Help with trailer setup!!!

[74man]

I have a 16 Ft Crestliner Canadian with a 40 Merc O/b 4 stroke on an Ez-Loader trailer. I cannot back this trailer up,:redface: like I could all my other trailers, the slightest oversteer and it seems to want to jack knife. I then have to get the truck and trailer straight in order to back up again. This happens two or three times while backing. The measurement from the hitch coupling to the end of the trailer is 17ft 9 in. From the hitch coupling to the axle is 15ft. 6in. The tongue weight is 240 lbs measured on my bathroom scale. There is about 4-5 inches of bunk sticking out past the transom. The boat weighs in at 704 lbs and the motor at 214 lbs. I figure with fuel and fishing stuff, it weighs in at 1000 Pounds, not much more than that. Here are my questions:

1) Should I move the boat back so the transom is even with the end of the bunks?

2) Should I move the axle forward on the trailer to lighten the tongue weight?

3) Will moving the axle forward on the trailer improve the steering while backing?

4) What should the proper tongue weight be? I have heard that the tongue weight is 5-7 percent of the total boat and engine combo.

All responses with be greatly appreciated. Thanks Bob

 

[Mr.Stuart]

Re: Help with trailer setup!!!

Moving the axle forward isn't going to help at all in my opinion, the shorter the wheelbase, the more squirrelly the trailer is going to be. the tongue weight and position of the boat on the trailer won't make a difference either, I've hauled a lot of trailers in my time, and from my experience, don't let the trailer get away from you, watch the sides and don't let it drift to far one way or the other, the more of an angle the trailer gets to your tow vehicle, the harsher counter steering your going to have to do to get back under it, people may not agree with me on this, but from my experience, that's what I've learned, and I've hauled everything from semi trailers to camping trailers and boat trailers, and if it's a weekend, and I'm away from home, more then likely, I've got a trailer behind me.

Stuart

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Help with trailer setup!!!

Practice, practice, practice.
That is what you need to do.
A little thing that I do and taught the wife how to do it is while looking in my mirror, my hand is at the bottom of my steering wheel.
If I want my trailer to go right, I turn my hand to the right.
Same way if turning left.
Try that and it will make it easy on you.
Take your time till you get it right.

 

[JB]

Re: Help with trailer setup!!!

Your trailer is not properly set up, but I don't think that is a cause of the backing problem.

To get the trailer set up correctly, move the boat back so that the transom is still on the bunks but tongue weight is down to about 100lb. If you can't get it down enough by repositioning the boat, then move the axle.

Long trucks and short trailers can be a trial to back. Some folks mount an extra ball on the front bumper for use when backing/maneuvering.

 

[dimock44]

Re: Help with trailer setup!!!

Moving the axle forward will only worsen the problem. The farther the axle is from the hitch point the easier it will be to back up. Does your trailer sit level when it is hooked up to your tow rig? That will help with both towing and backing.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Help with trailer setup!!!

As said it is basically practice and each different set up will be another challenge to perfect. Shorter distance from hitch to axle = more difficult to manouvre.
On a side note,
Dont feel bad about it. You should have seen me trying to back the trailer alone down a very long ramp at Conestogo lake for the first time this year with my new to me GMC Jimmy. Spare wheel mounted on the back and covering all the important parts of the back window. It looked like it was my first time !!! Good job it was a double wide ramp !!!!
I now remove the spare wheel (3 bolts) when trailering down the ramp and back to normal !!!!

 

[wire2]

Re: Help with trailer setup!!!

You mentioned the tow vehicle is a truck, what kind? If a pickup, drop the tailgate when backing, it gives a much better view for faster response to correction. Ditto for van or SUV, swing the back door up.

I have a 19 ft on a 5.5M EZ Loader, and it's a piece of cake next to my Kawi dirt bike trailer. That was 5? ft axle to coupler. I added 2 ft to the tongue, it's still tricky but doable now.

I concur with JB, move the boat back the 4-5 inches on the bunk and weigh the tongue again.
If still considerably more than 100 lbs (10%), move the axle ahead a bit.

OR, buy a hinge coupling for the tongue (~$40) and add a foot or two of square tube to the tongue. That will "kill 2 birds with 1 stone". Weigh the tongue 1 ft behind the coupler, compare with weight at coupler to calculate the ideal length to add. (Or get your high school physics book out...)

For practice, take to the boat to a semi-deserted parking lot and just back up. You will quickly get a feel for it without a lot of eyes on you.

 

[74man]

Re: Help with trailer setup!!!

First, I want to thank all who helped, I do understand now about the tongue length. I moved the boat back three inches on the bunks which is all I could move it without major modification and lost 25 lbs in tongue weight. Next I will move the axle forward on the trailer frame and start at 3 inches. Then I will weigh the tongue weight again and I hope I will get the tongue weight down to 75 to 100lbs. Is there a formula for tongue weight? I can only move the axle forward no more than 6 inches. Thanks again. bob:redface:

 

[74man]

Question about trailer setup???

Question about trailer setup???

Is there a formula for moving the axles forward on a trailer to gain proper tongue weight? My tongue weight now is 215 after moving the boat back on the bunks three inches. I posted a previous thread about the set up and got good responses but I would like to know what tongue weight I will eliminate for every inch I move the axle forward on the trailer. I only can move the axle forward no more than 6 inches. I am figuring that the boat and motor and gear weight is no more than 1000 pounds. Boat's weight is 704 lbs. and Motor weight is 214 lbs so I give 80 lbs for fuel and anchor and life vests and battery. The boat and motor can't weight any more than 1100lbs and that is giving some. Thanks in advance for all responses. The information here is just to the point, lost of knowledgeable people. Glad to be a member. bob

 

[wire2]

Re: Help with trailer setup!!!

I moved the boat back three inches on the bunks .....and lost 25 lbs in tongue weight. Next I will move the axle forward on the trailer frame and start at 3 inches. Then I will weigh the tongue weight again and I hope I will get the tongue weight down to 75 to 100lbs. Is there a formula for tongue weight? I can only move the axle forward no more than 6 inches. Thanks again. bob:redface:

Ok, you gained 25 lbs with 3" of moving just the boat, so that would be equivalent to 100 lbs per foot. Moving the axle will increase the rate a bit, as you're moving under the boat AND the trailer.
To get down to ~100 lbs, you'll have to move the axle ahead 12-14 inches.

I'll reiterate my earlier suggestion, leave the axle alone and add a hinge coupler and 15" of tube to the tongue. That will make it easier to back up as well. If you store it, the extra length swings out of the way.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Question about trailer setup???

Re: Question about trailer setup???

This is a trial and error process since you have no idea how the total weight is distributed. Move the axle forward and measure tongue weight. Once you have things loosened up its a simple matter to fine tune it. Besides, when you use the boat you likely place other things in it for the trip so you can balance the load based on what you measure for tongue load.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Question about trailer setup???

Re: Question about trailer setup???

it is a combination of moving the axles, and moving the boat on the trailer. if you are too heavy, where it is, and too light in the next set of holes, then you either move the boat forward, or go back to the present set of holes, and move the boat back.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Help with trailer setup!!!

every trailer back differently, my 10' jet ski is a real pain. my 30 trailer with the 23' chris craft is a breeze compare to the jet ski. it all in practice. and not oversteering. slow and easy, no horsing it around.

 

[74man]

Re: Help with trailer setup!!!

My thanks goes out to all who responded to my post. I have moved the boat back on the bunks, I have one inch of bunk sticking out past the transom. I moved the axle forward 7 inches and now have 160 lbs on my bathroom scale. I measured the weight at the crank wheel which sits about a foot back from the tongue coupling. I cannot move the axles any farther forward because that is where the trailer side rails start to come in to meet the tongue tube. Guess I am stuck with 160 lbs or get myself a new trailer, don't think so this year. I have contacted the ez-loader corp but have not finished with them about my problem. Atleast it is better than it was. Thanks for all the help guys and I look forward to helping others on this forum. I have had many boats and Have lots of stories of how I figured out what was wrong with some of the boats and motors. Again, thanks for all the info. bob

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Help with trailer setup!!!

still need more off the tongue weight change the bunks. this was and old roller trailer, still need to get new front mount for roller.

 

[74man]

Re: Help with trailer setup!!!

OK!! I have moved everything, boat trailer axle and have brought the tongue weight down to 150 pounds. With the weight of the trailer figured into the mix I figured 1500 pounds total. Ez_Loader says 7 to 10% of the weight, boat, motor, trailer and accessories and then measure at the coupling, I have right now attained 153 lbs tongue weight at the hitch coupling. Thanks again every one. Thanks Tashasdaddy for the pictures, post some side view of the entire boat and trailer. Don't you think the bunks are alittle long. Oh yeh, I added two rollers to the center line of the boat but only so the center beam wouldn't hit the crossmember. Thanks again all. Bob

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Help with trailer setup!!!

the bunks on this particular trailer are long for a reason. so i can adjust the boat, on the trailer, also helps with centering, since if was a deep v roller trailer. i also always when rebunking a trailer leave the bunks long, until the boat is positioned, and then cut the length, atleast 8 inch behind the transom, this is for later adjustment, as loading the boat for a long trip.