Boat Trailer Capacity

[Frank from TBay]

I am in the process of buying a new boat combo and am in search of some info on trailers for carrying the boat. The trailer the dealer is recommending is an 1800lb capacity. The problem that I have is that boat, motor ,fuel, ect weigh close to that. Is there a standard rule that one uses for picking a trailer such as 70% of anticipated weight or whatever. The boat we have finally settled on is a Lund 1675 Explorer.....Motor is a 90HP Honda. Any help is greatlt appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Frank

[Big Fish]

Considerable experience with trailers of various types has convinced me that the small price you pay for one size heavier is well worth it. The places we go with boat trailers in particular makes that even more true. (like sitting along side hwy. 599 south of Pickle Lake at 2am) I like your 75% rule. Just my opinion. cw

[bobco]

now is the time to get right trailer. A couple of hundred dollors now is a great piece of mind latter. If you are like me you can quickly add allot of wieght with tools,trolling motors electric and kicker, batterys, spare prop...it adds up quickly. And then if you make a long trip to Canada etc...you throw allot of stuff in the boat... get the extra capacity and never have to worry about trailer loading. I currently have a overloaded trailer and it is a pain in the **** , I bought the rig used , but if the origional owner would have spent a couple hundred dollors more it would have saved allot of headaches, Just do it! ps take the questioned boat to the local truck scale and see that it wieghs then figure your accecories....

[Stezostedion vitreum man]

The " rule of thumb " is to buy a trailer rated for twice the weight of your boat(with gas), motor, and accessories. You have to be careful, from what I read, not to buy a too oversized trailer, since the springs and other support mechanisms may be too stiff for a lighter boat to ride on the trailer correctly, and for the too rigid suspension (for the lighter weight boat and accessories) to absorb shock as it was designed to do.

For what it's worth, S.v.m

[Wade]

bobco is absolutely on the money! I, also, bought a used rig and the previous owner should have spent some more money on the trailer and got one with enough capacity. As it was , I was stranded with a blown tire on I-43 near Green Bay Wis. Not fun.
Since you can get your trailer now, be sure to allow for weight of boat, engine, all batteries, full load of fuel, trolling motors, kicker and then allow for all your fishing gear that can add up to hundreds of pounds with coolers, ice. Etc. Also allow for live wells being full of water for your return trip. Once you have done that -buy a trailer that will have an additional 25% reserve capacity. NOW you'll have a trailer that you won't have to worry about when you are on the road.
Check your tire pressures before you leave on a long trip.

[Stezostedion vitreum man]

Wade,

Just out of curosity, why would you have your live wells full on your return trip?

S.v.m

[THUMPER]

Good point..you don't want to spread any disease from lake to lake.

[Kaz]

The biggest trailer you can handle is the best advice. When I go to Canada I always take my own GAS!! Some of the resorts have alot of moisture in their tanks. I run a 165 merc which burns gas big time, on St. Joe to Broadrib and back. A 100 gals (in the boat when they ask) weighs 650 pounds. Plus all the gear, WOW, those poor tires. And yes, a blowout some where between Dryden and Pickle is not fun. Go for a tandum if you can. The springs don't work so hard either, plus it will tow better.Good luck FISHING....Kaz

[wally]

maybe to keep the fish alive till you get home and fillet them out i do it all the time when there is a long ride to home so you don't have to mess with cleaning them at the lake and then trying to package them up by the way go with a quality and as heavy as you can afford i have alot of the same problems second owner and the tralier is shiit.

[Stezostedion vitreum man]

Wally.

The reason I asked, is because in many states and in most parts of Canada it is illegal to transport live fish in a livewell off the lake. It may be legal in the state that your from, which is fine, but in areas where it is illegal, it makes no sense to travel with the extra weight of the water in your livewells and taking a chance of getting a fine if stopped on the highway for a fish check.

S.v.m

[RANGER]

I am in agreement with the 75% rule and that is what I use. Once boat, trailer, motor, batteries, fuel, fishing gear, downriggers' and balls, coolers and "equipment", are added to the totals, things push towards "maxed out" but I don't see it ever exceeding 175% of the trailer's capacity at this level. IMHO


RANGER


"KEEP YOUR LINES WET, YOUR POWDER DRY and THE BEER COLD"

[Don]

Don't go to big on the trailer capacity weight, because the heavier you go, the heavier the springs that support the load.If the springs get to heavy there will be a lot of damaging vibration on your boat.If you have an aluminum boat with ribbets, your probably going to loosen some ribbets.

[Fred_G]

Frank,

I just purchased a new Lund Angler 1700, which is very comparable to the 1675 Explorer. The trailer recommended by my dealer and Shorelander for my rig is a 2300 lbs trailer (SL 23BS). I certainly wouldn't go any less than this for your Explorer.

Fred