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01-06-2006, 2:51 PM gsieber Joined on 05-04-2005 Breezy Point Marina, Chesapeake Bay Posts 161 Trailer Debacle I left my place in Virgina for St. Pete. Florida last Wednesday afternoon looking forward to a week of fishing and college football bowl games.  Made it about an hour down the road and noticed smoke pouring out of my passenger side wheel wells on the trailer.  Inspection revealed a brake caliper that would not back off.  If you have ever been through a trailer problem out on the road, you know what a nightmare it can be.  You don't need all the dirty details. So, I limped home on back roads at a snail's pace, checking the wheel regularly.  I figured I would drain the brake lines if I had to.  The next day and a half was spent trying to find parts and working on the trailer in heavy rain and 40 degree temperatures.  I never could find parts so I had to rebuild the caliper with existing seals and it was not easy.  Actually had to drill a hole in the caliper to get the piston out and then weld the hole shut after the parts were moving again. Anyway, I made it to Florida Saturday morning - exhausted, but ready to have some fun.  The fishing was poor, but at least it was warm out and my Gator's won the Outback Bowl. So, I have decided to get a new trailer.  I do a lot of trailering and think an Aluminum three axle trailer would be better for me than my two axle Load Rite Galvanized.  If anyone knows of a good trailer for a 270TE, let me know. "Two hulls are better than one"    Report

01-07-2006, 6:15 PM charlie's cool cat Joined on 09-21-2005 Posts 7 Re: Trailer Debacle welcome to florida,i am a firm believer in three axles are better than two.magictilt factory is in the area your staying in.we went round and round  if a worldcat 266 or 27 should be on two axle or three.well i won. i have a tri axle trailer and travel down the road at 70mph were permiting with a peace of mind of not having a blow out like i did with the tandam axle and the trailer wasn't 2 days old from the factory.i also went with surge brake system instead of electric.electric and salt don't mix.while your down here you need to try out the east coast it's a two hour drive across I4. cj    Report

01-08-2006, 11:02 AM Harry Brosofsky Joined on 09-21-2005 Posts 29 Re: Trailer Debacle Definitely tri-axle with 6000 lb axles.  Definitely 2500 lb tires in 225/75R15 (they come in C and D rated in that size...get the D!).  Definitely brakes on all 3 axles (it's the law in FL).  Surge brakes are great, but electric over hydraulic is even better (electric pump mounts on the hitch or bumper and pressurizes hydraulic brakes).  Definitely get the plastic coated bunks if they offer them. My trailer is a MagicTilt and has served me well.  Unlike most others, it is fully welded, not bolted together. Harry Worldcat 330TE w/Zuke DF250s    Report

01-08-2006, 8:47 PM gsieber Joined on 05-04-2005 Breezy Point Marina, Chesapeake Bay Posts 161 Re: Trailer Debacle Sounds like I am making the right decision going to three axles.  What do you guys think of LoadMaster? "Two hulls are better than one"    Report

01-08-2006, 11:19 PM Harry Brosofsky Joined on 09-21-2005 Posts 29 Re: Trailer Debacle I like their bowstop/winch post combo, but not the overall construction design.  The use two long beams with shorter beams side to side that sit on top and also support the bunks.  MT and others use two long beams with shorter beams between the long beams (welded for MT) and separate supports for the bunks. Harry Worldcat 330TE w/Zuke DF250s    Report

01-10-2006, 1:04 PM Got Caught Joined on 12-20-2005 Posts 6 Re: Trailer Debacle Hey Gsieber I am currently new to this forum and have owned a WC for over a year.  I have a 2002 266TE.  When I bought it it also had a 2002 Load Rite trailer which I blew a hub going to Ocean City MD last summer.  A month later I bought a 10,500, 3 axle Loadmaster from Norfolk.  The 3 axle trailer made a world of difference trailering the boat.  We just got back from Marathon FL.  Had no issues with the Loadmaster and would recommend.  SNS is a first class shop and took about a month for them to build the trailer and ready for pick up.    BTW, I run out of Solomons Island area in the spring.     Report

01-10-2006, 2:13 PM The BEAST Joined on 07-26-2005 Miami, Florida Posts 100 Re: Trailer Debacle It appears to be most of the trailering issues are tire, hub, bearing, related.  I believe most manufacturers make a more than adequate support for the boats but the definitive answer seems to be Tri-axle as opposed to Tandem-axle.  It is apparent that the less weight and stress per wheel is the biggest factor.  most of the tandem-axle trailers use the standard 1 3/8" inner bearing and the 1 1/16" outer.  most failures occur on the outer bearing first.  If you have ever watched these trailer tires and axles during cornering you would never wonder why, again. The twisting and stressing is amazing. Capt. Jim The BEAST 2007 WorldCat 330 TE / 300 Suzuki's    Report

01-10-2006, 2:29 PM gsieber Joined on 05-04-2005 Breezy Point Marina, Chesapeake Bay Posts 161 Re: Trailer Debacle Hey Got Caught, Thanks for the info.  I am leaning toward LoadMaster, but need to check out the Magic Tilt trailer before making my final decision.  I also make the run to OC a couple times per year and to Florida in the winter.  This past summer I kept her at Breezy Point, but I am not sure if I will do that again.  The place is cheap, but a real dump.  I thought I had the only TE on the CSB, but I guess not.  One Fish has a 25 CC on the bay, but I am yet to see him on the water.  I am considering keeping her in Ocean City and fishing the Bay on other people's boats. Did you buy your boat from Tommy Fowler? My boat is currently down in Tampa, so I am going to buy the trailer down there.  I did email LoadMaster a couple days ago and they have not responded which does not thrill me. What did you do with your LoadRite?  I need to sell it somehow.   "Two hulls are better than one"    Report

01-10-2006, 2:30 PM gsieber Joined on 05-04-2005 Breezy Point Marina, Chesapeake Bay Posts 161 Re: Trailer Debacle I forgot to say - welcome to the forum!!! "Two hulls are better than one"    Report

01-10-2006, 4:24 PM Got Caught Joined on 12-20-2005 Posts 6 Re: Trailer Debacle I sold my trailer to TCAT from the WC forum.  He drove up from Pcola to pick it up 3 days before on of the hurricanes went through their area.  There was a few guys actually looking for a trailer on that web site. I bought my boat from a private owner in Baltimore last December.  I currently have a slip at Pax River but only keep it there for the spring Rock fish.  In July I trailer to OC and leave it in the water at a friends house on the bay side.  Do a lot of Tuna and Bill Fishing there, well just learning how to bill fish. I own the boat with my father-in-law and he takes it down to FL in the winter for a month, which works well for me.     Report

01-11-2006, 1:41 AM gsieber Joined on 05-04-2005 Breezy Point Marina, Chesapeake Bay Posts 161 Re: Trailer Debacle GC, That sounds like a great plan.  I think I am going to do something like that myself.  If we are ever in OC at the same time, I will introduce you to Tommy.  He is a great guy and a good person to know when your own a WC in the part of the country.   "Two hulls are better than one"    Report

01-11-2006, 10:27 AM Got Caught Joined on 12-20-2005 Posts 6 Re: Trailer Debacle Where do you reside, in Calvert County?  When is your boat coming back to MD?  We are looking into doing some trips to Va Beach and Hatteras, (Hatteras maybe next month for the giant Blue Fin).  If interested I will keep you informed.  Sounds like you have same ideas I do.  Keep me posted with your trips also.  It is always a good feeling knowing you have friends on the water.  What year is your TE?    Is Tommy assoicated with Taylor Marine?    Jim    Report

01-11-2006, 2:41 PM gsieber Joined on 05-04-2005 Breezy Point Marina, Chesapeake Bay Posts 161 Re: Trailer Debacle Jim, I am in Fairfax County, VA and make the one hour + drive to Breezy Point.  It isn't to bad in the early morning. Not sure when I will bring the boat back up.  I plan to take it to the WC owner event in the Keys in early May, so there is no point in hauling it back up here before that.  I will be back in Florida again for a couple weeks in June, so I will probably bring it back for the late summer Tuna in OC. I am interested in Blue Fin out of Hatteras - of course.  Are you going on the Keys trip?  My TE is a 2004 and the only thing it is missing is Radar.  I hope to get radar and jack plates this winter, but this trailer thing is going to use up some of those funds. Tommy is with Taylor Marine, formerly Boat Doctor.  He has been an incredibly valuable resource for me.  He knows just about everything there is to know about cat boats. Greg "Two hulls are better than one"    Report

10-29-2006, 12:40 PM tajon Joined on 02-27-2006 Posts 22 Re: Trailer Debacle what would I expect to pay for a setup with the tri axel configuration?  I have no idea what it would cost.  currently looking a 246 sf and some don't have trailers so just wondering. thanks    Report

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