My spring fever ,,,

LeatherneckPA · Post by **LeatherneckPA** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 1:55 pm

My spring fever has resulted in a few photos being taken of the trailer/axle under Believer and an e-mail being sent to two different trailer parts houses to see what they come up with.

It is my hope that they tell me the second axle can be added completely "bolt-on". But if not, maybe I can talk the Admiral into buying me a welder?

skyking · Post by **skyking** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 4:40 pm

Being a welder I would think that adding a second axle would not be too difficult....You may end up moving the existing axle back in order to have the proper placement...

LeatherneckPA · Post by **LeatherneckPA** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 5:20 pm

Actually, I'm thinking of moving the boat forward. It's a little tongue heavy right now. So I'm hoping that once I get the front axle on it will be just about right. The I am going to have a local shop add a 4' to 6' tongue extension to the front.

LeatherneckPA · Post by **LeatherneckPA** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 12:52 pm

I got THIS reply from one of the dealers. OBVIOUSLY this hoople is not someone I will be doing business with.

Hello Mike,
To sum it up, you should look for another trailer. The capacity has already been exceeded and the cost of a retrofit will out way the cost of a re-purchase of another trailer, whether new or used. Sorry!

Sincerely,
Mark Israelian
Inside Sales Coordinator
Northest Marine Industries Inc.
www.trailerpartsdepot.com

LeatherneckPA · Post by **LeatherneckPA** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 1:24 pm

I will readily admit that I am not the most mechanically capable individual. In fact, you might say I'm mechanically challenged. But that hoople from the trailer depot has got me miffed.

Here's a photo of what I have to work with:

Now in my uneducated and simplistic mind I'm thinking that I can mount another axle directly in front of this one (either welded or bolted). My guess is that I need to buy the following:

one 3500# rated 2x2 axle (about $165)
two sets of springs (something like a 6 leaf slipper type rated for 1750 each, about $65 each)
an axle tie plate kit (about $15)
some sort of spring bolt kit to fit (about $10)
a pair of hubs and bearings (about $30 each)
and a set of Bearing Buddies

And that should about do it, or am I talking freely about something I am completely wrong about? (it's been known to happen)

Who's upgraded their old trailer to a tandem?

Windward · Post by **Windward** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 2:07 pm

Not much to offer, except that you'd want to be sure your coupler and the various frame components themselves are up to the load.

One of the best features of the trailer I borrow is a set of pivoting, rotating dolly wheels on the tongue. It pivots up for towing, but pivots down and locks for launch / retrieve. Combined with both 20' and 6' tow straps and several heavy duty shackles, I can launch / retrieve most anywhere without having to fool with a tongue extension.

back2class · Post by **back2class** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 2:21 pm

With all due respect, that seems like a thoughtful answer you got back. I tend to agree with him too. That said, it looks like you have at least a 3,500lb axle, perhaps heavier. I see no reason to add that second axle. If you are tounge heavy, move the boat back a little. Tounge weight should be 320lbs. if you go by the charts. Though I would personaly do around 250. Remember, you have 3k worth of boat and 500 pounds of trailer. All saftey ratings are on the very safe side. So with 250 pounds on the tounge, you are good to go. No overkill is nice to have, but not needed. Hey,I amall for being safe, I spent a day welding up a trailer to pick up my c22 today and canceled because I was not confident in the supports I installed. Beat them apart with a sledge this afternoon and turned out they would have been ok, but I was not taking that chance.

Now 2 axles are nice. If you do that I tend to agree you will need to move the axle you have back. The added peace of mind may be worth it to you if you trailer often.

One more thing, I hope that trailer is never and has never been in saltwater. Those hollow tube trailers when not galvanized are a supreme danger. They rust from the inside and even when they look good, can suddenly colapse. If there is any doubt this was used in salt water SELL IT rather than investing in major work.

Jmckamey · Post by **Jmckamey** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 2:22 pm

Northern tool or tractor supply has all the trailer parts you need. All you need to do is have a couple leaf spring brackets added and you can buy all the rest off the shelf. You can pick and choose according to weight loads. I should think if you are going to run tandem you could use a 2500# axle x 2. You could always just up the axle and wheels and springs you already have. Fewer tires, fewer chances for flats.

My 24ft mac trailer had only one axle and it pulled great.

Just went back and reread your second post and sorry to say I haven't really offered anything you didn't already have. I will say though that I think your trailer and axle looks heavy enough judging from the pics. Those drop axles are heavy duty and expensive to boot. Again, that looks a lot like what I had under my Mac. I had about 8 feet of boat hanging off the back of the trailer and that was a factory set up.

EmergencyExit · Post by **EmergencyExit** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 2:50 pm

LeatherneckPA wrote:I got THIS reply from one of the dealers.

are they saying the capacity of the frame has been exceeded by the boat and that adding an axle won't help that ?

sauerleigh · Post by **sauerleigh** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 5:29 pm

The question I would ask myself, " how much do I plan to trailer the boat and for what distances" before investing in it. Your photos show a box frame and an axle that looks plenty strong enough for the load, that appear to be in good shape. A tandem would handle the load better and will easier to handle if you should get a flat. Adding another axle could get tricky, especially the alignment, if they come out skewed you could be in some real trouble on the road.

LeatherneckPA · Post by **LeatherneckPA** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 5:33 pm

EmergencyExit wrote:are they saying the capacity of the frame has been exceeded by the boat and that adding an axle won't help that ?

I just cut and pasted the response he sent. I sent him the manufacturer's plate too, which rates the trailer at 3740 lbs. My biggest dissatisfaction was with his unequivocal and unqualified dismissal.

I'm thinking that if the boat rode so nicely on just the one axle then spreading the load over two axles should just make it nicer. Right? Am I saying that right? I mean, if the frame is rated for the load on one axle, shouldn't it be better on two?

I kind of like the picture that came from Jeff's description of the borrowed trailer. What I was talking about doing was actually "stretching" the tongue 4'-6', for a couple of reason. First, when I picked up the boat with Banshee it went on the trailer pretty easily. But the rear tires of my truck were all the way in the water. With an extra 4' to 6' on the tongue I would pretty much be able to launch anywhere, I think. And second, I read somewhere that the extra distance would make it easier to back up the trailer.

mcrandall · Post by **mcrandall** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 6:37 pm

Mike-

I would love to have that second axil just for the peace of mind in losing a tire while on the road.

Can't offer a lot of help here except you definately have to make sure your alignment is good, else you'll burn through tires like nobodies business, AND it will NOT handle better than with just one axil. If you get the alignment right, can't see why it wouldn't ride very nicely.

In general, lengthening the trailer WILL make it easier to manuver in reverse (longer moment or fulcrum). The drawback is the amount of downward stress you put on that extra length between the wheels of the trailer and the hitch. I know when I extended mine to launch, there's a whole lot of bending going on across that extra length. Moral of the story is make sure you beef-up those stressed areas!

lecker68 · Post by **lecker68** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 6:50 pm

One other downfall we who have tandem axles is great over the road but get to the launch ramp or towing through town is when you turn one axle has to scuff on most it is the rear axle. my trailer only has less than 300 miles on it and tires are not bad but you can see the difference to the front axle. before launch this year I am going to rotate them front to rear and rear to front.

LeatherneckPA · Post by **LeatherneckPA** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 5:44 am

Hmmm, so there are drawbacks to having a tandem as well. Interesting.

I do wish that it was built of "C" or "I" sectioned steel, rather than the box tube. Simply because it would be so much easier to deal with the wiring and repainting and such. But this is what I have.

There must be "some" way to paint the inside of the frame. And if I used that POR-15 stuff that would stop the rust, right?

skyking · Post by **skyking** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 6:37 am

I would agree that moving the existing axle would probably be a simple inexpensive modification.Add a tongue extension and you should be set

Also in the state of pennsylvania you will be required to get a reconstructed title for your trailer.." Thats a joy"

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 8:37 pm

Leatherneck - you say you'd like to paint the inside of the frame channels. Seems like you used to do something like that to the bore. You might try fishing a wire through the channel and then use something like a yarn mophead. Tie a line to each end of the mop head, add paint and pull her through. When it reaches the other end, put on some more paint and pull it back. Repeat until tired.

LeatherneckPA · Post by **LeatherneckPA** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 5:22 am

Paul, that's a great idea! Simple, inexpensive, and eminently doable. Wonder why I didn't think of that? But then, that's why I like it here so much. Somebody's always got a solution for your problem.

Banshee, would that work with that POR-15 stuff you talk about all the time?