There is a dimensioned drawing in the Archives. The axle position in the
drawing was taken from several different Triad trailers which were the
same. On some trailers the axle was a few inches forward.

Todd Tavares.

On Wed, May 19, 2021, 11:16 PM Graham Stewart <gstewart8 at cogeco.ca> wrote:

> Does anyone know what the "ideal" distance from the ball to the axle would
> be on the RC trailer?
>
> Graham Stewart
> Agile, Rodes 22, 1976
> Kingston Ontario
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rhodes22-list [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf
> Of Todd Tavares
> Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2021 10:49 AM
> To: The Rhodes 22 Email List
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Fwd: Trailer
>
> If I remember correctly, there were different axle positions on single
> axles over the years when measured from the center of the ball of the fully
> retracted extension (or fixed winch tower. The axle (spring mounts) was
> moved rearward more than a few inches. I remember this coming up in the
> list discussions after I made the dimensions trailer drawing now in the
> archives. Slim's axle may have been one that was too far forward....I
> don't recall, but Slim may have been one of the guys who measured their
> trailer for me. This measurement did differ from the trailer I bought from
> Lloyd Crowther later on. Some other members went out and measured their
> axle positions and I edited the drawing.
> Adding a second axle may help with the fishtailing but at the same time
> could be masking the original axle position problem and lead to lower than
> possible tongue weights. Even when adding a second axle, the correct single
> axle position (which sets tongue weight) is important because that becomes
> the new center point for the double axles.
>
> Todd T.
>
>
> On Wed, May 19, 2021, 9:52 AM ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com> wrote:
>
> > Graham,
> > If the additional weight were so-called “sprung weight”, the issue you
> > raise would be valid.  But, we’re talking about adding pieces/parts that
> > are mostly unsprung weight, (i.e. not supported by the trailer’s
> springs).
> > The weight of the axles, most of the leaf springs, wheels, brakes, and
> > tires is supported only by the tires.  Therefore, these pieces/parts do
> not
> > contribute to tongue weight.  In the case of Slim’s trailer, adding the
> > second axle behind the original axle caused a fraction of the total load
> to
> > be taken up by the new axle.  In the case of tandem axles, you have
> > calculate the position of an imaginary radius of pitch rotation, i.e. a
> > point in space which defines the radius of the moment arm thru which the
> > load is applied.  A rigorous calculation is quite involved; but, the
> > approximate solution is midway between the two axles.  Since the radius
> > moved aft, more of the load is carried forward of the radius, resulting
> in
> > more tongue weight.
> >
> > Roger Pihlaja
> > S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> >
> > Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
> > Windows 10
> >
> > From: Graham Stewart<mailto:gstewart8 at cogeco.ca>
> > Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2021 9:33 AM
> > To: 'The Rhodes 22 Email List'<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Fwd: Trailer
> >
> > Roger:
> > A technical question about adding an axel: I can see how moving the front
> > axle forward so that the existing pivot point is midway between the axles
> > would maintain the existing pivot point. However, you say that adding an
> > axle to the trailer without moving the first axle would "move the pitch
> > radius from the original center of the single axle back to ~ halfway
> > between the centers of the tandem wheels". Is not adding the second axle
> > and wheels also adding weight behind the pivot point thereby reducing the
> > weight on the tongue? I am wondering how one would calculate where the
> new
> > pivot point is in this scenario.
> >
> > Graham Stewart
> > Agile, Rodes 22, 1976
> > Kingston Ontario
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Rhodes22-list [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On
> Behalf
> > Of ROGER PIHLAJA
> > Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2021 8:26 AM
> > To: The Rhodes 22 Email List
> > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Fwd: Trailer
> >
> > Slim,
> >
> > So, your shop effectively moved the pitch radius from the original center
> > of the single axle back to ~ halfway between the centers of the tandem
> > wheels.  This will increase the tongue weight, fortunately in your case
> not
> > enough to be dangerous.  I bet if you were to measure the tire loading,
> you
> > would find your two front wheels are carrying considerable more load vs.
> > the two back wheels.  Again, as long as you don’t exceed the tire load
> > rating, this is not dangerous.  Have you noticed more tread wear on the
> > front tires vs. the rear tires?  My four tires wear pretty evenly and I
> > don’t rotate them or anything like that.  In fact, I tend to have to
> > replace trailer tires most often due to cracking in the sidewalls due to
> > oxygen and UV exposure after several years.  I have had a blowout and a
> > steel wheel failure on my boat trailer in the 34 years I’ve owned it.  In
> > both cases, I was extremely glad I had a tandem axle trailer!
> >
> > Roger Pihlaja
> > S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> >
> > Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
> > Windows 10
> >
> > From: Steven Alm<mailto:stevenalm at gmail.com>
> > Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2021 7:37 PM
> > To: The Rhodes 22 Email List<mailto:rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Fwd: Trailer
> >
> > When I added the second axle to my trailer I did not reposition the first
> > axle. The second one was put on behind it. I did not do this work
> myself. I
> > checked with several  shops in my area until I found one who I felt would
> > do it right. They also fabricated new fenders over the wheels — single
> long
> > fenders covering both wheels. I don’t know what the tongue weight is but
> it
> > weighs down the back of the vehicle about two inches, so at least a
> couple
> > hundred pounds, probably more. They added electric breaks to the front
> > wheels and installed the controller up next to the steering column. In
> the
> > last 25 years  I’ve owned four different tow vehicles ranging from a 3/4
> > ton Ford E250 to a 6 cylinder Toyota 4Runner. All towed it fine without
> any
> > issues.
> >
> > Slim
> > Fandango
> >
> >
> > On Tue, May 18, 2021 at 4:33 PM Jesse Shumaker <
> > jesse.laten.shumaker at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > I leave my Tohatsu 9.8 motor on the transom while trailering because it
> > is
> > > heavy.  However, I take my rudder off and put that in the v-berth since
> > > that helps put more weight forward and takes stress off the transom.  I
> > > help support my motor with 3 separate straps that hang off the stern
> > rail.
> > >
> > > My most recent process is to remove the tiller and connector to the
> motor
> > > so it's easy to handle the components rather than the whole assembly.
> I
> > > had a cover made for the rudder so it's easy to maneuver through the
> > cabin
> > > without scraping anything.  The cover is made such that I can put on
> and
> > > take it off while the rudder is mounted on the boat.
> > >
> > > The ramp at the lake where I sail is quite gradual so it's easy to get
> > the
> > > boat far enough forward.  I'm still a novice when it comes to towing
> but
> > > haven't had any issues when towing around 60 MPH on my 2011 Triad
> single
> > > axle trailer.
> > >
> > > Jesse Shumaker
> > > S/V Zephyr
> > >
> > > On Wed, Apr 28, 2021 at 8:10 PM THOMAS POLISE via Rhodes22-list <
> > > rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org> wrote:
> > >
> > > > I have very little weight on my hitch and inquired to Triad trailer
> > with
> > > > the response that I needed to remove motor.   Has anyone else had
> this
> > > > problem and resolved without having to take motor off?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Begin forwarded message:
> > > >
> > > > > From: Michael Orro <mike at triadtrailers.com>
> > > > > Date: April 28, 2021 at 3:16:51 PM EDT
> > > > > To: THOMAS POLISE <tvpolise at aol.com>
> > > > > Subject: RE: Polise trailer
> > > > >
> > > > > ?
> > > > > Hello Mr. Polise,
> > > > >
> > > > > Thank you for this information and for the measurements.
>  According
> > to
> > > > the measurements, the trailer is built correctly.   I’ve attached a
> > > > photograph of a Rhodes 22 sitting on her Triad Trailer.   The boats
> > > appear
> > > > to be loaded in the same spot.  It looks like you have a motor
> hanging
> > > off
> > > > the back of the boat.  Do you?  If so, that motor needs to be loaded
> in
> > > the
> > > > boat as far forward as possible.   Other than this, I’m not sure
> what’s
> > > > going on.  I’m surprised they can’t move the boat a bit more forward
> on
> > > the
> > > > trailer.
> > > > >
> > > > > Best wishes,
> > > > > Mike Orro
> > > > > Triad Trailers LLC
> > > > > 5831 Triangle Drive
> > > > > Raleigh NC 27617
> > > > > Phone: 919.782.6007
> > > > > Fax: 919.782.6009
> > > > > email: Mike at TriadTrailers.com
> > > > > Web:  www.TriadTrailers.com<http://www.TriadTrailers.com<
> > http://www.TriadTrailers.com%3chttp:/www.TriadTrailers.com>>
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > From: THOMAS POLISE <tvpolise at aol.com>
> > > > > Sent: Wednesday, April 28, 2021 12:13 PM
> > > > > To: Michael Orro <mike at triadtrailers.com>
> > > > > Subject: Polise trailer
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
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