looking for a trailer for sale/rent

[carbonsoup]

Pretty self explanatory.... however, I have not been able to work on Triumph at all since I moved to Philly. She is still sitting in my mom's yard but its nearly impossible to get anything done to her after working a six day work week... then having to drive 2.5 hours each way.

So, i thought I could move her closer so as to be able to get some things accomplished... she still needs a lot!

any thoughts?

[carbonsoup]

ok. so, after researching trailers from new custom builds to temporary cradles on flatbed trailers, I have come to the conclusion that the best bang for the buck is to modify an existing power boat trailer. What I have found is that used keelboat trailers are not often for sale as guys with our size boat dont want to give them up. However, powerboat trailers are lying around in everyone's backyard just sitting under a pile of used car parts and old furniture. Therefore, I am looking at several bunk/roller trailers in the range of 1000-1500 that have 7k lbs axels, galvanized, with brakes and in relatively good condition. I will grind off all the powerboat bunks/rollers and build a 6-pad adjustable cradle using 1.5" round tubing and 2" steel angle. Furthermore, I can use the 5 adjustable pads from my boat stands, thus cutting down on some of the part costs. I will post trailer info- specs and design when I get further along....

[Lucky Dawg]

I did the same conversion. Someone abandoned a trailer behind my buddy's plant, so I started with a free trailer. The weight on a powerboat is far aft compared to our boats, so I had to move the axles up to accommodate that difference. This particular trailer had fairly easily moveable axles. Don't know if that is typical. I had to redo the brakes and hire out the welding, so I think it cost me about $800 all told. I added additional cross bracing at some point. Standing on the deck, the old girl was disconcertingly wobbly. I imagined it all crumpling like aluminum foil... I used the drawings from the trailer discussions thread ( http://www.pearsonariel.org/discussion/showthread.php?304-Trailer-Discussions&highlight=trailer+discussions ), but it still took holding my tongue right to get things where they needed to be. Only thing I would add is a ladder at the bow. https://picasaweb.google.com/100988960116603858412/TrailerRehab?noredirect=1

[Lucky Dawg]

p.s. the title of this thread got this song stuck in my head all day... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whUjCqCEYBo

[carbonsoup]

ha! great song. also, the traffic looked like coastal route 1 in maine during August...

[Frenna]

I also did a powerboat trailer conversion. Good picks at the bottom of the thread here:

(sorry the link keeps abbreviating, but if you do a search for "commander 231" you should find a thread by that exact name. Trailer pics at bottom.


I used square tube and the adjustable tops from a set of brownell stands I had around. I welded the whole thing up with a rented mig welder (way nicer than plain arc welder) and then took the whole thing in to have it galvanized, which was not all that expensive. The entire assemblage of uprights and brackets comes off as two solid units and is simply bolted to the trailer. I did have to order a second crossmember for the trailer from the manufacturer (shorelander in this case). Working out the balance to get the tongue weight correct is critical. I calculated the pad locations as best as I could from the lines drawings. It worked, but I would prefer a heavy steel channel under the keel to spread the weight between both crossmembers. Right now its a 2 x 12 with wedges to even the load. The tubing I used was heavy, 2" square and 3/16" or 1/4" wall if I recall. The Brownell threaded shafts fit pretty nicely inside it. I found it easier to weld square joints than round ones. (Well easier to cut good joints I should say). Its only been on the road a couple times, but I pushed it up to 60 on the highway coming back from the travel lift the first time out. Felt just fine. That was with a brand new brake actuator/hitch. Its a darned heavey boat. You gotta have working brakes. Also, used trailer = new tires in my book. They are right up to their design limits, and tires of unknown age and strength is dangerous. And you can't tell my looking most of the time. And don't even think about a single axle set up would be my advice.

I got my trailer real cheap in exchange for hauling the power boat hulk that was on it to the dump in the transaction.

[carbonsoup]

hey frenna, so what was the make and model of the trailer you started with? I am looking for a trailer with at least 6k capacity, but some of the trailers that I have 'looked at' on CL have been questionable...

[carbonsoup]

well, after tracking down a suitable motorboat trailer, researching, welding, waiting, and corralling the boat mover.... so far, cost me about 1500, but i might still need 2 new new tires.

http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q692/a97triumph/Ariel/T-121414-16_zpsrpthzyoh.jpg (http://s1354.photobucket.com/user/a97triumph/media/Ariel/T-121414-16_zpsrpthzyoh.jpg.html)