Launching trouble.

[bell99man]

So I get to the local boat launch towing 2 97 GTI's on a double Dixiecraft trailer. It seems like a pretty steep ramp but when I back in with my 03 Tundra SR5 Access Cab and a 2 1/2 in drop hitch, I have to get the rear drums wet before the beasties will pull off the bunks. Is this normal? The tires are Carlisle small fatties on a 5 hole small rim. I think the size is 18.5. They are a bit shorter than the 12" ones. The bunks have no rear adjustment. Can I extend the bunks (not really an option I'm sure) or do I need to flip over the hitch to get more angle? I was thinking the craft should ride level on the road so my current setup looks about right. Any thoughts or insight?

 

[Seadoobuddy]

You can raise the hitch up a tad....but you really only want about 10% of the trailer weight on the tongue. So level or up a bit is better than the tongue being down.
Some people use a bathroom scale to measure the tongue weight.

 

[Dr Honda]

It all depends on the ramp. Some ramps your tires will get wet.

 

[bell99man]

It's well over a hundred pounds...more like 5-600lbs. I can barely unhitch it solo and I'm a lineman. I can't figure out why though. The skis fit and the axle and springs aren't moveable. I'll give it another look next trip out.

 

[jkanesmith]

I don't see anything wrong with your setup now, they should ride fairly level and I don't see a problem with backing down enough to get the tires/brakes wet. I have to back in about that far to get my boat off the trailer, as well as my old boat.

 

[Strizzo]

Depending on the angle of the ramp, you might have to back in even farther on a less steep ramp. Memorial weekend the lake was still too low to use the ramp, so everyone was launching from a firm spot on the shore, I had to back my lifted xterra in to about the bottom of the frame under the drivers door. 4x4 was well worth it at that point, lots of 2wd trucks struggling on the ramp that weekend.

 

[bell99man]

The tires are actually 20.5 x 8-10, same as my John Deere, lol. My main concern was the rare occasion that I take them to the coast and the fact that the jack goes completely under the water. I took them down the weekend that I bought them and now my jack is nearly useless. I may try caring a spare receiver with a rise to see if I can swap out to launch. Then, if the jack stays dry I'll have a way to deal with salt water.

 

[biffdotorg]

It's well over a hundred pounds...more like 5-600lbs. I can barely unhitch it solo and I'm a lineman. I can't figure out why though. The skis fit and the axle and springs aren't moveable. I'll give it another look next trip out.

Umm, No. I hope I am reading your sarcasm through that post as there is no way in the world you have 500lbs of tongue weight.

Got a pick of your axle/spring setup?

 

[bell99man]

I don't have photo handy but I did check it out with a scale and yes I was exaggerating. I get 200lbs but I guess I have the jack so low that it feels like more.

 

[470]

Every ramp is a little different. The ramp I use for Lake Michigan I back the trailer in till there's 2" of water over the fenders. I can push the skis off with one hand and pull them on with one hand.

 

[Hghgrad]

At the launch I use, the rear tires of my explorer are a few inches under water. Well over the fenders of the trailer.

200lbs is still a lot of tongue weight. Are the front bulkheads adjustable? I can lift my ski trailer pretty easily, without having to worry about straining my back or anything...and it handles perfectly behind the trucks. I actually had to move a little more weight over the front because I could lift the tongue one handed.

 

[biffdotorg]

My guess is if you cannot move your axles, then the winch posts can be moved back. This would move the PWC back on the trailer and put more weight over the wheels of the trailer.

As long as the bunks support the hull properly, they don't need to reach the rear of the PWC to support it properly.

 

[bell99man]

Still have not made it back to the lake to try the receiver trick but I like the idea of moving the posts back a few inches. The trailer tires are about in line with the flywheel on the motor. Both skis are all the way on the bunks. Once I get them running, I'll drop them in at the in-laws and pull the trailer up to his garage to fine tune it.

 

[bell99man]

Just an update for anyone having the same problems. I got so tired of fighting with the tongue weight whenever I needed to move them out of the garage for whatever so I got out the socket set. Moved both wench posts back only 9 inches. I was totally floored at how big a difference that made. I may have to pull them forward a little because now I may not have enough tongue weight. I can lift it one handed and it makes pushing it around SO much easier. I may hitch it up and just drive to the store and back to check the ride.
Kevin

 

[biffdotorg]

Good for you, i'm glad that worked out for you. 9" is quite a bit.

Check the max tongue weight allowed by your vehicle and work from there. Be sure it is loaded, but not any where near the max capacity. Many have actually weighed their tongue with a bathroom scale!! Honestly, if you get too little tongue weight, you will find that trailer wagging in the back at highway speed.

Get it so that it is manageable by hand and you will be great. I play this game more often with the sled trailer. The problem of the tail wagging the dog is never good on ice covered roads. Since snowmobiles can be moved forward and back easily, we play this game with each load. Watercraft are easy, and you know that now!

Good work!

 

[470]

Generally your looking for 10-15% tongue weight of overall trailer weight.

 

[racerxxx]

Be careful with the weight distributed like that. With not much tongue weight (read: weight now more behind the centerline of the axle) you'll get the death whip at higher speeds. That's some scary shiz right there, it can jerk the ass end of your truck all over. If I load my utility trailer wrong forget it, I'm stuck at like 45 to 50 MPH, I can't even keep up on highways.