I bought my 2002, Hunter 240 over a year ago and it seems to me that the tires on the trailer may not be the correct size or load range. It has 205/75/14 rated at 1760 lbs each. Being a single axle trailer, it seems that those are not the right size tires. Does anyone know what tire sizes are standard on the 240 trailer?
Hunter 240 Trailer Tires
- Thread starter cavitating
- Start date
- Status
What is the weight of the trailer and the boat?
If the total is under 3200 lbs loaded, then your fine, remember some of that weight is also going to be on the tongue of the trailer. What the the tag on the tongue say for trailer weight and tire sizes? If your trailer has what it should, your fine.
If the total is under 3200 lbs loaded, then your fine, remember some of that weight is also going to be on the tongue of the trailer. What the the tag on the tongue say for trailer weight and tire sizes? If your trailer has what it should, your fine.
Estimated Weight
Mike,thanks for your response. With the exception of the serial number, there is no other information on the tongue of the trailer. It doesn't even say the make. All I know is that it is the original trailer for the Hunter 240. My estimate is as follows: Boat (As per Hunter)-----2,300 Motor & 2 batteries------ 150 Trailer (Est.)----------- 700 I don't know how close Water & Fuel------------- 75 Ice food and drink------- 100 Anchors, rope etc.------- 100 _______ 3,425 Less 10 % Tongue weight ( 342) Tot. weight on wheels 3,083 Tire capacity 3,520 Tot weight on wheels (3,083) ________ Margin 487 I am pretty sure that if I weigh the boat at a scale the margin is going to go down significantly. I am thinking about switching to 215/75/14. Those should fit in the tire well and add 220lbs. of extra capacity. Any ideas or suggestions?
Mike,thanks for your response. With the exception of the serial number, there is no other information on the tongue of the trailer. It doesn't even say the make. All I know is that it is the original trailer for the Hunter 240. My estimate is as follows: Boat (As per Hunter)-----2,300 Motor & 2 batteries------ 150 Trailer (Est.)----------- 700 I don't know how close Water & Fuel------------- 75 Ice food and drink------- 100 Anchors, rope etc.------- 100 _______ 3,425 Less 10 % Tongue weight ( 342) Tot. weight on wheels 3,083 Tire capacity 3,520 Tot weight on wheels (3,083) ________ Margin 487 I am pretty sure that if I weigh the boat at a scale the margin is going to go down significantly. I am thinking about switching to 215/75/14. Those should fit in the tire well and add 220lbs. of extra capacity. Any ideas or suggestions?
Cost
Rick, You mentioned the axle capacity and you are right. I never thought of that. I was thinking about the weakest link being the tires. What was the cost of adding another axle and where did you buy the parts? I can do the work myself and save on the labor but depending on the cost it could be better for me to sell the trailer and buy a new double axle trailer. Thanks for your input.
Rick, You mentioned the axle capacity and you are right. I never thought of that. I was thinking about the weakest link being the tires. What was the cost of adding another axle and where did you buy the parts? I can do the work myself and save on the labor but depending on the cost it could be better for me to sell the trailer and buy a new double axle trailer. Thanks for your input.
Magic Tilt?
I like the idea of a second axle, but Rob Mitchell has the same rig as me (and you too from the sounds of it) and scrapped the leaf-spring axle for a torsion axle. I don't know what he did with the tires. As I recall he had an outfit in Wyoming mod it for him, but Champion sells kits as well. In '05 I through a weigh station with a 2001 H240, with the Magic Tilt trailer, and measured 3,620 lb. trailer axle weight. At home I measured 370 lb. tongue weight. This was with most of the 4-days worth of supplies in the truck. The 98-pound outboard engine, boom, bimini, tools and electronics were in the boat, and a spare tire was mounted on the trailer. There was no water or gasoline on the boat. Given that the magic-tilt trailer has a 3,420 lb. G.V.W.R., it's overloaded. Springs, tires and axles are inadequate for the real world trailersailor. The only way it works in the factory configuration is to strip the boat of everything before you hit the road.
I like the idea of a second axle, but Rob Mitchell has the same rig as me (and you too from the sounds of it) and scrapped the leaf-spring axle for a torsion axle. I don't know what he did with the tires. As I recall he had an outfit in Wyoming mod it for him, but Champion sells kits as well. In '05 I through a weigh station with a 2001 H240, with the Magic Tilt trailer, and measured 3,620 lb. trailer axle weight. At home I measured 370 lb. tongue weight. This was with most of the 4-days worth of supplies in the truck. The 98-pound outboard engine, boom, bimini, tools and electronics were in the boat, and a spare tire was mounted on the trailer. There was no water or gasoline on the boat. Given that the magic-tilt trailer has a 3,420 lb. G.V.W.R., it's overloaded. Springs, tires and axles are inadequate for the real world trailersailor. The only way it works in the factory configuration is to strip the boat of everything before you hit the road.
Overloaded
Mike: You confirmed my suspicions. The trailer is overloaded with the Hunter 240. What amazes me is the fact that Hunter would knowingly do something like that.
Mike: You confirmed my suspicions. The trailer is overloaded with the Hunter 240. What amazes me is the fact that Hunter would knowingly do something like that.
I've had both single and double
axle trailers. A 240 with single axle and a 260 with the double axle. I trailer my boat extensively in the summer. The single axle was definately overloaded and had a bow outward at the bottom of the tires. The tire life was also very short. The double axle is the way to go IMHO. It tows MUCH nicer than the single axle, doesn't bounce the rear end of my truck as much, doesnt sway side to side, Tire life is vastly improved, etc, etc. I tow with a dodge ram 2500 cummins diesel. If you are going to tow any significant distance, the double axle is the way to go. If you decide to do the conversion, remember that the center point of the double axle setup needs to be in the same place as the single axle, meaning that you will have to move the single axle as well as adding another axle. It also gives you the chance to fine tune the tongue weight if necessary. The front axle should also be the one with the brakes.
axle trailers. A 240 with single axle and a 260 with the double axle. I trailer my boat extensively in the summer. The single axle was definately overloaded and had a bow outward at the bottom of the tires. The tire life was also very short. The double axle is the way to go IMHO. It tows MUCH nicer than the single axle, doesn't bounce the rear end of my truck as much, doesnt sway side to side, Tire life is vastly improved, etc, etc. I tow with a dodge ram 2500 cummins diesel. If you are going to tow any significant distance, the double axle is the way to go. If you decide to do the conversion, remember that the center point of the double axle setup needs to be in the same place as the single axle, meaning that you will have to move the single axle as well as adding another axle. It also gives you the chance to fine tune the tongue weight if necessary. The front axle should also be the one with the brakes.
Trailer Frame
I am looking at a a Hunter 260 that is kept at the same marina where I have my 240. The frame is so much stronger than mine that I am thinking that adding an axle is probaly not going to be good enough. Since my trailer is still in good condition, my best bet would be to sell it to someone that can use a single axle trailer, maybe for a smaller boat or for someone not trailering long distances and buying a dual axle trailer. Can anyone suggest a good quality sailboat trailer?
I am looking at a a Hunter 260 that is kept at the same marina where I have my 240. The frame is so much stronger than mine that I am thinking that adding an axle is probaly not going to be good enough. Since my trailer is still in good condition, my best bet would be to sell it to someone that can use a single axle trailer, maybe for a smaller boat or for someone not trailering long distances and buying a dual axle trailer. Can anyone suggest a good quality sailboat trailer?
- Status