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boat trailer opinions

by catmechanic , Posted to Fishing Buddy on 03/08/2010 08:09 AM | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
catmechanic

Joined: 06/10/2009
Location: nd
dad just bought a boat this past weekend. 18 ft crestliner fishhawk. anyway, it came with a new bunk trailer that had about 50 miles on it. the guy wasn't lying. tires were brand new. you could tell it was a new trailer. only problem is, its not big enough for the boat.

the guy had moved the winch mount forward about 16-18 inches by the looks of it. not sure who did the welding, but they should be shot. its terrible. going to have to grind it all out and reweld it myself. and it is so tongue heavy that i literally can't even budge it off the ground. i could pick my dads 20' boat up and carry the front end. im thinking that since they moved the boat forward so much, thats why its got so much tongue weight.

there are 4 bunks under the boat. the two in the center only touch the boat in the front. in the back they are about 6 inches too low. he said he was going to weld a taller bracket on the back but never got around to it. im glad. if it looked anything like the front, it probably wouldn't hold.

anyway, back to the question. im looking at what to do to get rid of some of the tongue weight and make the boat actually fit on the trailer. i thought about getting some longer bunks and mounting them so that they sit about a foot farther back than they do. then moving that winch mount back a foot as well.

i may have to take a few pics of this so it all makes sense. if anybody has some experience in doing this, lets here your replies. we thought about just finding another trailer, but this one is new, so it would be nice to keep it.
Hold my beer while i land this walleye!!
Re: boat trailer opinions
by Allen on 03/08/2010 11:46 AM | Reply #1 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Allen
Joined: 01/09/2002
Location: ND
If moving the boat on the trailer isn't an option, the only other way to remove tongue weight is to slide the axle forward.  When doing this, make sure to use a tape measure so you don't end up with a boat that sidetracks down the highway.  Little tougher on tires when you do that.
“Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it.” ~ Mark Twain
Re: boat trailer opinions
by Sportsman on 03/08/2010 11:49 AM | Reply #2 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Sportsman
Joined: 02/28/2002
Location: ND
Sounds like a good welder could have you fixed up in no time.  I would just raise the bunks in the back or lower the front so the boat sits even and move the axles forward.  To much tongue weight is hard on your vehicle and the trailer and makes controlling it (if you should happen to skid at all) almost impossible. 
.
Re: boat trailer opinions
by catmechanic on 03/08/2010 12:15 PM | Reply #3 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
catmechanic
Joined: 06/10/2009
Location: nd
well, it just so happens that i have been welding for over 7 years, im not too worried about that part.

i guess moving the axle is an option, but then i have to cut the fenders off and move them too. i think it would be much easier to just add some brackets in the back and move the bunks back about a foot. i thought about trying to just push the boat back a foot on the trailer as it sits and see how much tongue weight there is then.

also, has anybody tried using those trailer bunk pads from cabelas? in reading reviews, they say that they should work pretty good.
Hold my beer while i land this walleye!!
Re: boat trailer opinions
by Sportsman on 03/08/2010 12:22 PM | Reply #4 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Sportsman
Joined: 02/28/2002
Location: ND
Moving the bunks back might be an option depending on what you have to work with and how far they are going to stick out past the mounting point.  May have to gusset it a bit.  If you are a welder, and have some spare metal laying around, you should be able to do almost anything with it.
.
Re: boat trailer opinions
by WHOPPERSTOPPER on 03/08/2010 12:46 PM | Reply #5 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
WHOPPERSTOPPER
Joined: 03/31/2002
Location: ND
I would move the axle and be done with it. Do it right and you won't regret it every time you pull it. Lot more work, but worth it.
Second place is the first loser
Re: boat trailer opinions
by Allen on 03/08/2010 12:53 PM | Reply #6 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Allen
Joined: 01/09/2002
Location: ND
The fenders are welded on?

That sucks...


A crappily setup boat trailer can really be a downer on the whole boat ownership thing. 
“Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it.” ~ Mark Twain
Re: boat trailer opinions
by catmechanic on 03/08/2010 12:54 PM | Reply #7 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
catmechanic
Joined: 06/10/2009
Location: nd
well, im pretty sure they are welded on. i might have to check that out. that would be doable if they were just bolted on.
Hold my beer while i land this walleye!!
Re: boat trailer opinions
by catmechanic on 03/08/2010 12:59 PM | Reply #8 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
catmechanic
Joined: 06/10/2009
Location: nd
here is a very crude drawing i just did to show my idea. the red brackets are what is currently on the boat. they are welded on the front side of that support tube. i thought about welding the blue brackets on the back side of that support tube and having the bracket face the opposite direction. that way, you have more than one spot to bolt the bunk to and its supported further back. in doing this, i would think i could get the boat back close to a foot.
Hold my beer while i land this walleye!!
Re: boat trailer opinions
by horses ghost on 03/08/2010 1:03 PM | Reply #9 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
horses ghost
Joined: 02/07/2007
Location: ND
Cat, what kind of trailer is it?
1-20-2013  Obama's last day of work
Re: boat trailer opinions
by Sportsman on 03/08/2010 1:07 PM | Reply #10 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Sportsman
Joined: 02/28/2002
Location: ND
Cat:  That idea looks good.  It would move the pivot point of the trailer the same as if you moved the axles.  I don't see why that wouldn't work.  The only disadvantage is that your entire boat/trailer length would be a little longer and might not fit into a garage as easily.  If that isn't a problem, then your idea should work.
.
Re: boat trailer opinions
by espringers on 03/08/2010 1:11 PM | Reply #11 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
espringers
Joined: 07/25/2007
Location: ND

w/ a new trailer, it might not be such an issue as older trailers w/ a little rust.  but, a guy also needs to be careful about moving the boat back too far as well.  it also depends on how your trailers frame is designed.  if you get too much weight on the back end, you can create a lot of stress on the last cross member and break, bend or crease the trailer frame as well.  mine is an older boat w/ an older trailer.  but, both sides have had to be welded up b/c of it.  when i was getting the metal from our local welder, he says he sees a 5-10 or so of those every year.  frame cracks or bends at the joint where the last cross brace goes across from too much weight in the back.  just FYI.
Re: boat trailer opinions
by catmechanic on 03/08/2010 1:21 PM | Reply #12 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
catmechanic
Joined: 06/10/2009
Location: nd
ghost, not sure off the top of my head.
sportsman, i am thinking that it will work too. just like in the drawing, the main beams of the trailer stick out past the back support beam. they stick out past the end of the bunks probably by about a foot. thats what makes me think it will work. oh, and no worry's about length. dads garage is plenty deep. mine on the other hand has 2 single overhead doors and the beam of the boat is 95" wide. plus tires sticking out past that on either side. i don't even think it will squeeze in there.

i think the first step is to slide the boat back on the bunks and see what that does. i thought about taking a bathroom scale and placing it under the dolly to try to get a guess as to how much tongue weight there is right now. then push the boat back and see what it is then.

espringers, thanks for the info. it will be nice working with newer iron for once
Hold my beer while i land this walleye!!
Re: boat trailer opinions
by horses ghost on 03/08/2010 1:32 PM | Reply #13 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
horses ghost
Joined: 02/07/2007
Location: ND

Dumb question, but is it blue?
1-20-2013  Obama's last day of work
Re: boat trailer opinions
by catmechanic on 03/08/2010 1:34 PM | Reply #14 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
catmechanic
Joined: 06/10/2009
Location: nd
yes, why do you ask?
Hold my beer while i land this walleye!!
Re: boat trailer opinions
by archer on 03/08/2010 1:48 PM | Reply #15 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
archer
Joined: 06/28/2002
Location: MN
Blue trailers have more tongue weight than white and red ones.
 
Re: boat trailer opinions
by crfisherman on 03/08/2010 1:51 PM | Reply #16 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
crfisherman
Joined: 03/31/2003
Location: ND
Sounds like the other guy moved everything already but it may have had a different boat on it at one time.  What I mean is the MFG had it right so moving it back some should be okay.  Check the trailer ratings and the boat weight to be sure they are compatible.  You should be able to go to Crestliner's web site to get the boat specs.  The trailer should have an ID plate some place on it to give the ratings, usually on the inside near the front. 
One thing you will need to remember, the bunks must go to the transom of the boat to support the outboard, other wise the haul will crack.  make them too long and you'll be breaking off your transducer for your depth finder. 
get the boat set where you like it then move the wench mount to the boat. 

Live like you'll die tomorrow,
Die knowing you'll live forever.
Re: boat trailer opinions
by CALL EM IN AND SHOOT on 03/08/2010 1:54 PM | Reply #17 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
CALL EM IN AND SHOOT
Joined: 12/17/2009
Location: ND

It ain't always easy when your FAT and GREASY 

Re: boat trailer opinions
by catmechanic on 03/08/2010 2:00 PM | Reply #18 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
catmechanic
Joined: 06/10/2009
Location: nd
archer Said:
Blue trailers have more tongue weight than white and red ones.

thats what i thought
Hold my beer while i land this walleye!!
Re: boat trailer opinions
by catmechanic on 03/08/2010 2:02 PM | Reply #19 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
catmechanic
Joined: 06/10/2009
Location: nd
crfisherman Said:
Sounds like the other guy moved everything already but it may have had a different boat on it at one time.  What I mean is the MFG had it right so moving it back some should be okay.  Check the trailer ratings and the boat weight to be sure they are compatible.  You should be able to go to Crestliner's web site to get the boat specs.  The trailer should have an ID plate some place on it to give the ratings, usually on the inside near the front. 
One thing you will need to remember, the bunks must go to the transom of the boat to support the outboard, other wise the haul will crack.  make them too long and you'll be breaking off your transducer for your depth finder. 
get the boat set where you like it then move the wench mount to the boat. 
the trailer is new. so there hadn't been a boat on it prior. and yes, they moved the winch mount to make this boat fit. only problem is, it was welded on. they had to cut it off and "attempt" to reweld it back on. so, i will end up cutting it off again and rewelding it back on. only this time i am going to make a big triangle plate and weld it to the three points of the trailer. then weld the winch mount to that.

the other idea i had was to see if i could find just a generic winch mount that would bolt on and do that instead. then i have a little more adjustability. not to mention the fact that i wouldn't be adding any more heat to that area.
Hold my beer while i land this walleye!!
Re: boat trailer opinions
by catmechanic on 03/08/2010 2:27 PM | Reply #20 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
catmechanic
Joined: 06/10/2009
Location: nd
anybody have an idea as to how much tongue weight a boat trailer should have? i think im going to try the bathroom scale thing just to get a guess.
Hold my beer while i land this walleye!!
35 Replies | Page 1 of 212 Next Page >> | Top of Page | Bottom of Page
Posted By: catmechanic
Posted On: 03/08/2010 08:09 AM
873 Views, 35 Comments

Tags: boat, trailer, new, opinions, anyway, guy, weekend, crestliner, fishhawk, past
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Categories: Fishing > Fishing Equipment and Gear
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