Looking for a new trailer...

[Go Aweigh2452]

I give up... Blew another bearing today trying to teach the Admiral how to drive the rig with the boat in tow... we get on Rte 16 (60mph) and she states... how come there is smoke behind the boat???? I tell her to pull over... I don't know what to think... is it the truck, the boat, the wheels??? Of course I cannot see the left side where the smoke is...
So after we pull over, I hop out to see the rear left tire about 4 inches out from the axle and being held there by the outside of the fender edge... So I disconnect the trailer, make a run home (10 mins) and pick up my spare wheel hub, a set of bearings I just pulled OUT of the truck last week and some tools. Took about 20 mins to pull, change and load the new bearings and got back on the road... Needless to say... she (the Admiral) ain't driving no frekin rig, no how, no way... :cry:

Seems the rear axle can not handle the weight and I keep burning bearings... this is the 4th set I have burned up... all on the rear axle. :roll:

I think I will be looking for a six wheeler and maybe bunks instead of rollers too. I am getting tired of replacing rollers (have 24 on this trailer now) and long bolts (only available thru EZ loader dealers or Tacoma Screw...) and then they are NOT galvanized... :shock:

Any suggestions as to which dealer I should turn to for an EZ loader with 6 wheels? I saw EZ is pushing oil bathed bearings these days...

[Webjammin]

Doug
I personally cant see the need for a triple for a 24 footer and if you feel you have too much weight on your rear axle why not move the axles back ?

Aren't you running a load leveling hitch ? I remember seeing a photo of your hitch with tension rods ? if so maybe your holding the hitch height of your trailer too high behind that big Ford putting the weight aft.

Just some thoughts.

Bob

[Go Aweigh2452]

Yes, I have a weight distribution hitch and it is set at the correct height with the trailer. I think I have too much weight at the rear and cannot do anything about that. The boat overhangs the rear of the trailer by a few feet now and I cannot move the boat any more forward than it rides now (well maybe 12 inches)... I could move the front trailer bow stem maybe 12 inches toward the rear of the truck and that may help but it may not... I just don't think the trailer is designed best for a 2452...

[Randygh]

Doug--My boat is 26' in length (excluding outdrive and swimstep) and my EZ loader trailer is a tandem with 18" wheels. The trailer's rear rollers are about 3" in front of the transom. I've never had a warm bearing and I don't have stabilizer bars. My trailer trails beautifully behind my ol' '77 extended cab F-250. You probably don't need 3-axles, just a bigger trailer.

[SomeSailor]

Maybe you just need a bigger tandem Doug?

Look at the one Webjammin has. It's a tandem, but its beefy and carrying a 10,000 boat with no worries.

Have you weighed it to see which axle is carrying all the load? You maye have to shift the axles back, or bring the boat forward (or both) to get the weight distributed properly?

It sure felt good back there when we went to Seiku. Hard to tell from the passengers viewpoint, but it looked like it was pretty fair loaded.

Oh yeah... do you have electrics or pure surge? (whole different question... not related to this topic at all).

[StevensMan]

Doug,

I do not know what is wrong with your trailer, I had some experience with my old sailboat trailer. It was double axle trailer with fixed front post so I could not distribute weight right - there was no (actually some nagative) tongue weight. The real problem I guess was that front axle was installed incorrectly and front weels had more load because of this.
This issue was fixed (before me, by previous owner) but adding extension blocks between axle and spring leafs. Those blocks are cheap, I've seen them in GIJoe's and they are simple to install (I've done it while boat is on the trailer). So you may try to install the blocks for the axle that carries less load - it may help. Blocks come in different sizes.

Thanks,
Anton

[Tedster]

Doug we carry EZ Loader trailers, call me if you are interested in prices and sizes. Ted :D

[Go Aweigh2452]

Oh yeah... do you have electrics or pure surge? (whole different question... not related to this topic at all).

I have surge brakes and yes, it seems to pull just fine withmy F350. Maybe just coincidence that I lose only the rear bearings? I am not sure. Just a frekin pain to keep having this problem. Maybe I need to have a longer trailer. I think that would solve the issue of the stern hanging out so far. Even though the trailer is level due to the weight distro hitch, it seems to have a lot of weight on the rear. Having the same amount of air in all tires, the rears look fatter at the bottom. That tells me the weight at the rear has to be more. WHen the boat is not on the trailer, my rear wheels actually look like they are not touching the ground as much as the forward set... I think it is the length of the trailer... maybe longer would be better????

[SomeSailor]

You should be able to tell pretty easily. Dump the boat and measure the torsion bar & axle height on level ground for all four wheels. Put the boat back on and they should be pretty close to equal in the amount they're each compressing. I'd bet you've just got lots more weight on the back. Mine was the same way. I realized this when my little cheapo floor jack would barely lift the front axle... and wouldn't BUDGE the rear axles.

The best way would be to weigh each axle. I bet you could drive into a weigh station and ask a trooper to do it for ya. Explain what is wrong and that you think it's safety related, and I'm sure he'd let you drive across his little portable pad scales. They look like heavy duty bathroom scales. :)

[Dave C]

You MUST weigh your axles to know whats going on. You can do this at most State truck scales at any time for free. They leave the electronic scales turned on or the mechanical scale head turned so it can be read by looking through a window. If you are going to replace your trailer you would need this info anyway.

Does this trailer have leaf springs or the rubber torsion axles ? Leaf spring suspension should better equalize the load on the axles.

It seems strange to me if the axle is overloaded your having bearing problems and not tire failures. Tires are not very forgiving of overloads.

I would suspect a lubrication issue, or a bearing quality issue, or adjustment, or something along those lines.

[tolly28]

I'm surprised you need a weight distributing hitch with an F-350. My F-350 would barely budge with a 2455 behind it. Were you real tongue-heavy before?

[heymagic]

I had my neighbor (WSP) weigh my 26 Tolly on the triple trailer and it had nearly 1000 lbs difference between the front and back axle. I moved the axle and adjusted the tongue height to get all 3 within 50 lbs. Nice to have the scales next door !

[SomeSailor]

That would be my advice too Doug. Get 'em weighed and see where ya stand. I wonder how much (if any) weight is trasferred when you truss up that weight distributing hitch? It has to be going somewhere.

A free run on the portable scales would sure be nice as a comparison at least.

[Go Aweigh2452]

I'm surprised you need a weight distributing hitch with an F-350.

Steve, its not an issue for weight using the distro hitch, the F350 pulls just fine. I did not like the trucks that I was passing make my rig tail wag. SO I have the distro's on to stop the swing caused by high winds and passing semi's.

I am going to purchase higher quality bearings now and will try them for a while. I ordered a catalog from EZ loader and will look at that for ideas as to which way to go. I also have a call into them to talk about my concerns and their suggestions... no rush yet... still have a new set of bearings and my 12 ton jack...

[kwb]

Like someone mentioned check tires and see that all are the same.
You said that you have 12" that you could move boat forward-- do it, you are towing with a plenty big truck to handle a bit more tounge weight and would eliminate some of the tail wagging the dog. Sidewall rating of tires will also make a big improvement there if you get better than the cheezy tires that are usually stock on a trailer (more plys the better)

IF axles are deflecting the same when unloaded then compare how much they are deflecting when loaded. I bet that the rear is deflected a bunch more.

Worst case think about getting two new heavy axles with brakes from 6 robbles and install on trailer rather than just get new trailer (its going to be spendy for new) axles with hubs and brakes are fairly cheap and not too bad to install

[SomeSailor]

Or you could back the boat on. That would put the heavy end up front :)

[Go Aweigh2452]

I have the torsion bars and not the springs. Moving the axle is OK but would be a bit of a pain rewelding the galvanized frame plates to allow the axle to move back somewhat. I also have the highest rated trailer tires (continental if I recall) you can buy. I know they are good. And I check inflation every trip so that is not an issue. Tongue weight is currently ~500 #'s and I can easily go more with my truck but not sure if my trailer tongue wheel lift could take too much more weight..

I'll move the stem about 12 inches and see if that works. It might even help with having the rollers off a couple of the strats. I really think the best solution is a longer trailer... but will wait to hear back from EZ loader and see their product line catalog.

[Webjammin]

Doug
With a Footitus infection. Its the B.O.A.T that gets Bigger not the Trailer.

[Go Aweigh2452]

With a Footitus infection. Its the B.O.A.T that gets Bigger not the Trailer

aaahhh, now I understand... I don't have two footitus, therefore, I subconsciously substitute the size of the trailer!!!

[SomeSailor]

I think you should buy a nice big triple... one that would support your 2859 later this year...

[Go Aweigh2452]

then I can sell you this trailer for your 19 footer... talk about two footitus... you're going the wrong direction Mike...

[SomeSailor]

Actually... I wanted to keep my old trailer in the last deal just for that reason. the first buyer didn't want it and I was ready to discount it $2500 to keep it. But the guy who gave me the deposit is trailering it now :(

I wanted bunks so the bottom doesn't get beat up by the rollers. The trailer Now has these rubber snubbers (not really rollers... they don't turn) that mars the bottom. I may just add bunks to it for now.

As far as two-footitis... I hope my next boat won't fit a trailer. :D

[Go Aweigh2452]

OK, here is an update. Apparently my trailer is the 5800# model with ST 225/75R 14D 6 ply tires. When I upgraded the engine, I increased the weight back aft another 300#'s. Add an inflatable, 2.5 hp and 9.9hp to the stern as well as a third battery and I get pretty heavy back there. My brochures have not arrived from EZ but I did speak to them about my boat and my options with a newer trailer.

I will be purchasing a 7500# bunk trailer with disk brakes, ST 225/75R 15D wheels, oil bath bearings and newer aluminized brake lines. (why they don't even offer ss is beyond me...)...

[3788sam]

Not as much fun as a new boat purchase, but a lot more important!
I wonder how many others out there are over weight on there trailer and don't even know it? :?
When we Bought the Maxum it came on a tandem axle, the same size Bay single axle.

[Tedster]

Doug, are you buying it from them or would you like a price from us? Just trying to help ya. Ted :)

[Dave C]

Did you ever weigh your old setup :?:
I strongly recommend you do to be sure your new trailer is the right capacity.

[Go Aweigh2452]

Ted and others, I bought a new 7500# bunk trailer with disc brakes, oil bath bearings and 15 inch wheels this afternoon from a friend in the business. Got a great deal and am happy. It was $900 under the best price I could find at the dealers.

My boat weighs in at 6293# with 1/2 tank of gas and full water, minimal septic, inflatable on the rear, 9.9 and 2.5hp and lots of food supplies... The old trailer weighs in at 1660#. So add that in and the boat plus trailer weighs in at 7953#... Glad I got an F350...

[Tedster]

That is fine Doug, I just didn't know when you looked in my price book is all. Ted :)

[heymagic]

Doug, what are you doing with the old trailer? Gene

[Go Aweigh2452]

Gene, not sure. I don't know the blue book value. Email me and we'll talk. I think I may leave the current electric winch on and buy new. It has a spare tire on it and water wash down. Bearings were greased again last night 8) for my Port Townsend trip next week. I'm going back east on 11 Jul and the trailer may be here then but I doubt it... They said 10 days to build and ship from Spokane. So I may not be here when it gets here.
If it is not ready to be picked up by 10 July...
I get back from the East coast on 25 Jul and then a tbird car show in Olympia 27-30 Jul. I will get the new trailer fitted on 26 Jul and the old trailer will be available after that.