Should I adjust this trailer?

[skyler4321]

Just got a 2003 Maxum 1900SR 19? with 4.3L Mercruiser.

In the pictures the shop floor is nearly level, the tongue jack is all the way up, with the drive full in and there is still more than an inch under the drive.
It is almost 5 feet from the nose of the boat to the tip ball coupler.

It does pull very well down the highway. I have not tried to launch it. I do not remember my other boats sitting so high on the rear of the trailer.

The trouble I have with this setup is that I can not back it straight into the garage. My Bryant 192 (19? 4.3L Mercruiser) fit fine. Second with the jack up all the way the bilge will not drain.

The good news is that the trailer is fully adjustable.

Currently it is 18 feet from the center of the axle to the center of the coupler where the ball goes. This makes a 19' boat take almost 25'.

Here is what I am thinking.
1. Move the rear of the bunks down, maybe two inches. This should also move the bow up.
2. Move the winch all the way forward, about 9?. And up to the new bow position.
This should move the boat forward about 12?
3. Move the bunks forward until they are flush with the transom, about 12"
4. Move the axel forward to adjust tongue weight.

Not sure if all of this is a good idea. Is it okay to have sloped bunks? How far above the ground should the transom be? Is this boat currently being properly supported? Or anything else you see that may be wrong with this set up.
Thanks for the help

 

[justchange]

Re: Should I adjust this trailer?

It looks like the boat is past the end of the bunk to me. So, you shouldn't have to move it forward.

It also looks like the bunk is in too far causing the boat to not sit on it properly.

Perhaps I wrong but that how it looks to me.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Should I adjust this trailer?

Just got a 2003 Maxum 1900SR 19? with 4.3L Mercruiser.

In the pictures the shop floor is nearly level, the tongue jack is all the way up, with the drive full in and there is still more than an inch under the drive.
It is almost 5 feet from the nose of the boat to the tip ball coupler.

It does pull very well down the highway. I have not tried to launch it. I do not remember my other boats sitting so high on the rear of the trailer.

The trouble I have with this setup is that I can not back it straight into the garage. My Bryant 192 (19? 4.3L Mercruiser) fit fine. Second with the jack up all the way the bilge will not drain.

The good news is that the trailer is fully adjustable.

Here is what I am thinking.
1. Move the rear of the bunks down, maybe two inches. This should also move the bow up.
2. Move the winch all the way forward, about 9?. And up to the new bow position.
This should move the boat forward about 12?
3. Move the bunks forward until they are flush with the transom.
4. Move the axel forward to adjust tongue weight.

Not sure if all of this is a good idea. Is it okay to have sloped bunks? How far above the ground should the transom be? Is this boat currently being properly supported? Or anything else you see that may be wrong with this set up.
Thanks for the help

not sure what your asking, your boat doesn't fit in your garage straight? Only at an angle?

1. Yes lowering the rear of your bunks will allow the bow to be higher provided you have room between the keel and your trailer frame to do this, it will effect your trailer center of gravity but minimally.

2. Moving the winch forward will have the 2nd most dramatic effect on the towing of your boat, you are changing the tongue weight of the trailer, this may or may not be an issue as ultimately the distance between the ball coupler and the tires can overcome the tongue weight provided your trailer is long enough. Nice part about this idea is it is easily reversible.

3. Need pictures of the rear of the boat, do the bunks extend past the transom and if so how much.

4. Moving the axle forward will change the tongue weight but it also changes the way your trailer tows more then anything else discussed so far, to me this is a last resort. I like a heavier tongue weight if it means my trailer tows better due to the longer distance between ball and trailer tires, lesser distance between the ball and trailer tires to me is not a good idea unless you KNOW you have room to spare without changing the towing characteristics of the trailer.

I believe the only issue with having bunks higher in front then the rear is that when your loading and off loading the boat will be easier to unload but less likely to hold itself when loading, not always a bad thing but this is going to have to be your opinion and once again it should be easily changed should you hate it.

Hope this helps

Lipp

 

[skyler4321]

Re: Should I adjust this trailer?

It is 18 feet from the center of the axle to the center of the coupler where the ball goes. You have to swing wide to back it around the corner. I think this is why I have had so much trouble backing this trailer compared to the other boat.
This also makes a 19' boat take almost 25'.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Should I adjust this trailer?

Here is what I am thinking.
1. Move the rear of the bunks down, maybe two inches. This should also move the bow up.
2. Move the winch all the way forward, about 9?. And up to the new bow position.
This should move the boat forward about 12?
3. Move the bunks forward until they are flush with the transom, about 12"
4. Move the axel forward to adjust tongue weight.

Ayuh,... I agree the hull poorly fits the wagon, 'n your plan sounds solid...

Just a couple of points,...
Being able to completely Lower the drive, while the tongue is jacked All the up, is Not a Bad thing at all...
Several of the packages in my yard are set up that way,... It's the way I like it...
It makes winter storage a piece of cake,...
Make sure the bilgeplug is out, lower the drive, 'n run the jack all the way up...
No way freezing water is gonna be a Problem that way...
Another thing,...
Move the jack back onto the A-frame section...
The further back it's mounted, the higher it'll lift the bow...
And, the last thing,...
The Longer the wheelbase, the Easier it is to back up, 'n the Better it'll tow....

 

[skyler4321]

Re: Should I adjust this trailer?

I am looking for something like this but better.

http://www.loadrite.com/fitting-a-boat-into-a-trailer.php

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Should I adjust this trailer?

Fitting a boat to a trailer isn't a matter of having a diagram to tell you how to adjust the bunks or rollers, it's a matter of making the trailer fit the boat at hand, especially when you have a less than ideal trailer.

Personally, I wouldn't want to move the boat up any further than I had to for launching reasons, it will mean that your tow vehicle will need to back in closer to or further into the water. If the tongue weight is right, leave it alone.

I probably would just move the bunks outboard a bit to get the bunks to rest against the hull chine for better support. Keep the bunks as parallel as you can. Those bunk brackets simply do not allow small height adjustments, height is adjusted by moving the bunks left or right on the curved cross member.

That forward keel roller is useless for that boat, I'd probably just remove it. If not, install a bolt on cross member farther rearward on which to mount that roller on where it will support some weight. It really don't look like you need it though.

Start by getting the bunks to match the hull, then simply adjust the bow stop and winch stand to the correct height to match the bow eye and to achieve the right winch strap angle. You don't want the winch holding the boat up or down in the bow, the boat should rest evenly on both bunks. Just make sure that when adjusting the bunks on the frame that they both remain centered on the trailer, with an equal distance from center to keep the boat level.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Should I adjust this trailer?

That forward keel roller is useless for that boat, I'd probably just remove it.

Ayuh,... If that roller does Nothing but keepin' the hull from Smashing into the trailer while launchin' or retrieving,...

I'd leave it alone...

 

[Cannondale]

Re: Should I adjust this trailer?

How much does the entire boat/trailer package weigh as it sits?

Then, what's the current tounge weight?

That should tell you if you can and/or need to move it radically forward or not.