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boat trailer started floating
I have a loadmaster aluminum trailer and I placed aluminum wheels on it and now it started floating , I took 60 lbs of lead and strapped to it and it still floats any suggestions.
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Re: boat trailer started floating
Put the galvanized wheels back on it..
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Re: boat trailer started floating
Originally Posted by hotrodboats
I have a loadmaster aluminum trailer and I placed aluminum wheels on it and now it started floating , I took 60 lbs of lead and strapped to it and it still floats any suggestions.
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Re: boat trailer started floating
Put a motor on it and use it to boat.................you know th old saying ....if it floats...take it from there
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Re: boat trailer started floating
did you change to larger/wider tires along with the wheels.....this might help explain the added bouyancy.
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Re: boat trailer started floating
Don't be afraid, why do you want to sink your trailer?
My 2 axle aluminium trailer floats.........and, that's with a 4500LB Pantera on top of it! That is the easy way to launch, it's called float on/off :D |
Re: boat trailer started floating
Disconnect your transom straps before launching! :eek: :D :D :D
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Re: boat trailer started floating
While you're improving your trailer with aluminum wheels, why not also install billet stainless steel bunks? That will solve two problems at once; no more floating and dried up wood...
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Re: boat trailer started floating
You could try adding the liquid weights to the tires. This is the same stuff the farmers use in their tires. It's not cheap though.
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Re: boat trailer started floating
My South Florida trailer does the same thing. I don't worry about it when launching unless there's a current at the ramp. Then, I just have someone pull it out of the water as soon as the boat is free. When retrieving, I back it in until just before it floats, load the boat partway on, then have someone back it down the rest of the way. Works very well.
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Re: boat trailer started floating
I've had the same problem with my Amertrail. I had dual storage boxxes and the thing floated big time. I took the tool boxxes off and now she sinks. BH
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Re: boat trailer started floating
Last summer when I lost (literallly, the springs broke and the entire assembly came off never to be found and no it was not at the ramp) the rear axle off my triple axle aluminum trailer, I had all the springs replaced with those new one piece units. That simple weight difference started my trailer floating. The first time it happend it was "what the f*8k"? It does not do it every time though which is kind of wierd. I usually follow CSpray's lead. Sometimes I can walk out on it, get it to go down and stay down. Whatever.....................
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Re: boat trailer started floating
I added 4-50 pound Dumbells to my Rocket Aluminum trailer with 2 large U-bolts each. I installed them on the inside of the I-beam; two just forward of the front tires; two at the aft most point of the I-beams. Make sure to use a piece of rubber between the dumbells and the aluminun trailer to isolate vibration, and keep away from disimilar metal corrosion. I coated the dumbells in 8 coats of Rustoleum before I installed them too. Worked great, on that piece of $hit Rocket Trailer.
Another solution I have heard of; it still floats, but does not sway is... Adding a removeable link bar between the trailer, and the rear bumper of your truck. Make it out of two fittings, and a piece of metal pipe, and have it snap in place held by two cotter pins. Not pretty, but simple, and works. It will keep your trailer from floating to the other side of the ramp. You just have to ease the boat onto the trailer, to get it to lower to the concrete. Quick solution in heavy current... I used a decent piece of twine tied to the trailer a few times, and tied it off to a cleat on the dock. Kept the trailer from floating away, until the boat hit it, then the trailer goes down, and the twine breaks away. |
Re: boat trailer started floating
Just bought a triple axle for a 34 Fountain I acquired and it sure looks funny floating side ways in the ramp. I was thinking of using some 4 or 6 inch PVC filled with rocks and cement with end caps to put next to the bunks. Seems like it should eliminate the problem with rusting metals and such. Once again not too pretty but hopefully several hundred pounds will keep it in one place. Has anyone here tried that one previously?
Thanks, Karl |
Re: boat trailer started floating
I went the PVC route first, with 4 inch PVC about 8 feet long; 4 of them. They were filled with Sack-crete. They did not work. Before going through all the effort of mounting them, I launched my boat, and tied it up somewhere, and just bungeed and heavy duty zip-tied the PVC to my trailer in the parking lot, just to see if they would make the trailer sink. They did not work. IMHO, all the work I did to make the PVC work was a very fruitless effort, and pissed me off. The dumbells worked like a charm, AND looked better as they were more hidden than the PVC.
These are the ones I used: http://www.thesportsauthority.com/pr...entPage=family http://tsa.imageg.net/graphics/produ...p855257reg.jpg |
Re: boat trailer started floating
Sydwayz,
Thanks very much for the information! Sounds like even with the 6 inch, and I was only planning on two, I would still have the problem. I was wondering if you coated the weights with anything, other than as produced, and also how many you needed with what size trailer? Thanks again for your help!! Karl |
Re: boat trailer started floating
Karl, I had a 26' Sonic with an aluminum Rocket Trailer underneath. It had twin 3500lb torsion axles and 5 lug hubs with Aluminum ARE rims, 15x7, 225 tires. See post 13 above for the rest of the info. A short time later, a good friend and I redid the bunks, and added some more heavy wood weight to the trailer. I was able to remove two of the four dumbells at that point. I removed the two forward ones, and left the two rear ones on, even as I sold the boat/trailer. Not sure what you have, but you may just start with two at the very aft section of the I-beam.
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Re: boat trailer started floating
Brian,
My application is a 34 Fountain with three Mercury 225's which should only be about 9K lbs. The trailer is a little longer than yours with another 3500 axle and 205 Goodyear's and I am having doubts that with six tires if 100-200 lbs will do the job. I bought the trailer several months ago, new, but have only had it in the water once with the results I mentioned. I really like the twine fix but I did tie it off with a 5/8" line and then once the boat was on untied and moved the rig. I will pick up a couple of the weights and give it a shot and just hope some combination finally works. Thanks again for your help!! Karl |
Re: boat trailer started floating
You could very easily use free weights too. Just pick up some large threaded rod, and some nuts, and bolt them to the trailer like giant washers. It will look a little whack though. Be sure to use something to isolate the weights from the trailer aluminum. I found a semi-trailer mud flap on the side of the road that worked perfect for this; about 5/8" thick.
Take a look at your fenders too. Depending on the shape of them, and the lip around the edges, they may be cupping air, and holding it. A couple of 1/2 inch holes drilled at/near the top/front will allieviate that if you see it happening. |
Re: boat trailer started floating
try the dumb bells
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Re: boat trailer started floating
Mine does the same thing, whenever the current or waves push it aside it is a good opertunity to show off your boat driving skills. Go at it at an angle. I was at Lakeway Inn on Lake Travis and they have the worst ramp ever. The waves pushed my trailer all around. I had to pull along side with the boat, grab it and shift it back in the right direction. After 2 attempts I got it done finaly. Next time I will find another ramp.
Roby |
Re: boat trailer started floating
Calculate the cubic area of a tire (in inches) times the tire pressure (in psi) times the number of tires, divided by 144. This will give you pounds of lotation. Find the weight of the trailer and add the difference in weights. NOTE: finding the area of a donut that is not exactly round will be difficult.NOTE 2: My tire guy want me to carry 10 more psi than is shown on the tire, so I try to keep them at 80 rather than 70.
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Re: boat trailer started floating
Therefore, if my trailer floats, I can cure it by reducing the air pressure? Does 50 psi have twice the floatation as 25psi?
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Re: boat trailer started floating
look at the positives,it is still faster than BAJABOB 38 ! :) :) :)
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Re: boat trailer started floating
Originally Posted by sy goldberg
look at the positives,it is still faster than BAJABOB 38 ! :) :) :)
Look who just came out of his coma. |
Re: boat trailer started floating
I just went out and checked the fenders on my trailer, and gee whiz Sgt. Carter, what do you know? I'll bet ANYTHING my fenders are trapping air, that would explain why I don't have the floating problem all the time, usually every other time, or maybe 1 in 3. Thanks for the heads up on that. Russ
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