Well, was fun planning...

[RussGW270]

May need to push my trip again... Went to get the trailer inspected for re-registering... and it looks like I may need to replace the entire front axle.

In for a dime... may just try upgrading both axles with heavier ones.

May find a way to set this trailer on fire.. who knows heh

Front left tire was sorta cock-eyed. Thought it was because I was turning, but it stayed that way on the trip home so, not dragging the boat 200 miles one way with it like that. It was not hot to the touch, but....still, not right.

So, back to being a paperweight.. well, one with new registration stickers and new insurance.. heh

I need a second opinion... may just be me hating the trailer. It looks a little cockeyed, but I do not feel wobble in it and.. I hate the trailer.. so may be seeing it wrong, we will see.


R

 

[glacierbaze]

I know what you mean. I go around a cul-de-sac with mine, so that I can back it in to my driveway from one direction without being blocked by mailboxes.Sometimes those inside tires like they are going to snap off, but they always straighten up.

 

[leeccoll]

Russ, I envy your fortitude in dealing with your trailer saga. I would have caved in long ago

 

[Sdfish]

Be careful - had my trailer ubolt snap as I backed into my driveway. Definitely check those bolts regularly! I replaced the all ubolts and springs. Not the axles. Close call for sure!

 

[Holokai]

Sorry to hear that you’re still fighting the trailer.

You could check the trailer frame rail sizes to see if they’re used on higher weight rated models. If so, going with heavier axles could give you a little more margin on capacity but I’m not positive that would address the root cause of the issues.

I know what you mean. I go around a cul-de-sac with mine, so that I can back it in to my driveway from one direction without being blocked by mailboxes.Sometimes those inside tires like they are going to snap off, but they always straighten up.

I freaked out the first time I did a tight turn with a tandem torsion axle trailer and saw how tweaked the inside tires looked. Still occasionally am surprised at how the tires don’t look aligned when the trailer is parked (on a side yard that’s not as level as the driveway).

 

[DennisG01]

That's too bad, Russ. You definitely need to get some on-water time!

It's not a Venture trailer, is it?

Check with a good welder - they may be able to cut and re-weld to make it true. OR... if the axle is bolted on... is it possible that the axle just slipped/slid along the frame rail a little? Do you know Pythagorean's theory - or the "3-4-5 Method"? You can use that to easily check if the axle is perpendicular to the frame rails.

 

[seasick]

Next time I see a trailered boat on the road in front of me, I will leave a lot of space just in case that trailer has its axle held on with a ratchet strap!

 

[Sdfish]

for sure! I'm all buttoned up now! Amazing how well the trailer rides with new springs!

 

[RussGW270]

Well, I looked at both axles...chipped away a lot of crap, and asked around.

I think it is too risky to travel 400 miles round trip with the for axle. The boat is just too heavy.

So, I think the smart move is swap the forward axle. Looking at about 600 bucks for a new one, depending on shipping.

I think the aft one is fine for this year. Would I like to swap them both? Yes, but I did not budget for one, much less both, so I think I will swap the front one and add new u-bolts as well, then swap the other one this fall.

Now, to figure out the shipping etc...and see if it can be done in a week lol

R

 

[SkunkBoat]

I seem to remember someone saying forget the trailer...and the truck..., get a slip in a nice marina with a pool, drive there on the weekend, get on it and go fishing, stay overnight, go swimming, eat lunch, go fishing again, drive home....

 

[RussGW270]

Yes, and if this boat was down there, I would have to spend the weekends fixing it down there lol.

people forget, when they have a great boat....but having owned a ranch 5 hours away, I lost count of the times I went there...with a “cabin waiting for me with electricity..” and I spent more hours driving back to Del Rio to get repair parts to fix a water heater or roofing panel or something else that I had no idea about till I got there.

Anything can happen, but with the boat here, I have the option to fix it or not waste money going.

So, now, I am going to call the trailer place tomorrow morning and if I can get it here by Thirsday, my friends will come over a day early and we will install it.

So, we have a plan...and all good plans....lol

 

[SkunkBoat]

Yes, and if this boat was down there, I would have to spend the weekends fixing it down there lol.

people forget, when they have a great boat....but having owned a ranch 5 hours away, I lost count of the times I went there...with a “cabin waiting for me with electricity..” and I spent more hours driving back to Del Rio to get repair parts to fix a water heater or roofing panel or something else that I had no idea about till I got there.

Anything can happen, but with the boat here, I have the option to fix it or not waste money going.

So, now, I am going to call the trailer place tomorrow morning and if I can get it here by Thirsday, my friends will come over a day early and we will install it.

So, we have a plan...and all good plans....lol

 

[RussGW270]

Woke up at 3:30.... like waiting for Christmas waiting for the dang trailer place to open at 8am.. lol.

I found a few places that sell axles, but I would need to replace both axles right now if I went with a different axle. Not sure I want to do that, no idea what other issues I might run into, so.. the plan is, see if they can get me an axle from Houston by Wed.. or Thurs. If they can, just get one.. and install it the day before. Looks simple enough.

Then, I plan to replace the other axle in the next month or two... then the hitch... and we literally have a new trailer at that point.. lol... less than buying a new one. Maybe one day, upgrade the truck and trailer.. we will see, but, for now, today will be cleaning the last of the decals off.. and hopefully applying the new ones, then washing and waxing the heck out of it.

R

 

[Legend]

Best thing I ever did was walk away from trailers. Slip in the summer and a haul out and in before and after winter storage. Although I have to admit there are times I wish I had the flexibility of a trailer especially when I get the bill for winter storage.

 

[RussGW270]

lol.. if I could live closer and make the living we make, I would but gotta go where the green is and work around it. Waiting on a call back... probably not interested enough to do it as it has been an hour and a half

will see

R