Aluminum Tandem Axle Bunk Trailer

[Catigale]

To be more specific, the wheel bearings and tires are running at about 95% of capacity on the stock trailers. It is very easy to overload them with minimal loading for a trip.

If the use of the trailer is for lake sailing, and 30 minute trips its fine.

If you are going to cruise for hours to a new destination, it needs upgrading. My steel trailer (2002) has had one tire and one bearing replacement so far - it gets about 2000 miles a year use.

[Fxwg80hd]

I will be towing my Mac several times a year about 350 miles one way through the mountains. Though the single axle trailer might have been fine (there was nothing wrong with my original trailer) I did not trust it if something went wrong as I was coming down a steep hill on a 2 lane road with no shoulder. With the tandem axle trailer, I am not pushing the max capacity of the trailer and I expect that will decrease the chance of having a problem. Also with a tandem axle, it will tend to track straighter in a cross wind and if a tire blows out it will not be all over the road. I did a lot of research before finally pulling the trigger and purchasing a trailer looking at:

• - Overall Length
  - Bunk Support
  - Length from Bow stop to end of trailer frame
  - Min/Max boat length
  - Max weight

I decided on the LoadRite Elite Aluminum trailer model LR-AB27T6000102LTB1. It is the perfect length for the 26m and has the best bunk setup that will conform to the slight curve in the hull shape, but overkill in total weight capacity. I found while looking at a Mac 26x and a Mac 26m sitting on a solid 6" x 8" Bunk trailer, the bunk did not conform to the hull shape and thus did not fully support the hull. While this will work, and has for others, I was concerned that it would put undue pressure on a limited area of the hull when traveling on rough roads that I will be traveling on.

One thing I did not anticipate was the increase height of the new trailer. I did expect this, but it was still a shock the first time I loaded up the Mac. I was surprised at how easy the 26m winched up onto the trailer, almost like it was a roller trailer. Bonus, no more Mac bump to get the Bow up against the Bow stop.

My only recommendation for others looking to go with a tandem axle trailer, if your current Mac trailer is still in good shape, spend the money to have a second axle added. You will keep the lower load height and save a few dollars.

Couple pictures of the new trailer and the 26m loaded on it. Still making final adjustments and need to move the axles forward to reduce the tongue weight, but the bunks and winch are set correctly.





Hope this helps someone else;
Chris

[Divecoz]

Fxwg80hd: That is.......... a beautiful Trailer.. How much , dare I ask $$$$
I have used my trailer a couple times a year ( for five years now ) 90 minutes door to door at 60+ MPH.. I Never had an issue. I did make a Florida Trip.. for a total of over 3000 miles R/T ....at 65 to Over 80 MPH and again No Issues and the boat was loaded..
BUT.. I was on Interstates ( good smooth roads) I am Towing, Now , with a Full Size Dodge P.U. Short Bed, Quad Cab , 4x4 with a small V-8 EFI. hummm getting 10 = 11 mpg BUT .. It worked GREAT!
I towed it as well with an Ford Explorer SPORT ( short wheel base) H.O. 4.0 V-6 and she had all the ponies I ever wanted...... but that Truck was just too short and the tail , waged the dog too often..

[Fxwg80hd]

Fxwg80hd: That is.......... a beautiful Trailer.. How much , dare I ask $$$$
I have used my trailer a couple times a year ( for five years now ) 90 minutes door to door at 60+ MPH.. I Never had an issue. I did make a Florida Trip.. for a total of over 3000 miles R/T ....at 65 to Over 80 MPH and again No Issues and the boat was loaded..
BUT.. I was on Interstates ( good smooth roads) I am Towing, Now , with a Full Size Dodge P.U. Short Bed, Quad Cab , 4x4 with a small V-8 EFI. hummm getting 10 = 11 mpg BUT .. It worked GREAT!
I towed it as well with an Ford Explorer SPORT ( short wheel base) H.O. 4.0 V-6 and she had all the ponies I ever wanted...... but that Truck was just too short and the tail , waged the dog too often..

80 mph with a single axle Mac trailer??? You are luck to be alive to tell that story. You talk about tail wagging the dog, if you had a tire blow out at that speed that trailer would have been jumping all over the road taking your truck with it. That is the main reason I wanted the second axle, so the trailer will not jump all over the road should a tire blow. The roads I will be traveling are narrow, winding, steep hills, and no shoulder. The second axle will keep the trailer tracking straight behind the tow vehicle and if a tire blows will allow me to get to a location to change it.

Paid $3,390 plus tax & tag, also added a spare tire & mount for $120. More than I had planned on spending when I started looking.

[Win]

Chris,
Great looking trailer. Please post a picture from the front that shows the boat on the trailer with the spare tire mounted. With regards to the increased height of the boat on the trailer, what is the distance in inches from the ground to the top of your bottom paint? Roger makes a big deal of this in his video.
How do you adjust boat height and how much clearance do you have between the hull bottom and the trailer cross members or trailer fenders? Will you make the adjustment for axle location or will you have the dealer do it. As you can probably tell I am very interested in how you make the adjustments. Right now your trailer model is at the top of my list. I am following your progress with great anticipation. Thanks for all your input.

Win

[Harry van der Meer]

Looks like a great trailer. My local Macgregor dealer is suggesting the LR-AB23T5200102LTB, which is 2 ft shorter than yours. From the pictures, it looks like your transom is lining up at the back-end of your trailer. So on the 23T, the Mac would hang about 2 ft over the back-end of the trailer, just like the standard Mac trailer. Why did you decide to go with the 25T instead? I also would be curious about what you ended up paying? I am being quoted $2800 for the LR-AB23T5200102LTB by a local trailer dealer.

Regards

[Fxwg80hd]

With regards to the increased height of the boat on the trailer, what is the distance in inches from the ground to the top of your bottom paint? Roger makes a big deal of this in his video.
How do you adjust boat height and how much clearance do you have between the hull bottom and the trailer cross members or trailer fenders? Will you make the adjustment for axle location or will you have the dealer do it. As you can probably tell I am very interested in how you make the adjustments. Right now your trailer model is at the top of my list. I am following your progress with great anticipation. Thanks for all your input.

Win

I watched the video again and Roger measures 30 inches for the 26m on the trailer. I measured mine and it's at 34 inches on the new trailer. As for adjusting the height, there are several holes in the mounting brackets for the rails that allow you to raise or lower them. Mine are all the way down and the hull still clears the frame and cross members with no problem. No problems with the fenders either. To adjust the axles, they are on a track that will allow them to slide forward or back. Just have to loosen a couple bolts. I will most likely make the adjustments myself. I will be moving where the spare tire is mounted, so it may be a while before I get around to that.

Chris

[Divecoz]

Fxwg80hd Probably not my smartest move No doubt.. Tail wag? Not with my Dodge Quad Cab. That Never has happened....
If a tire blows out at 50 mph from the number of "lack of skill" accidents I see at under 40 mph 99% of most of us would have a Major accident.
Jumping all over ? Probably not.. Digging a rut for sure. Maybe worse...But who wants to run a test? 2nd axel? Good Idea but still go with the heaviest rated tires money can buy. With the roads you intend to travel? Speed shouldn't be an issue.. Your speed will No Doubt , be slow / low.. For our purposes your tow vehicle should have 130" wheel base and weigh in or around as much as the boat and trailer combined. Suspension and tires should be up to the task as well. That doesnt include Air Shocks..... those limit your suspensions ability to dampen the shock..
Do people here, tow with a lot less? They sure do..
Doing 80 was pretty stupid on my behalf.. what I saw numerous times that I feel was dumber? Middle Age Ladies driving High End Foreign SUVs , while talking on the cell phone doing 60 to 80 and almost running into my boat and trailer and Big Quad Cab Pick Up.. because they had Other Things demanding their immediate attention..

80 mph with a single axle Mac trailer??? You are luck to be alive to tell that story. You talk about tail wagging the dog, if you had a tire blow out at that speed that trailer would have been jumping all over the road taking your truck with it. That is the main reason I wanted the second axle, so the trailer will not jump all over the road should a tire blow. The roads I will be traveling are narrow, winding, steep hills, and no shoulder. The second axle will keep the trailer tracking straight behind the tow vehicle and if a tire blows will allow me to get to a location to change it.

Paid $3,390 plus tax & tag, also added a spare tire & mount for $120. More than I had planned on spending when I started looking.

[c130king]

I am heading off to Dave's Trailers in Glen Burnie, MD on Saturday to order a trailer like Chris's.

Positioning the bunks: Chris, copy the bunks are at their lowest setting. How far or how much space between the outer edge of the bunk and the side of the frame or is there a different/better way to measure how far apart to set the bunks to best support the Mac hull.

Positioning the axles: How did you determine where to set them? Did you have to adjust the brake lines somehow?

Can anybody tell me how long the Macgregor steel trailer is from tip of the tongue to end of the trailer?

Based on Chris's recommendation I will be ordering the 25' trailer from LoadRite.

Cheers,
Jim
Sailing on König

[c130king]

Got my new trailer today...HOORAY!!!!!!









This is the LoadRite Elite Series 25' Aluminum, tandem axle. Very heavy duty compared to the stock Mac trailer. It weighs 1175 pounds. Big beefy winch and hitch. Brakes on the front axle only. LED lights.

Got my spare tire mount off the old trailer and on the new trailer.

I am VERY happy with it.

Had to adjust the angle of the rear bunks. Had to raise the winch. Had to adjust the front bunks a little. All of these things were very easy to do...very adjustable

I highly recommend Dave's Boat Trailers in Glen Burnie, MD. Good folks, very friendly and helpful. Took 8 days from ordering until it came in.

Towed it empty 25 miles from Glen Burnie to the marina in Mayo, MD. Rolls very smoothly. Had to have a 2-5/16" ball put on my hitch...and of course when I get to the marina I realized I had to put my old 2" ball back on to get the boat into the water to get it off the old trailer. But fortunately the marina office had a great big adjustable wrench...could have used the wrench as an anchor. And then once the boat was in the water had to switch balls again to get the new trailer under the boat. But it all worked out fine.

And had a great lunch after motoring over to Thursday's Steak and Crab in Galesville, MD...and followed that up with 2 hours of sailing in 10-12 mph winds...all with my Dad. Great day.

Cheers,
Jim
Sailing on König
Sailing on König YouTube Channel

[c130king]

And while I was there today I saw a up in the lift. Apparently had centerboard line replacement issue...however when towing the boat from his parking space near mine to the ramp to load it in the water so the lift could pick it up...his trailer axle broke (trailer sitting there with the starboard wheel sitting at wild angle)...not sure how old his trailer is but it was a stock Mac trailer.

I have never seen a Mac in a lift before today.





The boat is Ziggy...not sure who the owner is or if he/she is a member of this board. There are probably 20+ Macs of all types at Casa Rio.

Cheers,
Jim
Sailing on König
Sailing on König YouTube Channel

[Uncle Jim]

Woot woot for the new toy. Looks nice and wait until you take it up to highway speeds (that around 45mph around the beltway ).
I can't tell you how many Mac trailers I've seen around Casa Rio with a broken axle. One a few spots from mine broke and sent the lower half of the outboard into the concrete walk.

[Fxwg80hd]

Looks great. Have checked your tongue weight yet. Based on where yours is sitting versus where mine is sitting, I would guess that you should be around 400 to 450 on the tongue. I'm currently at 650 pounds on the tongue, so think I may move the boat back on the trailer to the same place yours is sitting. Pretty nice that everything is adjustable.

Just wait till you get that new rig on the highway, tows so nice you will almost forget it is there.

[c130king]

Chris,

Have not weighed the tongue yet. But was considering moving my winch post forward...there is about 4-5" of adjustment that can be made.

Main bunks were 48" apart so didn't adjust them but did lower them all the way. The angle was good except for the left rear which I loosened while the boat was sitting on it and it twisted to the proper angle from the weight of the boat. Good to go.

The forward bunds were 3" below the boat. The guy at the Dave's Trailers said they were not intended for the boat to sit on but more to guide the boat when loading/unloading and to keep the bow and forward keel from hitting cross members. But he said we should raise the front end of the forward bunks up to where they just touch the bottom of the boat...so we did.

Did not adjust the axles...21' from hitch to center of axles.

Big test will come when I lower the mast and trailer it.

Glad to hear your GPS is working. We will have to meet up somewhere on the Chesapeake.

Jim

[Fxwg80hd]

Dave's Trailer setup my forward bunks the same way. They are not made to support the weight of the boat, just keep the bow from hitting the frame. The reason to only raise the front and not the rear is that the bow of the boat will drop down as the boat slides of the trailer and if you have the front and back of the forward bunks raised, the weight of the boat will bend the brackets as the boat slides off.

Be careful moving the boat forward on the trailer without moving the axles. The original MAC trailer is 21 feet from bow stop to axle. You said you are currently set at 21 feet from bow stop to center between the 2 axles. I would have it weighed before and after moving so you don't exceed the max tongue weight that your tow vehicle can handle (which my guess is 500 pounds). Luckly the axles are as easy to move as anything else on the trailer.

Hoping to get out on the Bay this weekend, but most likely will be up around Middle River/Hart-Miller Island. Want to be closer to home when I take it out for a shakedown cruise in case I have problems. Hope to get down your way in the next couple of weeks as I plan to do more trailer sailing this year and move around the Bay. Have to make use of the new trailer.