MultiSport 12’ Boat/PWC ‘Trailer in a Box’

Many of our customers enjoy the water in several ways. Not only do they own a small boat, but also may own kayaks and PWC’s. Now there is a small trailer available that can be adjusted to handle any of these three options.

This product is called the MultiSport 12’ Boat/PWC ‘Trailer in a Box’ and is manufactured by CE Smith, a leader in boat trailer products. The product comes disassembled (needs to be assembled) and will handle small boats up to 12 feet in length. This item can be shipped by UPS anywhere in the United States.

Components included are as follows:
1) Galvanized steel frame including fenders, tongue and cross members and axle
2) Tail light kit
3) 5 ft carpeted bunk boards
4) winch stand
5) winch with strap
6) 4.8-8 tires and rims
7) coupler with safety chains

This bolt-together trailer is fully adjustable to either handle a boat (up to 12 ft.), Jet-Ski and even a pair of kayaks. This can be done by adjusting the position of the vertical bunk brackets. The manufacturer has provided a video that demonstrates the flexibility of this product.
Click Here for Demo Video

This is a neat little product with multi-use capability that could be of great use to those who like to play on the water in a variety of ways. CLICK HERE to check out the ‘Trailer in a Box’ online at Trailer Parts Superstore.

POWERWINCH: Trailer Boater’s Best Friend

For over 50 years, Powerwinch, now part of Carefree of Colorado, has provided boaters with a product that greatly facilitates launching and retrieving their vessels. Their Powerwinch model 712 is great for use on trailers for boats up to about 20 ft; the model 912 works well on boats up to about 25 ft, especially if the double line pulley system (included) is used. These winches are designed for “freewheel out and power in”.

The Powerwinch has a universal base plate that easily mates to trailer winch mount brackets. It comes with a 40 foot long galvanized cable with snap hook. Also included with the kit is a 12volt electrical harness with circuit breaker that will connect to the tow vehicle battery and end in a proprietary plug that connects directly to the winch.

Personally, I used a Model 912 for my 23 Ft boat that lasted for 18 yrs until it finally failed and I then replaced it with another 912.

In preparation for this article, I spoke with a contact at the company who explained to me that they recently installed a statistics based Quality Control Program which has improved product quality by 99%. They take samples from each manufacturing lot and perform a variety of tests (including pull strength test) which will assure a quality product to our customers.

The Powerwinch Model 712 and 912 are available online at www.easternmarine.com

NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR BOAT LAUNCH / RETRIEVAL

Those of us who own trailer boats have experienced the satisfaction of quickly launching and retrieving our boats with an experienced crew who know exactly what they are doing. For example, one crewmember backs the trailer in, another holds the dock lines and the third takes care of the trailer winch. Snap your fingers and you are on your way to your boating or fishing destination. However, if you try this with an inexperienced crew or by yourself, things often do not go as smoothly. Now, there is new technology called the SNAPPER that helps make launching or retrieving your boat much easier.

This device is marketed by Epco Products and is designed specifically to simplify the boat launching / retrieval process making your time at the ramp shorter and safer.

The Snapper is mounted on the winch mount bracket of the trailer in position to attach to the bow eye of the boat. It comes with two different extended bow eyes for the boat so that the connection is made problem-free. Using the remote control, the operator can activate the Snapper to either release or engage whether in the truck, or driving the boat onto the trailer. This can all be done without getting in the water or walking out on the trailer frame, which improves the safety of launching and loading.

The Snapper is made from durable polyurethane so that will last for many years. It will be of great advantage to those boaters who use their boats engine to power on to the trailer.

Check out a Demo Video and find more information about the Snapper at the following link: SNAPPER BOAT LATCH SYSTEM

TRAILER STORAGE TIPS

Most trailers owned by residential (non-business) owners are used for general utility or recreational use. Most of them, such as boat or snowmobile trailers, are used seasonally and then endure long periods in storage. Here are a few tips to keep your trailer in good shape for years and prevent costly replacement and repairs.

It is well known that most trailer tires need to be replaced not because of tread wear, but due to sidewall dry rot (also called stress-cracking). This condition is due to the combination of ground moisture being absorbed into the rubber and daily sunlight causing the moisture to be forced out of the rubber.

Tip#1
- remove your trailer tires and store in a dark, dry place
- or safely jack up your trailer so that your tires are off the ground
- or use inexpensive tire covers
These measures will certainly extend the usable length of your trailer tires.

Tip #2
For general protection against the elements, invest in a good tarp or cover for your trailer. If using a tarp, remember that it must be supported from the inside to prevent tearing and to allow rain or snow to runoff and not puddle. Tying the tarp down using all grommets will protect the tarp from wind damage.

There are specialized trailer covers available for many of the specific-use trailers such as RVs, Travel Trailers and Toy Haulers. This is a small expense to protect your investment.

Tip #3
Take the time to inspect and do some basic maintenance before putting your trailer to bed. Tires, brakes, lights, reflectors etc. should be inspected now so that the trailer will be ready for its next use. More importantly, it is a good time to repack or change bearings on the hubs / drums. Check out this link for more specific information on Trailer Wheel Hubs

Tip #4
While inspecting your hubs, it is a good time to inspect your electric or hydraulic brakes for wear and adjustment

Tip #5
Inspect your coupler (where the trailer hitches to the ball) for proper function and wear. Repair or replace if necessary. Also, make sure to tighten all bolted on accessories such as spare tire carriers, tag and light brackets etc

The Trailer Parts Superstore sells the replacement parts you’ll need to keep your trailer running safely for years. It is also a great source for trailer maintenance information.

ATV / Snowmobile Trailer Loading (with ease)

Trailer Parts Superstore offers a wide selection of accessories designed specifically for Snowmobile and ATV trailer applications manufactured by CALIBER® Products Inc. The main purpose of these specialty products is to make trailer loading and unloading of powersport machines easier and safer. CALIBER is dedicated to producing the highest quality products, which are all backed with a limited LIFETIME warranted against defects in materials and workmanship, plus normal use breakage.

Select from Track Grips™, Grip Glides™, TraxMat™, Multi Glides™, LowPro Glides™, Flex Glides™, Grip Glide™ Ramp Kits, Poly Shield III™ and other related accessories to enhance your Snowmobile or ATV trailering experience.

Check out our complete offering online at: Trailer Parts Superstore

BOAT TRAILERS: ROLLER vs. BUNK STYLE

In the past, boat trailer manufacturers designed trailers for large boats strictly with wobble rollers and they used the bunk style trailers for smaller boats. This has now changed and bunk trailers with 30 foot plus boats can now be often seen traveling on the roads. There are several points to consider when deciding which design will be best for your application.

 

 

ROLLER TRAILER POINTS
Trailer more expensive to purchase and maintain
Boat weight distributed over many different points
Needs winch to retrieve the boat at the ramp
No need to submerge the axle
No friction points to deal with
Can launch or retrieve at any tide stage
Usually no “drive-on”

BUNK TRAILER POINTS
Trailer less expensive to purchase
Fewer parts to maintain
Use Keel rollers to center the boat and to support a small part of the boat weight
Drive-on capability
Trailer must be in relatively deep water to launch/retrieve
Running gear, brakes, hubs, springs etc will be submerged
Boat only supported at contact point with the bunk and keel rollers
Lighter weight winch can be used with “drive on”
Bunks can scrape paint due to friction
Some boat manufactures require the use of a bunk trailer

One of the main advantages of the roller trailer is that the running gear, which includes springs, axles, hubs, brakes etc does not have to be submerged. This is a great benefit, especially in salt water, which causes corrosion problems. In many ways, the decision between the two styles comes down to whether you want to drive the boat on the trailer. If yes, then the bunk trailer will be the best bet. If no, go with the roller trailer. Driving on works best if, during retrieval, a member of your crew is available to get the tow vehicle/trailer and back it down the ramp. If you are boating alone or with young kids, it can be a chore to tie the boat up, go get the tow vehicle/trailer and back it down the ramp. Then you have to leave the tow vehicle, get back on the boat and drive it on the trailer etc. You can see that it could also be dangerous leaving the tow vehicle unattended while retrieving the boat.
Trailer Parts Superstore carries a device that could make this operation a little more secure. This device is called the Snapper and is a remote controlled latching mechanism (securely latches boat bow eye to the trailer bow stop) using a handheld remote control.

Trailer Parts Superstore also carries many replacement parts for both styles of trailers including replacement rollers and bunks, winches, bow stops and more.

Hydraulic Disc Brakes for RV’s & Electric Brake Trailers

The traditional braking system for Utility and RV trailers has been the standard electric drum brake. This design has been in use for decades without much change. While electric drum brake systems still perform well in most trailering applications, a more versatile braking option has recently emerged. Hydraulic Disc Brakes coupled with an Electric-over-Hydraulic Actuator can now be used for better trailer brake control with less routine maintenance. With this new technology, owners of RV’s and other electric brake trailers can take advantage of the superior breaking performance of hydraulic disc brakes.

Here are some compromises associated with electric trailer brakes
1) Drum brakes need to be adjusted periodically to compensate for shoe lining wear – this adjustment is done mostly by “feel” and it is unlikely that the average person can get all four wheels calibrated properly
2) Drum Brake magnets tend to gradually lose their magnetic strength, causing more calibration problems and loss of braking power
3) Drum brakes are relatively complicated with many moving parts that can cause a failure and need some experience to rebuild the brake assembly
4) Drum brakes tend to accumulate corrosion faster than discs, especially in marine and snowmobile applications

Disc brakes do not have these issues to deal with and are relatively simple with fewer moving parts. Unfortunately, they are not available in an electrically actuated system like the aforementioned electric brakes. They are only available hydraulically actuated. In order to take advantage of disc technology, a new device has been developed to allow for electrically actuated disc brakes. It is called the Electric over Hydraulic Actuator. This device is nothing more than an electrically driven hydraulic pump and relief valve that is controlled by the standard cab mounted Electric Brake Controller, typically used for standard electric drum brakes.

The E/H actuator will be added to the trailer and connected electrically to the brake controller through the 7- blade RV socket on the tow vehicle bumper. Also connected in line will be a Breakaway kit with a 9 amp-hour battery that provides enough power to actuate the pump should the trailer accidentally separate from the tow vehicle while on the road. The output will be connected to the trailer hydraulic system through a standard trailer hydraulic brake line. The E/H system can handle trailers with up to 4 axles by providing 1600 psi maximum. The E/H actuator device does add some expense to the installation.

Of course, the electric brake assemblies and drums on the trailer will have to be replaced with hydraulic disc brake assemblies and brake lines.

The Electric/Hydraulic actuation system also has advantages over trailers that already have hydraulic disc brakes with a Surge Actuator.

1) The E/H actuator keeps the trailer brakes active while in reverse – with the surge actuation, the brake lines must be locked out so that the trailer can be backed up. There is no need for a brake line lock out device.
2) In hilly or mountainous areas, the surge system can incidentally engage the brakes while going down a grade; this will not happen with the E/H system
3) The tongue mounted Surge brake actuator can still be used as the trailer’s ball coupler with a small modification

The Electric/Hydraulic actuation system blends the advantages of disc brakes with the benefits of the cab mounted brake control for the safest experience in trailer towing.

The Trailer Parts Superstore carries a complete lineup of TITAN Brake-Rite E/H actuators as well as the DEXTER 1000-1600. We also carry a complete assortment of KODIAK Disc Brake assemblies for to fit most any trailer application. You can check out our complete trailer brake selection online at: http://www.easternmarine.com/em_store/trailerbrakes/

Heavy-Duty ‘LT’ Light Truck/Trailer Tires

‘LT’ signifies the tire is a “Light Truck/Trailer” series that can be used on trailers that are capable of carrying heavy cargo such as equipment trailers. ‘LT’ tires are commonly found on medium to heavy-duty utility trailers, race car trailers, cargo trailers, dump trailers and livestock trailers.  The higher capacity requirements of these vehicles require using a heavier weight range tire then is usually available with the ‘ST’ series of trailer tires.

If a tire size begins with ‘LT’ it signifies the tire is a “Light Truck-metric” size that was designed to be used on trailers that are capable of carrying heavy cargo or tow vehicles. Tires branded with the “LT” designation are designed to provide substantial reserve capacity to accept the additional stresses of carrying heavy cargo.

If a tire ends with ‘LT’ it signifies the tire is an earlier “Numeric” Light Truck/Trailer size designed to be used on trailers that are capable of carrying heavy cargo or tow vehicles. Tires branded with the “LT” at the end of their size designation are also designed to provide substantial reserve capacity to accept the additional stresses of carrying heavy cargo.

Trailer Parts Superstore now offers a wide selection of ‘LT’ Trailer Tires only plus Tire/Rim Assemblies online at: TrailerPartsSuperstore / Trailer Tires

REPLACING LEAF SPRINGS ON A TRAILER

One of the major components of a trailer’s running gear is the leaf spring. These provide an inexpensive and effective method of cushioning the ride of a trailer, thus protecting the cargo on a trailer from the shock of rough road surfaces. The springs also protect the rest of the running gear e.g. axles from damage. Occasionally, springs will need to be replaced prematurely due to hitting a pothole or in the case of a boat trailer, excessive corrosion.

In a leaf spring system, the springs are mounted to the frame-mounted hanger (or shackles) with a bushing and fluted shackle bolts. The axle in this system is fastened to the leaf springs with u-bolts (called a tie plate kit).

In recent years, some trailer manufactures have added the newer Torsion Axle to their line-ups as an option. The cushioning function is “built-in” to the axle and this precludes the need for leaf springs. However, you will find that most trailers on the road today have the leaf spring design.

There are several components that make up a leaf spring; the leaves, center-pin, straps and eyes. The number of leaves, the width, thickness and the heat treatment of the leaves all can affect the Load Rating of the spring. The springs have a load rating from the manufacturer and matching this to your trailer is a primary concern when replacing springs. Typically, we recommend that you replace your springs with the same part that was originally on the trailer so that it matches the rest of the running gear components like axles, coupler, brakes and tires / rims. Also, we recommend replacing both springs on an axle even if only one is damaged.

Many trailer manufacturers recommend that the springs be replaced approximately every five years as part of the maintenance plan.

There are several types of leaf springs used on trailers. The double eye spring is unique in that it mounts to the spring hangers using a pair of shackle links. Measuring this spring for replacement is to measure a straight line from the center of the front eye to the center of the rear eye. This measurement can be done on the trailer.

The Open Eye Slipper design uses a special hanger that allows it to flex. This system does not use shackle links. It is also measured on the trailer from the center of the front eye to the center of the rear shackle bolt

The Hook-End Slipper spring is measured on the trailer from the center of the front eye to the middle of the rear spring hanger.

The Radius End Slipper and the Flat End Slipper are both measured on the trailer from the center of the front eye to the end of the spring

Boat trailers face the same road hazards as utility trailers plus the corrosion that is caused by immersion in water, especially salt water. Several attempts have been made to design springs that will not corrode but these have met mixed reviews.

In salt water, salt crystals work their way between the leaves, causing corrosion from the inside out. The best way to prevent this from happening is to rinse the springs in fresh water immediately after immersion in salt water. Also, the best treatment to prevent corrosion is to use a product like CRC Marine Corrosion Inhibitor. This is a spray that will deposit a wax-like substance on the springs, inhibiting water and salt crystals from spring leaves.

We have about 80 different sizes and styles and it isn’t often that we cannot fill a customer’s needs for new replacement leaf springs and accessories at the Trailer Parts Superstore. Check out our complete Leaf Spring selection online at: TRAILER LEAF SPRINGS

TRAILER TIRES: BIAS PLY vs. RADIAL

Here, at the Trailer Parts Superstore, we offer a huge selection of trailer tires and wheels. Each customer has their own set of requirements, from price to place of manufacture. We have endeavored to offer a large variety of tires to fit almost any customer’s needs. In this mix, are both Bias-Ply and Radial tires.

What is the difference between the two designs and how can this impact you?

The difference is the way the tires are constructed as well as the materials used. Bias ply tires have the plies (layers of rubberized nylon or polyester mesh) laid in at a 30 – 45 degree angle to the centerline of the tire and in alternating directions. There are usually fiberglass belts added for strength.

In the Radial design, Polyester cords are laid in and overlapped at 90 degrees to the centerline of the tire and then steel mesh belts are added. The Radial design prevents the point of contact (where the rubber meets the road) from deforming, unlike the Bias Ply, which does deform under load.

There are a number of benefits to the Radial design for the trailer operator.
1) Softer, smoother, quieter ride
2) Improved fuel economy
3) Flat, wider footprint for better tire wear
4) Runs cooler than a bias ply, minimizing risk of a blowout on the highway
5) Longer tire life
6) Better tracking – Improved sway control

The main benefit for the Bias-Ply design is that the sidewall is more rugged and bruise resistant, plus Bias-Ply tires are usually less expensive. This could be an important consideration in a trailer application because many trailers are used infrequently, minimizing some of the Radial’s benefits.

Here at the Trailer Parts Superstore, we carry both RADIAL and BIAS PLY tires in many different sizes from LoadStar and Carlisle . Check out our complete offering at www.easternmarine.com