Help on a Tandem Trailer

[Larry Read]

I am looking into adding a second axel to a Mac M. The axel on the trailer is manufactured by UFP but I am having a difficult time locating a source for it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Larry

[Chip Hindes]

It's not necessary to fnd the original axle manufacturer.

Don't know how the M axle compares to the M, but it doesn't much matter anyway. Champion Trailers' "standard" axles are each essentially custom built to match the track, drop and spring mounting configurations of your current axle, which is really all that matters. I have the parts list of everything I got from Champion to add my second axle if you're interested. I've been thinking I'd post it on the mods board but haven't gotten around to it yet.

[Scott]

We also are preparing to have a second axle mounted, When I took it to the trailer shop down the street they had an axle identicle to the stock Mac axle sitting behind the shop. (New)(no brakes) My guess is it is a fairly generic item. They even had the rims in stock. My fear is incorrect axle placement causing the tongus weight to be wrong. I like the way my boat tows now and would like the tongue weight to remain as it is. The bid they gave was quite reasonable if not cheap. I was going to do it myself until I had it bid. I cant do it as cheaply as having it professionally done. We are going to move the original axle forward and retain the brakes and put a no brake tag axle in the rear. I am going to install a jack and spare carrier on the trailer ladder at the same time.

[greybird-M]

Has anyone completely replaced the stock Mac trailer with an unpainted aluminum double axle setup with spare, jack AND boarding ladder configuration (similar to the Mac setup)? Everytime I look at my trailer, the more flimsy it looks. To this point, I have only used it once, to bring the boat to my marina, at trip of about 250 miles, towed by my F-150. It towed just fine, although 5th gear was not usable (not surprising). Most trailers I see, towing boats of similar length, are tandem axle setups. I know the Mac 26M is lighter than most boats, but I think something more substantial is in order-particuarly when I get around to trailering my M more frequently.

[TonyHouk]

Greybird-M,
Yes I have replaced my trailer completely. I won an Ebay auction and I am quite happy with my trailer. I do not have the ladder but everything else. There is a picture of it under The Smart Rails in the mods section. I have been watching Ebay for a while now. There is a company that auctions on Ebay that has the trailers go for a reasonable price. Check the past articles I had a link for them there. Happy sails, Tony

[greybird-M]

Thanks Tony-I'll take a look.

-Walt

[Larry Read]

Chip
I would appreciate your parts list. I like the idea of using the existing axel with the brakes and the second to simply carry some weight and add a safety margin. Every trip we make is at least 100 miles one way and some are 800 round trip. We get a lot more trailer than sailor.
Thanks for your help.
Regarding the tongue weight: I had it measured with very little gear on the boat and no spare and I was surprised to find it in the 450 pound range. It pulls very well but this seems like a lot of weight up front A second axel should take up a fair amount but it looks like there will be plenty left for proper towing.
Also thanks for the link to Champion
Larry

[Frank C]

. . . Regarding the tongue weight: I had it measured with very little gear on the boat and no spare and I was surprised to find it in the 450 pound range. It pulls very well but this seems like a lot of weight up front . . .

Larry,
Yes, that's ample tongue weight for steady towing. I looked at your profile, but it doesn't show ... just curious to hear what motor is on your M-boat? (Heavier transom converts to lighter tongue, and vice-versa).

[Chip Hindes]

I would appreciate your parts list.

Send me your email address through a private message.

450lbs tongue weight is good; it appears the M is considerably different than the X. Before adding the axle my tongue weight was about only about 200 lbs, but that was tanks empty and everything stored on the front V-berth. When I filled the tanks it became way squirrelly.

I moved the axle centers reaward by nine inches and everything is way better now.

If you want the tongue weight to stay the same, you need to put the midpoint of the two axles exactly at the old midpoint of the single axle.

We are going to move the original axle forward and retain the brakes and put a no brake tag axle in the rear.

Personnally, I recommend brakes on both axles; It doesn't cost that much more and is way better. However, note that if you only put brakes on a single axle, that should be the rear axle. If you put them on the front only, the geometry of the tandem axle system will tend to lift the front axle under braking and cause it to skid.