Aussie Tow Hacks.

[Boblee]

Got a mate to have a look and give me some ideas he said to modify the webbing I had put on and use 2"strap instead of rod and then just fit a frame with suitable axles attached with electric brakes plus a new 3 ton coupling.
Would certainly prefer a single axle with six stud hubs but as it is for sale for the forseeable future, tandem will be better accepted, if this happens while the boats off will get it dipped as well although absolutely no rust with the painted steel.
Not real expensive to use this setup but with rockers.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/150665753499 ... 97.c0.m619

[bartmac]

Get caught over weight.....NO insurance.......and over 2000kgs you have to have a break away brake system...further complicating the situation....and all of this is relevant to our Macs.

[Boblee]

When we are travelling there is not a great deal left in the boat which is a royal PIA but even then we would be pushing it, I put a spare tyre on the trailer but now with the extra room of the dyna even take that off, upping the rating is the only sensible thing to do as it takes away any doubt, when we had the Hilux think both were overloaded but still not a problem to tow.
At least the next trip in a few weeks will be ok as it will only be a few hundred k's and the sailing gear will be at home, if they put some water in the Murray, it's pretty low at present from Yarrawonga down a fair way.

[jimbo]

Welcome aboard Jim.

Yeah its virtually impossible to keep the boat/trailer to the 1920kgs they rate them for here.....

I got quoted about 4 or 5 grand to get the trailer to a state where "it could be rated to 3 ton if you wanted".

It basically boiled down to ripping the stock axel off and making up a two axel bogie to be bolted on, and then having the electric breaks. I'm sure if you shopped around you could find somwhere that would upgrade it cheaper. I think the stock trailer would be fine once once you did this. After all, there are 1000s of them happily doing thousands of miles on the single axel and not having a problem (well, except for the dodgy tyres they come with).
I do like the aluminum trailer myself as its so low maintanence compared to what I had before.....

I still havn't got around to it myself as I only launch around the corner for the time being, but for peace of mind, I'd deffinately get it sorted if I took it on the road often. My wife would not be too happy if something happened on the road, and we ended up losing everything we own.... There was one story on TSP about a boat coming off a trailer on the highway and apparently, it all had to be weighed as part of the police investigation....

As to taking everything out including anchors fridge, solar panel tool kit etc etc, I just couldnt imaging all that just to go for a day sailing. We are just too lazy for that, and simply wouldnt use the boat if that were the case....

It is a shame Macgregor dont beef up the factory trailer for the outside the US market (well for everyone really...)

Thanks for welcome. Not been back here for a while. Lots of research - yachts as well as trailers. A single axle trailer is attractive from a manoeuvrability point of view. I wonder if a single axle upgrade using an AL-KO 2500 rated axle set would be the go. The difficulty then being rims and tyres for this rating and break away brakes.

[jimbo]

When we are travelling there is not a great deal left in the boat which is a royal PIA but even then we would be pushing it, I put a spare tyre on the trailer but now with the extra room of the dyna even take that off, upping the rating is the only sensible thing to do as it takes away any doubt, when we had the Hilux think both were overloaded but still not a problem to tow.
At least the next trip in a few weeks will be ok as it will only be a few hundred k's and the sailing gear will be at home, if they put some water in the Murray, it's pretty low at present from Yarrawonga down a fair way.

Have you ever weighed the stripped setup? ie under or over the 2000kg mark?

[bartmac]

Thanks for welcome. Not been back here for a while. Lots of research - yachts as well as trailers. A single axle trailer is attractive from a manoeuvrability point of view. I wonder if a single axle upgrade using an AL-KO 2500 rated axle set would be the go. The difficulty then being rims and tyres for this rating and break away brakes.

If you go electric...brakes and breakaway are not a problem...in theory I was going to go this way...had no problem buying a axle 5200lb rated,six stud c/w electric brakes (ex US 5th wheel caravan new unused not up to spec ie 4500kg and needed airbrakes in Aust))...had to buy new backing plates to get handbrake facility also bought gal landcruiser rims and tyres rated beyond the 5200lbs (2360kgs)...springs are no problem either and then a 3500kg hitch and the picture is complete....then found near new dual axle trailer 2700 kg rated!!!

[Mac26Mpaul]

Well I finally got around to buying something that can at least, legally tow the boat, picked up a 2002 Pajero Exceed the other day. Unfortunately a huge paycut I have been forced to take at work (think I make about as much as a Crapdonalds worker now ) means that at least for the time being, I'm going to have to do this the hard way...

I'll take a chance when launching at my local ramp, but anywhere away from home, I'm going to have to take everything out of the boat. I figure, the bare boat with zero in it, except the installed stereo, is going to come in at probably 1850 to 1880 maybe. Going to be a HUGE pain, but considering how little I am likely to launch away from home, I guess I can live with it for a few years...

Already scared about my fuel bills in day to day use with the Paj How lucky our American cousins are with their super cheap fuel (although they have to live with all ethenol apparently )

[Boblee]

Have you ever weighed the stripped setup? ie under or over the 2000kg mark?

Yes I have and it came in well over the 2000kg mark every time.

Bartmac you mentioned your trailer that should have been rated 3200 was dropped to 2800kg if you have drop axles that would do it because they take 200kg off each axle for that.

[Mac26Mpaul]

For me Jimbo, I got 1960kgs on the weighbridge. I had taken basicially everything not bolted down out except for a small plastic box with some flares and stuff in it weighing a kilo or two.

What I had in there (bolted down) was 3 batteries (must be 50 or 60kgs there) a evacool 47 litre fridge (doesn't weigh much -) the Magna BBQ (about 2 kgs) the stereo (2 or 3 kgs) a plumbed electic toilet (weighs no more than a porta potti), and two anchors and chain (maybe 20 kgs) and an Epirb (a kilo or two)

I have since added some nifty aluminum guide rails to my trailer (should have weighed them...).

I figure, if I take the anchors out, unbolt my fridge and batteries (what a bloody pain), and the solar panel I now have on there, and take EVERYTHING else out the boat (lockers full of tools, and cruising junk), I should be able to get it a bit under the 1905kgs legal limit of these trailers - massive pain in the behind though. Would have to be going somewhere for at least 4 or 5 days or would just be too much......

[bartmac]

Bartmac you mentioned your trailer that should have been rated 3200 was dropped to 2800kg if you have drop axles that would do it because they take 200kg off each axle for that

Boblee....2 different trailers...was going to build/mod a trailer to go what ever the components lowest common denominator was....in this case the US 5th wheel axles rated at 5200lbs,tyres is easily more than that even single axle,springs again can be spec'd at any weight and the coupler goes from 2 ton to 3.5 ton....so no to your question re the drop axles....advice appears to be what ever the lowest weight component will be the trailer capacity.However the other trailer I just bought (dual axle Maximus 28 ) has a manufacturers 2700 kg rating but is rego'd at 2400 in NSW??????? not sure why but will investigate....someone suggested the tire rating???

[jimbo]

For me Jimbo, I got 1960kgs on the weighbridge. I had taken basicially everything not bolted down out except for a small plastic box with some flares and stuff in it weighing a kilo or two.

What I had in there (bolted down) was 3 batteries (must be 50 or 60kgs there) a evacool 47 litre fridge (doesn't weigh much -) the Magna BBQ (about 2 kgs) the stereo (2 or 3 kgs) a plumbed electic toilet (weighs no more than a porta potti), and two anchors and chain (maybe 20 kgs) and an Epirb (a kilo or two)

I have since added some nifty aluminum guide rails to my trailer (should have weighed them...).

I figure, if I take the anchors out, unbolt my fridge and batteries (what a bloody pain), and the solar panel I now have on there, and take EVERYTHING else out the boat (lockers full of tools, and cruising junk), I should be able to get it a bit under the 1905kgs legal limit of these trailers - massive pain in the behind though. Would have to be going somewhere for at least 4 or 5 days or would just be too much......

If you did take all that out then you would be where I am now. I will not be adding such stuff (except better anchor) until I work out what to do with the trailer, oh and vehicle. Right now under the limit all around but as a day sailer.

[Boblee]

Our anchors and chains are all stored off the boat, a word of caution if you do store your anchor on the roller be sure to remove it before launching or loading as it can hook the ladder if it hangs down a bit.
We carry a 20litre drum and store the two chains and the Rocna in it but the Sarca is too big so made up some carpet and ocky straps to wrap it in but when launching it and chain sits ready in the rope locker and is installed in the roller after launching and prior to loading.
We have a third battery which sits under the front berth (close to fridge opposite head space)which is a quick disconnect (anderson plugs and strap).