Floating Trailer (centers, airplane, car)

[rock creek]

I have a new to me 28 foot Aluminum trailer replacing a galvanized trailer. The problem i'm having is if I back into the water a bit too far the trailer will float. Is this the way it is or am I doing something wrong never had that problem before

[MikeM8560]

Maybe tour backing in farther then you need to i always just back to where i can walk to the winch and not get wet feet of course the angle of the ramp is a variable.
But i was surprised to with my lift k replaced the steele beems with aluminum. And with the wood bunks it was boyant under water the ols beams were 340 pounds the new aluminum was extreem light. Easy to carry a 12' beam.

Ihya i had to add 4 6"x16" cement blocks filled with concreete

[pcozad1]

Very common problem. Some add weight to the trailer by attaching PVC filled with concrete or attach lead plates to the side of the bunks. I have heard of people drilling holes to allow water in. I have also heard people like it when the trailer floats as it automaticly centers the boat. You can always just back in just far enough that it doesn't float.

[RexLan]

Boat trailer should not float.

If it is a factor unit something is wrong. Most if they use box tube for the main frame will have several holes in teh bottom and the end of the channels?tubes will not be capped. As you back into the water the tube will fill and the trailer won't float. When you pull out they will drain.

[HarborRat]

Originally Posted by RexLan

Boat trailer should not float.

If it is a factor unit something is wrong. Most if they use box tube for the main frame will have several holes in teh bottom and the end of the channels?tubes will not be capped. As you back into the water the tube will fill and the trailer won't float. When you pull out they will drain.

Many aluminum trailers don't use "tubes", they use I-beams. It's the tires that float and the rest is light enough to allow them to. Common problem. I see a lot of them with barbell weights bolted to the back rails.

[MikMal]

Sell the boat, put a motor on the trailer and use that instead. :-)

[RexLan]

Originally Posted by HarborRat

Many aluminum trailers don't use "tubes", they use I-beams. It's the tires that float and the rest is light enough to allow them to. Common problem. I see a lot of them with barbell weights bolted to the back rails.

I see. My race car trailer was AL and I doubt if it would float. It had (4) 16" tires and weighed about 1200#'s. I guess these boat trailers are a lot lighter and I can see how the tires would do it for sure.

I built a float trailer for my airplane in Alaska to take it out of the water when it was on floats and used 2" x 3" sq. tube for the frame (steel). It would float so I had to leave the ends open and cut two good size holes in the underside of each tube so it would sink and stay on the ramp bottom. Would be really ugly to poke a hole in a $30,000 float!

[rock creek]

Thanks for the responses I can see now how the tires would allow the light weight trailer to float will be more careful backing in now

[Big Aus]

Originally Posted by HarborRat

Many aluminum trailers don't use "tubes", they use I-beams. It's the tires that float and the rest is light enough to allow them to. Common problem. I see a lot of them with barbell weights bolted to the back rails.

That is the correct answer, aluminum boat trailers are all I-beam for strength/weight ratio as compared to galvanized steel which are C-channel. If your aluminum trailer is floating you are either in too far or need to use a better ramp in my opinion.

[rock creek]

Originally Posted by Big Aus

That is the correct answer, aluminum boat trailers are all I-beam for strength/weight ratio as compared to galvanized steel which are C-channel. If your aluminum trailer is floating you are either in too far or need to use a better ramp in my opinion.

I was defiantly in too far I just wasn't prepared for the trailer to float. It blew my mind