www.iFourWinns.com

Welcome! did my first trailer run about a month ago 200 miles up and over the Sunshine Skyway in Florida with my H180 behind my Nissan Frontier...Let me tell you, first time with something behind your truck and up and over a bridge like that is enough to keep you puckered for a bit.

But in the end it all works out well if you dont drive like an idiot, and keep your distance from the people who do even if it means going 60 on the interstate.

I'm curious now about balanced on the trailer.... I'm the third owner of the boat/trailer, the second was a great friend of mine. But i know he never thought about where the boat was on the trailer being that his truck was MUCH bigger than mine... he probably never felt it. With the Mid-sized truck i feel every bump and wiggle back there and i'm starting to wonder if maybe the boat isn't too far back on the trailer...

How does one judge the balance?

Thanks for the links Gregs! I think I might order the Cruising the North Channel edition. Have you or anyone else seen these video's? Worth buying?

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Our Boating Blog: http://ben-dana.blogspot.com/

2005 268 Vista "Sea Pickle II"
1979 AMF Alcort Puffer
Previous:
2003 FW190 Horizon
1973 Startcraft 18ft "Sea Pickle"

I have seen several of the videos, they are very dry to watch but have a lot of good info, also you should pick up the ports cruising guide they are excellent.

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2001 328 Vista "Nauta Dream 2"
AB Inflatable 10AL "Little Dreamer"
2000 248 Vista
1997 225 Sundowner


Mike

I agree with acguy. The videos are dry but an excellent reference. I have the Muskoka Llakes video and the Trent Severn ones. Really good info on them for setting up a trip.

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2009 H180 w/3.0 Merc
Homebuilt Minimax Hydro
2011 Zodiac Cadet 310

Ideally, you should have your boat weight (not necessarily the boat) centered over the axel(s). You want it to be forward just enough to give you between 500-800 lbs of tongue weight on your hitch ball.
If you run your setup (boat and truck) by a truck stop, they will have a scale. Tell them you want to try and figure your tongue weight. They should be able to tell you how this is done. Basically, you need the weight of your truck alone, and then the weight of your truck with the boat hooked up but only the truck on the scale (the boat/trailer will not be on the scale). Subtract the two weights and that gives your tongue weight.

Push the boat forward to add tongue weight or push backward to remove tongue weight. The more weight you put on the hitch, the better the trailer will tow. But if you put too much, then all you are doing is bottoming-out your rear suspension and raising your front (not a good thing is you like to be able to steer). Too much weight on the back of the trailer (not enough tongue weight) is what causes a trailer to fish-tail or wag while towing. This can be very dangerous and will amplify with speed. It will cause you to lose control and could cause a roll over.

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1999 180 Horizon OB Fisherman Pkg
2013 Grand Cherokee 4x4 w/ 5.7 Hemi
San Antonio, TX

There are many ways to detirmine the proper tongue weight but a simple rule of thumb is to measure the back of your truck (or tow vehicle) before and after loading, if the truck is lower"(1-2" sag max) you have adaquate weight on the hitch ,if the truck raises you are up for a white knuckle special as the boat is now trying to lift the back end of your truck off the grond creating the famous waggle and not cool braking events. A properly balanced trailer equates to 10% load on the truck 5000 pound trailer =500 pounds of load on the truck.

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2000 H190 5.0GL

++++1 On the pucker factor on that bridge it's bad enough just driving across that bridge let alone trailering a boat behind you. I don't envy you one bit.

Thanks for the tips guys!

As you mention it, i think i may be balanced just fine... The nearest scale is about 30 miles up the interestate, but i'm going to do the measuring the rear of the truck when the boat is on. I know it drops a bit so i'm not too far back.

We will be crossing the Mackinaw Bridge very soon, and I've been dreading it for months. I don't like crossing bridges like that without a big boat behind me On the plus side once we cross it we will be less than an hour from our destination!

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Our Boating Blog: http://ben-dana.blogspot.com/

2005 268 Vista "Sea Pickle II"
1979 AMF Alcort Puffer
Previous:
2003 FW190 Horizon
1973 Startcraft 18ft "Sea Pickle"

You guys launching at DeTour Village?

Forget the pucker...light a smoke have a sip of coffee(or slurpee) put your arm out the window and relax and enjoy the view...if you did your checks the boat will still be behind you when you get there, your biggest worry is your wheelbase, as your trailer wants to push you when you are stopping so make sure your balance is not pushing up on your tow vehicle as it limits your rear stopping power(or lifting your steering ability), and strong winds = coffee (truck stops) when your tow vehicle is shorter tan your tow. my Hemi dodge is shorter than my boat but 4 wheel disc brakes and less than 1" of travel means that the relaxed arm out the window method is do-able with my knees...not condoning or recommending just saying.

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2000 H190 5.0GL

Drive in the middle lanes too! That way you can look down into the water through the grates!

I've pulled many trailers, boats and sleds across. If it's bad, they will escort you. Trust me, Bridge Authority wants you to be safe. If you are not comfortable, stop and they will help you across. It's a 45 mph bridge, the lanes are wide and the view is spectacular. You'll be fine.

My favorite is on a motorcycle on the grate. You feel like you are flying and the breeze coming up is cool..

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2001 Horizon 260 - 7.4 Volvo GSI DP

Yes! We are going to put in at the State docks and then store our truck and trailer at Passage Boat Works in their indoor storage. Every place I've called up there is very accommodating and the people seem extremely nice...that will be a nice change of pace from what I'm used too.



Exactly what I won't do!! I hate bridges with grates

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Our Boating Blog: http://ben-dana.blogspot.com/

2005 268 Vista "Sea Pickle II"
1979 AMF Alcort Puffer
Previous:
2003 FW190 Horizon
1973 Startcraft 18ft "Sea Pickle"

DeTour Village is a great little town and the drive from the bridge is just amazing. On our trip back across we had very high winds. They gave us an escort. Was a little creepy...and cool at the same time.