.
The question is, besides trailer length what should I look for to make this safe.?? Will a tandem trailer that hauls a 8?6? beam boat be narrower then one with a triple axle hauling a 10? beam?. The boat is (per manufacturer) 28? x 10? and weighs 8200 dry. I have a tandem axle trailer but fear this wont be enough to make it the few miles

Trailer will probably be the same width, as the legal footprint is 8'-6". If it's long enough it's probably fine even though it's a tandem. I had a 26' Fiberform Baja that was 10,800 trailer and boat combined that was tandem axle. A couple of miles at low speeds shouldn't be problematic with a trailer in good condition. Check your sidewalls for their max weight, you'd be looking for about 2200#'s capacity per tire. You're not towing that far to get into much trouble heatwise.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: trailer vs boat??

I think your also going to need to get under your trailer and get the weight rating off of the axles, if they are there I would hate for you to pull the boat out and then bend both axles, The weight rating of my axles are stamped right in the middle of the axle itself right under the keel of the boat hopefully you will have the same thing.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: trailer vs boat??

I think your also going to need to get under your trailer and get the weight rating off of the axles, if they are there I would hate for you to pull the boat out and then bend both axles, The weight rating of my axles are stamped right in the middle of the axle itself right under the keel of the boat hopefully you will have the same thing.

My thinking was if the trailer was of the appropriate length for his boat, the axles were built for something that heavy in the first place. Bad assumtion on my part. Cood catch Lipp.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: trailer vs boat??

Well the only reason I mentioned it is because my first boat I bought in AZ and drove it up to CO once there I jumped into the boat full head of steam and I noticed the axle(single axle trailer) was bent... well after some research I found out that it was actually a camber axle but in doing also it was a 2500lb camber axle so while the axle was not bent it was over loaded (boat was 3600lbs) and I had to replace it. If I hadn't checked I may have never noticed. when I sold that boat I had at least 5 buyers that tried to beat my price up on the fact that it had a bent axle!! I explained time after time that it is a cambered axle and they can check it on the internet if they like but nope it was bent to them...



Ok before VH comes on and blasts me I TRAILERED THE BOAT FROM AZ TO CO not drove the boat from AZ to CO....

 

[gilby246]

Re: trailer vs boat??

Went through my current trailer (tandem)? It can accommodate a 30 ft boat but the tire rating is only 1200 lbs per tire?. So that?s a no go on a 8200 lbs boat. My question .. is there a tandem trailer that can handle a boat this size? I have many tandem trailer options but not sure its safe overall.

 

[DianneB]

Re: trailer vs boat??

Certainly in looking for parts (to build trailers) axles up to 7,500 pounds aren't uncommon but that's only part of the picture as you know. Higher rated tires are more expensive and less common. The suspension also has to be rated to carry the expected load (trailer plus boat) or it can simply fail. Finally the frame of the trailer has to be designed to carry the intended weight from the bunk supports and transfer it to the suspension and hitch without bending to the point of deformation. Then there is the braking system - what weight can be stopped in a reasonable distance. Because of the multitude of factors that effect the load rating, manufacturers are required to mark trailers so the end user KNOWS what it was designed for. Overloading a trailer is serious business and increases the likelihood of accidents and liability.

I general, a tandem trailer will sit higher than a triaxle of the same rating and have larger tires but in utility trailers 10,000 pounds on a tandem isn't uncommon. I don't know about boat trailers but I would doubt it due to the increased height and the difficulty that would create in loading and unloading.

 

[fisherguy123]

Re: trailer vs boat??

Just a thought but I`d get a price from a proffesional boat mover...they got the gear; they get the permits and have the Insurance and take all the liabilities if something happens. Should be lots of them in your part of the country if there are marinas and commercial fishermen.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: trailer vs boat??

As you have noticed, trailer length and the boat length it accommodates has nothing to do with it's carrying capacity. The label on the trailer specifies a GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) which is the all up weight of trailer, boat, fuel, accessories and anything else inside the boat. Trailers of 25 feet can be constructed to carry 8000+ loads just as well as a 30 foot trailer so there is no relationship between length and weight. A long boat can be lighter than one that is much shorter. It is all about frame material, axle capacity, and tire size/capacity.

 

[fisherguy123]

Re: trailer vs boat??

It is all about frame material, axle capacity, and tire size/capacity.

true words ....trailers here are licensed to the capacity of the weekest link in the construction ...be it hitch ,tires ,suspension, brakes, frame...any homemade trailer over 4500 kgs GVWR{9900 pds} to be licensed in this province must be certified by a proffesional engineer before plates are issued.

 

[1fishbone]

Re: trailer vs boat??

Not sure if someone mentioned it...but some marina offer hauling, I'm sure there are boat haulers in your area too.
My boat hauler offers free blocks and stands after the first year...good for repeat customers.
And only cost about $150 each way, about 3 miles (Your area would be priced differently)

Cheaper than buying/building, maintaining, registering, storing and pulling my own trailer.

 

[PopsRacer]

Re: trailer vs boat??

I just went through alot of trailer research because I had to replace a bent axle... An 8,000-lbs boat would require the heavier axles for a tandem axle trailer so you'll need to be sure to check the trailer's weight ratings. IIRC I think there's a max boat width rating too but I could be wrong. From what I could find, Heritage appears to be one of the better Trailer Companies in business and they were extremely helpful when I called them, they are the ones who bought out Prestige back in April 2009.

http://www.heritagetrailers.com/