Boat/Trailer Position

[FreeBeeTony]

How far off the back of the trailer can the boat sit (behind the rollers).
I think I may need to move the boat back to reduce the tongue weight.

I have a tandem axle roller Venture trailer.

I only trailer twice a year (in/out of the water) and store the boat on the trailer during the winter.

 

[rfdfirecaptain]

Re: Boat/Trailer Position

My first thought is why are you trying to reduce the tongue weight? If it?s because it?s too heavy for your tow vehicle then that is not the best answer. In that case you probably need to upgrade your tow vehicle. Depending on the size of your boat this might not be safe. More info?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Boat/Trailer Position

How far off the back of the trailer can the boat sit (behind the rollers).
I think I may need to move the boat back to reduce the tongue weight.

I have a tandem axle roller Venture trailer.

I only trailer twice a year (in/out of the water) and store the boat on the trailer during the winter.

Ideally the back of the boat should be supported right up to the transom....

What are your current numbers? total trailer weight and tongue weight... don't guess or estimate... get on a scale and weigh the trailer

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Boat/Trailer Position

My first thought is why are you trying to reduce the tongue weight? If it?s because it?s too heavy for your tow vehicle then that is not the best answer. In that case you probably need to upgrade your tow vehicle. Depending on the size of your boat this might not be safe. More info?

It's not the tow vehicle...........'03 GMC Denali, 6.0L........

 

[JB]

Re: Boat/Trailer Position

Get the transom supported or you will end up with a hooked hull, Tony.

If you really need to adjust the tongue weight to 7-10% of the load weight, move the axle cradle.

Good luck.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Boat/Trailer Position

10-15%

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Boat/Trailer Position

It's not the tow vehicle...........'03 GMC Denali, 6.0L........

If it is a tri axel my guess the trailer GVW is around 14000 lbs? If this is the case i think your Denali is overloaded.How far do you tow,twice a year? I tow a 11000 lb load on a tri axle Venture trailer with a Tundra 5.7 and i installed air bags. I tow it twice a year like you but for 10 miles each way.I know my Tundra is overloaded.It's rated for 10600lbs.I wasn't getting a 1ton to tow twice a year, 10 miles.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Boat/Trailer Position

I have a tandem axle roller Venture trailer.

no tri axle

I'd STILL like to know why the O/P thinks he needs to reduce his tongue weight

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Boat/Trailer Position

The Danali is only rated I think for like 8200 lbs towing capacity. But that boat shouldn't exceed that even with the trailer. Like Smoke asked, why do you want to adjust the tongue weight? Is it just sagging the vehicle in the back or is it not driving down the road right?

Is it nice to have a roller trailer that extends the rollers all the way back to the very stern? Probably but most roller systems are not set-up to go all the way back to the stern. You are not going to get a hook in your hull like someone said! That would be from manufacturering or a porly made boat, vary rarely from a trailer set-up. Take a picture and post where your trailer rollers are positioned now, and we will be able to give you better advice.

I also have a venture roller trailer with about the same size boat you have but probably heavier. My rollers stop atleast a foot from the stern. The motor, the heaviest part of the boat should be well supported and spread correctly also on the rollers.

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Boat/Trailer Position

The Danali is only rated I think for like 8200 lbs towing capacity. But that boat shouldn't exceed that even with the trailer. Like Smoke asked, why do you want to adjust the tongue weight? Is it just sagging the vehicle in the back or is it not driving down the road right?

It drives fine......the 2 time trip to the ramp is only about 2 miles one way.......it's just sagging the rear end of the Denali and the air ride system isn't able to pump up enough.

I will try to post a pic and measure how far off the rollers it's sitting.

Thanks for the inupts.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Boat/Trailer Position

with this input, My best guess is that you should leave it alone.... I still suggest that you get it weighed.... looking at the rear bumper of your tow vehicle is a very bad way to measure tongue weight.... You are FAR better off sagging a little than finding out the hard way (even on such a short trip) that your tongue weight is too low

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Boat/Trailer Position

first of all, with only a 2 mile tow and occassional at that, you don't need to worry about any of the towing issues that you would in "normal" use; just be careful.

Second, for "support": I have never seen a roller trailer that goes all the way to the very end. The problem from rolling too far forward is a bigger problem. Although it's only a 17' with a 70 OUTBOARD, mine has sat with the last roller about 18" from the transom, for 23 years. No issue with an inboard.
But if it concerns you over the long winter, take a little weight off with a bottle jack or better, a board on a 4x4. Lower the tongue, insert boards, raise tongue until stern rests on boards. However, I think you are more likely to damage the hull from long term sitting if you put too much of the weight on the stern board at the expense of the last rollers, so just give it a RCH of support so it can't sag. Which it won't.