Trailer info

[[email protected]]

Good Morning and this will be seem like a simple but stupid question. I have a 78 Wellcraft V20 Cuddy and 140 Johnson on the back. The trailer is a 79 Magic Tilt tandem axle. Ok here is the problem. It does not have the factory axles. I just bought the boat and trailer. It is on mobile home axles. Now it pulls great but when I launch the boat the trailer is to tall and I struggle to get it off. Ok simple answer Ron fix it and replace the axles and springs right. I trailer about 8 miles, and I understand the benefits of a tandem. However I have seen the same boat and trailers as single. If anyone has a single axle set up, how has it worked for you. My goal is to lower the trailer. The springs and how they were installed are ineffective at best. Mobile home wheels are 14.5 and the rims are unique. So by reverting back to a conventional set up makes sense. Cost is a factor. So if a single will get the job done it seems to make sense. Be gentile I am a Ol' Geezer and I don't to use my next 3 social security check to fix it. Thank You for any input, Ron

[phatdaddy]

Single axle is doable for that boat, but , depending how much was removed to go to mobile home axles, probable easier to buy new axles with hubs and go back original. If you go single, torsion axle might be easier and cheaper in the long run, no springs or hangers to contend with. U-bolt it to the frame, easy to slide around to get the tongue weight right. The axle and hardware would be around $350-$400, couple of wal-mart tires $250.

[[email protected]]

Thank You PhatDaddy, The driving reason I ask this is due to these reasons. Mobile home axles have a single leaf and they will hold up the earth. The wizards who removed the original stuff took it all off. The trailer frame it self
is intact. I also have a Shorelander and the springs and everything else on that trailer will unbolt at the U-bolts and I can slide it under the Magic trailer and bolt it down. Once the balance has been established I should be in good shape. Hopefully someone here has their V20 on a single axle. Ironic I've waited for 45 pus years for the boat and a tandem trailer and it was hacked up. The boat made up for it.

[Destroyer]

I have both of my boats on tandem trailers... BUT.... both of them were on single axle trailers before I transferred them, and both of them pulled nice and straight with no problems. As long as the trailer is rated for the length and weight you are putting on it it should be fine. My V20 used to make the trip to Fla and back once a year (1600 miles) each way on the single axle with zero problems. The primary advantage of a tandem is the extra tires if you get a flat. Most times you can still (carefully) get home.

[tsubaki]

Welcome to the site!

If you don't have the slider brackets I'd be more inclined to find a different trailer, cost being the factor. Obviously the frame is rebuildable but to what cost extent.

I am using the original frame, axle and hubs on my "75. Most everything else has been replaced at least a couple of times.
The single axle is doable IF properly balanced and most any 1/2 ton pickup can safely handle towing the short distance you are doing. Presently I've not trailered mine over 10 miles to the farthest ramp.
If you were regularly trailering say more than 30 miles one way, I'd be really concerned and want a dual axle setup.

A dual axle setup may also improve your launching height problem by the ability to use smaller tires.
phat's suggestion of a torsion type axle is worth considering.

These are probably the only usable photos of mine.
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w159/tsubaki3/002-22.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w159/tsubaki3/003-11.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w159/tsubaki3/truck020.jpg

[tsubaki]

Closer picture of slider bracket and fender extension.
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w159/tsubaki3/Picture249.jpg

[Destroyer]

Dang Tsubaki... looking at those pics... Mine never came with a motorcycle.... I guess you have a later model with better appointments. I'm jealous :head:

[tsubaki]

:you:
Those were a couple of bicycles and a weeks worth of stuff for an island deer hunting trip.

[phatdaddy]

If i'm reading right, you have a donor trailer you can get running gear from. If so, your good to go. Just make sure that its all rated to carry the load.

Also you don't say if its a bunk or roller. The one you have pulls great and carry load great, just hard to load and unload. Might look into why that is. If its a bunk and your used to roller, just put more of it in the water.

With the mobile home stuff, it's probably not galvanized, so it won't last long in the salt anyway. Most of the ones i've seen, they had to cut a section out of the axle to shorten it and that starts rusting pretty fast.

[Pipe_Dream]

Welcome to the site!

If you don't have the slider brackets I'd be more inclined to find a different trailer, cost being the factor. Obviously the frame is rebuildable but to what cost extent.

I am using the original frame, axle and hubs on my "75. Most everything else has been replaced at least a couple of times.
The single axle is doable IF properly balanced and most any 1/2 ton pickup can safely handle towing the short distance you are doing. Presently I've not trailered mine over 10 miles to the farthest ramp.
If you were regularly trailering say more than 30 miles one way, I'd be really concerned and want a dual axle setup.

A dual axle setup may also improve your launching height problem by the ability to use smaller tires.
phat's suggestion of a torsion type axle is worth considering.

These are probably the only usable photos of mine.
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w159/tsubaki3/002-22.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w159/tsubaki3/003-11.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w159/tsubaki3/truck020.jpg

Cool pics. Is that where you put in?

[tsubaki]

The first two are within 15' of where I keep the V under a shelter which is about 50' from the corner of our house.
We have about 2 hours twice a day of usable tide to put boats in or take them out.
I was raised in that ditch till I was 8 years old then I moved back to it when I was 20 years old.

[chart]

hunting ossabaw, wassaw or some were else.

[[email protected]]

Thank You all for the great info and the pictures. Ironic the trailer pictures is my donor trailer. On the Shorelander by removing the Ubolts the axle assembly will just roll out from under the trailer. I am kinda cheap here. To drop 4-500 for axles then tires I would be better off to just buy a tadem trailer and swap parts. So seeing the pictures that nailed the answer for sure. To to it off the tow vehicle is a 87 Grand Wagoneer. It pulls the trailer and doesn't even know anything is behind it. I wish I could say mileage was good. 10 mpg on a good day going down hill with the engine off. As for the ramps here they are awesome but the mobile home axle just sits to hi so I back up the jeeps rear tires. So that is why I'm looking to fix what was butchered up on a otherwise great trailer

[tsubaki]

hunting ossabaw, wassaw or some were else.
That was one of the trips to Wassaw.
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w159/tsubaki3/truck018.jpg

[Destroyer]

The tow vehicle is a 87 Grand Wagoneer. It pulls the trailer and doesn't even know anything is behind it. I wish I could say mileage was good. 10 mpg on a good day going down hill with the engine off.

That 10 MPG is when you're towing the boat, right? What engine do you have in that vehicle?

[Pipe_Dream]

The first two are within 15' of where I keep the V under a shelter which is about 50' from the corner of our house.
We have about 2 hours twice a day of usable tide to put boats in or take them out.
I was raised in that ditch till I was 8 years old then I moved back to it when I was 20 years old.

Beautiful.

[bradford]

Trailer looks good Tsubaki, I'm a chevy guy but like the older dodges.

I had a heavy equipment trailer with the big single leaf springs and thought they would be good for a boat trailer, no friction between leaves and you could zinc coat or cool seal them.

[SkunkBoat]

I'm using a 3100 single now. No problem for the annual launch & recovery, 15 miles, no hills or highways.

It worked out cheaper to buy a brand new single/no brakes than to repair the springs, brakes, actuator, hubs, rollers, ubolts & 4 tires on my tandem.

[bradford]

Agree with Skunk, you can buy a new trailer for about double what it costs to fix up an old one depending. My next one will have torsion axles, tired of doing springs every few years.

[[email protected]]

May I Thank everyone for the excellent responses. I unbolted the Shorelander and moved the axles, springs and mounting plate and it slid in perfect to the Magic lift trailer frame. A check of the axles rating and bearings and they are 3500lb rated. I will replace the springs "Just Because" and bearings. I'll do one more trip with the mobile home axles and get my last battle during recovery and launch. As my Wife Lyn would say, Recycle, repurpose. I say being cheap can be a useful tool to look at all options. Thank You, Ron

[Destroyer]

May I Thank everyone for the excellent responses. I unbolted the Shoreland'r and moved the axles, springs and mounting plate and it slid in perfect to the Magic tilt trailer frame. A check of the axles rating and bearings and they are 3500lb rated. I will replace the springs "Just Because" and bearings. I'll do one more trip with the mobile home axles and get my last battle during recovery and launch. As my Wife Lyn would say, Recycle, repurpose. I say being cheap can be a useful tool to look at all options. Thank You, Ron

First: Now that you have a handle on your trailer problem, don't be a strainger. This site is for the free exchange of thoughts and ideas, and we only achieve that by having participants. So visit and post often. Don't forget we love boat porn, so pics are always in good taste. :head:

Second: You're not being cheap. You're being "frugal". :you:

[[email protected]]

I finally was able to load the picture that would have help answer questions. If you look at the axles use can see how they are set up. Since they were mobile home axles they are not salt water friendly either. So it was just a matter of time before they fell apart. Ironic I've that Shorelander trailer in my yard from an earlier Searay that would never have made it to the water. My neighbor and his trailer fell apart and I offered the trailer and he never came for it and that got me thinking about using that axle set up. Now the rolling cocaine habit I refer to the Jeep. It's a 87 Grand Wagoneer with the 360, 116,000 and it has pulled 12 on a really good day. They were never known to be easy with gas. The 6 cyl were another story in the Cherokee line. I love that thing and when it's has the trailer on it's happy pulling it, just feed me. So this is my story. I love this community here. From the brand new boats down to folks like me. I can never justify buying a new boat, I'll never live long enough to pay it off. Then of course I'll to buy a truck to pull it, so I'm happy where I'm at. After all the years waiting to get a set up I boat the best of the best and now I'm sitting docking side with so awesome friends. Like the boat, I'm old but still have the drive to get it done, just not as fast. The boats name is Dulcinea, in the movie man of La Mancha, she was a prostitute. Give me money and I'll be good to you. It's kinda what owning a boat is all about? Thanks again, Ron

[Pipe_Dream]

Dulcinea...

I love it!

[bradford]

Good looking V and having one of those old jeeps is worth the expense in my opinion. Better than a payment and top dollar insurance so you can eat depreciation and look like everyone else. I'll bet you can sell the mobile home axles and tires to pay for your new parts plus some.

Oh, and everyone here runs an old boat. The new ones are 20 years old, the old ones are 40 plus.

[[email protected]]

Guess who, I'm back. Today I switched the axles out and 5 cut off wheels later, done. I'm glad with encouragement from here, I got it done. I started by making it more than what it should have been. I slid the Shorelander axle from the front and raised the front of the trailer. I worked it backwards, cut out the first mobile home axle. I cut it out the moved the new axle back. I then lowered the front, and blocked the rear and raised it one more time, Test drive and Kentucky windage and the balance point worked out. I have more in progress pictures but had loading issues. I managed to lower trailer 5 inches and that I believe will make this old Geezer look like I know how to launch a boat again like back in the 60's. So one more trip this season then it's sand and refinish the woodwork.