Mast carriering solutions?

A good rule of thumb for overhangs is the pole shouldn't hang past the axle more than 2/3 of the length of wheelbase. In the case of a trailer, I'd use ball to axle measure. So if you are thinking of a tongue extension, make it long enough that the overhang aft of the axle is less than 2/3 of the ball to axle measure. You currently appear to be double this. What is the tongue weight of the trailer as shown?

 

Uh... Sufficient? I really have no clue. As it is now it presses firmly down on the hitch and I have to put effort into lifting it up off the hitch. 50lbs?

 

With a flag and moved a couple of feet forward (as much as you can), you'll have no difficulty in the USA, unless someone has a bug up their butt. In areas with large sailing communities, this is seen daily, without difficulty.

The usual rule of thumb for this is 2/3's the wheel base of the trailer or less is permissible and a 12" square or larger red or orange flag, if the load is 4' or more behind the tail lights, which raises the question of a set of lights, mounted 36" from the end of the mast.

If 50 pounds is all the tongue weight you got, that cat must bounce around a bit. Error on the too much side of the coin, rather then too little. I use the grunt method. If you have to grunt, just to lift the tongue, it's probably heavy enough to not bounce all over the place with road dips and bumps. On a small tow, I aim for 100 pounds on the tongue, just to keep it "calm" on the road.

Lastly an angle steel, triangular brace to support the mast, well aft of the boat, maybe even with some lights would solve the issues. It would support the mast and becomes part of the trailer if it has lights. Of course, a couple of pins to release it at the ramp and you're ready to go.

 

The trailer as it is pulls perfectly down the road, no bouncing. No idea for the actual tongue weight but it seems to be working fine.

 

Spirit... , for the price of a 10' length of square tube and a couple bolts, you can make this setup much safer and more handy. Chop the trailer and transfer the hitch to the new tube. Bolt her up to the old tongue. Get rid of the reciever extension on the truck (those things are real widowmakers) and move the ball back where it belongs about 18 inches closer to the axle. Shift the bow brace forward two feet and slide the boat up. Move the mast forward on the boat another 4 feet. Now you have 100+ pounds tongue weight and you aren't prying the hitch off the truck or pushing the truck's *** around when you break on a downhill corner.

On a separate note you may want to look into these for your truck-

http://www.autoanything.com/suspens...ngid=274x525&gclid=CPXs0Jns_bYCFU6f4AodcGkA8Q

If you hunt around, you should be able to find them for around $150. I've put half a million miles of trailering behind half ton pickups, and they are very nice to have. For what you are doing, a very good set of air-adjustable shocks would also work, but most of the cheap ones are worse than a decent set of nonadjustable shocks. Air shocks tend to be the more expensive option unless you happen to need a new set anyway.

http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/v...mpaignId=T9F&gclid=CMfHk9Dv_bYCFQFp4Aodfl8AQw

Both of the above are just examples, there are several mfgs that make decent stuff. Good luck with your adventures. The setup reminds me of traveling around the NW US with my gf 30 years ago. We were camping on the shore of lake Sakakawea and we heard a couple walk by and he says "Look Mildred, they've got half a car, half a tent, and half a boat". We were in a Civic with kayaks on top and camping in one of my expedition tents. One of my favorite trips of all time. The trip cost us $20 / day including gas.

 

For what it's worth, a truck innertube stowed un-inflated, is quickly inflated with a cigarette lighter powered compressor. slung on the roof of a vehicle with side straps to secure, makes a good rooftop carrier for numerous items, without scratching the roof paint. would need bumper stanchions fore and aft, but would serve for the middle support.
Lengthening the trailer tongue is probably the best solution in previous posts. good Luck!

 

I have static overload springs in the truck already, 2500lbs extra capacity, I needed them for the camper. Air bags are complicated, require too much maintenance, are expensive and they leak, they are better left in steering wheels and dash boards where they belong. Any further suspension upgrades in terms of carrying the trailer are NOT needed as my mom's Taurus wagon pulls the boat without even feeling it.

I'm not cutting up a perfectly good trailer as I would have to get it re-certified, inspected and registered as a "U-built" which is a pain in the *** and expensive. It'd be less of a headache to build a brand new trailer.

The weight on the tongue is at least 100lbs now as I actually have to put effort into lifting it off the ball. Why I have the hitch extender is because if I move the boat back to where the hitch is normally my bowsprit goes through the camper door, as it sits now it gets around corners with room to spare between the mast end and the camper.

Your idea, while sound would require a lot of work, it's something I might consider next month, when the boat is in the water, I have time/money and Swiftsure isn't looming just a week and a bit away...

 

Hmmm!

Mount the mast higher above the boat trailer, extending above the camper. Incorporate a hitch on the mast end, and a ball on top the camper. The mast becomes the trailer tongue.
tongue in cheek of course, but maybe the germ of an idea.

 

Try it..