My 19ft trailer is around a foot or two short of a comfortable length for the boat, even with the winch post moved all the way forward. What are the practicalities and legalities of extending the drawbar 0.5m or so?
Obviously it would need to engineered and welded properly, but it seems a fairly simply job? Am I missing something?
Do you have a side on picture to show us that shows the length of the trailer and boat combination?
If you did add extra to the trailer are you going to move the wheel set forwards?
Is there much weight on the draw bar at the moment?
A little more information may be necessary to make any assumptions.
I recently re-galled the trailer and replaced rusted sections as well as replacing all the springs, shackles, bolts, brakes and wheels. The trailer guy did a marvellous job. Sandgate trailers was the go, just a one man operation.
Cheers
Chris
Its not normally a big problem either making a replacement drawbar part of a trailer or extending the drawbar that exists. Sleeving it with a heavywall section internally or externally will give the new joint all the support it needs to avoid stress fractures.
Jack.
The boat only needs to move forward 3-4 inches on the trailer, so I shouldn't have to move the axles. The winch mast is all the way forward, with the bow of the boat just about through the back window, so I just need to extend the bar.
Sounds like cutting the bar out and replacing with a longer one may be the neatest option. I'll post a couple of pics for your info.
Monza
Originally Posted by Angla
I have an extended tow ball tounge on me Pajero. Its about 200mm longer as I have a bow sprit if going through a ditch I would also punch me back window out! with out having it.
If you haven't already, check that your tow ball weight is ~10% of the total weight, now and after the modifications.
I guess that would work. You would need a bit of extra care reversing in the car park, or is it detachable?
Nah I always remove the tounge Pull the pin out and stow it in the garage.
Not to mention cracking your shins Ouch!
I don't need it for the Caravan but it's worth it for that as well! cause I can open the tail gate all the way out with the extension on as well.
Got a pic you can post?
David
Gee, the boat appears way to big for the trailer, or rather the trailer way to small for the boat. No wonder you are concerned, the bow spit is almost over the tow hitch.
The only ones to give you a real answer on this one, would be the builders of the trailer. I wouldnt like to extend the bar, without some specs being done
Sorry I couldnt help
David
After seeing the photos I wouldn't be working on the front end of the trailer, I would be extending a set of the same rollers out on an additional cradle out the back.
Many trailers are set up that way and it is all bolt on and can be all galvanised before installation to ensure maximum corrosion prevention.
Some cradles are hard mounted, some pivot.
- Darren
work on the back i assume the rear set are on a centre pivoting cradle like most trailers , double cradle them in that make the box iron longer and attach two roller sets rather than your one on each side you have now . this will enable you to sit the boat back around 18 inches . you may have to rebalance the trailer length wise also.
Go for a drawbar replacement.......looks like a simple job.
Jack.
There is an Australian Standard for drawbars, giving a size and thickness to use over a given length. This is to stop overloading the drawbar, it breaking , and someone getting killed. I would not touch the drawbar , due to insurance reasons , and look at ways to put longer rear bars at rear to extend and readjust the wheelbase to give 7% of ATM on drawbar.
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