geaux001

I am about to redo my trailer completely. THe one sourced from World Cat is woefully inadequate. It is a Float On Trailer and currently has the Torsion Axle Trailer. Only problem I go through tires and bearings like its going out of style.

I've brought the trailer to two places and one says I need bigger axles then the (2) 7500 lb and 14" tires that are on there now. The other says nix the torsion axle and just put leaf springs on it. The price isn't much different. I don't know much about this stuff except how to change bearings on the highway.....

I generally only trailer a few miles each way to the ramp. ITs only when I have to bring it up to get worked on or evacuate that I pucker up and buy more spares than I should need in the life of the boat....

What do you guys think?

thataway

Something is not right there. The 14" tires would bother me. I have a Float on cat trailer rated at 15000 lbs, with two 7500 lb axles, and running ST 235/80/16" load range "E" tires which will carry 3520 lbs each--or still not up to the 7500 lb of the axle. These are on 8 stud wheels. No wonder you are going thru tires--they are probably way undersized. What is the SCALE weight of your rig--take it by the CAT scales next time you are on the road--only $10! (you might also check the hitch weight and entire rig weight. I do this peroidically--some how the boat keeps getting heavier!

There is no way that your 14" tires are capable of carring the load of the axles. The 14" tires mostly carry about 2000 lbs max. There are some heavy duty 14.5" tires with load range G--which will carry about 3000 lbs.

I would keep the torsion axles--they will be lower, go to 16" 8 lug wheels, upgrade the brakes if they are not both axle, Kodiac discs--and if you do a lot of mountain driving go to Electric over hyraulic--stay with the surge if you are just doing Louisania.

__________________
Bob Austin

kilowatt

My trailer has 14" wheels with 205/75 tires they are rated for 1760lbs each tire so the total for all 4 tires is 7040lbs. When i tried to find higher load rated 14" tires the only thing i could find was 215/75 and they were only rated a few lbs more for each tire. The torsion axles are great but with 7500lb axles you would need 4 14" tires on each axle and still not have enugh tire capacity for that axle. Keep the torsion axles and get bigger tires and wheels that are rated for the load you are trailering. In my opinion the torsion axles are superior to leaf springs but if you have 7500lb axles and 14" wheels those tires and wheels are going to get hot and have a short life span if the axles are anywhere close to their load carrying capability.

bamaboy473

Leaf springs = Rust. Stay with the torsion axles.

__________________
Rick
Alabama's Gulf Coast
Chaparral 240 Signature (Sold)

geaux001

Alright, I wrote the first post in a rush. The boat is a 246 WC and according to the scales I put it on today it is 8800 lbs with about 1/2 fuel and no gear this includes trailer.

I bought the boat used with the trailer. We didn't pay that much attn to the trailer since we had no intentions of pulling the boat long distances regularly. I've about had it dealing with the bearings as this is the most common failure despite pretty frequent tire changes(mostly the front two).

The trailer specialist I took it to says I have (2) 7500 lb axles. He suggests upgrading to 8500 lb axles and 15" tires.

I just want to make the decision that will lead to fewest headaches in the future.

I'm also concerned that going to leaf springs will raise the overall height of the load. 6 or so more inches and I'll have a problem with storage/ road clearances....

bamaboy473

IF YOUR LAUNCH RAMPS ARE AS FLAT AS OURS ARE, GETTING THE BOAT INTO DEEP ENOUGH WATER MIGHT BECOME THE BIGGEST PROBLEM YOU'LL ENCOUNTER BY RAISING THE BOAT UP.

Sorry for the CAPS, it was just the way to answer several subjects...

__________________
Rick
Alabama's Gulf Coast
Chaparral 240 Signature (Sold)

kerno

Something is wrong here. I would seriously question a trailer specialist who looked at 14 inch wheels and declared the trailer to have 7500 pound axles. I may be wrong, but I've never seen a 7500 pound axle setup with 14 inch wheels. A 7500 pound axle should have 6 lug hubs on it and have the 1 1/4 outer bearings. I'd also expect the grease caps to be 2.44 diameter. Here's a web site that will help: http://www.championtrailers.com/cata...03%20AXLES.pdf

The load capacity of tires is easy to figure out, since it is marked on the sidewalls. The load capacity of axles should be on tags attached to the axles.

Bearings are bigger problem. They come in a few different sizes and generally get bigger as the number of studs on the hub goes up. Typically, 6 lug hubs have 1 1/4 outer and 1 3/4 inner bearings. I have seen a 6 lug hub with 1 1/16 x 1 3/8 bearings from EZ Loader. Five lug hubs usually have 1 1/16 and 1 3/8.

I think you need to verify the weight rating of the trailer which should be shown the capacity tag.

Without knowing for sure, it sounds like you may have two 3750 pound axles for a total capacity of 7500 rather than a pair of 7500 pound axles for a total of 15,000 pounds.

With a cat, you need to keep it as low as possible, so I'd be shopping for a pair of 6000 pound torsion axles with the 1/ 1/4 outer bearings and 15 inch "D" rated tires. There are 15 inch "E" rated available.

__________________
Kern O.

jjm3

Call float on with the ser # you can find out exactly what you have.

bamaboy473

Whoever you are and whatever your experience, kerno, let me say that my joining this little club has introduced me to a lot of information, but when reading what you write, that translates into knowledge.

A lot of us appreciate what guys like you share about the subjects. Thanks.

__________________
Rick
Alabama's Gulf Coast
Chaparral 240 Signature (Sold)

thundra

I second bamaboy473's thoughts. You've taught/continue to teach me, thanks Kerno.

kilowatt

Also when you get the new axles and wheel tire set up done be sure you are towing level. You said you were having more trouble with the front tires\bearings the tongue may be low causing excess weight on the front axle.

kerno

Thank you for the compliments. Knowledge is always best if it is shared!

__________________
Kern O.

fish_on

If you are running 14" wheels/tires on a 5 lug hub you will more than likely have 3500# axles.

On most axles:
14" wheels/tires and 5-lug hub = 3500# axles
15" wheels/tires and 6-lug hub = ~5000# axles
16" wheels/tires and 8-lug hub = 6000# axles or 7000# axles

Upgrading your axles, wheels, tires will help but you also need to consider the frame. If aluminum the I-beam will become your weak point once you upgrade the axles, wheels and tires. Most trailer mfg's use a larger I-beam when going from a 7K trailer up to a 10K trailer.

geaux001

Everything here makes since. Here's the deal, there's no doubt I'm going heavier on everything. Does everyone pretty much agree to keep the torsion and just go heavier?

The current tires are 14" and 5 lug. The bearings are also 1 3/8" tapered to 1 1/16".

Anybody in the area want to get a deal on 6 or 7 14" tires, hubs, the axles, and a bunch of spare bearings????

Thanks for all your replys.

Afishinado

I never paid much attention to trailers until I started the snowbird routine, but have had enough of them to hate the rust on leaf springs and became enamored immediately with torsion axles... THAT said; The way many of the axles on leaf spring tandem axle trailers are mounted I think is better. A lot of the time when you get to the top or crest of a ramp with tandem (or triple axles), the whole load ends up on just one axle. Even if it's only a second, I don't like it. The leaf spring set up where there is a pivot shackle thingy between the springs allows more axle/wheel travel and disburses the load more equally between the axles.
Someone educate me if and why I'm wrong please.

__________________
Mike


Livin the dream...

Back-in-Black

Geaux1,

Yep, the biggest axles I've ever personally seen with only 5 lugs are 3500 lb units. Also, 14" tires are NOT available (as far as I can tell) in load ranges higher than C. For that boat you will need at least D's with only 2 axles. The 15" D's I have are rated for 2540 lbs each giving a total capacity of 10,160 lbs with 4 tires.

Another way to fix the trailer would be to add a third axle to it. Spreads the load over more tires / bearings and axles. In the end, approximately a 33% deacrease in axle / tire / bearing loads. You would have to replace your fenders too and your trailer would need to be long enough to handle the 3rd axle.

I did this in a round about way with my trailer. Had a tandem axle trailer under my boat. Kept having blowouts. Between Goodyear Marathons (learned that lesson too) and under-rated trailer, the blowouts were a constant headache. I even upsized my tires and rims to 15" D's. The night I had a blowout on I-10 over the Bonnecarre' Spillway was the last trip for that trailer. Bought a new trailer with 3, 5200 lb torsion axles, 2 spare tires and 2 spare hub/bearing assemblies, Kodiak electric/hydraulic brakes etc. Total trailer load rating is now 14,000 lbs + and my boat's max weight loaded to the gills is probably only about 10,000 lbs. Now if I have a blowout on a stretch of elevated highway with nowhere to pull over, I can just keep going till I get somewhere I can stop. I'll probably trash a fender, but it beats hell out of the alternative. BTW, I'm in Baton Rouge and I tow to GI, 350 miles round trip. I go I-12 to I-55 to I-10 (Bonnecarre section) to I-310. About 60+ miles of elevated interstate with little to no shoulder all in one big, long stretch.

I used this overkill" philosophy on the trailer for my marsh boat too. I ordered the trailer with 2, 3500 torsion axles for a boat that probably weighs 2,000 lbs. The boat builder thought I was nuts! Earlier this summer, I lost a bearing while down in Houma. Yanked the tire off, threw it in the back of the truck and towed the boat the remaining 100 miles back to the house on 3 tires... no problem what-so-ever.




One more thing... STAY AWAY FROM Goodyear Marathons and ANY Carlisle tires.

__________________
Lot for sale in Grand Isle, LA
http://www.thehulltruth.com/gulf-coa...d-isle-la.html

25 Contender- twin 250XS

bamaboy473

FYI, geaux001, I just measured the frame on my 7500# trailer and the I-beams are 4"W by 6"H. Tire size is 205/75R15. Hope this helps.

Oh, and Back in Black.....the brand is Goodyear Marathon. Please call Loadmaster and read them the riot act for their choice.

What's the problem with them, wear or blowouts? Lucky I don't haul a long way, but it's good to know potential problems. What tires are safest from blowouts?

__________________
Rick
Alabama's Gulf Coast
Chaparral 240 Signature (Sold)

henryj5

Yes Carlisle tires, I haul 150 miles each way and during warmer months cant get there and back without 1 tire completly throwing the tread. Discount Tire replaces them for free but its still a pain.

Back-in-Black

Marathons? I thought almost everyone knew about them by now. Don't take my word for it, do a search... I'm not the only one who had problems with them!

__________________
Lot for sale in Grand Isle, LA
http://www.thehulltruth.com/gulf-coa...d-isle-la.html

25 Contender- twin 250XS

offshore3144

I have the original set of marathons on the 9800lb duel axle trailer for my 25 open and they still look brand new!! Trailer is three years old. I probrally have over 15000 miles on them. Mark

__________________