[Rhodes22-list] Axle location

Fri May 21 15:56:40 EDT 2021

Speaking from experience weighing trailers for reimbursement on moving
costs, there are alot more public scales around than you think.  I weighed
at pilot gas stations, places with dump trucks.  Just google public scales
on google maps.

On Fri, May 21, 2021, 15:47 Steven Alm <stevenalm at gmail.com> wrote:

> Roger. Yes, Fandango is a "newer" 1990 with IMF. In calculating my 10%
> wouldn't I also include the trailer weight? In that case I'm probably up
> around 4000 or more. Do you happen to know if just anyone can pull into a
> truck weigh station on the interstate? I don't know where else I could
> weigh.
>
> On Fri, May 21, 2021 at 2:21 PM ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Cary,
> >
> > Agreed!  This is yet another reason to have a tandem axle trailer.
> >
> > Roger Pihlaja
> > S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> >
> > Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
> > Windows 10
> >
> > From: Cary Tolbert<mailto:retiredtoby at gmail.com>
> > Sent: Friday, May 21, 2021 3:00 PM
> > To: The Rhodes 22 Email List<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Axle location
> >
> > For what it is worth, LOW tire pressure on the trailer will also affect
> the
> > sway.  Yeah, been there.
> > Cary.
> >
> > On Fri, May 21, 2021, 2:41 PM ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > > Slim,
> > >
> > > As I recall, Fandango is a newer R-22 with IMF mainsail and a much
> > fancier
> > > interior.  Your boat and trailer probably weighs more than 3100 lbs
> when
> > > rigged for trailering with full tanks and the outboard mounted on the
> > > transom.  3600 lbs wouldn’t surprise me; but, I would get it weighed to
> > be
> > > certain.  Then, I would use the > 10% of the gross trailer weight
> > criteria
> > > for the minimum tongue weight.  If it’s stable on the highway; then,
> you
> > > have enough tongue weight and might be able to back off a little.  But,
> > > having the trailer go into a death sway on the expressway is
> terrifying!
> > > So, be careful.  On my boat/trailer combination, the worst case
> scenarios
> > > are strong crosswinds &/or the shockwave from a passing truck.  The
> > trailer
> > > might be nominally stable only to fail an “insult test” and go into a
> bad
> > > wobble.  My wife won’t allow me to have that kind of excitement!  If
> the
> > > present tongue weight isn’t causing some other issue, like something
> > > rubbing or dragging on the ground, what’s the incentive for reducing
> the
> > > tongue weight?
> > >
> > > Roger Pihlaja
> > > S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> > >
> > > Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
> > > Windows 10
> > >
> > > From: Steven Alm<mailto:stevenalm at gmail.com>
> > > Sent: Friday, May 21, 2021 12:50 PM
> > > To: The Rhodes 22 Email List<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> > > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Axle location
> > >
> > > This discussion has made me curious, and after seeing Todd's drawing I
> > went
> > > out and measured and yes, my front axle is 6" in front of what his
> > drawing
> > > shows, and my rear axle is 36" behind that. But Roger, you now have me
> > > wondering if my tongue weight is too much. I haven't taken the bathroom
> > > scale to it — and I will — but if it's more than approx. 310 lbs,
> > wouldn't
> > > I be able to achieve that by loading the boat a little farther back?
> That
> > > would be easy to do and I could be pretty exact by positioning the bow
> > stop
> > > slightly rearward when I load. Thanks.
> > >
> > > Slim
> > > Fandango
> > >
> > > On Fri, May 21, 2021 at 10:26 AM Graham Stewart <gstewart8 at cogeco.ca>
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Perfect. Thanks Roger. That is much simpler than what I had
> imagined. I
> > > > appreciate your patience as now that I see it, it should have been
> > > obvious
> > > > to me.
> > > >
> > > > My boat has always had a full marine toilet and holding tank. When I
> > got
> > > > my boat about 26 years ago the holding tank was immediately behind
> the
> > > > V-birth and there was no water tank on the boat nor was there any
> > obvious
> > > > place where one had been even though there was a deck fill. After my
> > > > rebuild I replaced the old metal, and leaking, holding tank with a
> > > smaller
> > > > poly tank in the same place as the previous tank had been but I also
> > had
> > > > room for my battery. Because I just day sail in recent years my
> holding
> > > > tank is empty all of the time - so no weight there to speak of.
> > > >
> > > > For water I am using a removable jerry can that stays below the sink
> > > > midship on the starboard side. Again, there is rarely any water in
> it.
> > > When
> > > > I need water I just take the can up to my house and fill what I
> need. I
> > > > have a deck fill installed but it is easier to just fill the tank
> given
> > > > that my boat is docked in front of my house.
> > > >
> > > > Where is your water tank located?
> > > >
> > > > Graham Stewart
> > > > Agile, Rodes 22, 1976
> > > > Kingston Ontario
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: Rhodes22-list [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On
> > > Behalf
> > > > Of ROGER PIHLAJA
> > > > Sent: Friday, May 21, 2021 8:03 AM
> > > > To: The Rhodes 22 Email List
> > > > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Axle location
> > > >
> > > > Graham,
> > > >
> > > > You will need a bathroom scale that reads up to 350 lbs and 2
> hydraulic
> > > > bottle jacks.  First load up the boat as you will have it for
> > trailering
> > > it
> > > > down the road.  In my case, that includes a full tank of fuel, empty
> > > > porta-potti, full water tank, and of course, the outboard mounted on
> > the
> > > > transom.  I assume you have a tongue jack?  If not, you will need a
> > jack
> > > > stand or something to support the end of the tongue on top of the
> > scale.
> > > > Start by putting the tongue jack on top of the scale and get a tongue
> > > > weight measurement.  The rule of thumb for tongue weight is about 10%
> > of
> > > > the gross trailer weight in order to have stability.  Figure your
> boat
> > > and
> > > > single axle trailer weighs about 3100 lbs.  So, you need about 310
> lbs
> > of
> > > > tongue weight.  Now, jack the trailer frame up from the same spot on
> > both
> > > > sides.  I would start immediately behind the tires.  Get the
> trailer’s
> > > > frame at approximately the same level as when it was supported by the
> > > > tires.  Note that you will probably have to remove the tires to get
> it
> > > low
> > > > enough.  Now, measure the tongue weight as before.  It should be
> > greater
> > > > than before.  Keep moving the jack points aft until you find a spot
> on
> > > the
> > > > frame that gives you about 310 lbs of tongue weight.  That’s where
> your
> > > > single axle needs to be moved to.
> > > >
> > > > By the way, your R-22 is the same year as mine.  The early R-22’s had
> > > > porta-potti’s, not marine toilets and holding tanks.  Where is your
> > water
> > > > tank located?
> > > >
> > > > 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: Thursday, May 20, 2021 9:59 PM
> > > > To: 'The Rhodes 22 Email List'<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> > > > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Axle location
> > > >
> > > > Thanks to all for their suggestions. It seems that the best solution
> > for
> > > > me would be to have the axle moved back. I don't trailer enough to
> > > justify
> > > > the second axle and the other option to add weight to the tongue seem
> > to
> > > me
> > > > to be a workaround rather than a fix and moving the boat forward is
> > both
> > > > very difficult and damaging to the hull. The area immediately aft of
> > the
> > > > V-birth hold my holding tank and battery, not my water tank,  so
> > > obviously
> > > > I am not going to keep my holding tank full permanently.
> > > >
> > > > The big question for me now is to determine exactly how far aft I
> will
> > > > have the axle moved. If anyone can suggest how I might determine that
> > > > distance I would be grateful to hear your suggestions.
> > > >
> > > > Graham Stewart
> > > > Agile, Rodes 22, 1976
> > > > Kingston Ontario
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: Rhodes22-list [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On
> > > Behalf
> > > > Of ROGER PIHLAJA
> > > > Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2021 5:20 PM
> > > > To: The Rhodes 22 Email List
> > > > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Axle location
> > > >
> > > > Graham,
> > > >
> > > > Assuming you have a 15 gallon water tank mounted at the aft end of
> the
> > > > V-berths, filling it would add ~125 lbs.  This additional weight
> would
> > be
> > > > located at about the front end of the bunks on the trailer.  Because
> > the
> > > > weight is not located right on the end of the tongue, you will not
> see
> > > the
> > > > full 125 lbs as additional tongue weight.  On S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> > and
> > > > my Lil Dude trailer, filling the water tank adds about 48 lbs of
> tongue
> > > > weight.  The rest of the 125 lbs is loaded onto the trailer wheels
> > > because
> > > > of the location of the water tank.  If the tongue weight situation on
> > > your
> > > > trailer is causing marginal stability; this extra 48 lbs may help.
> It
> > > > certainly won’t hurt.
> > > >
> > > > Roger Pihlaja
> > > > S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> > > >
> > > > Sent from my iPhone
> > > >
> > > > > On May 20, 2021, at 4:59 PM, Rick Lange <sloopblueheron at gmail.com>
> > > > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Graham,
> > > > >
> > > > > Fill your water tank.
> > > > >
> > > > > Regards,
> > > > >
> > > > > Rick Lange
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >> On Thu, May 20, 2021 at 4:54 PM ROGER PIHLAJA <
> > roger_pihlaja at msn.com>
> > > > wrote:
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Graham,
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Whatever the reference point or the measurement, the fact that
> your
> > > > tongue
> > > > >> weight is too low tells you everything you need to know.  If you
> > don’t
> > > > want
> > > > >> to just live with it, your options are: move the single axle
> > backward
> > > on
> > > > >> the trailer, add a 2nd axle behind the 1st, move the boat forward
> on
> > > the
> > > > >> trailer, or add weight to the tongue.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> 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: Thursday, May 20, 2021 12:50 PM
> > > > >> To: 'The Rhodes 22 Email List'<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> > > > >> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Axle locattion
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Sorry for the confusion. Because all of the other dimensions
> matched
> > > the
> > > > >> drawing I used the distance from the axle to the back because it
> was
> > > the
> > > > >> easiest measurement forgetting that others might have a different
> > > > >> structure.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> The distance between the center of the axle and the point where
> the
> > > > >> extension enters the trailer is 165" while that distance on the
> > > drawing
> > > > is
> > > > >> 172"
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Graham Stewart
> > > > >> gstewart8 at cogeco.ca
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > >> -----Original Message-----
> > > > >> From: Rhodes22-list [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org]
> On
> > > > Behalf
> > > > >> Of
> > > > >> Lowe, Rob
> > > > >> Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2021 12:33 PM
> > > > >> To: The Rhodes 22 Email List
> > > > >> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Axle locattion
> > > > >>
> > > > >> I agree with Todd that the reference point should be the center of
> > the
> > > > ball
> > > > >> socket.  That's where the tongue weight is measure and where the
> > > towing
> > > > >> force is applied. - Rob
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > >> ________________________________
> > > > >> From: Rhodes22-list <rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org> on
> behalf
> > of
> > > > Todd
> > > > >> Tavares <tavares0947 at gmail.com>
> > > > >> Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2021 11:11 AM
> > > > >> To: The Rhodes 22 Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> > > > >> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Axle locattion
> > > > >>
> > > > >> By looking at these old drawings, I guess the datum
> point/benchmark
> > > > really
> > > > >> should have been the center of the ball socket, which would have
> > > better
> > > > >> standardized the tongue weight (and balance). That would have to
> > > assume
> > > > the
> > > > >> coupler and extension lengths were somewhat uniform.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Measuring the axle position from the rear of the trailer frame or
> > the
> > > > rear
> > > > >> bunk support is not the best reference.
> > > > >> Also, the angles of the bunks are a little off (I was never good
> at
> > > > trig).
> > > > >> Thankfully my carpenter's calculator has a rise over run function.
> > The
> > > > >> angles for the bunks are closer to 22.5° in the rear and 37° in
> the
> > > > front
> > > > >> (from horizontal).
> > > > >>
> > > > >> I seemed to remember there was approximately a 6" difference in
> axle
> > > > >> positions between owners' trailers, but most reported the more
> > > rearward
> > > > >> dimension so I changed the drawing. There may be early drawings of
> > the
> > > > >> trailer in the archives before I edited the drawing which show the
> > > > forward
> > > > >> measurements..but I do not know.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Todd T.
> > > > >>
> > > > >>> On Thu, May 20, 2021, 10:46 AM Cary Tolbert <
> retiredtoby at gmail.com
> > >
> > > > wrote:
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>> Graham, my boat is an '86 and the trailer that came with the boat
> > is
> > > a
> > > > >>> Triad.. Therefore I must assume the trailer is an 86 as well. I
> > just
> > > > >>> measured from the end of the trailer to the center of the axle
> and
> > it
> > > > is
> > > > >> ,
> > > > >>> DRUM ROLL  . . . . . . . . . 75 1/2 inch. Sorry to add to the
> > > > confusion..
> > > > >>> My front end measurements may also be off. I had the extension
> bar
> > > > >> replaced
> > > > >>> and last year added a braking system which added to the length of
> > the
> > > > >>> extension with a brake actuator.  Mike is the second generation
> in
> > > the
> > > > >>> trailer company and I am sure the trailer has evolved over the
> > years.
> > > > >> You
> > > > >>> know that Stan is always tinkering with something. I think my
> > trailer
> > > > was
> > > > >>> manufactured in Connecticut . The newer trailers are made in NC.
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>> Best of luck
> > > > >>> Cary
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>> On Thu, May 20, 2021 at 9:33 AM Graham Stewart <
> > gstewart8 at cogeco.ca>
> > > > >>> wrote:
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>>> I just measured the location of my axle and compared it to the
> > > > drawings
> > > > >>>> prepared by Todd and found that my axle is 7" forward of what
> the
> > > > >>> drawings
> > > > >>>> specify. That strikes me as a pretty significant difference. I
> am
> > > > >>> wondering
> > > > >>>> if the others who have found it impossible to get their boats
> far
> > > > >> enough
> > > > >>>> forward might also measure the distance between the back of
> their
> > > > >> trailer
> > > > >>>> to the center of the axle to see if this is the reason for the
> > > > >>> difficulty.
> > > > >>>> The drawing stipulates that this distance should be 70" but mine
> > is
> > > > >> 77".
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>> Does anyone know whether this dimension changed at some time
> > between
> > > > >>> older
> > > > >>>> and newer iterations of the boat?
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>> Graham Stewart
> > > > >>>> Agile, Rodes 22, 1976
> > > > >>>> Kingston Ontario
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>