I am looking to modify the single axle trailer (original?) that came with my 1994 C22 to a dual axle with electric brakes. I got a quote from a local company to do this for approximately $1100. Does this sound reasonable? Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Cost of Trailer Modification
- Thread starter Hurley
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Reasonable
Hurley- If that is parts and labor total. Good deal considering the parts needed. I would assume that he is moving the existing axle fore or aft to keep the original center of gravity? 2 tires Dual wheel fenders Brakes Axle, hubs, spindles U-bolts, misc. Labor @ $50/hr It adds up quick. Regards. Rob Hessenius
Hurley- If that is parts and labor total. Good deal considering the parts needed. I would assume that he is moving the existing axle fore or aft to keep the original center of gravity? 2 tires Dual wheel fenders Brakes Axle, hubs, spindles U-bolts, misc. Labor @ $50/hr It adds up quick. Regards. Rob Hessenius
Why do you...
want to go to two axles with brakes? That only adds complexity without a performance gain. I towed a C-22 on a single-axle trailer that I took the brakes out of for a couple of years. C-22s don't need a dual-axle trailer.
want to go to two axles with brakes? That only adds complexity without a performance gain. I towed a C-22 on a single-axle trailer that I took the brakes out of for a couple of years. C-22s don't need a dual-axle trailer.
Safety
I too had a C22 with a single axle and no brakes. Sure, with the right tow vehicle it can work. But, had I kept the C22 I would have done what you are doing. Dual axle with brakes is much safer. On my C250 trailer I converted the brakes to stainless steel discs, still using a compression system. Discs are better than drums although a bit more expensive.
I too had a C22 with a single axle and no brakes. Sure, with the right tow vehicle it can work. But, had I kept the C22 I would have done what you are doing. Dual axle with brakes is much safer. On my C250 trailer I converted the brakes to stainless steel discs, still using a compression system. Discs are better than drums although a bit more expensive.
A boat is heavy and tall
and has a lot of windage. You will rarely, if ever, see a car on a trailer with only 1 axle. And any boat in the 22+ range is going to be the same or more mass, more windage, higher CG, etc etc. I have to assume that single axle, brakeless trailers are for the occasional slow-paced moving the boat on the highways, or just in and out of the water at a marina. Ever watch the trailer in your mirror? There is a lot of sideways sliding at highway speeds. If you ever hit a bump with just one tire, watch how much your boat oscillates side to side, and how long it does. It's scary! You need to keep your tires at ~ 40+ psi to be safe (think, 2500 lb car needs 25 psi x 4), and a 40 psi blowout is a lot more severe than a 25 psi blowout. Hurley - i'm collecting parts to do this myself next season once I launch my boat. $500-%600 for all new parts is as good as your going to get - only brake one axle and you can save a little, and it's a relatively easy ad-on later. $1100 is certainly not a bad price if they do quality work. Hoever, if you feel handy enough and are willing to take the time, you could buy all the tools and material to do it yourself (welder, etc) for about the same - but make sure it's pointed straight ahead!!!
and has a lot of windage. You will rarely, if ever, see a car on a trailer with only 1 axle. And any boat in the 22+ range is going to be the same or more mass, more windage, higher CG, etc etc. I have to assume that single axle, brakeless trailers are for the occasional slow-paced moving the boat on the highways, or just in and out of the water at a marina. Ever watch the trailer in your mirror? There is a lot of sideways sliding at highway speeds. If you ever hit a bump with just one tire, watch how much your boat oscillates side to side, and how long it does. It's scary! You need to keep your tires at ~ 40+ psi to be safe (think, 2500 lb car needs 25 psi x 4), and a 40 psi blowout is a lot more severe than a 25 psi blowout. Hurley - i'm collecting parts to do this myself next season once I launch my boat. $500-%600 for all new parts is as good as your going to get - only brake one axle and you can save a little, and it's a relatively easy ad-on later. $1100 is certainly not a bad price if they do quality work. Hoever, if you feel handy enough and are willing to take the time, you could buy all the tools and material to do it yourself (welder, etc) for about the same - but make sure it's pointed straight ahead!!!
Thanks fo rthe responses
Thanks to all who responded! I am converting to dual axle mainly for safety and comfort. I live in Atlanta and like to sail in the bays around the panhandle of Florida. This means a lot of interstate driving. The one time I trailered the boat on this trip was not a pleasant experience. My wife will no longer ride with me when pulling the boat.
Thanks to all who responded! I am converting to dual axle mainly for safety and comfort. I live in Atlanta and like to sail in the bays around the panhandle of Florida. This means a lot of interstate driving. The one time I trailered the boat on this trip was not a pleasant experience. My wife will no longer ride with me when pulling the boat.
Brakes
Not sure electric brakes are the way to go if you use a launch ramp. Disks do not work well on trailers below 3000#. Disk brake acuators require more pressure and without the weight they may not have the pressure to engage the calipers. Drums on all four wheels may be the way to go. You may also be able to go with a smaller tire as you'll have more of them now that could help significantly with launching the boat.
Not sure electric brakes are the way to go if you use a launch ramp. Disks do not work well on trailers below 3000#. Disk brake acuators require more pressure and without the weight they may not have the pressure to engage the calipers. Drums on all four wheels may be the way to go. You may also be able to go with a smaller tire as you'll have more of them now that could help significantly with launching the boat.
Hurley...
...I bought a three axle trailer to transport my Oday 22, (Yeah folks I know that is overkill!) and it did not have brakes. I put electric brakes on two axles. (I used the kind made out of zink to reduce rust.) Years ago after watching my buddies lugs, axles, springs, spring hangers, mounting bolts, etc. rust into a mass of crap I did this. I bought a 2 gallon sprayer at Lowes or Home Depot that you would used to spray weed killer. Now when he pulls it out a the ramp and parks it he sprays everything that came in contact with the salt water. (Especially inside the brakes!) That was about three years ago, now the trailers have little rust! For what it's worth! Jack PS...you can purchase a kit that has tubing that allows you to spray water directly into the inside of the brakes, WM used to sell them.
...I bought a three axle trailer to transport my Oday 22, (Yeah folks I know that is overkill!) and it did not have brakes. I put electric brakes on two axles. (I used the kind made out of zink to reduce rust.) Years ago after watching my buddies lugs, axles, springs, spring hangers, mounting bolts, etc. rust into a mass of crap I did this. I bought a 2 gallon sprayer at Lowes or Home Depot that you would used to spray weed killer. Now when he pulls it out a the ramp and parks it he sprays everything that came in contact with the salt water. (Especially inside the brakes!) That was about three years ago, now the trailers have little rust! For what it's worth! Jack PS...you can purchase a kit that has tubing that allows you to spray water directly into the inside of the brakes, WM used to sell them.
Equalizer Hitch
One more thing. We love our Equalizer hitch. Cost about $500 online but does wonders for trailer control and stopping swaying. If you tow a lot you should consider one. Our C250 weighs in at about 6500+lbs including trailer and load and I would not travel without the Equalizer. There are several brands of anti-sway hitches but only the Equalizer works with trailers that have compression braking.
One more thing. We love our Equalizer hitch. Cost about $500 online but does wonders for trailer control and stopping swaying. If you tow a lot you should consider one. Our C250 weighs in at about 6500+lbs including trailer and load and I would not travel without the Equalizer. There are several brands of anti-sway hitches but only the Equalizer works with trailers that have compression braking.
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