New Aluminium Trailer ?

[Russ]

It seems that for a small amount of money, you can add an extra axle to the M alum trailer, problem fixed, extra capacity added. The "Mac Bump" is because of the shallow draft and angle of the ramp. No biggie. I do it at 10 MPH and all is good in the world. I don't find this a real issue.

--Russ

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

This thread reads like a "horror" story...a new aluminum trailer unable to carry a MacGregor...so much so, the axle bends. Its outrageous ! A real bungled piece of workmanship if I may say so (without offending anyone).

As I was reading through this, I wondered if perhaps the axle was mistakenly positioned too far front mistakenly by the factory? THis would cause the tongue swag, with no shared weight onto the vehicle hitch, and far too much weight riding on one axle. If this is fact, then travelling the hiway would easily permanently bend a Mac axle.

There's a mistake somewhere. A real mess. Could that axle actually be positioned "wrong" -- too far front ?

[Phillip]

I love this thread.
I learnt about Torsion suspension 40 yrs back...in the Army...Armour (armoured fighting vehicles) had it.
Take my word for it, Armoured vehicles give their parts and compnents a testing time....all the time.
At that time when the 1st Jumbo 747 came to Asia, I thought they said it used it in it's landing gear....not sure.

Anyway, looked it up....and for those not familiar with it's credentials, then have a read here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torsion_bar_suspension

As for the trailer in question....I personally believe it is showing signs being loaded beyond its specs...and if the owner is sure it hasn't been, then the solution is swift and simple...take it too a retailer-supplier-distributor of the axel manufacturer.
The cause will be identified in about 5 mins, and a solution completed quickly.


Cheers
Phillip

[Hamin' X]

I'm not sure, as I have not seen an M trailer in person, but I think that they use the rubber torsion type, like this:

http://www.kmtparts.com/store.asp?pid=9284

~Rich

[kmclemore]

My 1958 Turner 950-S had torsion bar rear suspension... rode hard as all heck, but then it *was* a race car... 4 laminated 1/2" x 1/4" flat bars, only about 8" long! Not much twist in that!



Jaguar XKE's and Morris Minor's also used them for the front suspension.

[Phillip]

Hamin 'X'
Thanks for the site.
Did you check the prices to replace.....not exactly very much is it.

Cheers
Phillip


This is off-topic, so please excuse me.

Goodness, a '58 Turner.
You would have loved my '77 Stag.
Dad had a '49 Minor. . Drove it for 40yrs. Massey Ferguson green-come-grey. Always had a 'modern car tho.

[Mac26Mpaul]

I have exactly the same trailer as versatile (aluminum with painted black axel), 2007 model. It has EXACTLY the same problem - bent drawbar and wheels at a noticable angle. Pretty embarrasing to say, but I didnt even notice it at the time I bought it but did see it in the sales photos later LOL. Guess I was too excited by the boat... I bought the boat on the Sunshine Coast in Australia about 4 or 5 months back. The package was a very good deal (by Oz standards), so even if it cost a coupla grand to fix the trailer, I'm still way ahead with a very good deal on a fantastic boat.

I havn't actually even looked at getting mine fixed yet as I will only be launching at the ramp 200 metres away for the next year or two so arnt too bothered with it right now.

Out of interest sake if your still watching Versatile, What did it cost you to get it fixed? (although I guess that wont help me, because thats all relative to the cost of labour in whatever country you live in etc )

[Versatile]

Hi everybody,

I have finally solved the weaken MacGregor cheap trailer problem for $2,000.00cdn ... multiplied taxes included ! I have kept the old axle as it was but only for the center boat support ... reason why the axle was bent. I have add two new 3,000 lbs axles, torsion bar suspension, four brakes and ... new tires. I have also strengthen the tong by welding a reinforced T-bar bolted to the aluminum frame. The trailer is not the same at all. The boat fully loaded with food, water, tons of beers, wine and gas sits strongly in is berth, the wheels are straight and no Parkinson shaking all over the place. I am very happy with the results and feel secure when trailering.

[Divecoz]

I have been following this thread and every trailer thread with great interest...
I have an 05 M and I have the steel trailer..I towed my boat from Chicago to Port Charlotte Florida. 2600 miles R/T. I drove 60 to almost 80 MPH the whole way whenever I could, when ever roads conditions and traffic allowed.. Behind my Dodge 1500 4x4 Quad Cab tiny 4.7 V-8 ...I had Zero handleing issues..I was on a 4 month solo sailing vacation and of all things? I was in a hurry and paid for that dearly with 11 mpg..
My first and only issue with the trailer that trip was less than 100 feet from where she sat next to my garage.. My Fault!! As I made the left hand turn, out of the driveway, I cut it too short and drove the driver side (port side) of the trailer and loaded boat ...Up and Over a 2 foot snow and ice .. snow bank!
She came down off that snow bank real hard! I took it immediately around the bock to a church parking lot and really checked her over.. To My Joy and Amazement... all was fine.
I have read about Issues... with each of the trailers, BUT they "seem " to be isolated.. Hummmm I am finding no fault here and pointing no fingers, BUT that doesnt go a long way with supporting general design failure.. With the number of boats and then subsequent trailers , we should be seeing and reading the issues as Bayliner Owners found them, in large numbers..at that time... We dont. Mine is a steel trailer and I have Zero Rust issues... Some surface scratches and its resulting surface rust , but no " rust issues"...
My bother questioned my purchase of this boat , with? Its not made by Bayliner is it? The Price sounds to good to be true!! You remember about the hundreds of issues with those boats, dont you?
Could the boat and the trailer be better made? Yes it could for more money.. For another $4000 to $5000 , they could be built, no doubt a lot better.
But I ask, how many sales would be lost? I hazard to guess... a lot .
Maybe as high as 20 to 40% of New Boat sales??? It would still be less than its competition??
If Man Made it ? Someone will break it. I have seen Greenlee Hydraulic Benders ...Jammed and Broken....Driver Error we call it...

[iredrider1177]

the amount of flexing i see on my steel trailer worries me, i have an 06 . i have welded the brackets for the winch and rewelded the ladder on the front as it looked very weak. it otherwise is in perfect condition and recoated with industrial grade gloss black. my question however to anyone out there, has anyone satifactory modified the stock steel trailor, such as adding another axle or more bunks?it doesnt seem to me by looking at it that there is room to add another axle without modifying the position of the existing one. perhaps i should just take it to a shop and have the pro's look at it.

[Divecoz]

Been done numerous times by numerous members, and its all captured here on this board.. I didnt search for it though..Yes they repositioned the original Axel...It was a possibility I looked at and instead bought a Proper? Better suited for sure , tow vehicle..

the amount of flexing i see on my steel trailer worries me, i have an 06 . i have welded the brackets for the winch and re-welded the ladder on the front as it looked very weak. it otherwise is in perfect condition and re-coated with industrial grade gloss black. my question however to anyone out there, has anyone satisfactory modified the stock steel trailer, such as adding another axle or more bunks?it doesnt seem to me by looking at it that there is room to add another axle without modifying the position of the existing one. perhaps i should just take it to a shop and have the pro's look at it.

[iredrider1177]

divecuzz

my tow vehicle is a monster, dont even know the mac is back there. my thoughts and insights come from being a heavy highway construction technical engineer and watching the trailor flex in my shop when my little one. (70lbs) plays inside. and when i walk across the mac, insinde the mac, climbing the ladder off the stern of the mac. it flexes alot. maybe this is ok? just trying to be real. if theres an issue i need to address i want to address it, i can guarentee you it is not my vehicle. this is the 15 th boat i have owned in the last 15 years and the newest.. the only trailor ive worried about. these are the facts. i like this boat but dam i tired of fixing all of this junk!

[Divecoz]

Red: Then replace the dang thing.. I too have the steel trailer ( been towing boats now for almost 40 years) and I have used this one , for 5 seasons ...trailered well over 4000 miles now. I am not a Big Guy.... But I tip the scales just over 200LBS.... No flex in my trailer when I walk ( and my wife is PO at you because I had her come outside and check as I walked around inside) ..inside and Hey... how the heck do you see the trailer when your... inside??? Sooo No Way am I buying your 70 lb child is causing the trailer to flex when he's inside.. Show me a picture I'm calling you on this one .. In Fact after thinking about it and coming back and editing this .. show us all a Picture of your boat of this rusted twisted bent POS trailer you have..Proof Positive.
I dont flip boats every year though , so I dont have as much experience I guess..I have summers off I am retired..Its not a big dollar trailer Thats for sure.. BTW its not cuz its coz . Its because I was a NAUI Dive Instructor down there ..JSYK

divecuzz

my tow vehicle is a monster, dont even know the mac is back there. my thoughts and insights come from being a heavy highway construction technical engineer and watching the trailor flex in my shop when my little one. (70lbs) plays inside. and when i walk across the mac, insinde the mac, climbing the ladder off the stern of the mac. it flexes alot. maybe this is ok? just trying to be real. if theres an issue i need to address i want to address it, i can guarentee you it is not my vehicle. this is the 15 th boat i have owned in the last 15 years and the newest.. the only trailor ive worried about. these are the facts. i like this boat but dam i tired of fixing all of this junk!

[iredrider1177]

never said it was rusted, in fact its in perfect condition., that being said if you like it so much i will be glad to sell it to you as a spare and i can then buy a real trailor.

[paj637]

I never trusted my steel trailer for a long trip. I bit the bullet and bought a used tandem axle aluminum. Got it at a great price and it's the best money I have spent for my 2006 . Now no worries when I tow and the dual axle disc brakes saved my a** on I-10 last summer when someone stopped in the right hand lane in front of me all the sudden.