Trailer weight limit with 1" spindles.

[gjmsd]

I have a small boat (16' low profile with Evinrude 135) on a trailer. The trailer has 1" spindles. If I'm correct, this means it is a 2K lb axle. The tires are brand new and rated for 2600 lbs (1300 lbs each) and it has 4 brand new and well packed bearings. My thinking is that when we go boating, I'm also going to want to take the wife's jet ski along (best way I can be assured she'll want to go). With that in mind, I've built a cradle that sits in the boat to hold it and am in the process of welding up a lift to lift it in and out.

My plan is to lift it, launch the boat then drop it down into the water. When we are done, I'll lift the jet ski, pull the boat up and lower the jet ski back into the cradle.

My concern is whether the trailer can handle the weight towing it 400 miles round trip to where we boat. If I calculated right (and guessed right), I should be well below the limit but am still a bit nervous and would love some input from people more knowledgeable than me on trailers.

Weights of everything
Boat hull - 500 lbs (rough guess)
trailer - 300 lbs (rough guess)
motor - 271 lbs
lift and cradle - 150 lbs
jet ski - 455 lbs

TOTAL - 1676 lbs

 

[Titanium48]

Re: Trailer weight limit with 1" spindles.

Yes, 1 inch spindles means a 2000 lb axle. 271 lb is on the light side for a 135, but possible if it's a mid-1970s without power tilt / trim. It's interesting how the power to weight ratio peaked in the 1970s and started going down even before the direct injection era. 500 lb is also on the light side for the boat, but again possible for a low profile 1970s speedboat - if there's no wet foam inside. You also haven't accounted for any fuel or other gear stored in the boat. Trailer could be 300 lb, or could be substantially more. Have you tried to lift it from the axle after launching the boat? Is this an old 1970s roller trailer where all of the weight is carried on 6 rollers? If so, you are putting a lot of stress on those small areas by loading 500 extra lb into your boat. Seeing as how you've already built the cradle and nearly finished the lift though, why not take just it to a scale when you're done? If it's significantly overweight, replace the axle.

 

[gjmsd]

Re: Trailer weight limit with 1" spindles.

Yes, it's a 1975 w/o TnT. According to a spec on iBoats that should be the weight. The more I think about it, some of the other weights might be low. I know when I replaced the floor (with no transom, that was replaced later) two friends and myself were able to lift the hull and moved it around although we are pretty strong and still strained quite a bit. So, I may actually be pressing the 2K limit. I figured for transport, I'll put all my gear in the truck and fill the fuel when we got there.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Trailer weight limit with 1" spindles.

Interesting project! Be sure to take into account the raised center of gravity while taking turns. I would really like to see pics of this when done.

BTW, just because the axle is rated 2000 lbs, does not mean the springs are. They are usually tailored to the weight of the specific boat the trailer was meant to haul.

 

[gjmsd]

Re: Trailer weight limit with 1" spindles.

Finally getting back on the project. Welded up a carriage to hold the jetski in the boat. Have the steel, just need to weld it up for the lift to get the jetski in and out. Did end up removing the 1" (2000#) axle and welding up a 3500# one since I realistically was over the limit. Hope to have it complete in a week or two.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Trailer weight limit with 1" spindles.

Hope you changed out the springs to match the new load.

 

[gjmsd]

Re: Trailer weight limit with 1" spindles.

Hope you changed out the springs to match the new load.

Yep, 3500# springs also. The only problem is the new wheels and tires don't have enough clearance. The tires have some dry rot so I'm going to change them out with some lower profile ones.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Trailer weight limit with 1" spindles.

Looks nice, can't wait to see the lift in action.


If I could only figure out a way to load my atv like that.