Soon to be a new Macgregor owner

[Russ]

Just wondering but this brings up a question I have. Alabama does not have trailer tags on boats. So what problems would you run into pulling your boat in another state? A lot of pulling over and telling the police?

From DMV.ORG (so it's not from official AL website)
Trailers
All trailers, including travel trailers manufactured in 1990 or later, collapsible camping trailers, utility trailers, and truck trailers, must be tagged and titled. The process is the same as for car registration.

Now BOATS may not be required to be registered, but the trailer it travels on needs a tag.
If your boat is on a trailer, it is not a motor vehicle yet. Not until it's floating and then the local authorities have jurisdiction.

[Russ]

The trailer is not equipped with brakes. It is single axle. I thought that the stock Macgregor trailers all came with brakes. Perhaps they rusted out sometime and were removed. I will tow it with a 2004 Toyota Sienna with AWD and 3500# towing capacity. It will live in Florida, so almost all flat roads, and I don't see any reason I'll ever drive it over ice. Are brakes going to be a must for me to add?

I had the exact same Sienna. Loved that AWD here in snow country. Ours pulled a 22' Bayliner without trailer brakes. You knew it was there and was wonky at high speeds (75mph). However, I believe Kevin tows his Mac with the same vehicle. Knowing Kevin, he probably has brakes on it.

Flat roads, you will make it home okay. Just give yourself a LOT of room to stop. That's a heavy rig. The Sienna tranny is water cooled and it will be fine. Just don't go fast.
Kevin installed air lifts http://www.airliftcompany.com/products/ ... lift-1000/

[WHRoeder]

In FL, brakes are required on all axles of trailers rated at 3000# GVWR or more.

[Tomfoolery]

The trailer is not equipped with brakes. It is single axle. I thought that the stock Macgregor trailers all came with brakes. Perhaps they rusted out sometime and were removed.

I've seen close-ups of Mac trailer axles not equipped with brakes that never were equipped with brakes, since there was no backing plate, which is welded on. So I would think it's entirely likely yours was made without brakes.

I believe this is a pic of a 26S or 26D trailer with a broken spring hangar that belongs to someone here. It has a square axle with welded spindle and no brake mounting plate.



This is mine, with a rectangular axle with welded spindle, but with the brake mounting plate. The other axle was added, and is different. I fried the brakes bringing it home, so I stripped them out of the old axle and left it that way, and put disc brakes on the newer axle.

[kmclemore]

The trailer is not equipped with brakes. It is single axle. I thought that the stock Macgregor trailers all came with brakes. Perhaps they rusted out sometime and were removed. I will tow it with a 2004 Toyota Sienna with AWD and 3500# towing capacity. It will live in Florida, so almost all flat roads, and I don't see any reason I'll ever drive it over ice. Are brakes going to be a must for me to add?

I had the exact same Sienna. Loved that AWD here in snow country. Ours pulled a 22' Bayliner without trailer brakes. You knew it was there and was wonky at high speeds (75mph). However, I believe Kevin tows his Mac with the same vehicle. Knowing Kevin, he probably has brakes on it.

Flat roads, you will make it home okay. Just give yourself a LOT of room to stop. That's a heavy rig. The Sienna tranny is water cooled and it will be fine. Just don't go fast.
Kevin installed air lifts http://www.airliftcompany.com/products/ ... lift-1000/

I do indeed have a 2004 Sienna with Air-Lift springs installed and it works just fine. I did order the 4-wheel disc brakes on the car, and I've added a very large cooler for the transmission. My trailer does have surge brakes and they work nicely. I've towed from NM to PA with this rig and it works fine.

[Loala]

Hi John! Congrats on the new boat! You’re going to have a lot of fun with it! And remember it’s not work that you’ll be doing to it, it’s a love for one’s hobby.

I live in California and drove to Texas 2 yrs ago to pick my boat up so I know what you’re about to go through. 25 hour drive one way! Over the weekend my wife and I drove to Texas, stayed the night at a motel, then the next day picked up the boat and drove home taking turns driving/sleeping.

Here are a couple tips I’ve learned along the way. Bring a 12volt portable air compressor and get the tires with the correct air pressure in them. Ask what size ball the trailer takes and make sure yours matches and is well greased. When you hitch the boat trailer to your truck make sure the trailer is good and tight onto the ball. Jump up and down on the tongue and make absolutely sure it is positively on there securely. Drive the truck forward a foot and recheck. If the trailer tongue is the screw-down type make double sure it is screwed all the way tight and cannot be screwed down any more. (I have a completely new rear end on my Grand Cherokee because I did not check this correctly) I learned hitting a RR track will toss the boat and trailer on top of your car!

Last but not least bring a half dozen pieces of 2 ft. lengths of rope and a roll of duct tape to secure all the wires you see strewn all about the top of the deck. Bring some towels to wrap the chainplates up on the sides of the boat. Duct tape them and tie the wires to the mast. YOU DON’T WANT ANY STEEL WIRE FLAPPING AGAINST THE BOAT ON THE DRIVE HOME!

Same for the inside. Take the mast and wrap & tape towels around any pole ends so they do not bang against the inside walls of the sailboat. They will and they will chip away at the gelcoat and glass. So nothing laying against the glass anywhere except something soft like a rope or towel.

Good luck and be safe!

[JohnWood]

There' a lot of good info here. Thanks guys. I'm going to have to print out this whole thread and make up a checklist.

[JohnWood]

For what it's worth, I've done a lot of trailer traveling in the past, but nothing of this size. I grew up in a youth sailing program, and basically learned to drive as a teen with a trailer. Usually the trailer was 2 or three lasers, with maybe another on roof racks. Occasionally I'd tow the coach boat, usually a 17' whaler. We had a dodge ram conversion van, which di d just fine towing the whaler with a couple of optis, and roof top laser, and I've never used surge brakes. My Sienna is actually a bit heavier than that Ram van was. That whaler probably weighed close to what a Mac26 weighs, but I'm a little worried about how cross winds may affect the much taller Mac. The fact that it sits so much lower on the trailer than other sailboats was one of the biggest selling points for me.

In short, I'm a little worried about towing safety, considering that when we do travel with the boat, it will be with my wife and four kids in the car, but based on my past experience, I'm not incredibly worried.

[Catigale]

John..FL towing regs say you need brakes on your trailer at 3000 pounds gross trailer weight. I think you will be under that.

[JohnWood]

I think you're right that I'll be under 3000 lbs, but it will be close depending on how much junk is loaded into the boat.
1650# (Mac26 & rigging) + 150# (engine) + 750# (trailer) = 2550#. The DMV, however, might be looking at the nameplate (if it has a nameplate) rated capacity rather than the actual weight, since they can't control how much stuff you put into it.

For what it's worth, I looked up the specs for that Boston Whaler I used to tow with a Dodge van and it weighs (new) 1400# without the engine, gear or optis stacked on top of it. I'd bet my Sienna will be fine, especially in Florida where there aren't any hills. I want to eventually take it up to Georgia to some lakes up there. When I do, I'll have to drive with more caution.

I'm going to go over to my DMV today with a list of questions, and to get a temporary tag.

[Russ]

In short, I'm a little worried about towing safety, considering that when we do travel with the boat, it will be with my wife and four kids in the car, but based on my past experience, I'm not incredibly worried.

If you keep it slow and steady you will be fine as long as it's not long distances at high speed.

However, bear in mind you have 6 people and gear in the vehicle. That adds weight also.

If you were planning a lot of trailering on the road, you may eventually consider adding surge brakes. I remember my '04 Sienna when I hit the brakes with the Bayliner, you really could feel it pushing you forward. I only made 5 turns and was mostly on the highway to get to the launch, but you knew that thing was back there.

[Tomfoolery]

The DMV, however, might be looking at the nameplate (if it has a nameplate) rated capacity rather than the actual weight, since they can't control how much stuff you put into it.

The State DOT or Highway Patrol, should you be weighed, will care about both. But I'm not aware of boat trailers being pulled into weigh stations as a matter of routine.

[Azzarac]

Tom, don't underestimate the tenacity (i.e. stupidity) of those state DOT boys. At least here in Missouri. They cart around portable scales! They stopped me on a rural county road a few years ago while I was driving a 3/4T 4X4 Chevy pickup with a 12' utility trailer and riding lawn mower in tow. Imagine their surprise to find out I wasn't over weight . All I can say is it must of been a really slow day for those guys.

[Catigale]

Get guidance from local people (FL?) on the police culture in your state and locale where you will be towing.

In NY upstate, if you get hassled on a trailer weight, it usually has something to so with your police and doughnut comment.......

I actually drive an unregistered uninflected trailer from BUF to ALB and got pulled over and was told to drive it home and take care of it.

[mrron_tx]

John: I'm not sure of the location in Louisiana You are going to....But if You are travelling interstate 10 for along period of time,do not bring large amounts of cash The purchase price and any correspondence with the seller should be ok..... Louisiana has a nasty habit of stopping , searching out of state cars/trucks....if They find "a large amount of cash" They will / can take it & possibly the vehicle as well....and it goes straight to the Parish Sherriff's "war on drugs war chest" This is the truth Years ago I got a call late at night from one of My hot shot drivers , He had taken a custom Harley To Mobile Ala. and sold it for some serious cash.....got pulled over in La....They found the cash and seized it. He fought Them for years and never got it back They're reasoning ( ) was that it must have been drug money ,since He had no paper trail....I never got My rig back either....I'm glad I was in "Good Hands" as They paid them off. I don't mean to scare You.....just warn You Best of luck & have a safe trip home. Ron.