Lifting a boat trailer?

[J-mobzz]

I picked up an older direct drive ski boat and it sits really low on the trailer. For those not familiar with the direct drive you can’t raise the outdrive like an inboard/outboard boat so the prop and rudder are in a fixed location.

Looking around it seems that lift blocks are not really an item you can buy for trailers so I’m curious what your suggestions are for raising the trailer? I would rather not have to cut the spring and shackle hangers and weld on extended ones but I have to get this thing off the ground a few more inches.

 

[Gravy]

My uncle raised the bunks on his big cabin cruiser.

 

[jeeper]

Are you sprung under or over the axle? My guess is under. Flip the axle, add new perches. couple hours tops.

 

[Kevin B.]

Can you raise the rollers the boat sits on?

 

[Hickey]

It's that prop guard on the trailer that gets ya. How about a lift block on the spring perch? There's not really any twisting torque like with a driven axle.

 

[J-mobzz]

Are you sprung under or over the axle? My guess is under. Flip the axle, add new perches. couple hours tops.

It’s over

 

[J-mobzz]

Can you raise the rollers the boat sits on?

Not easily. The boat would have to be off and I’d have to weld risers on.

 

[J-mobzz]

It's that prop guard on the trailer that gets ya. How about a lift block on the spring perch? There's not really any twisting torque like with a driven axle.

Yeah it is the prop guard for sure that drags. I’m thinking I just need to take some tube drill a hole for the spring pin and weld it to the existing spring perch. I can’t seem to find any blocks to fit the narrow trailer springs. Seems easier than dropping the spring hangers.

 

[Kevin B.]

I feel like a set of heavy duty caster wheels on the prop guard may be the answer.

 

[jeeper]

Yeah it is the prop guard for sure that drags. I’m thinking I just need to take some tube drill a hole for the spring pin and weld it to the existing spring perch. I can’t seem to find any blocks to fit the narrow trailer springs. Seems easier than dropping the spring hangers.

This, totally. Way easy. 1 3/4 wide springs?

 

[Hickey]

Yeah it is the prop guard for sure that drags. I’m thinking I just need to take some tube drill a hole for the spring pin and weld it to the existing spring perch. I can’t seem to find any blocks to fit the narrow trailer springs. Seems easier than dropping the spring hangers.

That's what I would do.

 

[85CUCVKRAWLER]

I would just buy a slightly larger set of tires. I would not want to get too crazy with lifting the trailer as it will make getting the boat on/off much harder.

 

[J-mobzz]

This, totally. Way easy. 1 3/4 wide springs?

Yup. 1 3/4 springs

 

[Tonkaman]

Isn’t this an Offroad forum?? How has this conversation avoided a he obvious answer which is to put a full set of skids under that beeeotch

 

[UNSTUCK]

My prop guard would drag every time I backed our boat onto our driveway. Other than that I never had an issue with how low they are. I assume you already have the trailer level? Maybe try dropping the tongue an inch or so and see how much that raises the prop guard up.

 

[jeeper]

Yup. 1 3/4 springs

These are more expensive than I think they should be, but its a start BLOCKS

 

[J-mobzz]

I would just buy a slightly larger set of tires. I would not want to get too crazy with lifting the trailer as it will make getting the boat on/off much harder.

I actually did just order a new set of taller wheels and tires for it. Unfortunately it has to come up. It’s hang only a few inches of the ground. Load and unloading the boat won’t be an issue with it being a couple of inches higher.

Isn’t this an Offroad forum?? How has this conversation avoided a he obvious answer which is to put a full set of skids under that beeeotch

haha no joke I was pricing out some uhmw last night for just that

 

[J-mobzz]

My prop guard would drag every time I backed our boat onto our driveway. Other than that I never had an issue with how low they are. I assume you already have the trailer level? Maybe try dropping the tongue an inch or so and see how much that raises the prop guard up.

I’m sure you’re probably right. My rapid hitch is at the max 6” drop. I should probably just buy an 8”