Trailer Set up

Chris · 01 July 2008, 23:30

Picked up the Dixon Bate trailer for the new Osprey and unfortunately it had not been set up properly.

Even with then engine on the back of the boat there was so much weight on the nose that I could hardly lift it. When I looked at it I could see that the axle was set quite far back on the trailer so I moved it forward about 18" which has given a much more reasonable weight on the nose.

Now I am looking at the front set of rollers and thinking that they look too far back on the trailer as well. Does anyone have any pics of their set ups.

Any ideas?

Bear in mind when you look at the photo below that this was taken after I had moved the axle forward 18" so you can see what I mean about it being too far back initially!!

Nos4r2 · 01 July 2008, 23:38

If you're setting up a DixonBate watch the rollers on the chines-mine cut into the rubber on the rollers on the front sets where the chines rubbed on them.It made the outer rubber covering on the rollers split.
Dixon-Bate were fantastic though-sent me a set of rollers without quibble under warranty.

captnjack · 02 July 2008, 00:55

I think you need more rollers than that. I don't know what their capacity is but its less than a bunk and you have very little support under there right now. Both the front and rear set should be 1.5 to 2x longer IMO. Only THEN the front set extend a bit more forward on the hull. But just moving the forward set up is going to leave a huge unsupported gap in between.

Nick Hearne · 02 July 2008, 09:39

My old set up was very well balanced if it helps!
Nick

Bigmuz7 · 02 July 2008, 13:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by captnjack

I think you need more rollers than that. I don't know what their capacity is but its less than a bunk and you have very little support under there right now. Both the front and rear set should be 1.5 to 2x longer IMO. Only THEN the front set extend a bit more forward on the hull. But just moving the forward set up is going to leave a huge unsupported gap in between.

Main rollers look ok to me .. hard to tell from the pic, but you are missing one under the bow which you will need to stop draw bar bounce

Downhilldai · 02 July 2008, 18:51

I find this set-up just about spot-on with my 5.8

Chris · 03 July 2008, 00:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

Main rollers look ok to me .. hard to tell from the pic, but you are missing one under the bow which you will need to stop draw bar bounce

Its there Just needs adjusting.

This is the standard trailer that Osprey supply with the 6.5 and I dont think I need more rollers. Once the boat is on the water I can try a few changes to the set up.

Chris

bedajim · 03 July 2008, 08:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

Its there Just needs adjusting.

This is the standard trailer that Osprey supply with the 6.5 and I dont think I need more rollers. Once the boat is on the water I can try a few changes to the set up.

Chris

Mine is as per the picture and no problems the distance from the transom to the rear pivot point is 600 mm and between pivots is 2700 mm I measured a trailer at Osprey with their demo 6.5 on to get my setup and I think it's about 75 kg on the hitch with everything on board and a full tank of petrol 220 L

Might help as a starting point

Jim

Erin · 09 July 2008, 19:40

Not sure if these two pictures help at all. Even after engine went on it was still a little nose heavy, but acceptable. I haven't bothered to adjust anything yet, but you should be able to guage the position of the axle.

Chris · 09 July 2008, 22:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin

Not sure if these two pictures help at all. Even after engine went on it was still a little nose heavy, but acceptable. I haven't bothered to adjust anything yet, but you should be able to guage the position of the axle.

Erin, thanks for the pics, you can see when you compare that on yours the front set of rollers are further forward.

And I can also see that your axle is where mine was when I collected the trailer. I think you will find that you have to move it forwards 18" or so if you want to get the balance right.

Chris

captnjack · 10 July 2008, 00:59

You all seem to use far few rollers over there than US companies put on their trailers. Must be better roads

Chris · 10 July 2008, 11:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin

Not sure if these two pictures help at all. Even after engine went on it was still a little nose heavy, but acceptable. I haven't bothered to adjust anything yet, but you should be able to guage the position of the axle.

Erin,

How do you find the Audi A3 manages with the boat on the back now iits rigged? I have jsut ordered an A3 sportback 140HP diesel and was wondering whether it was worth having a towbar fitted in case I needed to tow the boat with it.

My other car is a Passat V6 diesel and this tows the boat really well but it is quite a powerful lump.

Erin · 10 July 2008, 12:58

My A3 is a 2.0 turbo petrol and it handled fine when I went to collect the hull. The trailer was well out of balance without the engine, but it didn't affect the driveability. It was a little sluggish on the hills mind you and only managed an average of 17mpg over 200 miles

. I wasn't driving slow.

I haven't actually towed it yet fully rigged. I chickened out using it on my first launch and borrowed a friends 4x4 in case I needed to make a quick retrieval up the slip. Although it should be comfortably within the 1.8 ton towing limit, I was a bit nervous and why stress it if there's somebody else's jeep to dunk instead

.

I think the 2.0 diesel would be equally as ok, probably a lot more economical, but I found it had too much turbo lag for my short local driving needs.

Keith

bedajim · 10 July 2008, 16:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin

Although it should be comfortably within the 1.8 ton towing limit

Keith

Not so sure about that with it rigged and fueled up + trailer

Hightower · 10 July 2008, 19:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by bedajim

Not so sure about that with it rigged and fueled up + trailer

Not that old chestnut again

Chris · 10 July 2008, 20:16

6.5m Osprey Dry weigth - 480KG
Evinrude Etec - 190KG
Stainless - 60KG
150 litres of fuel - 150KG
battery - 20KG
Trailer - 1100KG

Total all up weight - 1980KG

Hightower · 10 July 2008, 20:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

6.5m Osprey Dry weigth - 480KG
Evinrude Etec - 190KG
Stainless - 60KG
150 litres of fuel - 150KG
battery - 20KG
Trailer - 1100KG

Total all up weight - 1980KG

That a heavy trailer Chris, mine only weighs about 400kg's

Erin · 10 July 2008, 22:06

I'm sure my trailer says it's 400kg on the plate. Must check it. Also, I thought someone had had their 6.5 viper weighed and it came in about 1550kg inc trailer. Might put mine on the scales if I get the chance at the end of the season.

Ian M · 10 July 2008, 22:15

No fuel or console, but mine feels about right at present.

bedajim · 11 July 2008, 06:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

Not that old chestnut again

Yep I remember you never had the balls to put yours on the weigh bridge

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hightower

Don't be silly, and find out the trailer's still not man enough.....

As trailer and tow car maybe overloaded but ignorance will keep you and others safe

Here again is how mine weighed out

Quote:

Originally Posted by bedajim

I put mine over the weigh bridge today many times (with me out of it)

Navara + boat + combi trailer = 4560kg

Navara+ trailer (no trolley) =2920kg

boat+ combi trailer =2220

Navara = 2340kg

so trailer = 580 kg(not including the launch trolley)

Boat and launch trolley =1640kg

when we built the trolley two of us could just lift it so I'm going to call it =140kg

so the boat is 1500kg with half tank of fuel + 25L spare and a 15 2st mercury I think that is 35kg

So the boat would be 1550kg approx with a full tank of fuel and no aux or spare fuel, which is more than I was expecting

James