Bass boat trailer questions

[mheichelbech]

What is the longest bass boat that you would have on a single axle trailer?

 

I had a friend who said he’d only ever have double axle trailers...are they really that much better?  Why is that?  
 

Are double axle trailers twice the maintenance cost or do parts like axles and hubs last longer due to the load being spread out?

 

When looking at a used boat, how can you assess the health of the trailer?

[jbsoonerfan]

Most of the time you aren't going to choose whether or not you will be using a single axle or tandem axle trailer. A boat is usually put on whatever trailer the manuf. sends them out with. That being said, I have seen most boats in the 20' class on tandem axle trailers and some 19' will be on single and some on dual. There are pros and cons to each. A tandem axle trailer is the most beneficial should you ever have a blowout LOL. The cons to a tandem axle are twice the maintenance when it comes to bearings, brakes, tires, etc; they are a bit heavier which may effect MPG and they are a little bit harder to back. I guess the pros of the single would be lighter weight, easier to back and less maintenance. I have an 18'6" and a single axle trailer, I really wish I had a tandem but the cost to buy one doesn't really make me want one that bad.

 

As far as if they last longer, I guess I am not sure but the bearings are turning the same no matter how the load is distributed and just like anything else it depends on how you maintain them.

 

First, look for rust! A little bit on an older boat might be fine but major pitting or cracking is not good. Also, trailer lights are a pain to work on so I would make sure they are in working order.

 

Edit* I need to clarify what I said about a single axle being easier to back. They are easier to maneuver in tight spaces which I guess could also been seen as a negative as they could be more difficult for someone who is not use to backing a trailer. I have only owned my boat for about 5 months but have hauled trailers most of my adult life so I felt I needed to go a bit further with that. Once you get a tandem axle going in the right direction it is easier to keep it going that way where as a single axle takes a little bit more work to keep straight. That being said you can really put a single axle in a tight spot if needed.

[Jig Man]

Several years ago several 20’ boats were on single axles.  They weren’t rigged like today’s boats and could get by with only having one.  My boat is 20’4”.  It weighs 2000 lbs.  The motor is around 600#.  I carry 55 gallons of gasoline.  I have 5 batteries and I’d hate to guess how much lead and plastic. 
 

Lots of today’s boats are similarly rigged that way.  A tandem axle is a must for that kind of weight.

 

I have haven’t had much extra maintenance except for extra tires.

[mheichelbech]

1 hour ago, jbsoonerfan said:

Most of the time you aren't going to choose whether or not you will be using a single axle or tandem axle trailer. A boat is usually put on whatever trailer the manuf. sends them out with. That being said, I have seen most boats in the 20' class on tandem axle trailers and some 19' will be on single and some on dual. There are pros and cons to each. A tandem axle trailer is the most beneficial should you ever have a blowout LOL. The cons to a tandem axle are twice the maintenance when it comes to bearings, brakes, tires, etc; they are a bit heavier which may effect MPG and they are a little bit harder to back. I guess the pros of the single would be lighter weight, easier to back and less maintenance. I have an 18'6" and a single axle trailer, I really wish I had a tandem but the cost to buy one doesn't really make me want one that bad.

 

As far as if they last longer, I guess I am not sure but the bearings are turning the same no matter how the load is distributed and just like anything else it depends on how you maintain them.

 

First, look for rust! A little bit on an older boat might be fine but major pitting or cracking is not good. Also, trailer lights are a pain to work on so I would make sure they are in working order.

 

Edit* I need to clarify what I said about a single axle being easier to back. They are easier to maneuver in tight spaces which I guess could also been seen as a negative as they could be more difficult for someone who is not use to backing a trailer. I have only owned my boat for about 5 months but have hauled trailers most of my adult life so I felt I needed to go a bit further with that. Once you get a tandem axle going in the right direction it is easier to keep it going that way where as a single axle takes a little bit more work to keep straight. That being said you can really put a single axle in a tight spot if needed.

On the, it came that way from the manufacturer, I have seen several guys have to buy another trailer for various reason.  I think some guys will buy the cheapest thing they can get away with if they think they are going to sell anytime soon.  So my concern about a boat potentially being too long or heavy for a single axle trailer comes from having seen that.  It’s a very small percentage of boats/trailers like that I’m sure.

 

Hi 

[jbsoonerfan]

I think very small would be an understatement. You have seen several, I have never known of anyone that has intentionally bought another trailer and went with a cheaper one because they were going to sell the boat.

[WRB]

Bass boats over 20' tend to come with tandom axle trailers. 4 tires do give some assurance that towing you don't don't have a tire problem. Most bass boats aren't heavy enough gross weight to require tandom axle trailers.

The down side with tandom axle trailers is maneuvering the trailer by hand into a garage or storage area. Easy with a single axle trailer.

Tom

[slonezp]

I've had both. Currently have a 20' boat with tandem trailer. The biggest benefit of a single axle is the ability to move it around by hand in the garage or parking space. Biggest advantage to a tandem axle is going to be on cement ramps that boats powerload on. If water levels are low and you have to back up further to launch/load you risk the tires going off the end of the pad into the hole created from propwash. If that happens, and it does, you'd better hope the water is warm because you, or someone with you, will be in the water trying to get the trailer unstuck.

[OnthePotomac]

Not to mention the braking required for heavy boats on tandem trailers.  That is a lot of weight to stop.

[WRB]

Knock on wood I never backed my single axle trailer off the end of a boat ramp. I have watched it happen and it shuts down the ramp it's a mess getting the trailer back up onto the ramp surface. 

Tom

[mheichelbech]

On 4/15/2020 at 9:03 PM, jbsoonerfan said:

Most of the time you aren't going to choose whether or not you will be using a single axle or tandem axle trailer. A boat is usually put on whatever trailer the manuf. sends them out with. That being said, I have seen most boats in the 20' class on tandem axle trailers and some 19' will be on single and some on dual. There are pros and cons to each. A tandem axle trailer is the most beneficial should you ever have a blowout LOL. The cons to a tandem axle are twice the maintenance when it comes to bearings, brakes, tires, etc; they are a bit heavier which may effect MPG and they are a little bit harder to back. I guess the pros of the single would be lighter weight, easier to back and less maintenance. I have an 18'6" and a single axle trailer, I really wish I had a tandem but the cost to buy one doesn't really make me want one that bad.

 

As far as if they last longer, I guess I am not sure but the bearings are turning the same no matter how the load is distributed and just like anything else it depends on how you maintain them.

 

First, look for rust! A little bit on an older boat might be fine but major pitting or cracking is not good. Also, trailer lights are a pain to work on so I would make sure they are in working order.

 

Edit* I need to clarify what I said about a single axle being easier to back. They are easier to maneuver in tight spaces which I guess could also been seen as a negative as they could be more difficult for someone who is not use to backing a trailer. I have only owned my boat for about 5 months but have hauled trailers most of my adult life so I felt I needed to go a bit further with that. Once you get a tandem axle going in the right direction it is easier to keep it going that way where as a single axle takes a little bit more work to keep straight. That being said you can really put a single axle in a tight spot if needed.

Your mention of having a blowout reminds of a time a friend and I had a blowout with his trailer (single axle), on I-65, a major interstate.  Even with a state trooper behind us with his lights on it was crazy the number of drivers who didn’t move over to the left lane...I felt like it was flat out dangerous changing the tire in that situation.

 

If you did have a blowout with a tandem axle, would you still be able to continue driving or have to stop and remove the wheel?  Or I guess it depends on the situation and whether the tire is dragging??   Hope that doesn’t sound stupid but I wasn’t sure if there would be some mechanical reason for having to remove the wheel if it wasn’t dragging the pavement.

[slonezp]

13 minutes ago, mheichelbech said:

Your mention of having a blowout reminds of a time a friend and I had a blowout with his trailer (single axle), on I-65, a major interstate.  Even with a state trooper behind us with his lights on it was crazy the number of drivers who didn’t move over to the left lane...I felt like it was flat out dangerous changing the tire in that situation.

 

If you did have a blowout with a tandem axle, would you still be able to continue driving or have to stop and remove the wheel?  Or I guess it depends on the situation and whether the tire is dragging??   Hope that doesn’t sound stupid but I wasn’t sure if there would be some mechanical reason for having to remove the wheel if it wasn’t dragging the pavement.

Keep a spare tire and you won't need to worry.

I had a caliper come off and puncture the wheel. I was able to drive about 15 miles to a trailer repair shop on 3 wheels. I wasn't fond of it, but I made it. I couldn't install the spare because the caliper and hub were damaged.

 

[Teal]

Mine is 19'10 on a single 

[jbsoonerfan]

2 hours ago, slonezp said:

Keep a spare tire and you won't need to worry.

I had a caliper come off and puncture the wheel. I was able to drive about 15 miles to a trailer repair shop on 3 wheels. I wasn't fond of it, but I made it. I couldn't install the spare because the caliper and hub were damaged.

 

I had a blowout on a dump trailer with 6,000 lbs of gravel in it. The jack I had was not going to cut it. Luckily I was almost home and I made it the last 7 miles to the nearest tire shop. I did have to pull off the highway and cut the tire off to keep from beating the heck out of the fender though. 

[bassfisher444]

On 4/19/2020 at 2:03 PM, WRB said:

Knock on wood I never backed my single axle trailer off the end of a boat ramp. I have watched it happen and it shuts down the ramp it's a mess getting the trailer back up onto the ramp surface. 

Tom

I have backed my single axle trailer off of the ramp a few times, never had any trouble pulling it back up. 

[HenryPF]

On 4/19/2020 at 12:11 PM, OnthePotomac said:

Not to mention the braking required for heavy boats on tandem trailers.  That is a lot of weight to stop.

 

it surprised me when my boat that weighs 1509# dry came with a surge brake trailer. Add in motor 400#, 30gal fuel 180#, batteries 200#, etc. I think the some manufacturers as just adding the brakes for value?

[slonezp]

2 hours ago, HenryPF said:

 

it surprised me when my boat that weighs 1509# dry came with a surge brake trailer. Add in motor 400#, 30gal fuel 180#, batteries 200#, etc. I think the some manufacturers as just adding the brakes for value?

They are adding brakes because of state laws. There are certain states that require brakes on trailers over XXX pounds. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. 

[WRB]

On April 21, 2020 at 6:48 AM, bassfisher444 said:

I have backed my single axle trailer off of the ramp a few times, never had any trouble pulling it back up. 

Our ramps tend to have a 2'-3' drop with concrete lip. When the trailer tires drop over the lip the trailer frame and fenders are resting in the concrete ramp, the boat floats off the trailer. It's not easy to pull the trailer back up over concrete lip without tearing the trailer fenders and usually requires someone getting into the water to help lift the trailer.

Watched this happen several times over the years.

Tom

[J Francho]

I've only seen it once - Keuka Lake, Penn Yan launch.  They were able to connect a winching strap to the trailer, and reconnect the stern tie downs.  I remember them being worried it might float the truck down the launch.  Not a good way to start off a tournament.  Luckily that launch had more than one ramp.  I don't think anyone had to go in the water, but they got it out.  It was a case of a new non boater backing down to far to dump his boater in.

[gim]

In Minnesota any load weighing over 3000 pounds is required to have trailer brakes. I don’t know if single axle trailers are equipped with brakes so I assume any boat trailer this heavy is a tandem axle.

[jbsoonerfan]

14 hours ago, gimruis said:

In Minnesota any load weighing over 3000 pounds is required to have trailer brakes. I don’t know if single axle trailers are equipped with brakes so I assume any boat trailer this heavy is a tandem axle.

My single axle has brakes, I am assuming many do.

[slonezp]

17 hours ago, gimruis said:

In Minnesota any load weighing over 3000 pounds is required to have trailer brakes. I don’t know if single axle trailers are equipped with brakes so I assume any boat trailer this heavy is a tandem axle.

Ranger single axle for their glass boats have brakes

[J Francho]

I've done plenty of boat shopping recently, and brakes are a common option to single and tandem axle trailers for many brands.

[slonezp]

18 hours ago, J Francho said:

I've done plenty of boat shopping recently, and brakes are a common option to single and tandem axle trailers for many brands.

Are you still looking at crossover boats 

[J Francho]

Pretty sure a Dauntless is in my future.  It satisfies my requirements, and hers, and doesn't feel like a compromise.