Trailer setup question

[wwwes]

Hello. I just recently purchased a 2005 Parker 2510 DVWA with twin F150's and I have a question about the set up of the trailer. Basically, it doesn't look or feel right to me. I am pulling with a F250 diesel and it feels like there is too much tongue weight. The boat sits a full 15" forward of the rear of the bunks. When I pulled it home from the marina I blew a forward tire which seem to lend weight to the arguement that there is too much weight forward. Any comments would be appreciated

Wes Livingston
Holden Beach, NC

 

[Parkerman]

That's about what mine looks like in comparison to the wheels. I will keep looking for a pic.

 

[Bryan 2530]

What is the tongue weight??? should only be about7%- %10 of the total weight of the rig.

Can you move the axels forward??? they look to far back to me.

 

[striperon]

What Bryan said, X2.

 

[gw204]

Check the tongue weight first. If it's more that the percentage Bryan mentioned, I would try sliding the boat and the winch stand back before I messed with the axles.

Is there any evidence on the tongue now that would indicate the winch stand used to be farther back?

 

[wwwes]

Check the tongue weight first. If it's more that the percentage Bryan mentioned, I would try sliding the boat and the winch stand back before I messed with the axles.

Is there any evidence on the tongue now that would indicate the winch stand used to be farther back?

The tongue does look like it used to be set farther back

 

[windknotnc]

I have the same setup problems to resolve on my 21SE...I have not started work on the trailer yet but will share my findings shortly. I am close to gelcoating and putting the console back in.

 

[striperon]

With an outboard without bracket, the transom should sit on the end of the bunk. Not sure about with the bracket. It looks as if the transom does sit on the bunk. So the tongue weight needs to be lightened by moving the axles forward.

 

[Bryan 2530]

Not the best shot but you can see the relation of the axles to my transom and the winch post.

 

[SBH2OMan]

It looks a bit goofy to me the way the bunks hang way out back behind the actual trailer frame, so that is throwing me off. But keep in mind you have 1100 lbs of engine hanging off that bracket way out back. Take that into account with the location of the fuel tank, and I'll bet your center of gravity is pretty close to being over the wheels. But its all speculation until you measure the tongue weight and total weight. I did that when I first brought my boat home - brought it to a local moving and storage place where they have a certified truck scale. $35 and 20 minutes later and I knew what my boat weighed on the trailer & the tongue weight...

 

[Megabyte]

If you have a good trailer shop in your area, they can put your rig on a scale and tell you exactly what the weight distribution is for everything.
I did this on my previous trailered boat for exactly the same reasons you stated... that it just didn't feel right when towing her.

Turns out my boat was never set up on the trailer properly from the day it left the factory.
In my case, the winch post and the axles both needed to be moved to balance her out.
The day I picked her up from the trailer shop, the tow attitude was dramatic, and much, much, better than before.

Spend the money and take boat and trailer to a pro to be properly adjusted and balanced.
Most of us do not have the equipment to do a proper DIY on fitting a trailer properly.

As always, YMMV.

 

[wwwes]

Thanks for all the replies. Since I first posted this I have moved the winch stand back 16" to the point where the edge of my transom met the back of the bunks. There was a mark on the channel where the stand use to be in this position. That was a little too heavy in the rear so I moved it up 3" and it seems much better. I am only pulling it a quarter mile from my home to the ramp but I can tell a big difference. I plan on making a road trip to the Outer Banks and will fine tune the adjustment before I do. Thanks again