Just a Little Boat Upgrade & Towing Experience

[adyaro77]

Why cant we all just get along lol.

I agree boat trailers work with much lower tongue weight. This one is surpassingly light. I wish it had a bit more also, but it tows ok as is so I am not going to mess with it.

Because there's a reality to the situation. When I purchased my boat it felt like it wanted to lift the back of my truck up when hitting bumps. I saw a guy that sets up boats on trailers for a living and he said it's not within the recommended range. I contacted the trailer manufacturer and got the recommended percentage. You get in a serious accident this is one of those things that will be investigated just like payload. I've done this now with every boat and trailer setup I've owned. He put it within that range and it was a night and day differece. Plus if you add tongue weight then you add payload and most of these trucks don't have any to spare especially if you have a fully loaded Lariat or above.

Sponsored

 

[Jeff1024]

Because there's a reality to the situation. When I purchased my boat it felt like it wanted to lift the back of my truck up when hitting bumps. I saw a guy that sets up boats on trailers for a living and he said it's not within the recommended range. I contacted the trailer manufacturer and got the recommended percentage. You get in a serious accident this is one of those things that will be investigated just like payload. I've done this now with every boat and trailer setup I've owned. He put it within that range and it was a night and day differece. Plus if you add tongue weight then you add payload and most of these trucks don't have any to spare especially if you have a fully loaded Lariat or above.

I have no idea what is even happening right now. You start by saying you bought a boat on a trailer w/ too little weight. OK. Then we end /w if you add tongue weight you are going to run out of payload. Also true to a point.

There are a lot of different numbers out there. I have seen anywhere from 5 to 10% for boat trailers. Our old heritage was closer to 8%. This boatmate seems closer to 5%. I have weighed the tongue, I have not weighed the entire package so I am guessing on the overall weight based on the dry weight of the boat and trailer. Since I am guessing at gross weight that also means I am guessing at Tongue Percentage.

BoatMate's website says they aim for 5% - 7%. The trailer is custom made to the boat, bow stop and axles are all welded no adjustment. I welcome the lower tongue weight b/c I do have a platinum and am working /w 1,545 of payload. I would be happier at 7% but if it tows ok at 5% then so be it.

 

[Gord0]

I have no idea what is even happening right now. You start by saying you bought a boat on a trailer w/ too little weight. OK. Then we end /w if you add tongue weight you are going to run out of payload. Also true to a point.

There are a lot of different numbers out there. I have seen anywhere from 5 to 10% for boat trailers. Our old heritage was closer to 8%. This boatmate seems closer to 5%. I have weighed the tongue, I have not weighed the entire package so I am guessing on the overall weight based on the dry weight of the boat and trailer. Since I am guessing at gross weight that also means I am guessing at Tongue Percentage.

BoatMate's website says they aim for 5% - 7%. The trailer is custom made to the boat, bow stop and axles are all welded no adjustment. I welcome the lower tongue weight b/c I do have a platinum and am working /w 1,545 of payload. I would be happier at 7% but if it tows ok at 5% then so be it.

You can't just add tongue weight... But when I bought my boat/trailer it had too little tongue weight so more was added. Cleared it up for you ?

 

[adyaro77]

I have no idea what is even happening right now. You start by saying you bought a boat on a trailer w/ too little weight. OK. Then we end /w if you add tongue weight you are going to run out of payload. Also true to a point.

There are a lot of different numbers out there. I have seen anywhere from 5 to 10% for boat trailers. Our old heritage was closer to 8%. This boatmate seems closer to 5%. I have weighed the tongue, I have not weighed the entire package so I am guessing on the overall weight based on the dry weight of the boat and trailer. Since I am guessing at gross weight that also means I am guessing at Tongue Percentage.

BoatMate's website says they aim for 5% - 7%. The trailer is custom made to the boat, bow stop and axles are all welded no adjustment. I welcome the lower tongue weight b/c I do have a platinum and am working /w 1,545 of payload. I would be happier at 7% but if it tows ok at 5% then so be it.

Well there is dry weight and there is wet weight. My boat weighs 700 lb more with a full tank of gas. Now the only time that I would ever tow with a full tank of gas is when it's taken to storage. In my situation that adds 100 lb of hitch weight.

I took it to a professional and he did all the calculations. He even was able to weigh my truck with the boat attached. He gave me trailer weight rear axle and front axle weights. All extremely helpful in figuring this out.

There is a lot of different numbers out there. I'm telling you is the only ones that matter are the trailer manufacturer and the truck manufacturer. And then to throw a curveball in there some boat trailers you cannot use a weight distribution hitch. Luckily with mine I can because I'm over the 5,000 lb limit.

I was lucky where I store my boat they sell custom trailers. They're able to weigh not only my boat on the trailer but the truck. They told me to do it right they need to consider what I am pulling it with.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is take your truck and your boat on the trailer to a professional and have them do the calculations. Unfortunately this is going to be the only way that you can guarantee that you're within the percentage and have the most comfortable towing experience.

But I also did this because I wanted the paperwork to show a trooper if need be. If I got into an accident I wasn't just some jackass that knew nothing about what he was doing. I actually had a professional evaluate the whole situation.

LOL yeah I don't know what's going on either, but that's normally when I am reading 3.5 verse 5.0 versus 2.7 versus power boost equals my truck is the best ??

Just trying to share my experience. Take it as you will. I've read so much fiction on this forum it's actually made me make wrong decisions with my own truck. Live and learn.

 

[powerboatr]

Dammm we seem to be going off the rails
Yes tongue weight is a safety thing
Yes it's conceivable to add enough that affects payload left over.
But tongue weight does and will effect payload as your adding or taking away weight on tow vehicles rear axle and can move weight off or onto front axles as well. By virtue of hitch being aft of rear axle
But towing safely is the most important issue.
Too light the trailer can sway dangerously
Too heavy and not correcting level or weight transfer will effect front wheel input on keeping set up controllable
If you run out of axle rating or payload...move weight to trailers axle if axle rating permits.
It's not unheard of to load a long boat trailer heavier on axlrs for longer runs
And 10 to 15 % tongue to enhance to road manners of combined tow vehicle and trailer
I say great job for figuring out what you need and managing loads to match your safe towing.
If more people did this
We wouldn't see so many trailers doing the worm wiggle on highways, nor the headlights aimed at moon

Sponsored