The problem with Ranger Boat style trailers

[tcbass]

They problem with Ranger Boats style trailers is that they have the spare tire almost level with the regular tires and vertical rather than tilted. It can lead to problems like below. The spare tire is going to hit the ground and perhaps damage the tire or tire mount. This ramp also appears to be fairly shallow and not steep at all. 

 

I've always thought tilting the spare was better because it allowed you to watch both trailer front tires when trailering and put the spare tire higher up. I would like to get a Ranger in the future and would like to avoid this if possible. I wouldn't want to spend $90k and then have to pay to customize the trailer at more costs. Ranger should make a useable trailer from the start at their premium prices. 

 

Am I wrong?

 

 

 

 

As you can see, offset/angled mounts are common and raise the tire so it's much higher on the trailer.

 

 

 

[TOXIC]

I have a dual axle on a 21ft Ranger and the only ramps I have ever rubbed are some super steep Florida ones.  Have you checked your hitch height to make sure your tow vehicle isn't squatting too much?  On those same Florida ramps, I have seen the center mount flat carriers scrub more than the side mount.  

[tcbass]

30 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

I have a dual axle on a 21ft Ranger and the only ramps I have ever rubbed are some super steep Florida ones.  Have you checked your hitch height to make sure your tow vehicle isn't squatting too much?  On those same Florida ramps, I have seen the center mount flat carriers scrub more than the side mount.  

 

 

The ramp in the pic doesn't look too steep. 

[NinjaAbassin]

I would just weld a couple bars in between the trailer right under the bow. And mount the tire there. Kinda like the triton boat trailers. Or just throw the spare in the back of the truck. 99% of the time if you need a spare on your trailer it will be with your truck. Just my .02 cents.

[tcbass]

12 minutes ago, NinjaAbassin said:

I would just weld a couple bars in between the trailer right under the bow. And mount the tire there. Kinda like the triton boat trailers. Or just throw the spare in the back of the truck. 99% of the time if you need a spare on your trailer it will be with your truck. Just my .02 cents.

 

Problem with putting in your truck bed is that someone can easily steal it from your truck. Also, if you use a friends truck always moving the spare back and forth would be a pain. 

 

I wouldn't want to buy a new $90k Ranger and start welding onto the trailer. 

[NinjaAbassin]

Idk what to tell ya then... that tire does look awfully low. Looks like it's touching the floor. ? Let us know what fix u came up with. Be interested to know. 

[tcbass]

49 minutes ago, NinjaAbassin said:

Idk what to tell ya then... that tire does look awfully low. Looks like it's touching the floor. ? Let us know what fix u came up with. Be interested to know. 

 

 

Thx. Not my boat. Just an observation. But why I like a tilted spare tire to avoid this and being able to see your tires when you drive. 

[Glenn]

I have a 2003 Ranger that has a trailer that looks just like that one.  My spare tire rubbed on steeper ramps, but not on most ramps, when I first got it.  This problem went away when I raised the hitch about 3/4". Destroyed a new spare tire cover before I figured that out though. LOL!

 

Looks like your boat is a multi-purpose boat, so the spare seems to be a bit lower than on mine.

[cadman]

I have a 2007, 619VS like the boat in the pic. Yes it is a problem on some ramps, and it is the muti-species boat. I only know of one lake I use, that I have to take the spare off before I launch the boat. It is a P.I.T.A, however, since it is one lake I deal with it. The problem with leaving the spare off, is #1 it looks dumb with out the spare and the bracket showing, and #2 the (3) mtg. studs that the spare mounts to sticks out from the trailer, causing you to rip open your knees or your shins. I wish that Ranger would have come up with a better solution for that series boats. 

[tcbass]

10 minutes ago, cadman said:

I have a 2007, 619VS like the boat in the pic. Yes it is a problem on some ramps, and it is the muti-species boat. I only know of one lake I use, that I have to take the spare off before I launch the boat. It is a P.I.T.A, however, since it is one lake I deal with it. The problem with leaving the spare off, is #1 it looks dumb with out the spare and the bracket showing, and #2 the (3) mtg. studs that the spare mounts to sticks out from the trailer, causing you to rip open your knees or your shins. I wish that Ranger would have come up with a better solution for that series boats. 

 

 

It's funny, the angled tire mounts aren't new or expensive. Just use that. Can't be anymore expensive. 

[A-Jay]

Perhaps fabricating the "mount" in the same position but instead of having the spare locked / stationary, it's on a type of axle.

Certainly wouldn't prevent it from coming in contact with a ramp but at least it could spin rather than rubbing in a flat spot.

A-Jay

[tcbass]

18 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Perhaps fabricating the "mount" in the same position but instead of having the spare locked / stationary, it's on a type of axle.

Certainly wouldn't prevent it from coming in contact with a ramp but at least it could spin rather than rubbing in a flat spot.

A-Jay

 

 

I have seen that. But if I spend $90k on a boat I don't want to have to spend more to make it right. 

 

 

An angled tire mount is the same price and works so well and other major manufactures use angled tire mounts. I wish Ranger would get with the program. 

[A-Jay]

8 minutes ago, tcbass said:

 

 

I have seen that. But if I spend $90k on a boat I don't want to have to spend more to make it right. 

 

 

An angled tire mount is the same price and works so well and other major manufactures use angled tire mounts. I wish Ranger would get with the program. 

 

I hear you and would tend to agree. However, it is what it is, so I'd do what I could to eliminate the BS now.

Perhaps purchase the mount you want and next time you take your rig into be winterized, have "the dealer" install it.

Maybe they'll do it - as a courtesy since it's such a PIA having to do it in the first place.

A-Jay

[tcbass]

7 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

 

I hear you and would tend to agree. However, it is what it is, so I'd do what I could to eliminate the BS now.

Perhaps purchase the mount you want and next time you take your rig into be winterized, have "the dealer" install it.

Maybe they'll do it - as a courtesy since it's such a PIA having to do it in the first place.

A-Jay

 

 

Are Ranger tire mounts welded to the frame?

[A-Jay]

40 minutes ago, tcbass said:

 

 

Are Ranger tire mounts welded to the frame?

 

I do not know. Pretty easy to look and see.

My ShoreLand'r is but it's also tilted in as well as positioned well forward on the trailer frame.

A-Jay

[Clinton john]

Simple quick and cost less fix for that problem is a wrench and take it off and put it in the truck.

 

And then rock out and go fishing.

[tcbass]

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

 

I do not know. Pretty easy to look and see.

My ShoreLand'r is but it's also tilted in as well as positioned well forward on the trailer frame.

A-Jay

 

53 minutes ago, A5BLASTER said:

Simple quick and cost less fix for that problem is a wrench and take it off and put it in the truck.

 

And then rock out and go fishing.

 

 

Until someone steals it from the back of your truck. 

 

I had someone go into the way back of my old suburban and steal an old life jacket. 

 

 

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

 

I do not know. Pretty easy to look and see.

My ShoreLand'r is but it's also tilted in as well as positioned well forward on the trailer frame.

A-Jay

 

 

Hard to look and see from pictures. Most have the tires installed and it covers the mount. 

[WIGuide]

Ranger has had the spare tire mounted in the same location since the early 80's. If it was a common problem they would have moved it, as they fix issues as they arise. I've had experience with quite a few Rangers on many different landings and a tire only rubbed slightly on one, and that was because the hitch on the vehicle is mounted lower than the recommended spec. It appears that the owner of the boat in your picture may have mounted the spare on the bracket incorrectly as well. There are two lugs that stick through the mounting plate, and depending on what holes you use in the rim it drastically affects the level of the spare tire.  Looking at the picture below of a correctly mounted tire on the same model and year boat, you can see how much higher the tire sits off the ground. It doesn't mean it will never be close to scraping, but in the vast majority of situations, it shouldn't actually make contact. 

 

As far as seeing your axel mounted tire while you drive, this setup still allows you to do so. They are not mounted so low that you can't see your tire and they are also set in slightly so you can see the outside edge of your tire as well. 

 

To answer your question about how they're attached to the trailer, they are welded. I'm sure if you were ordering a new boat you could get one without the spare tire carrier since Ranger manufacturers their own trailers and doesn't farm them out to a different company. Then you'd be free to bolt whatever type carrier to it. 

 

[A-Jay]

Well, either way there are several options when it comes to after market mount.

One for most any fitment and price point

http://www.easternmarine.com/Trailer-Tire-Accessories/

A-Jay

[Russ E]

this is how my new ranger spare was setup. completely out of the way.

when unloading by myself on a shallow ramp , the spare makes a nice step

[iabass8]

18 minutes ago, Weedwhacker said:

this is how my new ranger spare was setup. completely out of the way.

when unloading by myself on a shallow ramp , the spare makes a nice step

This is exactly how my new ranger is set up. Love it. My old one had one like the OP's picture. I never had an issue though.

[gim]

That is where mine is mounted too.  I have a 2015 model.

 

In the original picture to start this thread, I also noticed that the outboard was tilted way down.  You gotta trim that lower unit up!

[tcbass]

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

That is where mine is mounted too.  I have a 2015 model.

 

In the original picture to start this thread, I also noticed that the outboard was tilted way down.  You gotta trim that lower unit up!

 

 

 

Saw that too. I saw a guy pull his out of the lake like that. Well, he had no skeg afterward. 

[tcbass]

2 hours ago, Weedwhacker said:

this is how my new ranger spare was setup. completely out of the way.

when unloading by myself on a shallow ramp , the spare makes a nice step

 

 

I like it this way too, but correct me if I'm wrong, this is usually ok with a shallower bass boat but usually deeper multi-specie boats can't have this set up?

[Russ E]

53 minutes ago, tcbass said:

 

 

I like it this way too, but correct me if I'm wrong, this is usually ok with a shallower bass boat but usually deeper multi-specie boats can't have this set up?

i have noticed, some deep v boats sit lower in the trailer frames, this probably would not work for those.