Trailer idea and recommendations?

A

Andrew Holley

Well-known member
As some of you know, I have been working all summer on my new boat, think something like the Monster Honker, only a Super Scaup? I took my Scaup plans as a starting point and blew it up to a 24' long boat, 8 1/2 wide and increased the height of the sides. Looks like a tank (too bad someone stole my Hellcat name HA HA). When finished I will have about 20 sheets of 3/4 ply into it and probably 13 gallons of epoxy (yes it's over built, but safety won't be an issue)

Anyways, I am now looking for a trailer to haul the Beast (oh wait another name stolen from me). Given the length and weight, estimated to be 1,500lbs. I was thinking I wanted a tandem axle trailer. I know these have a larger turning radius, but wondering if they tow better? Probably not this year, but future plans would be to add storage for the layout boats/scull boat on top, as I did with my current boat trailer, so the trailer will haul another 400lbs or so.

Any thoughts/input, besides saying I am crazy?

Thanks
 
Hmmm...who stole that name Hellcat? ;)

1500 sounds on the light side, the Hellcat at a little over 18' and around a 6' beam weighs 950 of course thats with console and gadgets. Looking forward to seeing some pics of the beast....wait you said that was taken too. How about what we had temporarily named the Hellcat while working on it...BOMF, that would be an acronym :)

Brad
 
I think a reasonible first step would be to look at a catalog from a trailer company, such as EZ loader or Load Rite. I would look at the trailer specifications in the catalog to find a trailer that is rated for the weight of your boat and of appropriate length for your boat.

Tod
 
Andrew
I can't wait to see some pics. It is a balance game. I am a landscaper and have a double axle equipment trailer. if the load on the trailer is not heavy enough the trailer bounces all over the place if the load is heaver it tows like a dream. Yes the turning radius is greater and the double axle trailers turn slower when backing. It is to bad you couldn't try a few trailers to see what worked best for your needs. I agree with tod i would look around at some trailer specks and start there. Also just wondering if you sold your scaup? Good luck.
Wheeler
 
Dear Andrew,

My gosh, what an incredibly impressive undertaking! A big fan of such boat styles, I look forward to seeing what a 24' OAL x 8.5' wide Scaup style boat will look like. No doubt, it will be nothing short of amazing.

Regarding your request for trailer recommendations, you have received excellent advice so far. We are a dealer for EZ Loader trailers, and with the help of our distributor, I am certain that the proper recommendation could be offered.

In addition to this, we just received some information in the mail from EZ Loader today. Among other things, they periodically offer significant savings on certain trailer models. I saw three or four that would appear to be good choices. Offering these sorts of sales gives us the opportunity to pass those savings along to others. In addition, we are not that far apart where getting a trailer to you wouldn't present much of a challenge.

If you are interested in exploring this further, please feel free to give me a call toll free at; (877) 652-3695. It would be a pleasure to visit with you.

God Bless you and yours,

Mark Rongers
mightylayoutboys.com
 
Colin, no luck selling the boat yet, but haven't been trying real hard yet. I did sell my old Lund and the motor, so the wife is happier we now have one less boat.

As far as trying different ones, I kind of have that option. A guy about 15 min from my house along a busy highway sells used boats and trailers. Decent guy and I think I could talk him into letting try a couple out. Problem is most of his are older and will require some to a lot of work, sand blasting and painting, new bearings, and wiring. And then there is the loading and unload.

Mark, thanks for the offer, I will call you sometime this week.

Andrew
 
First off,
as far as this "stealing" names thing goes, getting the facts straight is the first priority!!

The Beast predates you and you know it.

Tandom is the way I would go given how much you like to drive to hunt and with a boat that large you really can't launch in small, tight little launches since you will need a certain depth for freeboard. Check with trailer co's though as mentioned, but I bet tandom for the weight/length would be best. That guy on 29 has some (read very few) good trailers, most are junk.
 
I would think a 24' boat would need duals..if for nothing else than to keep it from sinking in your yard. At 8 1/2' wide you will have some DOT requirements for lighting too. You may have to have a WIDE LOAD sign to put on your partners chase car. You gonna run that behemouth with a 9.9?
 
Haven't you ever watched Perry Mason??? Iggerence is no scuse! I thought 8' was the breaking point..Sutton would know. Does the boat look like one of those ciggarette offshore rigs?
 
Sutton is the one that told me 8 1/2 or rather that is the way I remember it.

And yes that is exactly how it looks, during the off season I am going down to Florida and back and forth to Cuba for cigars, LOL
 
thats the FEDERAL DOT "not to exceed"........States can place more stringent restrictions on width but those don't apply to FEDERALLY FUNDED highways.....

Most boat trailers will be "less than" 102"......the boat on the trailer can then be 102" as it sits on the bunks....

Here's the "except that"......safety related items that are "crushable" may extend beyond 102"......that means that if your boat is 102" and you want to put the upright trailer guides with lights on them then they will be allowed.....being the Gov't though even that has a caveat.....if its just the guides then they are "illegal" if over 102" because while they are "crushable" they aren't SAFETY RELATED. Put lights on them though and that makes them "safety related" and they'll be acceptable.....

Ain't Big Guvment neat?

Steve
 
I knew I was close to the max, but measured it tonight and I am at 103 1/2. Now, I doubt I would ever get pulled over for exceeding the width, but I have run into my share of trouble and the police.

So, is there anyway to go over the limit, besides the crushable safety post?

I really wanted to make it a double decker trailer again, to haul either the scull or layout boats, but that would require at least another 3 inches per side, with clearance and supports.

Any ideas?
 
103 1/2"? Have you thought of the name Hogzilla?

I don't think the local police will follow you around with a tape measure. However, if you start taking out the side-mirrors of oncoming traffic and/or making them swerve, you might get pulled over and measured.
 
Do you have a CDL lisence? I could see you getting stopped in Michigan by the MIDOT cops. A block over from the lumberyard is M-66/In 9 .....one of our contractors rented a bobcat and was heading back accross the state line..he got stopped and they gave him a bunch of tickets for not having a CDL and the driver physical card because the GVW combined was over 25,001 lbs. Might want to think about 22' long and 7 1/2' wide.
 
but thats not cheap....there are legal semi trailers on the road that are 106" and those don't cause any issues on main roads to speak of.....103" is wide on some State and County roads and the comment about "knocking off mirrors" would be a real concern to me if I was pulling a beast of that size on a windy two lane road, (like the road to Ira's house that has over time claimed both the mirrors on his pickup)...

As has been said someone would have to stop you, and measure you, but I'm betting that a wide, double decker, trailer would really pique the interest of some Troopers and you'd get stopped and measured in which an "overwidth" permit would be the only legal way to go......(I don't think you're going to like what that wil cost)....

Steve
 
First off, Eric if you want to see it, drive over and you can see all you want. But instead of just looking, bring your rubber gloves and start mixing some epoxy, after all you will be hunting out of it. LOL

No Lee I don't have a CDL. But I don't have a company name on the truck and the combine weight better be no where near 22,000. But thanks for the heads up.

Pretty much decided to cut the chine (spelled it right this time Tod) so I will be back to a legal width.

Andrew
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top