have to back in really far

[badbowtie]

I have a 85 century mirada 255 that is heavy that I have only loaded a couple times but went down to the ohio river yesterday and cruised all day. I am towing witha 99 k3500 dually and I have to back in really far to get all the way on trailer to get the front eye all the way up in the stop I have used three different docks. I havr used these docks with other boats and never have had these problems. When I say I have to back in deep I mean I have to back in far enough to get it loaded the bottom of my axle tubes are at water level half of rear end cover is in water. I really don't like that to many chances of water in rear end. Any suggestions? Here is picture of boat.

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: have to back in really far

I have a 85 century mirada 255 that is heavy that I have only loaded a couple times but went down to the ohio river yesterday and cruised all day. I am towing witha 99 k3500 dually and I have to back in really far to get all the way on trailer to get the front eye all the way up in the stop I have used three different docks. I havr used these docks with other boats and never have had these problems. When I say I have to back in deep I mean I have to back in far enough to get it loaded the bottom of my axle tubes are at water level half of rear end cover is in water. I really don't like that to many chances of water in rear end. Any suggestions? Here is picture of boat. View attachment 160071

Par for the course in my neck of the woods. As long as your axle vent in your truck is high enough, and you don't have any leaking seals in the diff, backing in as far as you say isn't going to hurt much, especially since it's not salt water.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: have to back in really far

... I have to back in far enough to get it loaded the bottom of my axle tubes are at water level half of rear end cover is in water...

The Trailer Axel or the Truck Axel?

It is not unusual to sink the trailer until the tops of the trailer fenders are just barely showing.
You should not expect to float the boat up to the bow stop.
You should use the winch to get the bow up to the stop, it is going to take some heavy grunt work!

 

[ToemanDoug]

Re: have to back in really far

if it were me, I'd be considering a trailer tongue extension, even if just for use at the ramp.

Submerging the trauck brake components in water often like that is only going to lead to extra maintenance or problems.

 

[roscoe]

Re: have to back in really far

http://www.xtend-a-hitchnorthwest.com/

 

[badbowtie]

Re: have to back in really far

Yea I am talikng truck axle. I am aware of the vent tube and I know it is mounted higher than the water. But water being that high means I also am putting the drum brakes in water and dually drums and pads are not cheap. I hate to have them being hot from towing and then having to soak them in cold water like that. That hitch extension idea looks great just not sure it would work having a crew cab longbed and a boat this long I would never beable to turn at the bottom of the ramp to use it. I can tell you switching it down at the ramp will **** some people off. My fenders on the trailer are way under water. I also understand it will not float to bow stop cranking winch in low rang will not budge this boat on the bunks. I am thinking maybe trying to silicone spray them.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: have to back in really far

backing your truck brakes into the water wont do any damage to them. they will dry out quickly once you get going

grew up having to back up until water was just about running into the cab

hitch extenders are used once you get the boat to the ramp. I watched one in action, looked really clunky and cumbersome.

your boat is a case where I would look into UHMW or HDPE covering for your bunks. that is one heavy looking boat. I am guessing #8000. I would also look into why your winch wont pull it up.

 

[bigdee]

Re: have to back in really far

From the photo it looks like your hitch ball is too high.....lowering it will help some.

 

[captain zac]

Re: have to back in really far

How about

Rollers on the trailer and permanent extension to the trailer

 

[badbowtie]

Re: have to back in really far

I think the hitch just looks high since the truck is flat in the garage adn boat is on my gravel driveway on angle. The trailer does sit level while sitting in a parking lot. I also thought about covering the bunks with something like you mentioned just need to locate the most resonable place to buy it. Never heard of that only thing I have seen is the slick pads just don't like how short they are. I also am guessing boat is every bit of 8,000 since previous owner said boat and trailer was right about 11,000. Winch is fairly new and works great it is just really really hard to crank you would have to dam near hang on it to crank if you are not that deep.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: have to back in really far

http://www.mcmaster.com/#hdpe/=ij8uw3

http://www.mcmaster.com/#uhmw-polyethylene-bars/=ij8v8v

any plastic supplier near you.

up here, we buy HDPE for ice shanty runners, 1.2" x 2" x 12" lenghts x 2 for $20

 

[Lou C]

Re: have to back in really far

You really can't get the boat any lower on the trailer so I'd look into a hitch extension. I put a 9' long tongue on my trailer for the same reason. Now even though my boat sits high on the trailer I don't have to put my Jeeps tires in the water (salt).

 

[badbowtie]

Re: have to back in really far

I can get slider pads for a semi that I think are 3/8 thick and 2.5 wide and like 8 feet long. On a boat this heavy what would you say minimum width and thinkness would be since I have 2x6 bunks.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: have to back in really far

as wide as the bunks, as thick as needed to counter-sink screws deep enough not to gouge your boat.

you can also get thinner material (0.090 to .125) and wrap it, simply nailing it from the sides. use a heat gun to warm it before bending.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: have to back in really far

Technically your not supposed to imerse your trailer axles in water until they cool down. The heat can suck cold water into the spindle. It's best to let set a little to cool down. Here is where i got my slides.

http://www.surfixinc.com/

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: have to back in really far

consider this: your boat is too large to be a trailer boat. it is made to be kept in the water, and hauled only occasionally, since hauling it out, as you have found, is a problem. Yes I know people do it, but that doesn't make it right. Mobile homes have wheels but people don't drag them to the campground every weekend, even though they could.

While your boat may be too big to winch it by hand (hint: too big to trailer) you may be able to get a power winch large enough to get it on there; I haven't researched their high-end capacity, but they rate them by boat size since the pull is not the weight of the boat. That, however, does not solve the launching issue, although launching tends to be easier than loading. Investing in a power winch may be far better than a tongue extender; I would be afraid to do anything with a trailer frame toting 11,000 pounds up and down a slope.

Also, recall how they built the pyramids, and go back to using rollers instead of bunks, since your boat is too large for effective float on/off trailering. I assume rollers will handle a boat that size if installed correctly. Bunks are for sitting still; rollers are for movement, and movement is your issue.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: have to back in really far

consider this: your boat is too large to be a trailer boat. it is made to be kept in the water, and hauled only occasionally, since hauling it out, as you have found, is a problem. Yes I know people do it, but that doesn't make it right. Mobile homes have wheels but people don't drag them to the campground every weekend, even though they could.

While your boat may be too big to winch it by hand (hint: too big to trailer) you may be able to get a power winch large enough to get it on there; I haven't researched their high-end capacity, but they rate them by boat size since the pull is not the weight of the boat. That, however, does not solve the launching issue, although launching tends to be easier than loading. Investing in a power winch may be far better than a tongue extender; I would be afraid to do anything with a trailer frame toting 11,000 pounds up and down a slope.

Also, recall how they built the pyramids, and go back to using rollers instead of bunks, since your boat is too large for effective float on/off trailering. I assume rollers will handle a boat that size if installed correctly. Bunks are for sitting still; rollers are for movement, and movement is your issue.

That boat isn't to big to be trailering around. Below is some specs i found for one but it's a 86 my 30 ftr with twins doesn't even weigh 11000 lbs dry

This info came from a iboats for sale site on a boat just like this one

Manufacturer Century
Model Year 1986
Model 25ft Mirada 255
MEASUREMENTS
Length (feet) 25
Beam 8'
Weight 4200
BODY
Hull Type Deep Vee
Hull Material Fiberglass
ENGINE & DRIVETRAIN
Fuel Type Gas
Drive Type I/O

 

[badbowtie]

Re: have to back in really far

Well I am going to look into sliders and will just have to keep backing in deep to load. I like trailering and the money I would have to spend to slip it would be the gas money to use the boat. It has very poor bottom paint which I would say does not help with it sliding. I am not interested in a power winch fot the boat. I also really need to some day take the cover off and hook it up and run down to the scale and get it scaled. I know it is heavy I do allot of towing and I would guessed it around 10,000 I know my car trailer with a car at 5500 is way lighter. I also know my camper is 5800 and it is way lighter. I also have a two car 36' gooseneck and with it loaded around 15,000 it feels like it is more than the boat.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: have to back in really far

consider this: your boat is too large to be a trailer boat.

Huh?

Been towing around boats larger than his for years. Some ramps because of the slope require you to back in further. That's the only problem.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: have to back in really far

I like trailering and the money I would have to spend to slip it would be the gas money to use the boat.

I just seen an ad for a 40' slip at one of the harbors on Lake Michigan. I would make 6 months worth of house payments for me!