Dead trailer, what to do?

metalking00

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Joined
Feb 27, 2011
Messages
3
My friends and i are looking at buying a boat, but the trailer its on is totally dead. the wheel's connection has rusted through, so it essentially only has one wheel.

what options do we have for moving the boat?

thanks
chris
 

Bondo

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Staff member
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Apr 17, 2002
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71,423
Re: Dead trailer, what to do?

Ayuh,... Is this a 12' tinny, or a 30' cruiser,..??

Short answer is,... Find another trailer...
 

fat fanny

Lieutenant Commander
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Feb 9, 2006
Messages
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Re: Dead trailer, what to do?

AAAH different wheel maybe!!!!
 

smokeonthewater

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Dec 3, 2009
Messages
9,838
Re: Dead trailer, what to do?

yup... pretty simple ..... repair or replace trailer OR call a rollback wrecker
 

NYBo

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Oct 23, 2008
Messages
7,107
Re: Dead trailer, what to do?

Welcome to iboats!:cool:

Chances are the rusted-out axle is only one of many problems with the trailer. Find another one.

If the trailer was neglected, you'd better go over the boat with a fine-tooth comb.
 

metalking00

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Joined
Feb 27, 2011
Messages
3
Re: Dead trailer, what to do?

Its a 20 ft.

little update, the trailer was so bad, it actually cracked in half. now its for sure not going to move. Its clear we need a new trailer, but how will we move the boat from its present position onto the new trailer? We stood around scratching our heads a bit, thinking up some ideas, but none of them are that reasonable. Any suggestions would definitely be appreciated.

Chris
 

smokeonthewater

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Dec 3, 2009
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Re: Dead trailer, what to do?

jack the back up and block it.... jack the front up and block and rejack as you pull the trailer out... repeat to put the new one under it

or block the rear and use a cherry picker on the front.
 

Silly Seville

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 5, 2009
Messages
798
Re: Dead trailer, what to do?

jack the back up and block it.... jack the front up and block and rejack as you pull the trailer out... repeat to put the new one under it

or block the rear and use a cherry picker on the front.

Yeah, what he said. Seems simple enough for a 20 footer and 2-3 intelligent men! :D
 

metalking00

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Joined
Feb 27, 2011
Messages
3
Re: Dead trailer, what to do?

Yeah, thats what we were figuring on doing. Maybe it seemed more daunting just because we've never done it to a boat before. I've worked with all sorts of machines, but they all had wheels, or were meant to sit on the ground. Just seemed a little different for a boat..

Thanks for the help.
 

smokeonthewater

Fleet Admiral
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Dec 3, 2009
Messages
9,838
Re: Dead trailer, what to do?

you can dump it off on the ground (grass sand or dirt) too.... I've done it with a 20'er a few times and a couple times with a 26 flybridge cruiser.... although I has a roller trailer for the 26'er
 

Home Cookin'

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May 26, 2009
Messages
9,715
Re: Dead trailer, what to do?

clear your plans with your seller--he might not want a big operation going on in his yard, but then he needs to sell the boat. he'll be stuck disposing of the old trailer; use that as a bargaining chip. And do you want to go buy a trailer for a boat you are just looknig at--you might change your mind?
If you haul the whole thing away on a roll back you have more control and options. You could drive straight to a marina/boat yard with a hoist, let them pick it up off the old trailer and drop it on a new one--or into the water or onto stands. Will you be taking it into a shop for new boat repairs (water pump, fluids, check-over, fuel disposition, etc.)?


Maybe the seller will pay part of the roll-back (by dropping the price) as consideration for his not having to deal with the old trailer.
 

Pez Vela

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Joined
Dec 4, 2004
Messages
504
Re: Dead trailer, what to do?

And do you want to go buy a trailer for a boat you are just looknig at--you might change your mind?

EXACTLY ... and changing your mind won't be possible once you buy the boat. It is standard practice for the seller allow the buyer to put the boat in the water and try it (the "sea trial") before making a final decision on whether to buy it or not, so it's the seller's responsibility to figure out a way to get HIS boat into the water for your sea trial. Unless the boat is priced as a non-runner, I'd walk away before I'd buy a trailer for an unknown quantity.
 
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