New Trailer

[Sumner]

Well, the industry says trailer lugs should to be checked every 500 miles. I try to check them at least every 1000, and much sooner after starting out. Not checking them at all is rather foolish, and suggesting such is poor advice....

The point is that he does not need a second axle simply because someone thinks its so many times safer, or so he can neglect things more and still not have big problems. The guy admitted he doesnt have the tools and knowledge and isnt getting much help from local shops. A simple upgrade he can accomplish with normal hand tools would be far better than what he has now. Four nuts and four U bolts will be much simpler than all kinds of welding and fabricating. Even swapping in heavy springs he could do quite easily, or have done..

I don't have the slightest idea where you are coming from. I don't think I ever said to not check lugs or to perform safety checks on the trailer. I just said that checking every 50 miles should not be necessary, but if you want to go ahead. I do check just a few miles down the road at first and then when we get gas I give it a walk around.

He wants a second axle and said that the shop said that it would be too expensive and wanted suggestions on where to get a trailer with 2 axles. I offered an alternative to what I did that I felt a shop could do for a reasonable price and also tried to get him some help in finding a trailer that is already made via some of the board members that have purchased them.

If he wants a second axle and someone else doesn't then so be it. Some of us are just offering our opinion after going from one axle to two with a MacGregor 26 foot boat. I don't have experience towing your boat with your trailer do you have experience with this combination?

I think that I've offered all of the help that I can here. C ya,

Sum[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]

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[anchorclanker]

Dude, slow down a bit. He read all your links. He showed them to people who could do the work, he cant afford their work, they told him to buy a new trailer, and he cant do the work himself. He was looking for an alternative.

I offered an alternative that he could do himself with common hand tools. No cutting or welding or fabrication. A true bolt on fix. A 4000 pound axle has as much braking energy as two light 2000 pound axle brakes combined. An 8 hole wheel runs a tire that is about as strong as you can buy for a trailer. Its Commercial grade. But whatever, just a suggestion, no one needs to get cranky about it.

As far as checking lugs, I was only commenting on your statement that you made whole trips without ever once checking them. If thats not what you meant, I apologize. I check mine a bit more often than most, but I haven't lost another wheel since I was 15.

 

[monkeybars]

if your lug nuts don't come loose after 500 miles they will never come loose, they only need to be checked after a recent removal,or if you suspect vandalism.if you do good maintenence on your bearings and know what your looking at checking them every 4-500 miles at a fuel stop is more then adequate as it is very unlikely you will get a sudden total failure of a seal,they normally wear slowly and leaking grease can be obvserved early enough to replace seal in a six month failure window, and many,many five lug axles have a 3500-5000#GVW per axle,so a 10,000# 5 lug trailer is not really light duty.

 

[atwhite2]

Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you all for your advice... both for and against the dual axle. HOWEVER, I found a used dual axle trailer this past week and made the upgrade. Pirate Marine in Ohio has a great selection of new trailers, but also has a good offering of used trailers. I got a 26 foot dual axle trailer with brakes on all 4 wheels. The bunks need a little adjustment, but that is no big deal for my skill level.
As was stated in prior posts... the original Mac Trailer is fine for shorter trips to and from the lake... there is nothing wrong with it. I have a little more aggressive travel plan for us. I am wanting to travel across the country with my Mac... its a trailer-sailor... it is meant to go places. We are planning on trips through the mountains and down to Florida this winter. I feel much more confident with 2 axles back there and a wider footprint and 4 brakes. I will not use this as an excuse to neglect maintenance and I most certainly will be checking my hubs on a regular schedule. I will post pictures of the project as it progresses, but I need to move fast so I can still use the ramps to transfer my boat to the new trailer before they are closed for the season.

...I know this is not the place for selling, but I just might have an extra SINGLE axle original Mac trailer that may need a new home... If someone is in need PM me and we can work out a deal.

Thanks All