Boat weight/trailer size?

evilwind1

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Jun 6, 2006
Messages
92
Greetings to all my fellow boaters ! Once the mountains of snow melts around my boat I would like to purchase a trailer to tow it with. It is a (1983?) 22" Bayliner Trophy hard top with Mercruiser V8 IO. I believe the weight to be about 4500 lbs ( plus?) I just got the boat for free from a friend and overall is in mint looking/running condition. His father passed away and he couldn't store or keep the boat. I'm just not sure of the weight because I haven't got the registration yet. I believe I would need a tandem trailer rated for about 5000 lbs? Also I have a 1992 Ford Explorer with manual trans. ( V-6 4 WD ) and I don't know if that's pushing it on this vehicle to expect it to tow that heavy of a boat even thought I'm only going 2 1/2 miles away. I towed my 21 ft Cobia cuddy (with a 90 Evinrude on it ) with no problem so I can't really see why it wouldn't tow this 22' Trophy. Also if anyone can tell me what the bumper hitch is rated for , and, should I maybe put extra leafsprings in the back. Otherwise probably better to get a V8 pickup. Any suggestions greatly appreciated , thanks.
 

dockwrecker

Lieutenant
Joined
Mar 10, 2006
Messages
1,392
Re: Boat weight/trailer size?

Exploders will tow about 5000 lbs with an automatic, half that with a manual. Expect much clutch smoke and very long stopping distances. The manual trans Exploders use a very light Mazda rig that doesn't take load well. Your Cobia is a much lighter boat being an outboard, I'd bet about 3200 lbs. Yeah it's only 2 1/2 miles, but the Bayliner is probably closer to 5500 on a trailer. You frankly don't have much to lose if you kill the Exploder, (my wife has a 96, so I'm speaking from experience) you might get by doing this a few times. I'd bet you won't have to go 30 miles an hour, but it's still a big load for that rig. Be careful.
 

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,771
Re: Boat weight/trailer size?

The point to remember here is that you will not be towing 4500 - 5000 lbs. You will be towing much more than that because the weight of the trailer must be considered as well. So add another 800 lbs (being conservative) and Yes, you do need a tandem trailer. The trailer will likely have 3500 lb axles so with proper springs and tires it would have a GVWR (boat + trailer + gas + other stuff) of 7000 lbs.
 

Mi duckdown

Commander
Joined
Apr 14, 2007
Messages
2,575
Re: Boat weight/trailer size?

Bumper hitch? Do you mean a ball bolted on the bumper? not good.
 
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