Is my trailer right for my boat?

[drolaw]

Hey everyone,

I was hoping someone could help me out. I'm wondering if my trailer is the right one for the boat I have.

Here is the info:

Cobalt 220 - dry weight = 3700ilbs
Ez loader trailer = M24400 and has the capacity of 4400 ibs GVWR of 5700lbs

I'm wondering if the dealer gave me a trailer that may be wrong for the boat I have.

I'm assuming that the 3700lbs of the boat includes engine, batteries, etc.. Is this true? If so, with a full tank of gas (50 gal) I'm guessing I'm right at 4000lbs. I plan to add a wake-tower to the boat but don't know how much that weights.

I just bought the boat and I'm wondering if I should have gotten the M25200 trailer instead. Or do you think I'm fine with the current trailer @ 4400lbs capacity?

Any advise is much appreciated.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Is my trailer right for my boat?

You definitely appear to be right on the edge.

Once you add gear, cooler, spare tire, etc., you will be at capacity.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Is my trailer right for my boat?

dry weight for outboard boats does not include motor(s) fuel battery(s) added gear, anchor(s), etc

inboard and I/O boats are the same except the engine is included (but no oil or other fluids)

What YOU need to do is take your boat to a truck scale which can be found at most truck stops and weigh it... the total weight including the tongue weight should not exceed the gvwr of 5700 lbs

 

[drolaw]

Re: Is my trailer right for my boat?

inboard and I/O boats are the same except the engine is included (but no oil or other fluids)

What YOU need to do is take your boat to a truck scale which can be found at most truck stops and weigh it... the total weight including the tongue weight should not exceed the gvwr of 5700 lbs

Thanks SOTW!

I'm a newbie but I do know where the closest weigh station is at.

To get the total weight of the boat I assume I just make sure it's on one pad (the local weigh station has three pads)? If the entire trailer won't fit on one pad is it ok to put the boat on two pads for weighing?

Do I need to take the trailer off of the hitch?

Sorry for all the questions - I'm new to all of this.

I hope that makes sense

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Is my trailer right for my boat?

The BEST way to do this is to pull the truck and trailer onto the scale... front truck wheels on one pad, rear truck wheels on one pad and trailer wheels on one pad... this will give you steer, drive, and trailer weights.... Then go drop the trailer in the lot and pull the truck onto the scale, again splitting the pads for steer and drive weights

with simple math you then can figure tongue weight, and weight transfer from steer to drive when loaded...


If your rig is too short to get 3 pads then put the tow rig on one pad and the trailer on another and for your re-weigh split the pads with the truck... the only number you wouldn't be able to get is the weight transfer

BTW generally the "first weigh" costs about $10 and "re-weighs" costs $1

 

[drolaw]

Re: Is my trailer right for my boat?

Thanks for the help! It was windy today so I didn't weigh everything but my truck. With both wheels on the 1st pad and me in the truck it weighed 5660. I didn't even think about putting the front wheels on one pad and the rear axle on the other.

This site is great...very friendly folks. Especially to us newbie's

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Is my trailer right for my boat?

shoot... a NU B is just an inexperienced GURU.......

Welcome to the family

 

[drolaw]

Re: Is my trailer right for my boat?

SOTW I like the way you think .

I finally took the boat and trailer and had it weighed.

I disconnected the trailer from my truck (moved the truck off of the Cat Scale) and had the front of the trailer on one pad and the rear axle on another.

The final number:

Tongue 460
Read axle 4640
Total trailer and boat = 5100

So based on that the boat weighs 3800lbs.

- Total trailer capacity is 5700 ibs - 4400 lbs in carrying capacity - 1300 lbs for the trailer
- Weighing = 5100 for the total weight of the trailer and boat - 1300 of just the trailer = 3800 lbs is what the boat weighs and that's with 90% fuel.

So I have 600 lbs to spare. I figured I'll be close with cooler, gear, and misc items. I am adding a wake tower and still need to add the spare tire. So I'll be real close.

Am I missing anything as far as weighed items? Any advice on if I should ask the dealer for a higher capacity trailer? Or am I being concerned for no reason?

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Is my trailer right for my boat?

I would ask because its close to the max, while its ok it will wear the tires and trailer faster