What is the purpose of this type of trailer?
 

I have seen this style before in pictures here on OSO.

What is the purpose of the trailer longer than the boat?

Is it harder to load?

I have an Eagle and its nothing like this.

Thanks

fightclub.

I think it is to protect the drives..

That's what I thought also... Could be a bit hard to load the boat I would think.

Not sure.

fightclub

Shane B..

I am talking about the fact the trailer is a lot longer than the boat... my trailer the boat sits at the end.

some drive guards come off for loading

It is indeed a drive guard, to protect the drives in the event of an accident. Price a #6 and you'll understand why... :D

AH... I see now, so you unhook the end of the trailer correct?

Typically the back piece pivots out of the way on a pint then is locked in along the side.

The back "bumper" so to speak hinges out of the way, 180 degrees if you can picture it.... then you simply load your boat just like any other trailer. Just line it up and drive it up.

'Foul

There are some drive guards that have the dampers on them just like your car bumpers. It would be easy to spend 25K on a trailer for a 40+ foot boat nowadays.

Yes this is a drive guard on the back of the trailer. THere are several types but all have the same purpose. Will protect the drives in a light rear collision. Cheaper to replace than a set of drives.


This is true, although generally a trailer "decked out" will be less than 10K. on a 40 ft.

I know I only spent 8k for the top of the line Rocket for my 42 Sonic witch is a nice middle of the line trailer, but saw some Myco's and Extremes that were over 20k with scooter racks and stuff.

Greg, you and I both know that Rocket and top of the line do not even belong mentioned in the same week. The only reason I still have mine is because I could rebuild it myself with all the good parts for cheaper than a new trailer.
New brakes; brake lines; tires; axles; hubs; lights; winch strap; tongue jack; fender inserts added; front support/guide bunks added, main bunks completely replaced and a few other odds and ends.

If you want here a good story Hot Duck had his old Cigarette slammed into a while back. The drive guard took a beating but the drives were ok. He has pics some where.

One of HD's drives was still damaged. The drive guard probably saved the entire transom. The trailer was totaled.

Here are some pictures of the accident. We were making a right hand turn and got struck by an 82 year old lady that told the State Trooper "I didn't see it." The guy following her down the road said that she was doing 50mph and never hit the brakes or even swerved. The only damage that we had, other than the trailer, was a broken gimbal ring and a broken skeg on the lower unit. Luckily the other drive and the boat were completely unharmed.

If not for the drive guard, this lady would have taken out the drives and probably most of the transom along with them! Not to mention that if the drive guard had not been there, the collision would have been the drives vs her windshield rather than her bumper vs the drive guard. So, not only did the drive guard save the boat, but it may have very well saved this lady from serious injury.

I'll tell you, I am glad that the drive guard was there and I will never own a trailer without one. They add a small amount to the cost of the trailer, but when something like this happens, they are worth their weight in gold!

:(

:o

:mad:

:hothead:

Mike ...........it's 270 degrees!!!! If it only moved 180.....it would take out the neighbor on the ramp! :D :D :D (sorry)

Can you retro fit an Eagle trailer?

HotDuck and Eagle
 

A good welding shop can add a guard to your trailer. Take photo's and be specific in what you want. Expect to pay double what it would be to have one when new due to repainting and working around a finsished design.

HOTDUCK, thanks for the photo's!!! A great testament to the value of the guards. Like always said, a pic is worth a 1000 words. You are right, without the guard, she could have been seriously injured or worse.

From a manuf standpoint, due to the many many variables of an accident (speed, vehicle weight, angle of impact), we generally state they provide additional protection for mild rear impacts.

Again, geat photo's of what could have been a much worse situation.