trailer tire size.

Jun 14, 2015
2
Macgregor 26M Cold Lake, AB
Hello all. I purchased a 2005 26M last May and had a great time with it last summer. The PO had replaced the tires with larger 225/78(I think) 15s and thought it would give a better ride etc. They were/are fine, except that there is alot of overhang inboard and outboard of the fenders. Think really chubby person on a bar stool. This overhang is bad enough that on my last trip of the summer last year, we hit a good pothole, the fender finished the cut into the tread cap and the tire blew out. 9 pm, getting dark, narrow dirt road, alot of fun. Can anybody tell me what size tires the Macgregor trailers came with from the factory. I have considered a tandem axle system upgrade, but think for that kind of money as a start, a new trailer with a tandem axle rig in the future might make more sense. For the immediate future though, a new set of tires that will fit inside the fenders will get me on the road and water faster. I'd appreciate any info others might have.
 

walt

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Jun 1, 2007
3,538
Macgregor 26S Hobie TI Ridgway Colorado
On the 26S, I believe the stock tire rim is 14 inch - at least that is what was on my boat when I bought it. I changed mine to 15 inch to get a significantly higher load rating. I had to move the fenders up a little and there isnt much room to do this (boat hull is in the way..). Anything that raises the boat also means you have to back the trailer in farther to launch - typical ramp slope is around one extra foot farther the trailer has to go into the water for each inch you raise the boat. But.. still a peice of cake to launch.
 
Feb 27, 2014
14
MacGregor 26M Montgomery
My 2005 26M takes 225/75/R15. There is a data label just aft of the winch support on the port side. Lists tire size, inflation, and max load details

Jeff
 
Jun 14, 2015
2
Macgregor 26M Cold Lake, AB
Re: Trailer tire size

Thanks all for the responses. Sumner: The tires are in fact trailer tires. They are ST225/75D15. I had planned to go see my local "tire store" as you suggested, I just thjought I'd get an idea of what the factory thought they should be to be somewhat forearmed, so to speak. I've also considered that at least part of my problem could be the offset of the rims if they are aftermarket too. The tire sidewalls overhang on the inside too though, so that can't be the only cause.
jstyers: Is your trailer the factory macgregor steel single axle one or an aftermarket one. I seem to recall seeing somewhere that the trailers like mine came with ST205/75D or 78D 15's. That size would only be about an inch smaller in diameter and width though so I can't see that I would gain much in clearence. The tire guy will probably be the best resource.
 
Feb 27, 2014
14
MacGregor 26M Montgomery
Re: Trailer tire size

jstyers: Is your trailer the factory macgregor steel single axle one or an aftermarket one

Mine is the factory steel with single axle. Not necessarily related to this thread but I recently weighed it (4380 lbs) and found that with just the essential sailing gear and zero water or fuel I'm already over the trailer's max weight by 180 pounds. I don't have any significant weight-adding mods on my boat either. I certainly hope it's engineered to the 150% rule.
 

walt

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Jun 1, 2007
3,538
Macgregor 26S Hobie TI Ridgway Colorado
Curious what does the 26M literature say the 26M boat plus trailer weight is? I think the 50 to 75 hp outboards are still generally under 400 pounds.

The 26S literature says boat plus trailer is only 2200 pounds but it seems a lot of people who weigh them say they come in around 3000 pounds (don’t remember the loading when people have posted actual weights).

Its a little hard for me to believe that Macgregor didn’t know what they were doing with trailers being that they were in business so long, made so many trailers that were used for years and years and also had liability to deal with.
 
Feb 27, 2014
14
MacGregor 26M Montgomery
Page 7 of the manual says: TOTAL WEIGHT. The weight of the boat, trailer and all other
items cannot exceed 4200 pounds. The empty boat, without mast
and cushions, weighs approximately 2600 pounds. The trailer
weighs 720 pounds.

That's 3320 with no engine, mast, boom, rigging, sheets, sails, anchor, motor, fuel, cushions....I'd say that probably covers the 1000 pound difference I found when I weighed it.