Hey Harvey, At 3:22 AM -0600 4/28/02, Harvey Hochstetter wrote:
Just a few thoughts on the tongue weight comments. I have run across the truck scales with my 99 Subaru Outback and my M-15 on the Trailrite trailer that it came with. Boat and trailer came in at 1400 pounds, with very little in the boat; the sail bag, a paddle, boat hook, cushions, life jackets, porta-pottie, sheets and docking lines. The OB, trailer spare tire, and the ground tackle kit were al in the back of the car. With the trailer unhooked from the car, I can lift the hitch enough to readily move the trailer wherever I want to. I would guess the tongue weight to be only 60 - 80 pounds.
You better be talking 60 - 80 lbs. with the boat off the trailer... if that's the tongue weight with the boat ON the trailer, there is something seriously wrong and dangerous with your setup. Your tongue weight loaded with the boat should be in the 175lb.to 250lb. range or you are risking your life and boat! That boat going over the right type of bump or while stopping will lift the back end of your little Subaru right off the ground and jack knife you into tomorrow. I've seen it done... smashed car & trailer all over the road. 60% of the weight on the front half of the trailer, 40% in the back is the rule. If a trailer was balanced at the wheels (or even close; 60 - 80 lbs. tongue weight @ 1400 lbs.) its inertia could push you all over the road. Remember... that's 1400 lbs. pushing against you when you stop. When you have the extra 200 - 250 lbs. on your tow vehicle back wheels & frame while stopping, it counts for a lot. My trailer tongue loaded with the M15 is barely liftable single handed, so I think it's probably about 200 lbs., as that is comparable with me trying to dead lift a free weight of that lbs. -- Cal Spooner M15 #402 spoon@visi.com cspooner@mn.rr.com 763.574.1482