Trailer set up

[Noble95]

What is the the ideal trailer set up? nose weight? position of wheels/axel?

Mine is currently set up with the wheels as far back as they will go - I can still one handed lift the nose

Just wanted to know if that is the correct set up, I'm doing my first long distance tow soon and want it to trail best as possible

[Xk59D]

it depends on the car, it will be in your manual what the required ball weight is.

a general guide is 50-60kg on the ball, you need a set of scales under the ball ideally to get that weight, if the jockey is close to it then that would need to do.

i don't know what type of boat you have to comment on where you need to have support etc.

cheers

[Noble95]

Thanks for the response, it's an avon 340 and towing with a 2007 freelander

[Xk59D]

the freelander probably has a max ball weight in the region of 100-150kg, that won't be an issue at all.

recommendations are 5-10% of the weight of the boat/trailer combined. i assume you know the rough weight of the whole rig, so add it up and calc 7.5% of that to get you in the middle ground.

do you have any pics of the boat on trailer?

do you leave the outboard on for towing?

cheers

[Noble95]

one of them

[Noble95]

And yes have the outboard on, 25 tohatsu 2 stroke

[Xk59D]

do you have any of the boat on there?

it sounds like you need to get the boat right on the trailer before you worry about the nose weight.

cheers

[Noble95]

Only two I have

[Xk59D]

what i would do is move the boat forward a couple of inches so the rear roller is where it should be directly under the transom.

once you have that add up the weight of the trailer, boat, outboard and add say 40kg for fuel/stuff you may have in the boat normally.

once you have that calc 7.5% of total and that is the weight you want on the ball, i.e move the axle until you get the number you need.

cheers

[Poly]

[

Originally Posted by Xk59D

the freelander probably has a max ball weight in the region of 100-150kg, that won't be an issue at all.

recommendations are 5-10% of the weight of the boat/trailer combined. i assume you know the rough weight of the whole rig, so add it up and divide by 7.5 to get you in the middle ground.

Originally Posted by Xk59D

once you have that divide it by 7.5 and that is the weight you want on the ball, i.e move the axle until you get the number you need.

Dividing the weight be 7.5 will give you 13.33% nose weight not 5-10%. If you want 7.5% nose weight (which is what I think you were suggesting) you divide by 13.33!

[Xk59D]

poly, yes that is indeed what i was suggesting.

i have amended my post to add %...thanks.

The weights i found via google-

Outboard 56kg
Boat bare- 80kg ( i find this hard to believe but the plate on the transom will confirm )
Trailer- 135kg
A.N.0- 40kg
Total- 311kg

7.5% = 23kg.

round numbers here i'd shoot for 25-30kg and be done with it as the boat is bound to be heavier than the printed numbers.

please note, the above is based on recommended small trailer weight towing in accordance with the caravan club, which google also gave me. I have never towed anything this light but the theory is sound and i'd be happy to start there.

good luck!

cheers

[Edd1er]

Easy answer. Is don't worry about it. That boat isn't heavy enough to do anything.

What other people talking about is if you have say a 2 tonnes boat.

Your boat is no more than 100kgs.

I have a 5.4 Searider and have it balanced can lift with 2 figures. With a Mazda 6 wouldn't know behind,

[Xk59D]

The above does not apply to 2 tonne boats, it is specifically for up to 500kg just for the record.

Balanced and lift with 2 fingers can't be used in the same sentence surely? Unless it was a couple of certain fingers that said feek the balance.....let's go! ☺

Cheers

[matt h]

agree with above ... the axle does look 18 inches too much rear ward.. the boat is so light anyways,