Dual axle trailer question |
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JPASS
Grand Poobah Joined: June-17-2013 Location: Orlando Status: Offline Points: 2283 |
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No Pete, I took the measurements from the sidewalls. I can definitely check them again from the wheels. I was unable to jack the trailer and check the bearings as I was limited on time, but that's my next step as I was planning on servicing the bearings being that I have no idea of their current condition since we purchased the boat back in August. I need to get the rear seal size, so I can replace them anyway, so I'll need to remove the wheels sooner or later anyway. The only consistent thing I keep hearing between this site and the Sea Doo site is that the tires that come with these trailers are as cheap as they come. I believe they're $60 with the wheel as opposed to $70 - $100 just for the radial tires. I was also told these trailers have little to no way to adjust them. I did climb under there and measure the distance between the front and rear axles as close to the trailer frame as possible and the distance between them was exactly the same. |
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'92 Correctcraft Ski Nautique
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41040 |
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JP,
Do check from the rims and not from the tires. |
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JPASS
Grand Poobah Joined: June-17-2013 Location: Orlando Status: Offline Points: 2283 |
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Will do. Still planning on bringing the trailer up to Ramlin for a second opinion. Question: I was planning on only swapping the rear axles with new radials as the fronts are in great shape. Any problems with running the 2 different type of tires? Yes, ideally I should swap them all out, but money is a bit tight at the moment as I'm swapping out all 4 tires on my car in the next week or so, plus the 2 on the trailer. 6 tires is already pretty expensive, let alone 8 new ones. It also doesn't help that we're in the middle of a master bath remodel that has us hemorrhaging more cash then we anticipated as well. Fun fun fun |
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'92 Correctcraft Ski Nautique
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DayTony
Gold Member Joined: June-30-2013 Location: Salem MA Status: Offline Points: 831 |
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By your measurements it would seem all the tires are favoring one direction.
Similar to this ^ / / / / def want to make sure you are not overlooking some worn components. especially on pass side. these measurements are consistent of the axle being pushed back on that one side slightly. (judging by your measurements you are def not looking at huge changes/adjustments) Throw a tape measure on the tongue and measure back to the spindles or axles on either side, they should be close. That small amount of difference could be getting thrown off if your on a hill too. EDIT* just noticed page 2. and that you measured to the tires not the wheel. the rubber is not a good thing to judge off. |
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1988 Barefoot nautique-454
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DayTony
Gold Member Joined: June-30-2013 Location: Salem MA Status: Offline Points: 831 |
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on that point, you are probably going to get a lot of don't do it or you shouldn't.IMO They are not going to fail as a direct cause of running them at the same time. they may wear differently but the reality is, most trailer tires become unusable from dry rot way before they ever wear to the point of needing replacement. so i would bolt them up and press on. definately measure up and make sure everything is within reasonable alignment too. |
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1988 Barefoot nautique-454
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41040 |
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JP,
I don't feel it's a good idea to mix tires especially radials with bias. Since you say funds are tight at the moment, how about rotating the existing tires. Swap them in an X pattern just like a car and then put on some miles. See if the left rear tread scrubs the same on the rotated tire. |
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JPASS
Grand Poobah Joined: June-17-2013 Location: Orlando Status: Offline Points: 2283 |
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After the last post about bias vs radials, I'm thinking maybe sticking with the bias ply. I do have a new tire and wheel coming Monday or Tuesday.
The majority of our boating is done on local lakes (less than 30 miles away and mostly side streets). So far we've had no issues when trailering and she rides smooth and tracks nice and straight. Maybe 5 or 6 times a year we will be hitting the East coast (approximately 120 mile round trip). I'd say we put about 1000-1500 miles on the trailer each year. Ugh.....what a PIA. |
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'92 Correctcraft Ski Nautique
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81nautique
Grand Poobah Joined: September-03-2005 Location: Big Rock, Il Status: Online Points: 5771 |
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I'm in the Radial tire camp for my boats. After having been talked into a set of bias ply tires for the Hurricane a few years ago i can say I will never put bias on anything where ride quality is a concern. In my opinion bias plys are probably fine for utility trailers like a landscaper would use but they are not suited for something you have to tow over the road like to a reunion especially at highway speeds.
Seems no matter what you do with air pressure they ride like a brick and are noisy as heck, you can feel every crack in the road at the steering wheel, Plus they don't last nearly as long as radials do. After just 2 seasons on the Hurricane tires I replaced them all with a new set of radials, One tow and the difference is amazing, I'm not seeing the huge price difference either as radials cost about 25% more but last 3 times as long. Never again will I use bias tires on a trailer unless I retire and start cutting lawns for gas money. |
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JPASS
Grand Poobah Joined: June-17-2013 Location: Orlando Status: Offline Points: 2283 |
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If the trailer turns out not having an alignment issue and it's simply the bias ply tires, then I'll switch to radials. I have time off on the 15th. I'm going to see if I can schedule an appointment with Ramlin to rule out any other issues. I really appreciate all of the feedback. |
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'92 Correctcraft Ski Nautique
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41040 |
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Alan,
Is it possible that you are over sprung on the Hurricane trailer? With my X55 trailer, it too ran like a rock when I first used it. I took a look at the boat and sprung trailer weight and ended up putting a set of 2500lb mono springs on the trailer. Wow, BIG difference! Typically trailers come through with springs to match the axle rating without consideration of what you put on the trailer. BTW, the trailer has bias tires on it! |
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81nautique
Grand Poobah Joined: September-03-2005 Location: Big Rock, Il Status: Online Points: 5771 |
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I pulled a leaf out of each spring last year Pete, it's much better but still a bit too much spring for the boat but despite that there is no disputing the difference between how each style of tire runs. I run 65-70 mph on several trips of over 1500 miles round trip each year. The bias are just not the right tire for that kind of use. We're leaving for the River Run in a few weeks and that will be 2400 miles, To Jpass situation with his short hauls I wouldn't be as critical for the short term fix but would plan for a good set of radials down the road. |
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Gary S
Grand Poobah Joined: November-30-2006 Location: Illinois Status: Offline Points: 14096 |
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I agree,,just rotate them for now. A month ago I was moving the Shamrock around but did not check the tire pressure on them. With the front mounted hitch I was able to see everything that was going on. Those tires being 10 lbs down looked as if they were going to roll right off the rims as I turned,pretty scary to watch those forces at work. Since I had no room to bring down the Nautiques tires I decided not to bring it up to Astor. |
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JPASS
Grand Poobah Joined: June-17-2013 Location: Orlando Status: Offline Points: 2283 |
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Took the trailer up to Ramlin Trailers today for a second opinion. Tech said everything was aligned properly and that that left rear was more than likely the "pivot tire" hence the excessive wear. At this point I'll replace the 2 rears with 2 new bias plies and rotate them regularly until they're all worn, then replace all 4 with radials.
He took several measurements to check for obvious alignment issues and everything was spot on. He also said I could always ditch the tandem axle set-up and go with a heavy (5200lb) single axle set-up if I got sick of the tandem set-up. He said it would cost about $1000. At least I have options in the future if I get sick of the tandem st-up. |
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'92 Correctcraft Ski Nautique
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41040 |
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JP,
I sure like the idea of going single. I hate tandems unless weight dictates they are absolutely needed. |
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Orlando76
Grand Poobah Joined: May-21-2013 Location: Mount Dora, FL Status: Offline Points: 3108 |
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I always go for fewer axles but larger axles. Less problems all the way around.
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1976 Ski Nautique 351 Escort 1993 Ski Nautique purple and black 351 HO PCM |
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63 Skier
Grand Poobah Joined: October-06-2006 Location: Concord, NH Status: Offline Points: 4234 |
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I'd normally say don't take a perfectly good and functional trailer and modify it, but if you have no choice but to make that tight turn it would be worth it to have the single axle, would solve that tough, tight turn with the wheels binding.
Question - I looked at the driveway pictures again. Could you approach at a shallower angle by letting the tires roll across the corner of the lawn? You could drop a 4x8 sheet of 3/8" plywood over it before backing in if you didn't want to tear it up. I bet it would take a lot of the bind out of the turn. |
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'63 American Skier - '98 Sport Nautique
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JPASS
Grand Poobah Joined: June-17-2013 Location: Orlando Status: Offline Points: 2283 |
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I absolutely could do that with a sheet of plywood. The reason I never did was because there are 2 water meter boxes there and didn't want to possibly drop a wheel into one of the boxes should I break the cover. Plus I also have irrigation in that corner as well. The street is quite narrow compared to others. For instance, my brother's street is a little over 30' wide, where mine is roughly 21-22'. The extra 8 feet would certainly make my life easier. I'll swap out the rears with 2 new tires and see how much life I get out of them, then I'll replace all with the radials and see how long they last. If I continue to burn through them quickly, the single axle may be a cheaper option long term. |
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'92 Correctcraft Ski Nautique
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Hollywood
Moderator Group Joined: February-04-2004 Location: Twin Lakes, WI Status: Offline Points: 13512 |
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you're in FL. st augustine grass? roll right over it no plywood needed
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Orlando76
Grand Poobah Joined: May-21-2013 Location: Mount Dora, FL Status: Offline Points: 3108 |
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Ha, yeah right. |
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1976 Ski Nautique 351 Escort 1993 Ski Nautique purple and black 351 HO PCM |
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JPASS
Grand Poobah Joined: June-17-2013 Location: Orlando Status: Offline Points: 2283 |
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4500 lbs tends to rut the crap outta any grass down here. Especially my lawn being that the soil is on the wet, mucky side. |
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'92 Correctcraft Ski Nautique
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quinner
Grand Poobah Joined: October-12-2005 Location: Unknown Status: Offline Points: 5828 |
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Just mount some air shocks on the rear axle, when u get home jack the crap out of it until the other tires are unloaded and back her in
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Hollywood
Moderator Group Joined: February-04-2004 Location: Twin Lakes, WI Status: Offline Points: 13512 |
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stop watering?
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Orlando76
Grand Poobah Joined: May-21-2013 Location: Mount Dora, FL Status: Offline Points: 3108 |
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If you walk the same path twice on St. Augustine it's dead and doesn't re-seed.
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Please support The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
1976 Ski Nautique 351 Escort 1993 Ski Nautique purple and black 351 HO PCM |
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JPASS
Grand Poobah Joined: June-17-2013 Location: Orlando Status: Offline Points: 2283 |
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Lol. I rarely ever have to water the lawn........because the soil is so mucky. The irrigation was there before we ever moved in. We may water the lawn 10 times a year at the most. |
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'92 Correctcraft Ski Nautique
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Hollywood
Moderator Group Joined: February-04-2004 Location: Twin Lakes, WI Status: Offline Points: 13512 |
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but you're worried about breaking it
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JPASS
Grand Poobah Joined: June-17-2013 Location: Orlando Status: Offline Points: 2283 |
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Yup. Cause then I'll have to fix it for the few times I do decide to water the lawn. I was more concerned about breaking the water meter boxes than the irrigation. A sprinkler head is way cheaper than a water meter. |
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'92 Correctcraft Ski Nautique
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