[Rhodes22-list] Tongue Weight
Rik Sandberg
sanderico@earthlink.net
Fri, 13 Dec 2002 21:11:28 -0600
Todd,
The issue with loading an R 22 isn't really that it can't be gotten far
enough ahead on the trailer. It can be set plenty far ahead.....that is, if
you could set it wherever you wanted to. Like if you used a travelift to
set your boat on the trailer. I suspect that you could actually get the
boat too far ahead in that case.
The tongue weight (or lack of it) problem comes from when you float the
boat onto the trailer while the trailer sits on the ramp at a fairly large
downward angle. You can run the boat ahead, all the way to the fully
retracted bow stop and winch her tight there. Now remember, your trailer is
angled down while your boat is sitting pretty much water level. Your bow
eye is also lower in relation to the winch than it will be when you have
pulled up the ramp and are on level ground, probably 6 or 8 inches below
the bottom of the winch. As you begin to pull your boat and trailer from
the water, the first part of the trailer to lift the hull will be the very
front of the trailer bunks. None of the rest of the bunks are even close to
the hull. The further you pull the boat ahead the further the boat will
rock back. When the boat finally settles onto the back of the bunks she
will have rocked back away from the bow stop a foot or better and the bow
eye will be about level with the top of the winch. This is where the tongue
weight problems come from. Somehow you need to be able to keep the boat up
closer to the bow stop. It is very difficult to get an R 22 to slide ahead
on the bunks once you have pulled her out of the water, she's just too heavy.
I have done a couple of things that have helped this situation a little
bit. I have an adjustable height hitch head that I lower to the lowest
setting when I launch/retrieve. This is about 8 inches lower than my normal
towing height. I also changed the axle, springs and replaced the 15 inch
tires and wheels with 16 inch tires and wheels, making the back of the
trailer a few inches higher. Both of these things help to lessen the
difference in the angle between the boat and the trailer while on the ramp.
I believe that this has allowed me to keep the boat (doesn't have as far to
rock back) about 6 inches further ahead than I could before I did these
things. Oh, and a 2000 lb, two speed winch doesn't hurt either. I can now
raise the bow a couple more inches, once it comes up against the bow stop.
This might not make a lot of sense to you yet, but when you load your boat
on a ramp the first time you'll see what I mean.
Not sure but I think there might be something in the FAQ about this too.
Rik
At 09:05 PM 12/13/2002 -0500, you wrote:
>Bob and List etal,
>
> Again.....me being the novice here....I have to ask the list; Is the
>tongue weight/boat placement a universal problem with the Triad trailers?
>Is this an issue with single axle, double axles or both? I am modifying
>a roller trailer to match the exact dimensions of Lloyd Crother's single
>axle Triad trailer and I hope to get it right the first time out. I am
>assuming that this is a weight to axle problem and not as much a bunkboard
>placement issue? Moving the boat (and bunkboards) 8-12" forward in
>relationship to the axle would work out much better and save me lots work.
>
> Additionally, the two Triad trailers I measured both had bunk boards
> exactly 6" wide. Will I be ok using off the shelf 2 x 8's or should I
> try to rip them down to 6"?
>
> Any info will be helpful before I start cutting and drilling.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Todd
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Bob Keller" <r22yankeeclipper@hotmail.com>
>Date: Fri, 13 Dec 2002 11:13:53 -0500
>To: rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org
>Subject: RE: [Rhodes22-list] Tongue Weight
>
> > Joe & Paul,
> > I wrestled with this same problem with my 1995 and Trailmaster trailer. I
> > had no more adjustment left in the slider part of the bow stop, so I had a
> > guy cut off the whole bow stop assembly and reweld it a foot further ahead
> > on the trailer. Now I can adjust the arm of the bow stop and actually
> moved
> > the boat forward about 8 inches. I move the rudder to the V-berth and
> leave
> > the motor on the stern and it is balanced perfectly and trailers in excess
> > of 62mph easily. I also have my spare tire on the tongue. Tried leaving
> > the rudder on the stern, but it was too much weight anf fishtailed.
> >
> > Just thought I would share how I solved my problem.
> > Bob K
> > Marietta, GA
> > s/v Yankee Clipper
> > Lake Hartwell
> >
> >
> > >From: Paul Grandholm <paul@mi.chtechnology.com>
> > >Reply-To: paul@mi.chtechnology.com,The Rhodes 22 mail list
> > ><rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org>
> > >To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org>
> > >Subject: RE: [Rhodes22-list] Tongue Weight
> > >Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2002 11:20:01 -0500
> > >
> > >Joe,
> > >
> > > It doesn't seem to me that adding weight to the front of the
> > >trailer, just to try to achieve proper balance, is the best alternative.
> > >Eliminate weight from the rear or shift it from the rear to the front if
> > >necessary (motor & rudder being the most obvious). Of course we'd all be
> > >better off if we could just figure out an easy way to get the gosh darn
> > >boat all the way forward on the trailer.
> > >
> > >Paul
> > > >
> > > >Rummy, I'm talking about the water tank in the boat. Not an external
> > >tank,
> > > >although that does bring up a possible point. I also thought about
> > >making a
> > > >mount for the motor under the bow, on the front of the trailer. Just
> > > >thinking...
> > > >
> > > >Joe
> > > >
> > > >-----Original Message-----
> > > >From: R22RumRunner@aol.com [mailto:R22RumRunner@aol.com]
> > > >Sent: Thursday, December 12, 2002 9:56 AM
> > > >To: rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org
> > > >Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Tongue Weight
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >Joe,
> > > >Where would you mount a tank and how much water or liquid would you
> use?
> > >A
> > > >gallon of liquid weighs approximately 8 pounds, so any significant gain
> > > >would
> > > >take a lot of water/volume. Also, think about a very heavy water
> > >projectile
> > > >should it come loose while trailering or in a panic stop situation.
> > > >I think you are further ahead by doing what we already know to put
> weight
> > >on
> > > >
> > > >the tongue.
> > > >
> > > >Rummy
> > > >_________________________________________________
> > > >Use Rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> > > >
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> > >
> > >========================
> > >Paul Grandholm
> > >C&H Technology
> > >GrandPower Components Div.
> > >========================
> > >_________________________________________________
> > >Use Rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >
> >
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