In response to the towing question in the safety issue on roller furling, I thought it better to start anew and share trailering experiences in this forum. Last summer we towed 7,500 miles using our GMC Sierra 1500 5.3 liter V8 extended cab with Quadrasteer. The towing weight is about 5400 pounds; 4800 on the axle and 600 pounds on the tongue. We used to tow with a 97 Ford Explorer V6 SOHC with no problems except for speed; could only maintain 62 mph without it shifting out of overdrive. In both vehicles I installed AirLift bags (see Link below) on the rear springs to level the vehicle which greatly increases front wheel control. We have no problem with sway for five reasons in order of importance: 1. Greater than 11 percent tongue weight 2. Quadrasteer 3. Air leveling rear suspension 4. Low trailer profile 5. Single axle I believe the equalizer hitch or any load leveling hitch interferes with the surge brakes. We cruised on I-40 in the West at 75 mph and was able to get about 10.5 miles per gallon and stay in overdrive. The economy comes from the trailer riding closely in the truck’s vacuum, is very low, and has only two 80 psi tires on the road. When we go 65 mph we get 11.5 mpg. The Quadrasteer made handling easy, passing trucks or, when we hit 45 mph gusts, I just kept the steering wheel straight and let the rear wheel steering computer do the correcting because it only has to correct in one direction, unlike the zig-zag needed for front wheel correction. The attached photo is our rig in San Diego. Can anyone add their experience in trailer safety and comfort?
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Towing H260
For those of us who trailer our boats the more we share info the better. Is that a H240? My 2003 H260 trailer has two axles. Also, my boom appears to be much higher and slants forward. My 2002 Ford Van weighs 5720 and the boat/trailer weighs 5740. Tongue wt is 600. This puts me about 1000 lbs under my max GVRW. (5.4 ltr Ford V8). The Equal-i-zer hitch [http://www.equalizerhitch.com/] is the only equalizer hitch I know of that will work with surge breaks. I will tow from Michigan to the Keys in March and have been dragging my feet on the hitch installation because it's $600. I have a lot of experience towing RV's and smaller boats, but have limited experience towing long distances with this wt. Even with the almost 11% hitch weight there is a little sway above 55. I'm inclined to go with the equalizer hitch but also am interested in the experience of others.
For those of us who trailer our boats the more we share info the better. Is that a H240? My 2003 H260 trailer has two axles. Also, my boom appears to be much higher and slants forward. My 2002 Ford Van weighs 5720 and the boat/trailer weighs 5740. Tongue wt is 600. This puts me about 1000 lbs under my max GVRW. (5.4 ltr Ford V8). The Equal-i-zer hitch [http://www.equalizerhitch.com/] is the only equalizer hitch I know of that will work with surge breaks. I will tow from Michigan to the Keys in March and have been dragging my feet on the hitch installation because it's $600. I have a lot of experience towing RV's and smaller boats, but have limited experience towing long distances with this wt. Even with the almost 11% hitch weight there is a little sway above 55. I'm inclined to go with the equalizer hitch but also am interested in the experience of others.
Wow, What a Beautiful Rig!
Very pretty Nils. I guess you take the spreaders off the mast to have it sit so low and have made your own mast crutch. I am a little surprised with the trailer - I thought they all came standard with double axles. Also, I can't see bunks on your trailer. Do you still have bunks to help support the hull's weight? Regards, Bob
Very pretty Nils. I guess you take the spreaders off the mast to have it sit so low and have made your own mast crutch. I am a little surprised with the trailer - I thought they all came standard with double axles. Also, I can't see bunks on your trailer. Do you still have bunks to help support the hull's weight? Regards, Bob
Your trailer seems short...
You have almost 1/3 the length of your boat hanging off the end of your trailer. That seems unusual and not particularly supportive for your boat. Also, how do you tie down the aft end of the boat?
You have almost 1/3 the length of your boat hanging off the end of your trailer. That seems unusual and not particularly supportive for your boat. Also, how do you tie down the aft end of the boat?
Serious trailer modifications from stock
Wow, If that's the standard Hunter stock trailer for the 260 Nils has a lot of modification time invested. It looks great. I'm not sure if I would have done away with the hull support bunks though. I don't think the hull is designed to support all the boat weight on just the centerline. How does it keep from rolling side to side? It doesn't look that easy to get the boat back on the trailer from the water without damage either. The fender looks awfully close to the GelCoat.... Nils, some closeups of the trailer modifications would be nice to see the next time you have the boat off the trailer.
Wow, If that's the standard Hunter stock trailer for the 260 Nils has a lot of modification time invested. It looks great. I'm not sure if I would have done away with the hull support bunks though. I don't think the hull is designed to support all the boat weight on just the centerline. How does it keep from rolling side to side? It doesn't look that easy to get the boat back on the trailer from the water without damage either. The fender looks awfully close to the GelCoat.... Nils, some closeups of the trailer modifications would be nice to see the next time you have the boat off the trailer.
George
George, Do you know Dixie Stephen? She owns a Tartan 26 moored in West Bay north of Tom's Market across from the upholstry shop. We spend time sailing with her. We will trailer our H260 there again from Arizona next July. My wife Jan (Enyart) graduated from Traverse City HS with Dixie in 62. Nils and Jan Anderson
George, Do you know Dixie Stephen? She owns a Tartan 26 moored in West Bay north of Tom's Market across from the upholstry shop. We spend time sailing with her. We will trailer our H260 there again from Arizona next July. My wife Jan (Enyart) graduated from Traverse City HS with Dixie in 62. Nils and Jan Anderson
craziest looking trailer i ever seen
you have way more bs than me. don't you know you are risking the lives of anyone in your path. failure to secure a load can cause catastrophic injury,the liability of which would put you out. believe me it will happen so fast you will not believe it. you got a high dollar truck with a time bomb behind it. as a gm certified transmission tech the trans is designed to be run in 3 when towing a load, that going in and out of lockup/slash od is wearing the hell out of your torque converter.do yourself a giant favor and buy a factory made trailer for your boat, it will work as it is designed to.
you have way more bs than me. don't you know you are risking the lives of anyone in your path. failure to secure a load can cause catastrophic injury,the liability of which would put you out. believe me it will happen so fast you will not believe it. you got a high dollar truck with a time bomb behind it. as a gm certified transmission tech the trans is designed to be run in 3 when towing a load, that going in and out of lockup/slash od is wearing the hell out of your torque converter.do yourself a giant favor and buy a factory made trailer for your boat, it will work as it is designed to.
single axle
When you are towing anything,safety is a big issue with me. If I am reading this right, you are only towing on one axle with your 260. The Magic Tilt trailer has two axles. With two axles, it distributes the weight thus less swaying when towing and more control over the boat. This is very helpful particulay when the big rigs pass you. Here are concerns with one axle. First, you have to look at the tires and see what weights they will tow. You have to figure the total weight of the boat, trailer and of course gear. If the total weight exceeds the total weight that both tires can carry, you will experience blow outs and depending on your speed possibly loose control of towing a 260. The next item is going back to a single axle and the sway most notalbly when a big truck passes by. I hope you got brakes because if you do not, then there can be a catastraphe if you loose control. Brakes are generally required if the total weight being pulled is more than 3000 pounds and some states require it on all axles like PA. I for one would not and I cannot recommend a single axle trailer for a Hunter 260. All I gotta say is be careful.
When you are towing anything,safety is a big issue with me. If I am reading this right, you are only towing on one axle with your 260. The Magic Tilt trailer has two axles. With two axles, it distributes the weight thus less swaying when towing and more control over the boat. This is very helpful particulay when the big rigs pass you. Here are concerns with one axle. First, you have to look at the tires and see what weights they will tow. You have to figure the total weight of the boat, trailer and of course gear. If the total weight exceeds the total weight that both tires can carry, you will experience blow outs and depending on your speed possibly loose control of towing a 260. The next item is going back to a single axle and the sway most notalbly when a big truck passes by. I hope you got brakes because if you do not, then there can be a catastraphe if you loose control. Brakes are generally required if the total weight being pulled is more than 3000 pounds and some states require it on all axles like PA. I for one would not and I cannot recommend a single axle trailer for a Hunter 260. All I gotta say is be careful.
Single Axle Specs.
Crazy Dave is correct as usual when he says you must verify your trailer weight and make sure your tires and axle can handle the load. Attached is the axle weight of our fully loaded H260 at a Truck Stop in Michigan last summer. Our 10 ply tires are each rated at 2830. Both will support 5660 which is 800 pounds more than needed. Even the worst case of going over a bump and adding the 600 pounds of tongue weight there is still 200 pounds of safety left. The axle is rated at 7000. This, again is the reason a tandem will have a blow out and this single won't. If you have tire failure from a road hazard, the front and rear vehicle tires get it first. As far as sway - there is none. With a tandem axle you will get wobble around the point between axles, where the front axle doesn't know what the rear axle is doing, but you can't have less sway than "NONE." This single axle does not have carriage suspension. It is independent and rubber dampened shock absorbing with no sideway movement. It has stainless steel disk brakes. The down side is that it's more expensive than two axles. Nils Anderson
Crazy Dave is correct as usual when he says you must verify your trailer weight and make sure your tires and axle can handle the load. Attached is the axle weight of our fully loaded H260 at a Truck Stop in Michigan last summer. Our 10 ply tires are each rated at 2830. Both will support 5660 which is 800 pounds more than needed. Even the worst case of going over a bump and adding the 600 pounds of tongue weight there is still 200 pounds of safety left. The axle is rated at 7000. This, again is the reason a tandem will have a blow out and this single won't. If you have tire failure from a road hazard, the front and rear vehicle tires get it first. As far as sway - there is none. With a tandem axle you will get wobble around the point between axles, where the front axle doesn't know what the rear axle is doing, but you can't have less sway than "NONE." This single axle does not have carriage suspension. It is independent and rubber dampened shock absorbing with no sideway movement. It has stainless steel disk brakes. The down side is that it's more expensive than two axles. Nils Anderson
Attachments
Forget what you think you know and listen to Nils
We, my wife and I, are the proud owners of the '92 MacGregor owned previously and solely by Nils, now more friend than aquaintence. With it came the modified trailer he designed and built. I recieve queries, looks and accolades from other Mac owners, where ever we go. What I've always considered important safety is have good tongue weight. Not every time going to sail is one packing a lot of gear to stow forward. Sometimes no gear, if you have to take it to a shop or just a you-do-it carwash etc. With the single axel, moved back, we have automatic tongue weight. Moving the axel back 13" and adding torsion suspension (replacing the springs), allows us to travel at 75 mph, with no sway. Straight as an arrow crossing RR tracks and cattle guards. I, we, have complete confidence in the modifications Nils made. Lastly, trailers are designed to be produced at the least cost to the boat builder. Nils, a Mechanical Engineer, made the modifications without cost concerns, but with trailerability concerns. One just needs to do the math. Also, the old saying, bigger is not necessarily better, can apply to the number of axels one uses.
We, my wife and I, are the proud owners of the '92 MacGregor owned previously and solely by Nils, now more friend than aquaintence. With it came the modified trailer he designed and built. I recieve queries, looks and accolades from other Mac owners, where ever we go. What I've always considered important safety is have good tongue weight. Not every time going to sail is one packing a lot of gear to stow forward. Sometimes no gear, if you have to take it to a shop or just a you-do-it carwash etc. With the single axel, moved back, we have automatic tongue weight. Moving the axel back 13" and adding torsion suspension (replacing the springs), allows us to travel at 75 mph, with no sway. Straight as an arrow crossing RR tracks and cattle guards. I, we, have complete confidence in the modifications Nils made. Lastly, trailers are designed to be produced at the least cost to the boat builder. Nils, a Mechanical Engineer, made the modifications without cost concerns, but with trailerability concerns. One just needs to do the math. Also, the old saying, bigger is not necessarily better, can apply to the number of axels one uses.
Everyone is hitting the mark
As I have said, the trailer frame, axle or axles and of course the tires are what matter. In this case, thought went into the trailer without cost being a consideration. There is a safety factor already built in which is more than the 10% suggested which I am glad to see but there are some concerns. First, the back end of the boat sits too far out from the bunk boards and I am concerened that the wieght may indent the hull at the stern of the bunks. You have to be careful to empty that water out. Secondly, some states for example in Texas would pull you over and write you up as the boat extends too far out from the trailer. Third, I am still of the belief that a second axle is best because if you have a blow out, at least you have a tire still on the ground supporting the boat. I think the trailer is ok with a single axle but for one who has pulled boats in excess of 2 million miles, my preference is still a two axle trailer.
As I have said, the trailer frame, axle or axles and of course the tires are what matter. In this case, thought went into the trailer without cost being a consideration. There is a safety factor already built in which is more than the 10% suggested which I am glad to see but there are some concerns. First, the back end of the boat sits too far out from the bunk boards and I am concerened that the wieght may indent the hull at the stern of the bunks. You have to be careful to empty that water out. Secondly, some states for example in Texas would pull you over and write you up as the boat extends too far out from the trailer. Third, I am still of the belief that a second axle is best because if you have a blow out, at least you have a tire still on the ground supporting the boat. I think the trailer is ok with a single axle but for one who has pulled boats in excess of 2 million miles, my preference is still a two axle trailer.
Red Flag
One piece of advise. If the back of your boat sticks out 4 feet past the end of the trailer, some states require you to have a red flag at the very end of the boat (Virginia Law). At night some states require that to be a red light. Even if the states you are going through don't require it, it is a good idea (especially with the way people tend to drive these days).
One piece of advise. If the back of your boat sticks out 4 feet past the end of the trailer, some states require you to have a red flag at the very end of the boat (Virginia Law). At night some states require that to be a red light. Even if the states you are going through don't require it, it is a good idea (especially with the way people tend to drive these days).
Matt
Thank you about advising for the state of virginia. With the mast sticking out too, that is unlawful to tow and then there is the tractor trailer at night who will try to climb up your behunkus and could hit the mast. I have experienced that too. If you have any questions about your 22, give me a holler. Contact Jim Seamons for my email and feel free to contact me. I will help you with the pesky leak but again you cannot divulge who or where I am. By the way, I call my grass roots the Shenandoah Valley and VMI was not a piece of cake in my time but I did get thru.
Thank you about advising for the state of virginia. With the mast sticking out too, that is unlawful to tow and then there is the tractor trailer at night who will try to climb up your behunkus and could hit the mast. I have experienced that too. If you have any questions about your 22, give me a holler. Contact Jim Seamons for my email and feel free to contact me. I will help you with the pesky leak but again you cannot divulge who or where I am. By the way, I call my grass roots the Shenandoah Valley and VMI was not a piece of cake in my time but I did get thru.
Nils, Thanks
Well I have the truck problem solved. GMC was offering huge discounts on Sierra's last weekend so I don't have the explorer to worry about. Now I just have to find one someone willing to take me for a test sail and then the downpayment. Thanks again Jason
Well I have the truck problem solved. GMC was offering huge discounts on Sierra's last weekend so I don't have the explorer to worry about. Now I just have to find one someone willing to take me for a test sail and then the downpayment. Thanks again Jason
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