Need advice on bass boat trailering

[nayborbob2]

Hi

I recently bought a used bass boat and in the course of checking the tongue weight I noticed that the back of the boat does not rest on the rear roller. I estimate the boat will weigh 2000 lbs, and the tongue weight is 169 lbs which is about 8.5%. I was thinking that seemed a little high and am thinking about sliding the boat back on the trailer to get closer to 5-7% range. Does that sound right to anybody? Also, the boat is supported on 2 rails that are about 5-6 feet long so not sure if not being on the rear roller is a big deal or not. Thanks

 

[Georgesalmon]

Picture would be nice. A lot of boats only use the rear roller for loading and it doesn't rest on it after loaded. Your tongue weight is fine, don't move the boat.

 

[nayborbob2]

Here is pic... for some reason would not post with original Q.

 

[midcarolina]

That is by design on many bass boat trailers........unhook winch jump in drivers seat, fishing partner backs boat down landing, boat has to be in enough water to float above rear roller........then back off trailer...

I think it's a neat little safety feature that saves a little time loading and unloading...........wish my bow rider had it.

 

[nayborbob2]

midcarolina...so are you saying the roller is there for boat loading and unloading only, kind of a fulcrum point for the boat to slide on and off easier? Also, can anybody see my avatar? I set a picture of me with a sweet bass but on my pc it comes up black.

Tx

 

[midcarolina]

It is the first contact point when loading just like most other trailers.......but if you look at it on the trailer the keel of the boat should be lower than the top of the roller......it's made like that so you can unhook winch cable and safety chain before you back down the ramp,

 

[bassman284]

I certainly wouldn't lower the tongue weight. It's too light now, IMO. Every vehicle owners manual I've ever seen calls for 10-15% so I don't know where this 5-7% comes from. I guess if you're not getting a lot of sway it's up to you. I know from experience that at 7%, I get sway.

 

[nayborbob2]

bassman284 this is where I got the idea for 5-7% tongue weight....
http://www.basspro1source.com/index...log/1175-measuring-trailer-tongue-weight-blog

 

[kjsAZ]

single axles trailers in the US are supposed to be designed for 8-10% tongue weight, tandem and more axle trailers for 5-7% to run stable. That assumes that the trailer manufacturer knows how to calculate/design that. I have my serious doubt about that with several places I have seen building trailers. As a reference: European trailers have to be designed for 2.5% max., 1.5-2% typical.

 

[Silvertip]

European trailers are designed to be towed by much smaller tow vehicles than we have here as suspension loads would likely be problem. They very likely don't travel the great distances and at the speeds we travel here. Keep in mind also that European drivers actually know how to drive. We tend to feel that every trailer regardless of weight needs a dually diesel in order to be safe.

 

[kjsAZ]

well, these great high tongue weight US vehicles when sold in Europe also have a much lower tongue weight rating. The reason is that the combo (vehicle-trailer) has much better stability with lower tongue weight. But, the trailer has to be designed right to be stable with that. And both, vehicles and trailer have to have type approval to make it onto the road.
I'd guess a trip from the Netherlands to Italy isn't much shorter than what people drive here....

 

[H20Rat]

I certainly wouldn't lower the tongue weight. It's too light now, IMO. Every vehicle owners manual I've ever seen calls for 10-15% so I don't know where this 5-7% comes from. I guess if you're not getting a lot of sway it's up to you. I know from experience that at 7%, I get sway.

I've never seen a manual for a boat trailer that called for 10-15%. The manuals below are for single axle trailers. Tandems can get by on the lower end, if not even a little below 5%.

Ezloader: 5-10%, with a warning to NEVER exceed 10%.
http://www.ezloader.com/Manuals/ezlo...s%20Manual.pdf

Karavan: 5-10%
http://www.karavantrailers.com/liter...nersManual.pdf

Shorlandr: 5-7%
http://www.midwestindustries.com/doc...07LEB22CLW.pdf

 

[bassman284]

Well, ya got me. I just checked my Shoreland'r manual and it calls out 5-7%. However, the manual for my 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee recommends 10-15% as did the manual for my 97 JGC. And I do know from experience that at about 6% I got enough fishtailing to get my attention. I'm actually running about 9% right now. I also checked a Ford F150 manual which says 10-15%.

I did a Google search on "Tongue Weight Recommendations" with results from etrailer, edmunds, sherline among others and all said 10-15%. So, who knows? I guess it comes down to what works for you and what you want to do. I'll butt out now.

 

[nayborbob2]

As follow up, I got out on the water last week and took my scale with me... it turns out my original measurement was way high (I did not have boat set up completely). At the boat ramp I measured like 4.5% tongue weight and this seemed right compared to how the trailer towed - like the hitch wanted to jump off the ball! I moved the boat forward about 3 inches and got the tongue weight up to 6.75% and it towed home much much better. So I confirmed for myself that less then 5% is bad and 5-7% seems good. I could go a little more and may do that just to see if it pulls any better.

 

[smokeonthewater]

I have set up probably 100 or more trailers and have NEVER found one that towed better at less than 10% than it did at 10-15%.... In fact every time I've had an unstable trailer without obvious mechanical damage the fix has ALWAYS been more tongue weight.... I don't care if it has 1 axle or 4 or more and I don't care whether it will be rolling on American pavement or foreign carrying boats or cars or palatalized freight or trash... I will never set up a bumper pull trailer with less than 10% tongue weight.

Honestly I don't care what they do in Europe or how their trailers are set up and unless the person asking the question here is actually IN Europe neither should anyone else.

O/P I think you are on the right track. I wouldn't worry about the keel roller touching as it's very common that there is a gap after loading... Please don't buy into the unhook before backing in idea tho... That is never a good idea.