HEY TRAILER GUYS...
 

v 20 on a trailer... trailer has no brakes... is this just a safety issue or is it a legal one as well??? does it vary from state to state? from virginia to new york and everywhere in between.

Re: HEY TRAILER GUYS...
 

I live in Virginia and have a single axle trailer with no brakes. All of my trailering is done within a 10 mile radius of the house.

Re: HEY TRAILER GUYS...
 

that law vary's from state to state. I don't have brakes on any of my boat trailers. I use saltwater always so that would be one more thing to repair, and to give problems.

Re: HEY TRAILER GUYS...
 

I am in Ocean City, MD and I have a single axle with no brakes. The boat is a little much for the trailer, but i only have to go 4 miles to the ramp, so i don't have a problem. As far as laws in Maryland none that i know of ;D

Re: HEY TRAILER GUYS...
 

http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/9/1/81544391.htm
i want to pull this thing from virginia to long island but it has no brakes. what do you guys think?

Re: HEY TRAILER GUYS...
 

What is your tow vehicle? *Some trucks have better brakes than others. *I think if you take it easy you'll be okay, but I mean really take it EASY. * 8)
The trailer looks well used, if you know what I mean. *Check the bearings and tires, and get a spare . . . and the means to change it. *And get some straps to tie down bow and stern.

I myself don't have trailer brakes, but I don't tow long distances. *Have a 4Runner and Suburban to tow mine, and the Suburban gets her up to speed right quick, but I am careful not to get too cocky because she doesn't slow down quick at all. *:o *

I see some crazy people towing boats and driving like they stole it. *Don't be one of them, get there later but all in one piece. *Now I'll step down off my soap box and give everyone else a chance to put in their $0.02!
BTW, the boat looks nice!

Re: HEY TRAILER GUYS...
 

LOL oh that's not a question, it will be fine, that is an almost new tandem trailer. It will pull fine and you shouldn't have a problem stopping it. I pull my v20 200 miles one way to the coast and pull it 75 mph with a diesel tahoe. It stops on a dime with anti-locking brakes and the heavy diesel brake system. I've pulled mine as fast as 85 not watching my speed. just check the air then pull it about 10 miles stop feel the tires to see if they are getting to hot if hot then add some more air and check the hub center area with your hand they should be cool if warm pull a little futher then check again but it hot. then repack the grease in them.

Re: HEY TRAILER GUYS...
 

as I was saying . . . ::)

Re: HEY TRAILER GUYS...
 

Law changes state from state and you are required to have what your state has said.
I have a brand new trailer, tandem and tow with my 1/2 ton pickup with no problems.
This truck is better the the ford as it has 4 wheel disk which are better then drum.

like was said before, check the bearings grease them good, and do it thur out the trip!!
Make sure you have good tires and a spare!!
Winch is tight and cable in good shape, with safety chain!!
I also have the transom straps just in case the bow eye was to break! Lotsof weight on just a 3/8 bolt!!

Use your smarts and you will be just fine!!

Re: HEY TRAILER GUYS...
 

I pulled my V-20 all over the place on a single axle / no brake trailer that I took good care of. I'd imagine the better part of 20,000 miles over the last few years. If you take care of bearing/ seals / springs they'll take care of you. Most 14" tires are'nt rated to carry the weight of the V-20 on two tires so check that. Otherwise, go for it. I'm spoiled now as in the last couple months I've got a used tandem w/ brakes for the boat and bought a new Chevy 2500hd for a tow vehicle. What a beast to pull the boat.

Airslot

Re: HEY TRAILER GUYS...
 

noticed in the pic it has bearing buddy's just take a grease gun and fill them before you leave for home.

I guess Pipe was speaking of the crazy guys as being like me running 75 and 80 with a boat. Hey if your tow truck can pull it and stop it, it doesn't matter. You see 80,000 lb road tractors running 85 and 90 out there lol. :P

Re: HEY TRAILER GUYS...
 

YEAH, BUT TRACTOR TRAILERS HAVE BRAKES. ;)

Re: HEY TRAILER GUYS...
 

Hey, we all no doubt differ on this. Let's just say when you're doing 85 pulling a boat I don't want to be in front of you, because I know I can stop faster than you. I'm usually the ol' fart doing only 5 mph over the limit in the right lane . . . and I keep a safe distance. I've seen too much . . . carnage.

Re: HEY TRAILER GUYS...
 

Just don't be that genius who takes a perfectly good boat airborne and out of the gene pool.

Re: HEY TRAILER GUYS...
 

What's the old saying, "Better Safe than Sorry" ;D Not a bad saying to live by IMO.

Re: HEY TRAILER GUYS...
 

If your buying this boat, take a look at mine same year with out the hard top it is already in New York on a 2001 double axle trailer with brakes and power wench
Let's make a deal

Great Eastern Mech. ;)

Re: HEY TRAILER GUYS...
 

i have a single axle trailer with 14 in tires on it and i am going to put new ones on do you think going to 15s would be better, i do what about you guys, i have to make a 200 mile trip to RI just one way to my house there and from there on only 1/4 mile from house to ramp for the rest of its life,

Re: HEY TRAILER GUYS...
 

as long as you've got enough room under the fenders,you may as well

Re: HEY TRAILER GUYS...
 

15 will work, but depending how your trailer is set up its getting pretty high, and you will need more water to launch, and you will get more air under it while trailing.

I went with 14" and I got trailer tires rated for the weight. More $$ then car tires but worth it to me, less flats, and blow outs also as they are more plys of rubber.

Re: HEY TRAILER GUYS...
 

In Florida, any thing that weighs more than 1500 lbs is supposed to have brakes. The dealers get away with selling no brakes because they sell the trailer seperate and with out the boat. I have an aluminum tandem with no brakes. Ninety per cent of my towing is 2 miles or less. I tow to the keys every two years (750 miles oneway) and never had a problem. This year coming back traffic stalled in the right lane as I was approaching and had to stop quick. I managed to stop, but it was very very scary. The next time we go south, I will have brakes..

Re: HEY TRAILER GUYS...
 

When I rebuilt my single ale aboput 3 years ago I went with 15" tires because they were rated to carry about 2400#'s each. The 14" tires were only rated for about 1750#'s each. Now I'm sorta guessing at those numbers but there close. I was putting new fenders on at the time so that wasn't a problem for me. My current trailer has 14" tires but it's a tandem and it does ride so much better.

Airslot

Re: HEY TRAILER GUYS...
 

hey greateastern, tell me a little bit about it.

Re: HEY TRAILER GUYS...
 

The boat is a 1986 V-20 in great shape it has a 170 mercrusier I/O which has been rebuilt from top to bottom 1 month ago about 4 hours on the motor and has a 6 month warr. which starts in may of 2006. The boat is clean, it has black bottom paint. it comes with a docking cover and a half bimni top. if you live on long Island NY and want to take a look give me a call the trailer is a 2001 Venture dual axel with brakes and power wench the rebuit motor cost me about $ 2,800. plus misc. upgrades like alt. kit electronic ing. I have all the paper work from the Advanced Eng. of riverhead NY the package is $7,200.00 I will demo for you.

Great Eastern Mech.
631-786-5008

Re: HEY TRAILER GUYS...
 

In Virginia if it's a tandom axle it's suppose to have brakes AND a VA state inspection. However, the only place I've seen that enforced is at the boat ramps (especially the city ramps). If it's a single axle then brakes aren't required, however, if it came with brakes then it's illegal to remove them. I haven't seen or heard of these laws being enforced anywhere execpt boat ramps, where on occasion we'll come back in and see a bunch of rigs with tickets on them. Personally, for what you want to do, I'd say it's up to you to determine how safe you feel pulling 3500-4000 pounds without the added assistance of trailer brakes. From a legal stand point the only place you may run into a problem is in the event of an accident. If your really concerned as to what's legal I'd recommend visiting the Department of Transportation's website for each state you plan on driving through. Otherwise, just drive safe, drive more cautiously and take your time. :)