Trailer wanted

spring fever said:
I have a R runner under my Skagit Orca since 2003-it has not been trouble free but when you tow 5 to 6000km a year Sh_T happens. The basic trailer has been bullet proof but here is what I have done and I would order this from the get go. Insure that the spindles have at least stainless speedi--sleeves for the rear seals to ride on, electric over hydraulic disc brakes , Oil bath bearings, Full side guide rails, rear bunks with UHMW in place of carpeting for launching with rollers forward. Tires 10 ply with spare. Good quality electric winch. Mike at R Runner builds a good quality low end trailer but for heavier boats and long distances you need to add things to make it trouble free. I would not hesitate to Order a trailer from Mike but I would customize it which he will do. I would insist my next trailer has to have all these things and only then would I compare prices so you are comparing the same things
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Some great ideas. I have never really had to think about anything other than servicing my trailers as they all came under a boat. (And they all need servicing.) I too like the oil bath bearing idea over the bearing buddies and I am with you on the stainless sleeve where possible for axles as I have spent enough time looking at rusted axle spindles.

A couple of questions:
-Where are you at weight wise with your boat fully loaded for one of your trips? You are likely going to be close to me weight wise with your Orca and I know you tow the as... off your boat.
-What capacity axles do you have under yours? This also leads to tire size question- 15 or 16"?.

thanks Steve
 
The boat itself with a full load-ice-gas- water for a 3 day trip is around 8000 without the trailer weight. The trailer is an 8500. The only difference between an 8500 and a 6500 in R Runner is that the 8500 has the same size outer bearing as the inside whereas the 6500 has a smaller outer bearing. The frame will take 12000 according to Mike at R runner. My tires are 15 inch 10 plies with a 3000 lb rating a tire at 65lbs psi. The trailer has been beefed up and modified over the years until it is in its present state. When I had the boat built I knew how I was going to use it and it cost me about all I could afford and as is usual to make the deal the dealer undersold the trailer so the deal looked sweeter. The trailer would have been fine for local in and out but it had electric brakes(non-repairable in 2 seasons), initially had a 3500 lb black winch strap which snapped first time coming out of the gold river ramp( safety chain held). The inner part of the spindle where the rear seal rides was pitted after a year so SS speedi sleeves were installed. The list goes on and on. My point being that in the 14 years I've owned the Orca I have spent most of my maintenance time on the trailer rather than the boat. I have had to learn the hard way. My trailer now causes me very little problem other than my paranoid checks-I even carry an infra red temp gauge for checking bearing temps. It has paid off though-I used to go through a set of bearings and races every year but after the speedi-sleeves and the oil bath-these are in there 7th year. So as to tires I would go for 16" inch as an option which will give you 3200 lbs a tire at least. If I could stay away from a triple axle-I would-also some trailers come with stainless spindles standard. I would spec out a trailer the way I wanted it and then ship the list to the dealers and compare prices
 
spring fever said:
The boat itself with a full load-ice-gas- water for a 3 day trip is around 8000 without the trailer weight. The trailer is an 8500. The only difference between an 8500 and a 6500 in R Runner is that the 8500 has the same size outer bearing as the inside whereas the 6500 has a smaller outer bearing. The frame will take 12000 according to Mike at R runner. My tires are 15 inch 10 plies with a 3000 lb rating a tire at 65lbs psi. The trailer has been beefed up and modified over the years until it is in its present state. When I had the boat built I knew how I was going to use it and it cost me about all I could afford and as is usual to make the deal the dealer undersold the trailer so the deal looked sweeter. The trailer would have been fine for local in and out but it had electric brakes(non-repairable in 2 seasons), initially had a 3500 lb black winch strap which snapped first time coming out of the gold river ramp( safety chain held). The inner part of the spindle where the rear seal rides was pitted after a year so SS speedi sleeves were installed. The list goes on and on. My point being that in the 14 years I've owned the Orca I have spent most of my maintenance time on the trailer rather than the boat. I have had to learn the hard way. My trailer now causes me very little problem other than my paranoid checks-I even carry an infra red temp gauge for checking bearing temps. It has paid off though-I used to go through a set of bearings and races every year but after the speedi-sleeves and the oil bath-these are in there 7th year. So as to tires I would go for 16" inch as an option which will give you 3200 lbs a tire at least. If I could stay away from a triple axle-I would-also some trailers come with stainless spindles standard. I would spec out a trailer the way I wanted it and then ship the list to the dealers and compare prices
Click to expand...

When you went to oil bath did you have to use different seals?
 
spring fever said:
The boat itself with a full load-ice-gas- water for a 3 day trip is around 8000 without the trailer weight. The trailer is an 8500. The only difference between an 8500 and a 6500 in R Runner is that the 8500 has the same size outer bearing as the inside whereas the 6500 has a smaller outer bearing. The frame will take 12000 according to Mike at R runner. My tires are 15 inch 10 plies with a 3000 lb rating a tire at 65lbs psi. The trailer has been beefed up and modified over the years until it is in its present state. When I had the boat built I knew how I was going to use it and it cost me about all I could afford and as is usual to make the deal the dealer undersold the trailer so the deal looked sweeter. The trailer would have been fine for local in and out but it had electric brakes(non-repairable in 2 seasons), initially had a 3500 lb black winch strap which snapped first time coming out of the gold river ramp( safety chain held). The inner part of the spindle where the rear seal rides was pitted after a year so SS speedi sleeves were installed. The list goes on and on. My point being that in the 14 years I've owned the Orca I have spent most of my maintenance time on the trailer rather than the boat. I have had to learn the hard way. My trailer now causes me very little problem other than my paranoid checks-I even carry an infra red temp gauge for checking bearing temps. It has paid off though-I used to go through a set of bearings and races every year but after the speedi-sleeves and the oil bath-these are in there 7th year. So as to tires I would go for 16" inch as an option which will give you 3200 lbs a tire at least. If I could stay away from a triple axle-I would-also some trailers come with stainless spindles standard. I would spec out a trailer the way I wanted it and then ship the list to the dealers and compare prices
Click to expand...
Good to know all this lots of things I've never thought of ... I know my next trailer won't be a stock one. Thanks
 
I got a Karavan trailer, but have done all the things Springfever has done to his trailer minus the disc brakes which will be next when mine are done. All good info he has provided there. The Speedi Sleeves, double lipped seals and good bearings are the big plus. Never a problem since I started using them.
 
casper5280 said:
I got a Karavan trailer, but have done all the things Springfever has done to his trailer minus the disc brakes which will be next when mine are done. All good info he has provided there. The Speedi Sleeves, double lipped seals and good bearings are the big plus. Never a problem since I started using them.
Click to expand...
What size of boat and trailer are you towing? The entire game changes with weight. How I miss the single axle with no brakes trailer on my little Campion. Never had to replace anything other than lights. Bearings etc were always perfect.
 
I've got a 23ft Hourston. It's 3450kg or 7600lbs fully loaded sitting on the trailer. Trailer is rated for 8400lbs, but I run LOADSTAR ST235/80R-16" Radial Tires, Load Range E that are rated for 3500lbs each. Keep the bearings greased and watch my bearing temps with the heat gun. Got a on board washdown tank with a 12volt pump that flushs the brakes, and all is good. Been running this way for the last 6 years all over the Island and no problems.
 
I have a "Tuff" Aluminium trailer that came with my boat; 2484 Raider. I had a lot of trouble with wheel alignment and tires when i first got it. My dealer pretty much washed his hands of it and told me to deal with Tuff. They were also a pain in the a$$. They did finally reimburse me for the alignment. They also said they would replace my tires but i haven't seen them yet and its been over three years now. The trailer has been fine since i had it aligned but i would never give them a penny of my money again.
 
Dan The Man said:
I also got a WORD boat trailer!! couldn't find anything up here for the price down there ! I got the dual axle.
Click to expand...
Just had a look at their website and you probably could spec out a pretty good trailer from them!! Would be an interesting exercise to see what a correspondingly equipped trailer would arrive here at after everything is taken into consideration as per my list.
 
Dan The Man said:
I also got a WORD boat trailer!! couldn't find anything up here for the price down there ! I got the dual axle.
Click to expand...
Word Boats does not haggle on price. He gives everyone the same cost which I like. The trailers are made on the US East Coast. There is a Canadian dealer in Ontario but at the time they could not come close to the price I got from Word.
here is the Venture Web site

http://venturetrailers.com/products.html
 
Really appreciating the feedback guys. Am putting together my list of "wants" similar to what Spring Fever has done with his trailer and then will shop it out to a number of manufacturers and I will also look down into Washington State. Interesting to see how many newer "used" trailers are for sale down there as they don't keep trailers there after the boats end up at haul out type marinas. Lots of good used triple axles down there but I think I would prefer a heavier tandem rig.
 
One thing I was told about triples is that you can get a flat and remove a tire and continue on. With a double you can't run with just 3 tires. Not sure if that is true or not
 
Sir Reel said:
One thing I was told about triples is that you can get a flat and remove a tire and continue on. With a double you can't run with just 3 tires. Not sure if that is true or not
Click to expand...
only works if you have a way to tie up the axle
 
Redfisher said:
96 rollers...... lots to replace down the road. I will likely go bunk. wonder if price is US?
Click to expand...
Just a thought-full roller trailer-Remove the rear rollers-install bunks back there,-now you have spare rollers . On another note-remove all the press fit nuts -drill the arms and replace with stainless cotter pins and washers. Can be done as they fail. The arms drill easily as they are only mild steel.
 
Sir Reel said:
One thing I was told about triples is that you can get a flat and remove a tire and continue on. With a double you can't run with just 3 tires. Not sure if that is true or not
Click to expand...
You can run with 3 if you have too. Lighten the boat-chain the axle. Done it for 50km-hi-way patrol didn't like it but he did give me an escort to a help place
 
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