move axles or move boat forward on trailer?

[lime4x4]

After lookinmg tonight i took notice that it appears alot more weight is on my rear axle then the front axle. This is a tandem trailer by the weigh. So after measuring things this is what i've come up with. The boat is 26 feet long sterndrive.naturaly the engine is in the rear then the 100 gallon fuel tank. The way the boat currently sits on the trailer the rear axle is in front of the gas tank so that means all the weight is actually hanging past the axle. So should i move the axles back or move the boat forward to get more weight over the axles?

 

[fishmen111]

Re: move axles or move boat forward on trailer?

Do the rollers go all the way back to the transom? Do you have any idea what your current tongue weight is?

 

[lime4x4]

Re: move axles or move boat forward on trailer?

yes the rollers go all the way back.But i can move them forward. Around 500 lbs. should be between 800 to 900 lbs

 

[fishmen111]

Re: move axles or move boat forward on trailer?

If you still have room to move the winch stand forward, I would try that first. With a boat that size, you shouldn't have to move it far. What does that rig gross? 8000#? You are fairly close at 500#, how does it trailer?

 

[lime4x4]

Re: move axles or move boat forward on trailer?

boat weighs around 5700 lbs the trailer weighs just over 2000lbs. At times it feels like i have rear steer...lol Plus if i hit a dip or a bump it bounces more then i like and the rear suspension was just rebuilt on my 97 k2500 suburban. I can move it ahead. I can move the rear rollers 8 inches at a time

 

[Silvertip]

Re: move axles or move boat forward on trailer?

It doesn't matter where the boat is on the trailer. A tandem trailer has an equalizer that -- well -- equalizes the distribution of weight between the two axles. what you need to be concerned about is the tongue weight. You want 7 - 10% of the total weight on the tongue. The rest will take care of itself. The only time a tandem trailer has an issue with weight distribution is if it has torsion axles. Then improper loading can overload an axle since there is no way to equalize the the load. Even tongue high or tongue low loading can impact that style of trailer.

 

[redfury]

Re: move axles or move boat forward on trailer?

Any way you look at it, it's going to be quite the task. Moving the boat forward, you'll want to pay close attention to where those rollers are staying at rest. I wouldn't want them on a chine or on a softer area of the hull if possible.

Moving the axle would be some work, but not all that hard if you have a good jack and 4 jackstands. The only thing you'll need to take into account is whether you have the ability to even move it rearward with the brakes ( depending on if you have hydraulic or electric will determine difficulty ).

The nice thing about moving the axles, you can measure tongue weight without securing the axles completely until you get it right. Moving the rollers is going to be a much bigger job. I know trying to adjust the 4 bunks on my trailer was a big enough pain to keep the boat level, and mine is only a 17ft boat!

 

[lime4x4]

Re: move axles or move boat forward on trailer?

actually moving the rollers is easier.. 2 bolts and slide the rear roller support to the next hole. Silvertip that is what i'm trying to do increase tongue weight the only way i know how to do that is either move the axles or move the boat farther onto the trailer

 

[JCF350]

Re: move axles or move boat forward on trailer?

boat weighs around 5700 lbs the trailer weighs just over 2000lbs. At times it feels like i have rear steer...lol Plus if i hit a dip or a bump it bounces more then i like and the rear suspension was just rebuilt on my 97 k2500 suburban. I can move it ahead. I can move the rear rollers 8 inches at a time

How many lug nuts are on the Suburban's wheels. GM made a bunch of pseudo 3/4 ton vehicles that had 5 lug wheels.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: move axles or move boat forward on trailer?

move the boat!!!!! you have a tendency to over think this stuff. just be sure there is support directly under the transom.

 

[fishmen111]

Re: move axles or move boat forward on trailer?

For cruising comfort, I would check into a rear helper air suspension or wd hitch. That tongue bonce can get irritating at best. Sounds like a nice towing rig though.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: move axles or move boat forward on trailer?

Is the trailer frame level when on the hitch? Does the truck squat any with the tongue weight you have now? As mentioned above, the axles have a equalizer to balance the load, but that will do little for weight distribution if the trailer is hitched too high. If all of the above is correct and you have sufficient tongue length, then move the boat up and readjust the rollers or bunks.

 

[lime4x4]

Re: move axles or move boat forward on trailer?

yes it's a true 3/4 ton vechile.The trailer does sit level when hooked up to the truck. My thinking is if a good portion of the weight is hanging over the rear axle it ain't going to equalize too well

 

[Silvertip]

Re: move axles or move boat forward on trailer?

All of the weight, regardless where it is on the trailer is appied to the center pivot on the equalizer and on the tongue. You can only alter tongue weight. Doesn't matter whether you move the axle or move the boat. The weight on the individual axles will remain equal and will change plus or minus depending on whatever the tongue weight changes.