Lowering trailer

[danny berg]

I want to lower my boat trailer, it sits to high. I need to back my truck all the way into the water (front tires in the water) just to get the bunks at water level. Can I just loosen the brackets on the leaf springs and widen them out, to lower the trailer, or will I have to get a different set of leaf springs? I think 4 to 8 inches should do the trick.

Thanks in advance.

Danny

[IFallsRon]

What kind of trailer and boat?

[danny berg]

Hey IFallsRon
It is an older spartan trailer, and I have a 16' 72 mirrorcraft 4 seater The trailer is way too much trailer for the boat (2 x 3 square steel tubing). I have about 4 inches of space from the top of the tires to the bottom most part of the fenders.
Say, I hope you didn't take offense to my reply to your post on another thread. I was just joshing around. unlike some of the other replys you have had..
You also had some tires and wheels for sale a while back, do you still have them, this trailer has the 4.80-12 on it and I would like to get a spare just in case.

Thanks,

Danny

[klbowe]

Sometime ago I blew a leaf spring on my one of my boat trailers while on vacation in the boonies. The local car mech. could not get the correct springs and so we had to install springs off a VW. Now that boat really sat high. I never had any problems loading or launching but I never launch at unimproved accesses and most around here are dreaged out .

Springs matter. Lake depth at the access also makes a big difference.

If you measure from the botom of the stern to the ground how far off the ground is the bottom of the boat while on the trailer ?

Find a dealer that carries boats of a similar size and weight and compare measurements to see how far it should be off the ground.

[Fisher Dave]

It sounds like someone did a modification to your trailer in the past. I have a spartan trailer that is also to much for my boat, but the height is perfect.

I'm pretty sure Hannay's in NE Minneapolis is a spartan dealer. You may be able to get the proper springs through them. The worst case scenerio you may have to have new spring shackles(mounts) welded onto the trailer to get springs mounted properly, and at the right elevation.

My trailer has 2x3 tubing also.. Its much more sturdy than the *C* channel they use on many of the trailers today. My trailer is not excessively heavy, and balances out perfectly with the light boat I have on it (14' aluminum), but is capable of handling a 17' fiberglass and perform great.

If we could find a time that I will be in the cities and we could cross paths, I would be willing to swing my trailer there to compare and figure out what would have to be done with yours.

[danny berg]

The first thing I need to do is unbolt the axle, and put it on top of the leaf springs. I looked at quite a few trailers this weekend and half of the axle's were on top of the springs and half were on the bottom. That should get me about 3 to 4 inches lower, which might be enough, especially with the rain we had this weekend.

[danny berg]

Sorry it took so long to get back.
I unbolted the axel and put it on top of the leaf springs, it lowered me 5 1/2 inches. now I don't have to put the front tires in the water just to unload and load the boat. Plus all the rain we have had lately, sure has helped.
Thanks to all who responded.

Danny