[Rhodes22-list] Almost perfect as can be - trailer

Tue Sep 15 19:23:13 EDT 2020

I have a 2012 3.6L 4x4 overland.  It moves the boat well, torque at the
ramp is good.   Towing... I might not say "it tows fine" because I can't do
70.

 When we bought her I used a 6.6 LML duramax GMC and had to slow down at
85, that was from Oregon to Wisconsin in July.

Jeep weighs about the same as my boat and trailer.

I'm shopping for a v8.

I have had several older grand cherokee a. (95-2004) and they would tow
better than this Mercedes.

On Tue, Sep 15, 2020, 5:43 PM Chris Geankoplis <chrisgeankoplis at gmail.com>
wrote:

> I've towed my 2nd Rhodes from east coast to west coast then in and out of
> the Cascades several times a year, towed up to Canada several times from
> Oregon, and down to Mexico several times then back to the East coast.
> Definitely you need a minimum of 10% tongue weight.  I towed with more as
> my boat was full of VIC ( very important crap).  I always took the motor
> off and usually on all the long hauls, I mounted it up on the tongue
> upright and the rudder flat on the frame by the tongue.  Never had a
> problem in all that time.  I towed with a 6cyl F150 and Switched to an F250
> 6 litre diesel which was a dream.
> Chris Geankoplis
> Enosis
>
> On Tue, Sep 15, 2020 at 4:23 PM Jesse Shumaker <
> jesse.laten.shumaker at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Rob, thanks for the info.
> >
> > On Tue, Sep 15, 2020 at 3:20 PM Lowe, Rob <rlowe at vt.edu> wrote:
> >
> > > Jesse,
> > > I've got a 1999 Grand Cherokee with a V-8 and factory installed tow
> > > package rated at 5,000 pounds.  It's adequate. - Rob
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Rhodes22-list <rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org> On Behalf Of
> > > Jesse Shumaker
> > > Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2020 4:00 PM
> > > To: The Rhodes 22 Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> > > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Almost perfect as can be - trailer
> > >
> > > Tom, do you find that the Grand Cherokee to be up to the job of towing?
> > > What kind of engine / trim level do you have?  Eventually I may get a
> > used
> > > tow vehicle and the Grand Cherokee was on the list of candidates.  We
> > live
> > > in a condo and have limited parking space in a garage so a Grand
> Cherokee
> > > would probably fit better than a truck.
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Jesse Shumaker
> > > S/V Zephyr
> > >
> > > On Tue, Sep 15, 2020 at 2:49 PM Tom Van Heule <
> > > tom.vanheule at intrinsicprograms.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > > I agree this has been valuable. Thank you everyone.
> > > >
> > > >  I wonder about the track geometry.  My trailer has a wider track
> than
> > > the
> > > > grand cherokee.  After about 55 I get some wagging.   But from the
> 10%
> > > > tongue weight math I am still missing 150#. Probably exposing my
> great
> > > > depth of knowledge... I will look at quick release tiller so the
> > > > rudder+ can travel ahead of the axle at least... I'm not too exited ,
> > > > although it's cool and functional, of the idea of remounting the
> > > > outboard as the connections stand.
> > > >
> > > > Aside, Does anyone have resources or tips on welding repairs for the
> > > > galvanized trailer? I understand to grind away all zinc and use a
> cold
> > > > galvanized paint.
> > > >
> > > > On Tue, Sep 15, 2020, 2:21 PM Scott Andrews via Rhodes22-list <
> > > > rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > I am glad to read this exchange as I am hoping to get to Stan’s
> next
> > > > month
> > > > > and bring home a winter project. I haven’t done any highway towing
> > > > > for a long time. The last thing I need is swaying at those speeds.
> > > Thanks all.
> > > > > Scott A.
> > > > >
> > > > > Sent from my iPhone
> > > > >
> > > > > > On Sep 15, 2020, at 9:48 AM, ROGER PIHLAJA <
> roger_pihlaja at msn.com>
> > > > > wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Graham,
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I just measured my tongue weight at 343 lbs using a digital
> > > > > > bathroom
> > > > > scale under the tongue jack.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Remember, if you build some sort of bracket for your outboard on
> > > > > > the
> > > > > tongue and stow it up there, you will get a much greater increase
> on
> > > > tongue
> > > > > weight vs. just removing the motor from the transom.  Just this one
> > > > change
> > > > > would get you pretty close to where you should be.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Roger Pihlaja
> > > > > > S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986>
> for
> > > > > Windows 10
> > > > > >
> > > > > > From: Graham Stewart<mailto:gstewart8 at cogeco.ca>
> > > > > > Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2020 9:41 AM
> > > > > > To: 'The Rhodes 22 Email List'<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
> >
> > > > > > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Almost perfect as can be - trailer
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Roger:
> > > > > > I am going to remove the motor and check the tongue weight again
> > > > > > to see
> > > > > what
> > > > > > the difference is. I am thinking that the standard old Rhodes 22,
> > > > > > motor
> > > > > and
> > > > > > trailer would weigh about 3200 lbs so the tongue weight should be
> > > > > > at
> > > > > least
> > > > > > 320 lbs - which seems like a lot to me.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > If anyone knows their tongue weight it might be helpful to me and
> > > > others
> > > > > if
> > > > > > they post it to da list.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Graham Stewart
> > > > > > gstewart8 at cogeco.ca
> > > > > >
> > > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > > From: Rhodes22-list [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org]
> On
> > > > > Behalf Of
> > > > > > ROGER PIHLAJA
> > > > > > Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2020 8:54 AM
> > > > > > To: The Rhodes 22 Email List
> > > > > > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Almost perfect as can be - trailer
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Graham,
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Given everything you've tried that didn't work, I am left with
> > > > suggesting
> > > > > > your bunks need to be moved forward.  It doesn't need to be much,
> > > > > probably
> > > > > > only a couple of inches.  By any chance, could you move the bunk
> > > > supports
> > > > > > from the aft side of the trailer crossmembers to the front side?
> > > > > > If
> > > > the
> > > > > > bunk supports are already on the front side of the crossmembers;
> > > > > > then,
> > > > > you
> > > > > > will have to fabricate spacers and use longer grade 8 bolts to
> > > > > > move the bunks forward.  The general rule of thumb is that you
> > > > > > should have =>
> > > > 10%
> > > > > of
> > > > > > the trailer weight on the tongue for high speed stability.  Your
> > > > trailer
> > > > > is
> > > > > > way short of that.  My wife won't let me have the excitement of
> > > > > > having
> > > > > the
> > > > > > boat & trailer start to wag the tow vehicle on the expressway!
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Some other solutions would be to remove weight from the stern,
> > > > > > like
> > > > > removing
> > > > > > the outboard and stowing it on the tongue.  You could always tow
> > > > > > with a
> > > > > full
> > > > > > water tank &/or move everything from the lazarette compartment to
> > > > > > the V-berth.  But, all these solutions add time and royal PITA
> > > > > > factor to
> > > > > rigging
> > > > > > and unrigging.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Roger Pihlaja
> > > > > > S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986>
> for
> > > > > Windows
> > > > > > 10
> > > > > >
> > > > > > From: Graham Stewart<mailto:gstewart8 at cogeco.ca>
> > > > > > Sent: Monday, September 14, 2020 10:29 PM
> > > > > > To: 'The Rhodes 22 Email List'<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
> >
> > > > > > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Almost perfect as can be - trailer
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Now that I compare the picture of my boat with that of Optopian
> it
> > > > seems
> > > > > > that it is just as far forward so maybe it isn't as bad as I
> > thought.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Graham Stewart
> > > > > > Agile, Rodes 22, 1976
> > > > > > Kingston Ontario
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > > From: Rhodes22-list [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org]
> On
> > > > > Behalf Of
> > > > > > Graham Stewart
> > > > > > Sent: Monday, September 14, 2020 9:45 PM
> > > > > > To: 'The Rhodes 22 Email List'
> > > > > > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Almost perfect as can be - trailer
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I am one of those who has never been able to get my boat
> > > > > > sufficiently forward on the trailer. When I winch in the boat at
> > > > > > the launch ramp the
> > > > > bow
> > > > > > eye goes under the bow brace even when it is fully retracted. As
> a
> > > > > result I
> > > > > > can't pull the boat in all the way.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > After leaving the ramp on to level ground of the boat the bow
> > > > > > moves up putting enormous pressure on the front of the boat. If I
> > > > > > relieve the
> > > > > strain
> > > > > > on the winch the bow of the boat moves up and back. I took a
> > > > > > picture of
> > > > > the
> > > > > > winch and brace after retrieving the boat today and attach it
> > > > > > here. I
> > > > > also
> > > > > > weighed the tongue with the motor still on the transom. I think
> it
> > > > > should be
> > > > > > heavier that 140 lbs.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Any suggestions would be welcome.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Graham Stewart
> > > > > > Agile, Rodes 22, 1976
> > > > > > Kingston Ontario
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > > From: Rhodes22-list [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org]
> On
> > > > > Behalf Of
> > > > > > Lowe, Rob
> > > > > > Sent: Monday, September 14, 2020 11:43 AM
> > > > > > To: The Rhodes 22 Email List
> > > > > > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Almost perfect as can be - trailer
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Tom,
> > > > > > First off, sorry about your mishaps.   I've done the same thing
> > sort
> > > > of.
> > > > > > Set the keel down on the guide bunks and broke one.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Your need to get the support welded.  Make sure they weld it at
> > > > > > the
> > > > same
> > > > > > angle as it was.  I think they angle out a bit and the guy who
> > > > > > welded
> > > > > mine
> > > > > > made it vertical, which meant the keel no long would fit between
> > > > > > the
> > > > > boards.
> > > > > > I ended up replacing the 2 inch boards with 1 inch boards so the
> > > > > > keel
> > > > > would
> > > > > > fit.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Now to get the boat centered, I 'think' it was Stan that shared
> > > > > > this
> > > > > wisdom.
> > > > > > Leave your centerboard down when retrieving.  The centerboard
> will
> > > > > > help guide the boat into position on the trailer.  Once centered
> > > > > > and winched
> > > > > in ,
> > > > > > PULL THE BOARD BACK UP.  Does anyone else do it this way? It sure
> > > > > > works
> > > > > for
> > > > > > me.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Rob
> > > > > >
> > > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > > From: Rhodes22-list <rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org> On
> Behalf
> > > > > > Of
> > > > > Tom
> > > > > > Van Heule
> > > > > > Sent: Sunday, September 13, 2020 12:31 PM
> > > > > > To: The Rhodes 22 Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> > > > > > Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Almost perfect as can be - trailer
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Today I went to the up a launch lane to practice retrieval and
> > > > launching
> > > > > our
> > > > > > boat Octopian. In the morning I had about negative 80lbs tounge
> > > > > > weight,
> > > > > the
> > > > > > aft port window centered above the axle.  Rudder and 8hp 4 stroke
> > > > > > on
> > > > the
> > > > > > back. Mast down on the crutch and attached to the bow pulpit.
> > > > > > Single
> > > > > axle.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Now see where the aft port is related to the axle.
> > > > > > We have about 120lbs of tounge weight now! Pulled remarkedly
> > better.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > You may ask yourself.... Why almost perfect then?
> > > > > > We cracked one of the keel alignment bunks :(
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Let's share our tips for getting her just right in the bunks? I
> > > > > > don't
> > > > > see a
> > > > > > lot of retrieval or launching threads on the archive.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I found that winching her tight before de-floating, with the stem
> > > > crotch
> > > > > > full retracted worked perfect.
> > > > > > Just make sure you give her time to settle in the bunk, it's not
> a
> > > > > tractor
> > > > > > pull...
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Hope everyone had a great weekend.
> > > > > > Tom
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