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i have the opportunity to get a 6400lb load capacity roller trailer with torsion axle and disk brakes. My boat is said to be 4500lbs, holds 110gal of fuel, and has a 600lb outboard. I figure that is 5800lbs leaving me with 600lbs for gear and misc. I much prefer a roller trailer. However, My boat came with a 7400lb bunk trailer with leaf springs and drum brakes and has never been used. Would i be cutting it too close with a 6400lb load capacity? I make one 4 hour trip a year to the cbbt and back and several 2 hour trips each way in the spring and fall. The balance of trailering is just short local hops if the boat isnt wet slipped. What do you think?
Stop right there. My boat was "said to be" 4,300 lb. After weighing it, it turned out to be at least 1,000 lb heavier than the manufacturer's published weight.
The only way to know how much the boat weighs is to tow it to a public scale and weigh it.
That said, you can "get by" with a trailer loaded to it's maximum rating. I wouldn't recommend it if you normally trailer long distances and/or trailer often or fast, but for occasional use and if you keep up with maintenance, brakes, tire pressure, etc. you'll be fine.
BTW: You will have trouble with drum brakes, no question. Letting them sit for weeks or months at a time will be worse than using the trailer every few days. Eventually, you will switch to disc brakes so figure that cost into your decision.
The people who made my boat said that at the time it sat on the trailer at their yard, it was about 5,000 lbs all - in. Since then, I've done nothing but add small stuff here and there. My bunk trailer is rated at 7,000 lbs but from what I understand, as the trailer weighs 1,040 lbs, I'm within around 500 lbs till capacity.
When I first got the boat/trailer, I towed it from FL to MA and did it easily and without a single incident or scare.
I wanted as much overkill on the trailer as I could get as it is what the boat gets moved around on so it is the first line of defense in keeping the boat in as good a shape for when it is stored out of the water or getting moved on the road so after doing all my research here on THT, I got a bunk trailer, made sure the bunks were made of cypress with the carpet left off the bottom of the bunks, I did see that the Cypress wood will probably outlast the trailer, I like this. I got the stainless steel hardware everywhere and Kodiak Stainless Steel rotors and calipers on all 4 wheels along with Torsion Axles. Even have Sierra Dry Launch lights all the way around and so far I have the best expereince every time I need to either haul or pull my boat anywhere.
B-Faith', you sound exactly like I did a little over a year ago when I agonized over bunk vs roller. I was so worried that I might either not get in or out at certain ramps at certain tides or at least would be made to wait, however, for every ramp I've been to and during any stage of tide, I have not had one single issue with getting on or off the trailer and now I'll never go back to a roller trailer.
Yeah, like Lone Ranger said, don't cut corners now, shoot, brand new boat?, get the best you can, you won't regret it. It is easy to say or type as it is not my/our money that I/we have to spend, but drum brakes and springs in 2008/2009? That would be like putting on a used 2-stroke outboard on your sweet new Judge, ha.
I would also check w/ Judge if you plan on storing your boat on the trailer. Some manufacturers only recommend bunk (no point loading) for long term storage.
I would be hesitant to cut it that close to capacity - best to give yourself some safety margin. Maybe see if Judge can work out a trade for you to upgrade your trailer a torsion/disc model at the higher capacity.
Judge is fine with rollers. They are all hand laid solid glass hulls. The office manager thought that I would be ok and noted that the main reason for the 7400# was due to length. It also allows for some margin of error. Unfortunately I already have an unused 7400lb bunk registered in my name for the boat. I just had a chance to get a used 6400lb like I had for my old boat at a fair price.
thundra - 9/30/2008 2:49 PMThe people who made my boat said that at the time it sat on the trailer at their yard, it was about 5,000 lbs all - in. Since then, I've done nothing but add small stuff here and there. My bunk trailer is rated at 7,000 lbs but from what I understand, as the trailer weighs 1,040 lbs, I'm within around 500 lbs till capacity. When I first got the boat/trailer, I towed it from FL to MA and did it easily and without a single incident or scare. I wanted as much overkill on the trailer as I could get as it is what the boat gets moved around on so it is the first line of defense in keeping the boat in as good a shape for when it is stored out of the water or getting moved on the road so after doing all my research here on THT, I got a bunk trailer, made sure the bunks were made of cypress with the carpet left off the bottom of the bunks, I did see that the Cypress wood will probably outlast the trailer, I like this. I got the stainless steel hardware everywhere and Kodiak Stainless Steel rotors and calipers on all 4 wheels along with Torsion Axles. Even have Sierra Dry Launch lights all the way around and so far I have the best expereince every time I need to either haul or pull my boat anywhere. B-Faith', you sound exactly like I did a little over a year ago when I agonized over bunk vs roller. I was so worried that I might either not get in or out at certain ramps at certain tides or at least would be made to wait, however, for every ramp I've been to and during any stage of tide, I have not had one single issue with getting on or off the trailer and now I'll never go back to a roller trailer. Yeah, like Lone Ranger said, don't cut corners now, shoot, brand new boat?, get the best you can, you won't regret it. It is easy to say or type as it is not my/our money that I/we have to spend, but drum brakes and springs in 2008/2009? That would be like putting on a used 2-stroke outboard on your sweet new Judge, ha.
Edit- Ive had it with these emoticons, how come they cant just work like they are supposed to??
Make sure that 6400lb trailer is not the total rating for the trailer. If it is then you are looking at only having about 5400lbs for your boat since the trailer will weigh at least 1000lbs most likely. If 6400lbs is the carrying capacity of the trailer for a boat, then the trailer should have a Combined Weight Rating around 7400-7500lbs or so. (includes weight of the trailer)
Trailering as far as you do, I would definitely go more conservative in your trailer. My brother had a roller trailer forever and then he got his 26ft Triton and it has a bunk trailer. He didn't have any issues getting used to the bunk trailer and actually likes it better than the rollers now.
Remember one thing here - the weight of the trailer needs to be factored into the entire weight... Based on the numbers, it would be too much weight.
Ditto what Keith91 said.
__________________ - Chris
Guess What?? I got a Fever.. And the only prescription is.. MORE COWBELL!
-2011 Blue Wave 2400 Pure Bay / Yamaha F300 4.2 with Command Link Plus
-2003 Sea Fox 195 Bayfisher - Mercury 125 Saltwater Classic (Sold)
-1994 Wellcraft V-20 Step Lift (Sold)
cutting it too close? 
