Boat not loading straight on trailer

[Shorelunch]

I have a Shorlander tandem trailer with the rollers in the rear and small bunk pads up front holding a 1900 Pro V IFS. I had a flat on the boat's driver's side front tire a few weeks ago going about 60 mph. The next time at the ramp, the boat loaded too far to the right (same side the the flat happened) and the bow loaded too far the to passenger side by the winch eye (about 3-4 inches) and didn't come in to the middle of the winch roller until the very last crank.

I spent a few hours at the launch yesterday trying to get everything "straight" again. The rear roller's "axle" was tilted back, so I leveled it. I finally have it where the outside rollers are on the inside of the strake. However, the passenger side rollers are barely inside the strake and the driver side rollers are inside the strake by an inch or so - so it's still loading an inch too far to the driver side. I measured the rollers to the inside of the frame and to the middle of the trailer, so they are equal. I also measured the axles and they are the same distance apart on both sides and I also measured the front pads and they seem to be pretty similar.

I tried loading it a few times and had the back rollers in the lake at various depths with similar results. What am I missing or did wrong?

[PierBridge]

Sounds like you have everything covered. My experience with this is usually the trailer is to far into the water and pulling it out a bit helps the loading process as far as getting the roller's lined up!.

[solbes]

Agree with Pier on leaving last roller just at the water line. One other thing is to make sure the boat launch ramp is level. You can tell by looking at the water line versus the top of your wheel covers.

The lake we spend most of our time on used to have a perfectly level launch and our new boat would load perfectly every time. Then they added some rock to cover a large hole created by powerloaders (don't get me started). Now it's a B*&^# to get it on straight. Not much you can do in that case except find the most level area of the ramp.

[TruthWalleyes]

Not much you can do in that case except find the most level area of the ramp.

There is something you can do, but only when your ready to stop being a victim, buy some Trailer Guide On's, install onto trailer, back that trailer right into the hole, pull out boat, notice boat is straight on trailer...Go inform others who are having problems with crooked ramps.

[Shorelunch]

Thanks for the replies. The ramp I was at was level and I tried loading the trailer at various depths, including rollers barely in the water.

Before I put on guides, I'd like to fix the root of the problem . . . whatever that is . . .

[Ed Carlson]

Weight may be a factor, as it will tilt the boat as it hits the rollers.

If you set the width of the rear roller gangs as wide as you can without the hull hitting the frame or axles, it really can't wonder too far left or right. Plus try not to submerge the trailer too far in when loading. I also like to raise the rear roller gangs a bit as it also helps to capture the hull as it hits the front bunks.

If your that concerned about an inch now, adding the guide on bunks will really drive you nuts. As they rub if your off slightly. Get the rollers set and find that sweet spot for depth for loading your rig and you will be good.

If your within an inch, I would not be too overly concerned with it.

[birdswacker]

Is the tire you put on the right size?

[Shorelunch]

Weight may be a factor, as it will tilt the boat as it hits the rollers.

If you set the width of the rear roller gangs as wide as you can without the hull hitting the frame or axles, it really can't wonder too far left or right. Plus try not to submerge the trailer too far in when loading. I also like to raise the rear roller gangs a bit as it also helps to capture the hull as it hits the front bunks.

If your that concerned about an inch now, adding the guide on bunks will really drive you nuts. As they rub if your off slightly. Get the rollers set and find that sweet spot for depth for loading your rig and you will be good.

If your within an inch, I would not be too overly concerned with it.

Thanks for the replies. I just "bothers" me that it loaded straight be fore the flat, and now it's crooked. It looks kinda awkward when the boat is over the boat fender on the drivers side and shy of the fender on the passenger side. I've measured the distance between the rollers and frame and have it lined up under the strakes pretty well. Maybe the flat, besides pushing up the driver side rollers, possibly bent some rollers?

When I crank on the boat, I leave the trailer quite a bit out of the water, and it still sits too high n the driver side and the bow comes in too far to the passenger side until the last few cranks.

[TruthWalleyes]

I know this is a 19 foot boat. But is it possible to get it completely straight on the trailer with a big shove from two guys. Then look at the rollers to see just what is not lined up properly while the boat is completely straight on the trailer.

Maybe a picture of your boat on the trailer could help us help you. This seems to be quite the mystery, and is probably just something small that you've missed.

[Shorelunch]

I know this is a 19 foot boat. But is it possible to get it completely straight on the trailer with a big shove from two guys. Then look at the rollers to see just what is not lined up properly while the boat is completely straight on the trailer.

Maybe a picture of your boat on the trailer could help us help you. This seems to be quite the mystery, and is probably just something small that you've missed.

I have a link to the type of trailer on my first post. If you look at the boat from the rear, the passenger rollers are right up against the strake but on the drivers side, the rollers are about two inches from the strake. I think it could be pushed over while loading, but its a very heavy boat when loaded (1900 ProV with a 225 and 8 hp Hondas).

[TruthWalleyes]

FYI, Link didn't work for me.

I'm not suggesting that you "push the boat over" when loading to resolve your problem, but if you can get your boat straight on the trailer then the problem might stick out like a sore thumb.

[Bigtom]

I would check you tire sizes, air presures and tread depth. If all you changed was a tire I would think that the tire is the issue or you tweeked something when the tire blowed out at 60mph.

Also if you got a new tire is the tire exactly as the other tires size and brand?

You could rotate the tires and see if the problem changes.

Lay under you boat on flat ground and measure with a tape measure to compare the new tire side to the old side. Good Luck!

[Dusty]

Could be a spring issue on the trailer. If the trailer went down hard when the flat occurred it could have weakened that spring. On a level surface measure from the ground to the axel on each side under the springs.

[jac714]

Could be a spring issue on the trailer. If the trailer went down hard when the flat occurred it could have weakened that spring. On a level surface measure from the ground to the axel on each side under the springs.

Wouldn't that just tell him if the tires are the same size? I would think you would want to measure to the frame vice the axle.

[Dusty]

Yes, my mistake it should be the frame. The only reason I mentioned the spring is because I once broke a spring on my boat trailer and replaced it. As a result the new spring was stronger than the other one and it wouldn't load staight.