boat trailer, new springs Mod????

[Charlie's_93EB]

Ok let first start out by telling a story. My father and I got the boat (19 foot Sea Ray bowrider) and trailer from the farm, we were going to go shrimping, but first I was going to put new fenders on. On the 5 mile trip back home I saw that the boat was leaning some, I thought this was weird because it is a roll on trailer and it was even. So we get home I hit the bolts with PB Blaster and go the pass side and I see the problem. The galvanized trailer had rusted thru where the roller attach. I knew they were going to F me. Well as stated the cross member was cracked and put more weight on the rear cross member crushing it almost to the axle (after the quick return trip to the farm).

So I look in the papers/Craig’s list to find a newer trailer. And I found a 18" alumanam trailer for $650 float on, NO Rollers!!!haha. 4" “I” Beam. I run down there and look at it, Yup its was a $650 trailer. But I got it. It looked a little under sized for my needs but I only will tow it from the farm to home to the ramp less the 7 miles.

On the way home I stop by the trailer shop, and get new leafs, they are floating that measure 26". He said they do not make very beefy springs in this length.

The guy said my boat on that trailer is maxing it out. So I put on the leaves or leafs springs which is it, anyone? I painted the axle and cleaned every thing up. And got to thinking I have new springs and a older weaker set. So what is stopping me from cleaning up the old springs cut them down some to make a set a ghetto leaf packs???

I would put the cut down spring under the new one. The cut spring would have a 1/4 hole drilled 1/8 deep because the there is a locater/hold the leaf in place pin on the bottom of the springs. I would also clamp with u-bolts the springs together.



Is this a bad idea?

Will it kill me?

 

[MountaineerGreen]

I kind of see it as an add a leaf, don't see how it could hurt anything.

 

[Charlie's_93EB]

I kind of see it as an add a leaf, don't see how it could hurt anything.

I made a MS Paint Illustration.

Note the:

Green arrow is the longer axle u-bolts,

Red arrows are the new spring pack u-bolts.

Black is the new spring,

Red is the older spring.

The blue arrows are the only problem I can really think of. Which is that the springs are stiffer in the center, so where ever the help spring stops the new spring may bend there at the tips where it is thin weak and not designed to bend. But other then that I think I am good.

PS I have Monday off from work. But it is going to Rain Sunday so hopfully I can ge this done..

 

[MountaineerGreen]

Yeah, the AAL will stress that thin point- how wide are the leafs?

 

[Charlie's_93EB]

Um well its dark out, haha.

And anything I say now will be wrong if I go from memory...

I will look in the monring and report back..

 

[Charlie's_93EB]

update, I looked at the older trailer's springs (3pack) and the smallest leave will work.

So I put the boat on the new trailer and ajusted the weight, That was kind of hard going back and forth BTW I now know I can tow a small car in gear with the boat sitting on a trailer even with two wheel chocks.

After that fun the winch is too weak, So I put my bigger winch on. But the stand will not work b/c of clearance. So I put the bigger Gavlized trailer tower on with bigger winch. Which meant I had to redo the trailer weight again.....

So now the new trailer looks good, almost factory, and tows well.

So I have got to loose a trailer The old one. I go to the scrap dealer only one I know in town. I tell him I would like to scrap a gavl trailer. He said a Whole trailer, I say yes. He said He does not take steel WTF I thought sheel was the highest price ever!!!!!!

So I am going to make a utitiy/canoe trailer.

I know what you are thinking, Charlie you said the trailer was busted. Will I started to rip it apart to throw it away. I pulled off 18-20 lbs of alum from the roller arms and brackets. And saw that the frame was in good, No fair shape. and the only bad part was the cross member. So I will rebuild her welder in hand.

I do not know if other member here have the same problems I do. I do not want to caring mulch, soil, sand, and a lot of wood in the Ex. So I think a small utitiy trailer for $25 a year for a tag is worth it....