NGC Trailer Talk (questions)

[fotoguzzi]

new to me trailer, looks like it's done some miles, PO put in new bearing buddies, rollers and strap..
but it weaves when towed from not enough tongue weight ( I believe).. I did move the fuel tank to bow and it settled the weave down somewhat.

1) so thinking of moving the winch above the bow bumper (or what ever it's called) it looks like I can get the boat 4-5" forward that way, thoughts?  could also also add weight to the tongue (bar bell weights?) but would like this to be simply a better fit.


2)  More alarming is the wear on the pivot pin. (so the trailer can tilt). this bolt holds the entire trailer to the tongue beam, If it failed the boat and rear part of trailer would uncouple, (Crash!) OK the bolt was not close to failing and I put a new one in but the holes through the beam are all thrashed out probably from a lot of miles weaving and flexing axially.




should I drill a hole and add a second security bolt or pin that would be pulled before tilting trailer?

and I drove out there (50 miles) and forget the keys so didn't get to run the boat on A PERFECT SUMMER DAY! Bummer... it does fit on the lift now..

[pehayes]

Leave the winch alone.  The forward motion of the boat is stopped by the red rubber chock in the stem.  Moving the winch won't change that forward stop point.  Also, if you move the winch and have a panic stop, the boat will just ride up over the top of the front stem.  By having the winch below the stop, it serves to hold the nose of the boat down and locked into the chock in a panic stop or light crash.

Remove the boat and start a meticulous process of measuring the trailer axle as it relates to the frame.  Usually just clamped in place and it can easily get knocked askew.  If the axle is not directly centered behind the tow ball and also precisely perpendicular to the center axis of the trailer you will get a progressively serious wander/wobble.  Your weight distribution looks reasonable.

The trailer looks reasonably level to the ground.

You might consider loosening the front stem clamps and sliding the entire chock/winch post forward a few more inches.  That would move the center of gravity of the boat further forward of the axle.  Seems like you could move the post as much as 12".  What is your tongue weight measuring now?  You probably don't want more than 200#.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[fotoguzzi]

good points, thanks!

Remove the boat and start a meticulous process of measuring the trailer axle as it relates to the frame.  Usually just clamped in place and it can easily get knocked askew.   

I will get into measuring that  good thoughts..

You might consider loosening the front stem clamps and sliding the entire chock/winch post forward a few more inches.   

thought of that but it will interfere with the tailgate opening on the Subi..

[Murray]

Id get that pivot bolt holes sorted first needs a bit of tube in the RJS to help support it at least. I'd pull and actually inspect the bearings actually for the cost change them, have a good hard look at the condition of the tyres sidewalls can develop a bulge that will only occur when its warmed up throwing it out of balance. Check that the axel is actually aligned with the chassis and not bent. After all that I'd thing about moving stuff around to change any perceived weight distribution issues.

[Chuck in Indiana]

You want 10-15% of the total weight on the tongue. Do whatever it takes to make that happen or it will always be a problem. The elongated bolt holes are a result. Maybe you could go oversize on them? It would be a pain to have two fasteners to remove to tilt the trailer.

[hidn45]

I'm definitely no expert, but you might look at the feasibility of increasing the tongue length, possibly in conjunction with solving your pivot bolt hole issue, to give you some more stability.

[cruzziguzzi]

Don't move the winch - the anchor lug on the boat counts upon the current configuration as a stop point. The inches gained will be less than perceived.

As to the pivot - I have a '58 Lone Star with the original factory tilt-trailer and while I do not have your wear - I do note that with the light weight/dimensions (much like yours) that tilting is not only un-necessary wear I launch but in fact, sometimes problematic when I tried it.

What I'm getting at is; consider just welding that bad-boy up solid - non-tilting.

In any case, abandon the old hole as it currently is. Chasing that current failed metal is a non-starter.


Todd.

[twhitaker]

When zoom zoom built his trailer for the EV he found out longer tongues are better.

[fotoguzzi]

Don't move the winch - the anchor lug on the boat counts upon the current configuration as a stop point. The inches gained will be less than perceived.

As to the pivot - I have a '58 Lone Star with the original factory tilt-trailer and while I do not have your wear - I do note that with the light weight/dimensions (much like yours) that tilting is not only un-necessary wear I launch but in fact, sometimes problematic when I tried it.

What I'm getting at is; consider just welding that bad-boy up solid - non-tilting. I might just drill a new hole and bolt it up, If I need to tilt just unbolt then.

In any case, abandon the old hole as it currently is. Chasing that current failed metal is a non-starter.
thanks


Todd.

[charlie b]

Non-tilt.  Me too.  We had a simliar trailer when I was young.  We tilted it a couple of times and found that made landing the boat much harder.  Weld or bolt it together.

I understand about wanting to use the tailgate, but, I'd still move the stem forward until you have enough weight on the hitch. 

If you really want to use the tailgate then weld an extension to the front of the trailer.

[Mike Tashjian]

I have repaired many trailers and the pivot bolt is an easy repair. Just find a pipe(or drill a steel bar) that the bolt fits in and drill out the tongue to fit the pipe. Weld into place and now you will have a full contact sleeve.  I would move the stop to any position that helps you load the trailer and then just use a another small strap to cinch the boat bow tight.  Add a safety chain and get that tongue weight right.  Mike