1850 Reata and tongue weight

[SD-walleye]

Thanks to everyone for the help.

Everyone's opinion seems to be the same and I did move the boat back ahead on the trailer. I contacted my local Ranger dealer and they said they have never been asked about moving a boat further back on the trailer and I should contact Ranger. I left a message for the Ranger service department and I tried to call them again and I received no help what so ever. Hopefully they get back to me. I am hoping to get to our local grain elevator and get the tongue weight measurements figured out.

The brake problem I had must have been a loose plug in connection, it worked fine today and it was a good day of fishing.

[bubba800]

FWIW, I wouldn't hesitate to move the post back. The dealer where my Lund originated seemed to know less about trailer set-up than they did about props, and that was pretty bad. I've got a Pro-V on an Eagle trailer and it was almost a two person job to lift the tongue. We began moving the post back until I had 170# on a bathroom scale which took a total movement of 7" back on the post. The bunks are 2" short of the back of the boat which doesn't harm a thing. This same dealer is selling Rangers and an acquaintances tandem axle was so bad that trying to reach the 70mph speed limit on I-35 would put it into such a violent sway that would swing his four-door Silverado from shoulder-to-shoulder. He had so much tongue weight it looked like he had dropped a skid-loader of gravel in the back of the truck. I don't know how much he has been able to adjust.

[Hot Runr Guy]

SD,
At the very least, drag a bathroom scale out to the garage, and measure the tongue weight. Ranger shows a 4500# GVWR rated single axle trailer on their site, so that tells me the rig may very well have an axle weight of 3800-4000#. 7% or so tongue weight puts you at 280#, which probably does feel heavy, but in the ballpark. You're not going to lift it up and drop it on the ball, unless you're Arnold Steakandegger.

HRG

[REW]

X10 on What Hot Run said.
Your tongue weight should be near the 300 lb weight with the weight of your rig and have it meet the 5-7% rule for weight.

I expect that that is exactly where your tongue weight is with the transom at the end of the bunks as was the case originally with your boat and trailer.

If you have sagging issues with your truck, just buy a good set of air shocks.

Air shocks can easily give you an extra 1000-2000 lbs of load carrying capacity.

Hook up the boat, load up the truck, and then pump up the shocks to the maximum rated pressure on the shocks or until the truck sits level.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MON-MA828/

[gillysmi]

i have 2012 1850 with single axle trailer. i can lift it up (barely) if i have to and put it on the ball. i am guessing the tongue weight at around 250-275lbs.

Also i pull a buddies 620 loaded up with my 1/2 all the time and it handles that very good. i dont think you have anything to worry about. just keep speeds within your trucks ability to safely tow it.

[jmill77]

just out of curiosity...would weight distributing hitch be worth looking into?
i havet seen many on boat trailers but i know it can be done.

[1860Angler]

Originally Posted by jmill77

just out of curiosity...would weight distributing hitch be worth looking into?
i havet seen many on boat trailers but i know it can be done.

Though it could be done in the OP's case it's not needed. A 1/2 Ton Truck can tow an 1850 all day long without any issues get some timbrens or air shocks if you think the truck is sagging to much, I have seen 1/2 Ton trucks pulling a lot bigger boats then an 1850 with no weight distribution. Everything that you are seeing is completely normal, hook up the boat, go to the lake, and have fun!!