Let's see your trailer!

[David Hughes]

I just took some measurements on my trailer. I have a Core sound 20 that came with a trailer that fully fit the boat, bow chock to end of the bunk is 20 ft. The axle is 16 feet from the bow chock and the tongue weight is over 500 lbs in this position. I pushed the boat back 2 ft reducing the tongue to I'm guessing 300 lbs. I think another 2 ft would get the tongue weight about right. So for my boat I need the axle about 11 -12 feet from the bow.

Dave

[MattandTru]

I went and measured the trailer and found it all to be pretty close to the above conclusions.  I could afford to cut the tongue about 16 inches shorter, but I think I'll wait on that till I have a boat built to put on it!  Talk about putting the cart before the horse--or the trailer before the boat as the case may be. 

How do I gauge the spring stiffness and whether it is close to right?  Jump up and down on it?  (jk)

The GVWR weight rating on the ID plate is 2300, which sounds overkill, ie made to handle a heavy powerboat.  So if the springs are too stiff, I ought to be able to get lighter springs that fit the same profile? 

Or am I close enough that it would ride well? 

-Matt

[David Hughes]

I think you can just put lighter weight springs or maybe pull a leaf out; not sur how that works. I would check with a trailer shop but 2300 is to much. I'm guessing the 17 weighs about 500 lbs so I would think you would want more like 1000 rating.

[PAR]

Don't cut the tongue, the longer the better, just ask your wife. Yeah, that spring is way too stiff and yes jumping up an down on it, will offer a good indication of how good or bad the spring rate is. If it's multiple leaf spring, pull one out and try it (yep, jump up and down on the damn thing). If you need to, remove another leaf. The faster way is to buy springs that fit at the appropriate weight.

[MattandTru]

Thanks again all!  Great advice.