Re: Trailering boat with motor or not?

[ROBERT LAFAYETTE]

When I was snowmobiling up in the UP of MI I purchased a new Leland steel 8 X 10 trailer with leaf springs. This trailer served me well for over 10 years use and many thousands of miles, but did not ride well being towed at highway speeds 70+ with no sleds on it.
I later purchased a new Triton aluminum 8 X 10 trailer with a rubber torsion axle and this trailer rode great a highway speeds with no sleds on it, due the rubber torsion axle acting like an independent type suspension. I was worried that the lighter aluminum trailer would ride worse due to less weight but the rubber torsion axle made this trailer ride great unloaded. 😎
IMHO rubber torsion axle trailers are the way to go for anything that you tow, they just ride better due the fact that wheels
can move up and down independent of each other like a fine luxury car. Solid Axles and leaf springs are fine for JEEPS when you
need off-road strength and durability but does it not promote a nice smooth ride.
On a lot of older boat trailers with muti leaf springs with 2 – 3 leafs or more, the leaf springs can become rusted together and no longer function like a spring at all, just a solid piece of metal holding the axle on the trailer.
The springs on my EZ – Loader trailer are rated for 1600 lbs for the pair, these are a two piece leaf spring with each spring being able to support 800 lbs. My Alumacraft T12S boat weighs 145 lbs. I am going to remove the bottom helper spring on this trailer
to improve ride quality and comfort as others have suggested!
"I agree with what Jerry said about trailers. Both of my trailers had springs that were far too strong for a light aluminum boat. They are made for heavy fiberglass boats. I removed a leaf or two and what a difference. The springs are there to absorb the bumps instead of transmitting the bump to the boat."

I have found by trial and error, i.e. actual towing my boat and trailer combination on the road, that if you can get your boat level with the horizon and the centerline of you tow vehicle that it will ride much better. I also have lowered my tire pressure down to 25 PSI to help soften the bumps and winter frost heaves in our MI roads, yes I now the tire will run hotter and not last for as many miles, but I will more than likely replace my tires due to dry rot and cracked sidewalls form sun exposer before I wear them out from road miles, Use Caution when lowering tire pressure and check tire temps often.
Do I trailer my boat with the motor on the transom? Not if I can avoid it, but sometimes you have no choice due to lack of
room in your tow vehicle or the wife not wanting to smell gas fumes all the way home from a wet meet. What????????? :ugeek:

Good Luck,

Bob
GLC