Paul D Posted March 3, 2007 Report Posted March 3, 2007 Friday called PJ and we decided to pop down to Wick and move Neo from her old trailer to the new one. I couldn't have picked a worst day - torrential rain ( BTW: The flotation suit needs re-waterproofing ). New trailer is heavier to pull around than the old one but easier to pull as the wheels are 16 inch ones instead of the small ones I had on the old trailer. Swapped Neo over onto the new trailer and pulled her up the slip only to realise that the back of Neo was half way up the set of rollers and one of my trim tabs was now broken ( Strong plastic glue required for the strut - any tips ? ) Put trailer back in deep to float the boat off and then couldnt get the trailer back over the dropoff at the end - PJ's 4x4 entered action to save the day. ( My civic not having enough weight to pull the trailer over the drop-off - this "feature" at Wick is going to be interesting in the summer...... We moved the front post as far back as it would go and boat sits nicely on the trailer now. Returned home in horrendous, torrential conditions and I noticed traction was easily lost pulling the trailer ...... Many thanks to PJ for the help. Today :- Weighed the jockey wheel and found I had 185 KG of downforce - no wonder the car was stuggling for traction ! - Persuaded my son to come down to Wick where I moved the axle forward, re-adjusted the brakes and adjusted the rollers. Boat goes on and off the trailer with a slight shove now and towing feels so much safer - although I have to get used to the larger turning circle of the trailer. It is big enough to take a 590 as well - hmmm Quote
Paul D Posted March 3, 2007 Author Report Posted March 3, 2007 Side view ( look closely and you can see my broken trim tab ) Quote
Bob F Posted March 3, 2007 Report Posted March 3, 2007 Nice looking trailer, Paul. It looks a though it good a good, strong step by the wheel arches. Quote
Paul D Posted March 3, 2007 Author Report Posted March 3, 2007 Good strong steps although standing on top of the wheel arch itself doesn't look strong enough. Quote
Afishionado Posted March 4, 2007 Report Posted March 4, 2007 Is that oil dripping from the gear box on the e-tec Paul? Mad Mike Quote
alun j. Posted March 4, 2007 Report Posted March 4, 2007 Paul, I checked the weight under the jockey wheel on my trailer, following your earlier remark....... ...... 45 Kgs. Alun. Quote
Paul D Posted March 4, 2007 Author Report Posted March 4, 2007 Alun, Quite - I still have too much weight under the jockey wheel ( can only just lift it now ), so axle needs moving forward some more ( I can't push boat any further back ). Some "trimming" of the brake cables needed I think. Quote
Adam F Posted March 4, 2007 Report Posted March 4, 2007 Hmmm - the nose weight is obviously linked to the gross weight of the rig? We weighed OOTB yesterday - 45kgs - but this is far too light. The whole rig comes in at an estimated 1300kgs and begins to snake over 50mph - I really want 60-70kgs at the nose (which is what BW had) to stop snaking and give a steady tow. Quote
Paul D Posted March 4, 2007 Author Report Posted March 4, 2007 I too was thinking that Alun's 45 KG was a little light as usually around 75 KG is recommended. I haven't weighed the noseweight since I adjusted the axle but suspect it is still too much. Is 75 KG easy to lift ? Quote
Adam F Posted March 4, 2007 Report Posted March 4, 2007 Is 75 KG easy to lift Not really - its is 165lbs BW was 75kgs and it took a two handed left to put her on the hitch. It all depends on the boat and trailer set-up - my little box trailer has a hitch weight of about 20kgs and it tows not problem, but then the whole trailer even fully loaded is never over 200kgs... The heavier the trailer the more weight is needed on the nose to balance it up - I think.... Quote
Newboy Posted March 4, 2007 Report Posted March 4, 2007 Is 75 KG easy to lift Not really - its is 165lbs BW was 75kgs and it took a two handed left to put her on the hitch. It all depends on the boat and trailer set-up - my little box trailer has a hitch weight of about 20kgs and it tows not problem, but then the whole trailer even fully loaded is never over 200kgs... The heavier the trailer the more weight is needed on the nose to balance it up - I think.... It also depends on the towing vehicle too, heavier it is, more it can 'ullies' the trailer. When I was towing Sweet Honey with the Passat, it gets uncomfortable at around 60mph, but once I switched it to the Toyota, it towed easily at 70. Quote
charlieannear Posted March 5, 2007 Report Posted March 5, 2007 And for bonus points, the speed limts when towing a trailer are? Quote
Paul D Posted March 5, 2007 Author Report Posted March 5, 2007 60 on the motorway and 50 on single lane roads. Kam is obviously referring to another country. Surely, no-one would tow over 60 MPH in the UK Quote
great white Posted March 5, 2007 Report Posted March 5, 2007 Says a man that no other Member could catch on the M5 to Burnham on Sea charlie Quote
charlieannear Posted March 5, 2007 Report Posted March 5, 2007 Those aren't trim tabs on Neo, they're elevators! Quote
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