Another 382 question (for trailer boats)
 

For anyone that trailers a 382 could you do me a big favor. I am having a new trailer built and need to know the distance from the transom (NOT the notched area) to the center of the rear axle. Mine is 6 1/2 feet but the trailer has had too much tongue weight. The new builder will adjust the axles as I need them but I'm not sure how far to go with them.

I'm working with a tight indoor garage and need to get this trailer as short as I can. Thanks!!!!!

Russ C.

Re: Another 382 question (for trailer boats)
 

The Eagle I have is 5' both my Prestige are 5 1/2'.

Re: Another 382 question (for trailer boats)
 

I had Myco build me a new trailer and it was perfect. Just have them build it and you don't have to worry about any of this. Mine was a 2001 382

Re: Another 382 question (for trailer boats)
 

They make great trailers...a buddy just bought one for a Top Gun.
Since I dunk in salt water and can get an aluminum for 10G's less I'm willing to ask a few questions and get one that is just pretty good instead.

BTW: NICE BOAT! :D

Re: Another 382 question (for trailer boats)
 

where are you trying to set your tongue weight at ? how many lbs ?

Re: Another 382 question (for trailer boats)
 

I thought it should be at 800-900 lbs but the builder said it should be 400-500. Still not convinced it should be that light. I'm not going to have any room to move the boat forward or back once it's done.....unlike someone else I know! :rolleyes: :D

Re: Another 382 question (for trailer boats)
 

400-500# on a 382 you better have a truck like BgChuby :rolleyes: If you have what most of us drive you will be crashing before you get to the ramp. Some use a rule of thumb of 10% of total weight.That is a little high maybe but 800-900 should work.1000# would be OK also. Another thing to consider is hitch height. If it's too low the front tires will wear fast. A good adjustable height hitch can make a world of difference :p

Re: Another 382 question (for trailer boats)
 

From all the cruisers I use to own I have an assortment of various height ball mounts.....Since I'm also shopping for Duallies I'm sticking with the 800-1,000 lbs target.

Re: Another 382 question (for trailer boats)
 

Right on Magicfloat,But I wonder how good the trailer is if the builder does not know where to set the axles for correct tounge weight.
:cool:

Re: Another 382 question (for trailer boats)
 

Right on Magicfloat,But I wonder how good the trailer is if the builder does not know where to set the axles for correct tonuge weight.
:cool:

Re: Another 382 question (for trailer boats)
 

The trailer builder sets these up pretty close (I've had several of his trailers). My problem is I'm working in a <43ft indoor space for a 38 Formula. This does not give me the option of moving the winch stand forward or back 6 inches for proper tongue weight. (I've even had to have them cut the 40 ft beams to 38 to "shrink" the trailer as much as possible). The only method I have left to balance the trailer properly is to adjust the axles to my load. I think we have it......hopefully I'll get a couple more opinions before Monday AM.

Re: Another 382 question (for trailer boats)
 

Russ,

I will grab a measurement off my 382/Eagle for you later today and post it for you.

Chris

Re: Another 382 question (for trailer boats)
 

Straight-edge down transom to rear axle is 4' 10". Same to center axle is 7' 7". This is the setup with extension boxes on an Eagle triple axle trailer.

Re: Another 382 question (for trailer boats)
 

Hey Chris,

What tire size do you have on your trailer???

Thanks,
Garrett

Re: Another 382 question (for trailer boats)
 

Garrett,

Will get back to you on tire size.

Re: Another 382 question (for trailer boats)
 

My Eagle Trailer is 5' 7" to from the transom to the center of rear axle.

Garrett

Re: Another 382 question (for trailer boats)
 

Russ
If I remember correctly the balance point on a 382 is 109" from the point where the transom and keel would meet if there was no notch in the transom, this is about even with the back of the bolster seats. The balance point should be placed approximately a foot in front of the center axle, this should give you enough tongue weight.
I set mine up on a aluminum trailer myself, I contacted formula to find the balance point and the trailer manufacture to figure where to put the balance point in relationship to the trailer. If you look at RedDog and my boat you will see that the back of the bolster seats are in about the same relationship to the center axle.

Re: Another 382 question (for trailer boats)
 

Thanks for all the info guys.....WAGS....can you confirm that 109 measurement? Yours looks about right for what I'm trying to do. The steel trailers seem to carry more tongue weight than the Aluminum ones.

And although my boat has the notched transom, I'm measuring from the "true" transom for these measurements.

Re: Another 382 question (for trailer boats)
 

every trailer builder i spoke with said 350- 500lb max tongue weight for 353 i purchased, think about it. whats the purpose of a weight distribution hitch to neutralize the tongue weight. remember the old commercial with the 72 Caddy Eldorado when they removed the rear wheels and it still towed the trailer.

Re: Another 382 question (for trailer boats)
 

Russ
I will look in my notes for the measurement.
I don't believe that 500 lbs is enough tongue weight for a boat that heavy.
I did not weigh the tongue, but it pushes my 2500 hd down about 1" and it tows great that way.
Jeff

Re: Another 382 question (for trailer boats)
 

great thread ! my 382 squashes my f-350 hard. TechSun supposedly checked all this but I'm not convinced. My boat has 1 motor out but when I get it back I'm gonna compare notes and weigh the tounge and trailer. The winch stand is as far back as it will slide already. Thanks

Re: Another 382 question (for trailer boats)
 

Yeah, I can't just measure the tongue weight at the moment.....both drives AND both engines are out!!! Plus I'm going to have to set it on the new trailer this way. Once the drive train goes back in I don't want it to lift the truck off the ground! :eek: :D

Re: Another 382 question (for trailer boats)
 

Hmm, 350 lbs tongue weight on a trailer weighing over 10k sounds like an accident waiting to happen. The more tongue weight, the more stable the whole thing will be. Also, there is no point in using a weight distributing hitch unless there is some weight to actually distribute. :) A weight distributing hitch will move some of the tongue weight from the rear of the tow vehicle to the front of the tow vehicle, but it won't move trailer weight to the tow vehicle. (Sorry if this is already obvious.

The tongue weight is going to change between low fuel and loaded fuel. If the tongue weight is set low with a full load of fuel, then it may be too light when the fuel burns off. At least on my setup, the center of teh tank looks like it would have to be forward of the center of the center axle which will change the balance point.

There is nothing wrong with having some healthy tongue weight as long as the tow vehicle can handle it. The more weight you can put on the truck, the less likely the truck is to jack knife under emergency situations. My F350 dually squats ~2" when I drop the 382 on it. Not very much compared to the spring travel, but still a considerable amount of weight. I'd guess at least 1k lbs. If my tow vehicle couldn't take 1000 lbs of tongue weight for a boat and trailer weighing over 10k lbs, I'd seriously think about getting a bigger vehicle. :D

The trailers seen "whipping" on the freeway, usually do not have enough tongue weight. Or the person is trying to pull a 25' camper with a Ford Ranger. :eek:

I used to pull a GN race trailer that put over 4k over the rear axle. That thing towed like a dream. That probably had more to do with the GN than the weight though.

If it wasn't for other considerations, the best setup would be a GN trailer for the boat. They tow better with the weight over the rear axle. But, the resale value and the extra 5 or 6' of length would kind of be a bummer. :) Not to mention they won't hook up well to an SUV.

Happy Towing! :drink: (I only drink after I get there.)
Garrett

Re: Another 382 question (for trailer boats)
 

definitely 10-15% toungue wieght.

Re: Another 382 question (for trailer boats)
 

I had Prestige Trailer (Byron) come out and inspect my 382 trailer because it appeared to be dog tracking. They measured the tongue weight over 1000 pounds.