Tire age is key. 5 years is about the limit, maybe sooner if dryrot sets in. Always have a spare.. Hubs are #2 main issue, I've seen bearings blow up on the axle, it chews everything up, not to mention possibly flipping the trailer and dragging the axle. Regularly inspect hubs for water intrusion. Best "quick" check is to jack up one side, and spin the tire. If you hear a rumble, change the bearings and races, or hub, whichever is available. Try to twist the tire, as if trying to steer it one way or another. Any play, but no rumble is a good thing, the spindle nut just needs to be tightened. Regular service and inspection of the trailer I think is one of the most underrated parts of any boat ownership.
4:00 We stopped at a walmart on the way back from Daytona because the tires on my 1991 double trailer that I purchased were starting to show wear and I didn't know the history. I had already taken the trailer from VA-MI-VA and VA-FL-3/4 back way to VA. it took longer to wait in line to pay for the tires than to swap both. Floor jack from the Walmart auto bay (with permission) and a Milwaukee Impact for the win!!
Tire jack and lug wrench. And check the PSI and know how much air the tires need. Tires, wheels, axle and trailer whatever is your weakest point is your maximum weight carrying capacity.
I actually have one of the Karavan 2-1 trailers but because of necessity. My house in Havasu DOES NOT have room for a double in front of my boat. SO I had two singles on dollys that I would move around the garage under my 2019 rxpx and rxtx but taking 2 skis to the lake involved 2 trucks and twice the launch fees (I have an annual pass). In my case the 2 in 1 fit my needs. We will see on longevity. I do want to haul up to Laughlin or down to Parker so we will see on that to. NEW HUBS AND TIRES this winter so should be good
@@watercraftjournal Yeah, I bought a 2013 in September out of Texas. (couldn't find one locally) It was kind of a basket case so I refurbished it from the ground up over the winter- new aluminum wheels and tires -12x5.3, hub assemblies including seal savers on axle housings because they were so corroded, bunks, bunk brackets, wiring, all 4 tail lights, hardware, safety cables, hitch pins, winch stands with straps and boat buckles. Trailer was $1,400 and I ended up spending another almost $2,800. Please don't laugh, it was a total case of "while your in there". I could have bought new from Florida and shipped it here for that amount but there non existent now and the wheels match my 38' Scarab trailer at least lol. Doesn't matter if I could have bought a double Competitive for less, IT WOULD NOT FIT IN MY GARAGE so....
I currently own to Triton trailers. I would never buy their product again. Aluminum is good however, it's like to put steel screws into the aluminum which causes electrolysis. They did that on both my clamshell model and my open model. I complain to them and ask them to retro my trailer and they said they would send me a bag of screws. When I asked them would they be stainless they said no. I basically replied to them you're telling me to screw myself. The second complaint I have, is that they undersized their wiring to 18 gauge which is the very minimum especially since I upgraded my lights and lighting. They also at the ends where the harnesses connect to the light should be a standard manufacturer plug that mates with the light. Instead they used a lot of bullet connectors or what they call snap pin connectors which do not positively stay in their place nor do they keep water out. I've also had a few cracks in my aluminum in both trailers. Personally I would stay away from Triton because they don't give a rat's ass about the customer. Regarding tires on the trailer I would always upgrade my load rating to a d if I could or an e if it's available. When you mentioned the weight of the watercraft compared to the tire rating you did not put the factor of the weight of the trailer and anything else that's being carried on it. Keep in mind I'm a very discriminating customer because I've been in the parts business for 40 years selling truck trailer forklift and industrial parts including chains and cables. I strongly agree with your comment about carrying an extra tire beyond what you think you'll need. In my single axles on long trips I always carry two tires and wheels, on my double axle snowmobile trailer I always carry two to three tires and when I used to have the old 480x8 tires and wheels I used to blow up to in a trip because of highway speeds of 70 to 75 miles an hour which is almost twice the speed of an SUV tires rotation. 70 mph on my SUV is like 140 on the trailer tire which is not rated for those speeds. I highly recommend buying load rated e tires if possible. I also recommend a high temperature grease if not a synthetic grease, pack your bearings well and make sure you don't have any leaks around the inner seal.
Tow vehicle tire size isn't going to make any difference on how fast your trailer tires rotate at 70 mph. They'll rotate the same no matter what's towing. Speed alone dictates the rpms.
Hoping to be in the market for a 4 place trailer as soon as my AMC stock blows up so I can afford it. I’m just hoping in this market I can find one for sale. I just hate seeing my old two strokes just sitting in the yard and want to take them when I go ride my newerish GTI’s. Plus my goal is to buy 2 GTX’s when I can.
@@watercraftjournal the AMC movement has ZERO to do with Hollywood. It’s all about bankrupting the hedge funds that short stocks of American companies and hurt the employees and companies. Basically hedge funds have shorted AMC with illegal shares and regular people like me have bought up as many real shares as we can and are holding them to make the hedge funds pay billions (they lost 7.8 Billion in the last 3 days) to buy shares from us to cover their short positions. AMC is up 87% this week. This short squeeze is going to be life changing for a lot of regular people and shine a huge light on the corruption by the hedge funds. This is the same hedge funds that created and got bailed out in the 2008 housing crash that hurt so many families.
Most local tire shops can service your bearings with marine grease for around 100 bucks if you want to spend the money. Les schwab quoted me 140 bucks per axle (mines a single axle) but another local tire shop company here that I use did mine for 100 plus tax. That can be an option for you.
I just bought my first ski a 21 yamaha vx cruiser. I pick it up in a week. I got it with a double trailer with intentions of getting a second jet ski. Is it bad to tow with only one ski on it since the load is not balanced ?
Same as converting any other single-axle trailer; just longer (or multiple) bunks. You'll also want to consider how you want to winch up the second row.
Tire age is key. 5 years is about the limit, maybe sooner if dryrot sets in. Always have a spare.. Hubs are #2 main issue, I've seen bearings blow up on the axle, it chews everything up, not to mention possibly flipping the trailer and dragging the axle. Regularly inspect hubs for water intrusion. Best "quick" check is to jack up one side, and spin the tire. If you hear a rumble, change the bearings and races, or hub, whichever is available. Try to twist the tire, as if trying to steer it one way or another. Any play, but no rumble is a good thing, the spindle nut just needs to be tightened. Regular service and inspection of the trailer I think is one of the most underrated parts of any boat ownership.
Good points!
4:00 We stopped at a walmart on the way back from Daytona because the tires on my 1991 double trailer that I purchased were starting to show wear and I didn't know the history. I had already taken the trailer from VA-MI-VA and VA-FL-3/4 back way to VA. it took longer to wait in line to pay for the tires than to swap both. Floor jack from the Walmart auto bay (with permission) and a Milwaukee Impact for the win!!
Nice save!
Tire jack and lug wrench. And check the PSI and know how much air the tires need. Tires, wheels, axle and trailer whatever is your weakest point is your maximum weight carrying capacity.
Yes all very good suggestions!
Discount Tire, installed sport radial trailer tire. Great price and service.
Marine grease in bearings.
Thanks for sharing
I actually have one of the Karavan 2-1 trailers but because of necessity. My house in Havasu DOES NOT have room for a double in front of my boat. SO I had two singles on dollys that I would move around the garage under my 2019 rxpx and rxtx but taking 2 skis to the lake involved 2 trucks and twice the launch fees (I have an annual pass). In my case the 2 in 1 fit my needs. We will see on longevity. I do want to haul up to Laughlin or down to Parker so we will see on that to. NEW HUBS AND TIRES this winter so should be good
OK, so it's a recent purchase?
@@watercraftjournal Yeah, I bought a 2013 in September out of Texas. (couldn't find one locally) It was kind of a basket case so I refurbished it from the ground up over the winter- new aluminum wheels and tires -12x5.3, hub assemblies including seal savers on axle housings because they were so corroded, bunks, bunk brackets, wiring, all 4 tail lights, hardware, safety cables, hitch pins, winch stands with straps and boat buckles. Trailer was $1,400 and I ended up spending another almost $2,800. Please don't laugh, it was a total case of "while your in there". I could have bought new from Florida and shipped it here for that amount but there non existent now and the wheels match my 38' Scarab trailer at least lol. Doesn't matter if I could have bought a double Competitive for less, IT WOULD NOT FIT IN MY GARAGE so....
Low tire pressure is the largest killer of tires...everything else is pretty forgiving all long as the bearings have grease.
I currently own to Triton trailers. I would never buy their product again. Aluminum is good however, it's like to put steel screws into the aluminum which causes electrolysis. They did that on both my clamshell model and my open model. I complain to them and ask them to retro my trailer and they said they would send me a bag of screws. When I asked them would they be stainless they said no. I basically replied to them you're telling me to screw myself. The second complaint I have, is that they undersized their wiring to 18 gauge which is the very minimum especially since I upgraded my lights and lighting. They also at the ends where the harnesses connect to the light should be a standard manufacturer plug that mates with the light. Instead they used a lot of bullet connectors or what they call snap pin connectors which do not positively stay in their place nor do they keep water out. I've also had a few cracks in my aluminum in both trailers. Personally I would stay away from Triton because they don't give a rat's ass about the customer. Regarding tires on the trailer I would always upgrade my load rating to a d if I could or an e if it's available. When you mentioned the weight of the watercraft compared to the tire rating you did not put the factor of the weight of the trailer and anything else that's being carried on it.
Keep in mind I'm a very discriminating customer because I've been in the parts business for 40 years selling truck trailer forklift and industrial parts including chains and cables. I strongly agree with your comment about carrying an extra tire beyond what you think you'll need. In my single axles on long trips I always carry two tires and wheels, on my double axle snowmobile trailer I always carry two to three tires and when I used to have the old 480x8 tires and wheels I used to blow up to in a trip because of highway speeds of 70 to 75 miles an hour which is almost twice the speed of an SUV tires rotation. 70 mph on my SUV is like 140 on the trailer tire which is not rated for those speeds. I highly recommend buying load rated e tires if possible. I also recommend a high temperature grease if not a synthetic grease, pack your bearings well and make sure you don't have any leaks around the inner seal.
Lots of good info! Thanks!
I was just about to order a Triton and came across your comments. Thanks for the straight info before I spend the $$. 👍🏻
How many actual screws are in a welded aluminum trailer?
If your tow truck have 20" tires or thereabouts, how fast is the trailer tires rotating when you're driving 70? Maybe check speed rating too
That's too much math for a jet ski channel.
Tow vehicle tire size isn't going to make any difference on how fast your trailer tires rotate at 70 mph. They'll rotate the same no matter what's towing. Speed alone dictates the rpms.
@@watercraftjournal 😂
Hoping to be in the market for a 4 place trailer as soon as my AMC stock blows up so I can afford it. I’m just hoping in this market I can find one for sale. I just hate seeing my old two strokes just sitting in the yard and want to take them when I go ride my newerish GTI’s. Plus my goal is to buy 2 GTX’s when I can.
@Julian Ramirez I have seen their website. Will definitely check the my out once I get the funds for it. I did like what I saw.
AMC stock? You think folks will start returning to movie theaters?
TN is the reddest state in the Union - I just don't support the pedophiles in Hollywood. -K
@@watercraftjournal the AMC movement has ZERO to do with Hollywood. It’s all about bankrupting the hedge funds that short stocks of American companies and hurt the employees and companies. Basically hedge funds have shorted AMC with illegal shares and regular people like me have bought up as many real shares as we can and are holding them to make the hedge funds pay billions (they lost 7.8 Billion in the last 3 days) to buy shares from us to cover their short positions. AMC is up 87% this week. This short squeeze is going to be life changing for a lot of regular people and shine a huge light on the corruption by the hedge funds. This is the same hedge funds that created and got bailed out in the 2008 housing crash that hurt so many families.
AMC stock ? 😬😬😬
Triton trailers have a goofy ass bearing grease thing ,my bearings lasted 5 seasons. Mostly local. I heard tritons are difficult to get
Hmm. Fair point.
Most local tire shops can service your bearings with marine grease for around 100 bucks if you want to spend the money. Les schwab quoted me 140 bucks per axle (mines a single axle) but another local tire shop company here that I use did mine for 100 plus tax. That can be an option for you.
Forgot to talk about the difference between torsion bar and leaf spring
True. It's not significant.
Why is it hard to find a tandem axle single pwc trailer
because most single pwc trailers are only carrying one ski, thats why.
What about ski support what do you recommend for long trips I have a wobble roller only supports ski at 8 points us
that satisfactory?
We're not sure what you are asking.
@@watercraftjournal I want to take my ski on long trip what kind of trailer should a jet ski be on ?
A PWC trailer. Kevin prefers carpeted wood bunks over the roller-bunk variety.
@@watercraftjournal k thnx😀 I’m guessing It might be a good idea to tow it on empty tank as well , that’s a good 70 kgs of extra weight.
I just bought my first ski a 21 yamaha vx cruiser. I pick it up in a week. I got it with a double trailer with intentions of getting a second jet ski. Is it bad to tow with only one ski on it since the load is not balanced ?
Nah, you'll be perfectly fine.
Do you have any experience with converting a boat trailer to a 3 or 4 place jet ski set up? I have a dual axle trailer from a 21 foot boat. Thanks
Same as converting any other single-axle trailer; just longer (or multiple) bunks. You'll also want to consider how you want to winch up the second row.
How fast do you drive on highway with pwc on your trailer and those 12 inch tires?
65-70mph. Again, it's all about the ratings.
@@watercraftjournal Can I drive 70MPH with 65MPH rating tire in summer for 12 hours drive per day?
ya left out tire date manufacture codes !!.
dont know if anybody said it, get a temp gun at harbor freight and ck the hubs, tires when you stop for gas or every ------- miles.
If you've kept up on your maintenance you won't need to do this.
I always carry 2 spares just in case.
Smart!
Nice
Very nice
Mechanic told me 70 was too fast and caused bluing on the axle.
Meh.