Aluminum I beam trailer floats!

[502GTX]

Anyone else have this problem? My Load Rite I beam trailer floats when I back off it, which is no big deal but it's a royal pain to load a boat on a moving target. It floats up and the current turns it sideways. I'm afraid it's gonna hit the guy next to me one day. I have had a lot of trailers and never had one float before. Mine is a tandem axle bunk trailer under a 251 Convincor.

 

[bigsbetter]

WOW thats crazy! Sounds like some ballast in the rear is needed.

 

[fireguy]

Sounds like you may have to leave the trailer out a little bit (not backed in so deep) until you get the boat on it. Then back the trailer in a little deeper and get the boat the rest of the way on.

I had a friend that had an aluminum trailer years ago and he said it was because the trailer was light enough and sealed up well enough that the air in the 4 tires made it float.

 

[atc250r]

My buddy's trailer for his 27ft Sonic does the same thing but only on one side. He even drilled some holes to let it fill up with water and it got better but still floats on him.

John

 

[CheckmateFever]

Hey man, my trailer does the same thing!! It floats and is also aluminim. Yes it can a pain when the current or wind shifts the trailer, it's a rough job if you are launching or puttin the boat back on by yourself, i've done it many times! But, in some way's i kinda like the floating trailer, you don't have to be so accurate backing it into the water staight, if off the the side you just pull it over! And is seems a bit easier to get the boat straight and centered on the trailer too. Guess i'm just used to it lol!

 

[83PREDICTOR]

My dads Alum. I-beam floats also. It is such a pain.

 

[502GTX]

Sounds like you may have to leave the trailer out a little bit (not backed in so deep) until you get the boat on it. Then back the trailer in a little deeper and get the boat the rest of the way on.

I had a friend that had an aluminum trailer years ago and he said it was because the trailer was light enough and sealed up well enough that the air in the 4 tires made it float.

That's how I got it back on. My girlfriend backs the trailer in and I drive the boat on. I had taught her to back in so that just the very front tips of the bunks were showing but it starts floating before that. The strange thing is that last year (my first season with this boat) it never happened.
I'm thinking that the ballast idea mentioned above may be a good plan as well. I think I have some lead from my old race car, just seems to defeat the purpose of the lightweight trailer but, oh well! The launch I use is in the river and the current is usually quite strong there. The trailer looked like it nearly jacknifed the other day in just seconds. I couldn't believe my eyes, it turned sideways! Thanks to all who replied.

 

[fireguy]

I would try leaving the trailer out a little bit like stated above before I added weight to the trailer. If she can back it in enough to get the bunks wet and pull it back up before it starts floating, then get the boat on the trailer and back the trailer up, i thionk you may be ok. Might take some practice but will probably be better than adding weight to the trailer.

Lots of folks use this method in high wind or fast current situations.

 

[keith4216]

Raise hell with the trailer co. Let them know there design sucs.

 

[nathan]

if you use the lead make it removable. that way the trailer is still light weight. or use your anchor as the extra weight to keep it from floating.

 

[ezstriper]

make a ballast bar and ad to the rear...not uncommon for these to have that issue