Here is my 1973 V20

[bryant]

I am just trying to see if I can attach a pic.

[Macrenovations]

Looks good Bryant I have the same V and year. If you get a chance post some more pic.
Good luck...

[Raymiltier]

Looking good!!! More pics please!

[nipper]

Your trailer does not look too bad, but it looks like you could use a much longer tongue.

[Destroyer]

Your trailer does not look too bad, but it looks like you could use a much longer tongue.

I think you nailed it Nipper... Def looks too short..

[bryant]

I am glad Nipper said this! I was thinking the same thing. Since I need to replace the tongue anyway I wanted to add a few feet to it. I will post more pics soon. I am in the process of trying to get it in my garage that so I can work on it over the winter. Any advantage of putting heavier springs on it? I also need to push the axle back because I can lift the tongue by myself!!

[Blue_Runner]

If you lengthen the tongue, could you move the wench post forward a little rather than have to move the axle back? Just a thought. Nice looking boat you have. I had a '73 about 6 yrs ago. It was what brought me to this site.

[nipper]

If you can easily lift the tongue yourself than you are light on tongue weight which would have led to the fishtailing problems you described in your first post. If you can move the winch post forward that would put more weight on the tongue, put more of the stern weight over the wheels, and just might solve your problems. Moving the winch post forward would be easier than moving the axles back. Moving the winch post foward may cause a need for a keel roller under the bow, however.

[nipper]

Took another look at the pic of your setup. I think you may need to do both: i.e. move the winch post forward on the longer tongue and move the axles back. The bulk of your weight (i.e. the stern with the motor, battery, etc.) are pretty far off the back of the trailer frame. You can probably slide those back bunks forward too. Good luck. Again, however, check out the capacity of the trailer if you can before you get into the time and expense of modifications.

[bryant]

I have quite the project on my hands but it keeps me out of trouble! (for the most part) Nipper, thanks for you advice. I looked ot the capacity of my trailer and it say that it is rated for 5000lbs. However, I am not sure if that is correct. t seems a bit much. I will continue to research that. I plan on taking my time with this project so before I put too much $ into it I will make sure that it is worth it. On the up-side I only live 3 miles fro the ocean so I would not need to pull the boat far at first,

[macojoe]

when I bought my boat I had a 4000 trailer I replaced tires bigger, springs bigger, axle bigger to 5000 and used it for 6 years, then sold it for 700 and bought a nice new tandam, you will be fine!! I also got a longer tounge at the time