How to adjust tongue weight?

[99SAN]

I have a 2001 tandem axle trailer and the tongue weight is only about 100 lbs max. The front of the boat will bounce if I hit a bump in the road. I looked at the trailer but didn't see how/if I could move the axles back to increase tongue weight. This winter I am stripping the galvanized coating off, painting it and changing the bow stop.

[bchesley]

It sounds like you have the wrong trailer for your boat. Did you buy the boat with the current trailer? If you mix a direct drive trailer with a vdrive trailer you get what you described. The axles are moved forward on the direct drive trailer due to the orientation of the motor. I have a 2001 Dorsey tandem trailer for a vdrive and can get you measurements if you want. Post a pic of your trailer so we can see it.

[s_kelley2000]

Bchesley could be right if the trailer was designed for a direct drive. I have seen this once or twice with my trailer when I have been at a steep ramp and could not get it loaded correctly. My trailer has crash pads instead of a winch and roller. If the nose is low on the crash pads then I will get the bouncing like you are describing. Post some pics of your trailer and I will let you know if it looks similar to mine.

[ffmedic74]

What brand is the trailer. Post a pic of the front of it.

[Paxdad]

That's an easy solution. Just put the boat on the trailer backwards!! Just kidding. Can you confirm that when connected to the tow vehicle it is sitting level. Since it is a tandem axel trailer and if not level with a tounge high condition it will have an obvious light tounge weight.

[ddipert]

Can you move the boat forward on the trailer?

Have you tried to put some weight in the bow or on the tongue of the trailer? Neither is ideal but it might help for a quick fix.
I had an outboard boat once which fit the trailer but wouldn't load the tongue we started loading it with the bow eye over the roller stop which only moved the board up 4" which was the only fix I needed. I would have preferred to have the bow eye behind the roller but it towed much better after the change.

[99SAN]

[99SAN]

It sounds like you have the wrong trailer for your boat. Did you buy the boat with the current trailer? If you mix a direct drive trailer with a vdrive trailer you get what you described. The axles are moved forward on the direct drive trailer due to the orientation of the motor. I have a 2001 Dorsey tandem trailer for a vdrive and can get you measurements if you want. Post a pic of your trailer so we can see it.

The trailer is a dorsey and says for a sport nautique.

[99SAN]

Can you move the boat forward on the trailer?

Have you tried to put some weight in the bow or on the tongue of the trailer? Neither is ideal but it might help for a quick fix.
I had an outboard boat once which fit the trailer but wouldn't load the tongue we started loading it with the bow eye over the roller stop which only moved the board up 4" which was the only fix I needed. I would have preferred to have the bow eye behind the roller but it towed much better after the change.

I put 200lbs of sand under the bow seats which seemed to help.

[bchesley]

Well that explains a lot. I can tell by looking at it that the axles are too far forward. Look at my trailer and how far back the axles are. It is also a Dorsey. The green one was a 98 super sport that I had a few years ago.

[shag]

That is definitely not the best trailer for that boat...

[99SAN]

These trailers are hard to find what should I do

[bchesley]

Do you need a galvanized trailer? The tandem has some value for someone who has a sport that wants to upgrade from single to double axle. I say sell it and spend a few grand more and get a new one. Its never going to be right. The money it would take to move the axles is the money you would spend selling that one and buying a brand new one.

[Paxdad]

This may be a little redneck but to save some money you could bolt a cargo carrier across the frame and place ballast weight in it. once you get to your location you could place it in the boat.

[shag]

This may be going overboard, so to speak. But that boat has a lot of weight in the rear (obviously) That trailer was not designed for that purpose, so there is more stress being applied to the frame, etc by using it. Will it work with some other suggestions? Probably. If I was just using locally (house to close ramp/gas station, occasionally - I might be inclined to 'make do', but anything more than that, I would def get the correct trailer.