Eliminating break back trailer

[sje0123]

Forgive my ignorance if I am using the wrong term. My trailer has a pin that holds it straight and I'm guessing for shallow water recovery the pin slide forward and the whole trailer folds to lower the rear end down.

I have no use for this and truthfully the state the apparatus is in makes me nervous towing it. What's my best means to eliminated this? Drill a hole and feed a bolt thru from one side to the other? Does anyone think they'd just leave it as is and I'm thinking it's worse than it is?

 

[lncoop]

Re: Eliminating break back trailer

It's a tilt trailer, and your assumptions are correct about its intent. You could put a couple of bolts through there or have it welded if it makes you nervous. What's on it?

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: Eliminating break back trailer

It's certainly rusted and a little bent, but it doesn't look fatigued. The only thing that would slightly worry me is that it would rust in place. If you're really concerned, I doubt it would take more than a 2 minute web search to find an new spring-loaded pin. It looks like it's held on by two nuts. Easy fix.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Eliminating break back trailer

Forgive my ignorance if I am using the wrong term. My trailer has a pin that holds it straight and I'm guessing for shallow water recovery the pin slide forward and the whole trailer folds to lower the rear end down.

I have no use for this and truthfully the state the apparatus is in makes me nervous towing it. What's my best means to eliminated this? Drill a hole and feed a bolt thru from one side to the other? Does anyone think they'd just leave it as is and I'm thinking it's worse than it is?

Ayuh,... It's called a Tilt Bed, not Broke-back...

It does look abit rusty,...
I'd drill a hole through from side to side, under the roller, 'n put a single 1/2" bolt through it....

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Eliminating break back trailer

It has a safety chain that is way too long. Shorten it and call it good.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Eliminating break back trailer

If you are in salt water and dunk your trailer, I wouldn't drill any holes, but find another way to secure it.

Or learn to use it. Tilt trailers are great once you know them and you don't have to dunk the trailer (usually) and rust out your axles, etc.

 

[sje0123]

Re: Eliminating break back trailer

Thanks everyone. I'm going to go ahead and just drill a hole straight thru. Better safe than sorry IMO. For the curious minds it holds an 18' starcraft.

I watched a vid about it but I'm not so sure about it. It looks like my boat might be a little big/heavy for all that.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Eliminating break back trailer

Be sure to replace that (un)safety chain!

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Eliminating break back trailer

Freu:facepalm:dian?

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Eliminating break back trailer

That isn't a safety chain, well, not one that goes to a vehicle... That chain is nothing but a loop, it prevents the trailer from tilting too much. There are no hooks or anything to do with it, it just hangs there. If the OP does put a bolt through it, the chain can come off entirely.

I used to have a nearly identical setup, except mine had a big safety clevis going through the overlap area. You really don't need to worry about it though, if the boat has enough tongue weight, that latch isn't going to go anywhere.

 

[sje0123]

Re: Eliminating break back trailer

Freu:facepalm:dian?

Nope. That's what google had its name being for me. Guess that's what some people call it.

I used to have a nearly identical setup, except mine had a big safety clevis going through the overlap area. You really don't need to worry about it though, if the boat has enough tongue weight, that latch isn't going to go anywhere.

Yeah that's true.

Does anyone have experience with these on larger boats? Everything I see people are using them on little <14' or so aluminum boats w/ trolling motors. Mines 18' with a heavy outboard on the back. I can't imagine lifting that thing out of the water by a manual winch alone.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Eliminating break back trailer

I have one but I've never used the tilting mechanism. I keep hearing they are awesome to have, but I'd honestly love to trade it out for a lower drive-on trailer. When I installed my surge brakes, I ran the stainless tube through the tongue so at this point I can't pivot the trailer there anyhow at this point (unless I put a flex-hose at the joint).

I have the same reservations about using it with such a large, heavy boat as well. I'd love to hear (or better yet, see) other people using these trailers with >18' I/O boats.