"Floating Trailer Syndrome"
 

I know this was discussed quite a while ago but I'm going to ask again.

What's the best way to deal with "Floating Trailer Syndrome"?

I'm going to drill holes in the fenders so air can escape but I'm not sure that's going to be enough. I had a REAL problem with it last Sunday. Not only was it floating, but because of the current it was floating under the docks alongside the ramp which was a MAJOR PITA. If it wasn't for the two guys who helped me I'd never got it back on the trailer without tying it in place which would have really jammed up the ramps. Only two launch ramps, side by side, at Nokomis Ramp. Probably be the last time I try that one, gonna start going up to 10th st. in Sarasota. Those are just fabulous ramps. LONG docks beside the ramps where you can tie up while you park the tow rig and people can still launch. However the trailer will still float.

Any suggestions on what type of weights to use and a guess as to how much.

When I redid the trailer I went from multiple leaf springs to the single piece spring, and the new tires run a little higher air pressure. Never had the problem before but now it would float to England.

Maybe I should somehow affix my old Merc exhaust manifolds to the trailer. That oughta do it. Those things weigh a ton.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks. Russ

Re: "Floating Trailer Syndrome"
 

Hook weights to the back of the trailer only when your at the ramp.

If in salt water two concrete blocks hould do it.

PITA to carry but it's only one more little thing when you go boating.

Re: "Floating Trailer Syndrome"
 

I would say go to Sportmart and buy some of those black coated weights and rig them up near the back of the trailer. My next suggestion would be chunks of lead but I'm not sure how that would react in salt water.

Re: "Floating Trailer Syndrome"
 

How about some electric stern thrusters mounted under the trailer that should do it. :D It took nearly 70lbs to sink my trailer.

Re: "Floating Trailer Syndrome"
 

One piece of big pipe, like 6 inch 3/8 thick stainless across the back of the trailer will do it. Plus it will make a nice bumper.

Re: "Floating Trailer Syndrome"
 

How about 4 or 6 inch P.V.C pipe run th lenth of the trailer.Cap both ends,fill w\ water- then drain when u dont need the weight???

Re: "Floating Trailer Syndrome"
 

I had the same problem...
I foud some lead sheets from a big sailboat keel, and hammered them into pieces that fit inside the rail of the trailer, behind the axles. Two bolts on each side and I was done. You'll hardly see the weights in there. I put 50lb on each side.
The lead won't rot like Walmart weights will...

I have seen other guys yse PVC pipe filled with Sand...
You could bolt it across the rear crossmember, or try to fit it inside the I beam...

Re: "Floating Trailer Syndrome"
 

I hate to point out the obvious, but how will filling pvc pipes with WATER add any negative buoyancy? You hafta fill em with something that SINKS or you haven't accomplished anything. Like concrete or scrap metal slugs...

Making sure the trailer isn't trapping air is a biggie. The fenders, for sure. And any structural member that can trap water should be given some sizeable holes on the bottom and a few on the top to allow air to come out and water to go in. My trailer is all channel members or I-beam members which do not trap air. My trailer doesn't float.

As far as tires holding higher air pressure, that doesn't make it want to float. Higher pressure air weighs more than lower pressure air. If yourt trailer is floating with different tires, then the tires simply have more internal volume than the old ones did - maybe not a lot, but just enough to float it.

best of luck

Re: "Floating Trailer Syndrome"
 

PVC tubes filled with sand or better yet, concrete. If you have an aluminum I beam, you can easily mount them on the inner side of the ibeam so they are out of eye view. If you have bunks, you can run them along the bunks.

Trial and error: Try attaching regular weights to determine how much weight you need first, then if you go with a filled tube, you'll know the minimum amount you'll need to attach.



Good Luck!

Re: "Floating Trailer Syndrome"
 

Letting the air out of the tires will sink it....permanently!

Re: "Floating Trailer Syndrome"
 

Ice pick the tires :evilb:

Re: "Floating Trailer Syndrome"
 

Don't sink the trailer so far. Slowly back it under the boat as your winching it up.

Re: "Floating Trailer Syndrome"
 

fill the tires with water instead of air. :drink:

Re: "Floating Trailer Syndrome"
 

I bought 4-50 pound dumbells, and added them via U-bolts to the inside of the Aluminum I-Beams. Make sure to use a piece of rubber between the aluminum and the iron dumbells to prevent dissimilar metal corrosion. Mine worked great. I coated them with about 5 coats of black Rustoleum spray paint before I mounted them. Don't mess with PVC pipes. They are a pain in the ass to mount. I filled 4 of them with concrete, and that did not work. Go straight for the weights. If you wanted, you could use large threaded rod, and use barbell/free weights, with large nuts, but I think that would be more gawky looking.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...ocket+dumbells


http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...ocket+dumbells


I have attached a pic of where I located mine INSIDE the I-beams, under the boat. You can see how poorly the trailer is made, and why it floated.

Re: "Floating Trailer Syndrome"
 

I also agree with this. You may be going in too far. Just need to go in enough to get all the bunks wet. My Rocket was a pain, as it would float before that happened.

Re: "Floating Trailer Syndrome"
 

But if you are by yourself, this can be VERY difficult. Go to any scrap metal place... they would love to sell you what you need to make your trailer stay under your boat. I like the idea of the bumper made of big diameter pipe.... could make it look good and be functional in two ways... sinking and stopping that idiot behind you.

Re: "Floating Trailer Syndrome"
 

I know those aluminum wheels on those aluminum trailers sure are pretty but you pay a price. If you're not backed in too far it will only swing so much. I only have problems on rough lakes that have algae build up on the ramp but otherwise I'm able to maneuver the boat around and trailer it at an angle. it is a cool way to show off your skills.

Roby

Re: "Floating Trailer Syndrome"
 

Hey!..... that's nice wishful thinking.... except the water in the PVC pipe isn't going to weigh any more than the water that surrounds the pipe.... so.... all you have added is the weight of the pvc pipe.... except when the trailer is out of the water and you don't need it. ... :eek: The only way that water in a pvc pipe would cause a trailer to sink is if the pipe was OUT of the water while the trailer was submerged.

Re: "Floating Trailer Syndrome"
 

At the risk of opposing MCollinsTN, try reducing the PSI in the tires to what you had in the prior tires. That's assuming you never overheated the old tires, and they are the same size as your current tires.

Re: "Floating Trailer Syndrome"
 

Hey Chart! Long time no hear from.

Re: "Floating Trailer Syndrome"
 

I gots me one of them thar old fashoned steel trailors. :p never floats. :evilb:

Re: "Floating Trailer Syndrome"
 

It will last about two years here in the salt.

Re: "Floating Trailer Syndrome"
 

Won't make any difference. The tires are displacing the same amount in volume of water no matter how much pressure is in them, provided they are full at all.

Re: "Floating Trailer Syndrome"
 

Been trying to earn fuel money. In fact, need to get back at it.... :( How's it going up in God's country?

Re: "Floating Trailer Syndrome"
 

Every aluminum trailer I've had floated. I just get used to it, of course having an extra hand (Debbie) to swing it back straight helps a lot. Most of the guys I've seen mount pvc covered weights to the frame. I've actually found the floating trailer useful when I back off the ramp. I remember doing that once with a steel trailer in February. Talk about shrinkage! :eek:

Re: "Floating Trailer Syndrome"
 

Also, with a floating trailer, I've found it will pretty much center itself when driving it on the trailer. I go slow and rock the boat as I pull up.

Re: "Floating Trailer Syndrome"
 

Do you swing your scythe from side to side to rock the boat?........... :D

Re: "Floating Trailer Syndrome"
 

4- 25 lb olympic weights on 2 -1" shafts bolted to the rear most crossmember. Put em on to pull the boat. take em off the rest of the time. Helps in the snow in the back of the truck too.