Converting a dinghy road trailer to a launching trolley

[Cloven]

Firstly, I am not talking about a combi trailer.

I have heard of an innovative design where a dinghy can be towed to the launch site and then the road wheels & bearings removed and replaced with launching trolley wheels. Has anyone any idea of the mechanics of this and how it works?

 

[prv]

Never heard of it, but on many smaller trailers the road running gear (stub axle, rubber torsion suspension, hub, etc) is a bought-in unit that simply bolts on. So I suppose if you wanted to you could unbolt it and bolt on something different, but it sounds like a lot of faff.

Pete

 

[VicS]

Firstly, I am not talking about a combi trailer.

I have heard of an innovative design where a dinghy can be towed to the launch site and then the road wheels & bearings removed and replaced with launching trolley wheels. Has anyone any idea of the mechanics of this and how it works?

I suppose if the stub axles are just plain straight axles ie with both inner and outer bearings the same size ( they usually are AFAIK on trailers ) the hubs could be removed and plain bushed trolley wheels slipped on to the stub axles.

Might need some spacers to take up some end float so that just a pin or R clip can be used rather that the hub nut.

Would need to be careful not to get muck in the bearings while they are off, not to lose the hub nuts or wheel nuts and have some spare pins handy for reassembly.

 

[lw395]

Firstly, I am not talking about a combi trailer.

I have heard of an innovative design where a dinghy can be towed to the launch site and then the road wheels & bearings removed and replaced with launching trolley wheels. Has anyone any idea of the mechanics of this and how it works?

Not seen it.
But a road trailer needs to be strong and fairly stiff, a launching trolley wants to be light.
What you want is a combi trailer.

 

[Lakesailor]

I've used road trailers for launching as a rule. New hubs with bearings are only £14 complete so faffing about with alternative that need changing is madness. A set of bearings should last a year, even being dunked in the sea. Remember to let the hubs cool down after a journey before launching. Gives you time to rig the boat.
Yes they are heavier, but have the benefit of a jockey wheel, and a tow hitch if you want.

 

[William_H]

I am with Phil (Lakey) on this. Road trailers can be dunked and while it does require more maintenance this can be done at home at leisure. (rather than doing changes at the waters edge) Of course a launching trolley would not have springs so the boat can be lower to the road so shallower water to float it off and on.That is not usually so much of a problam with a small dinghy anyway.
So I would advocate dunking the road trailer. With tapered bearings I can service the bearings for my trailer sailer in just minutes. That means checking for water drying and perhaps replacing grease. Jack under the axle. Knock off the cover over the axle end. remove the split pin (it sits vertically and so is not spread at the ends.Can't fall out) take the nut off remove outer bearing and lift the weel and hub off the axle. Check it all and replace do the other side.
Springs and structure can be hosed off after dunking and I use lots of old engine oil and grease to discourage rust.
However if you want to have a convertable trailer. My springs are mounted on angle iron longitudinals with U bolt attachment to the trailer frame. It means I can move the axle fore and aft easily. or for you you could remove the subframe and replace with another subframe having solid mounted axle and small wheels. good luck olewill

 

[dunedin]

Not seen it.
But a road trailer needs to be strong and fairly stiff, a launching trolley wants to be light.
What you want is a combi trailer.

Precisely my thought. A combi trailer was a brilliant invention, and optimal for purpose. A frame strong enough for trailing is far too heavy for launching, as well as the issue about wheels & bearings.
Sounds on the face of it to be reinventing an ideal solution with an inferior solution

 

[lw395]

I've used road trailers for launching as a rule. New hubs with bearings are only £14 complete so faffing about with alternative that need changing is madness. A set of bearings should last a year, even being dunked in the sea. Remember to let the hubs cool down after a journey before launching. Gives you time to rig the boat.
Yes they are heavier, but have the benefit of a jockey wheel, and a tow hitch if you want.

Replacing hubs is not expensive, but it takes the shine off your weekend when you have to do it in the dark by the side of the A30, as my Dad found out many years ago.
My current combi trailer is probably 15 years old. It gets used a lot. The trolley gets rinsed every time it comes out of the water, but I think it will need work on the rust soon.
The road trailer half of it gets no maintenance, because it has needed none, apart from changing tyres due to wear. It lives in the rain by the side of the harbour and only looks slightly less shiny than a new one.

Depends on the boat and how you are going to use it. Combi's only really work for dinghies up to perhaps 250kg?
RIBs we launch from a road trailer, but we don't tow them much on the road. Our club RIBs get launched 3 times a week, their trailers require regular work and we write them off over perhaps 5 years.
I think we aim to get secondhand lightly used ones to replace them.
The idea of changing to a plain bearing axle might be good for a heavier boat in some circumstances, like a flying fifteen that you only take on the road now and then.

 

[Lakesailor]

Replacing hubs is not expensive, but it takes the shine off your weekend when you have to do it in the dark by the side of the A30, as my Dad found out many years ago.

Corrosion doesn't wreck bearings in a single road trip. Like Will says, do your maintenance at home, it doesn't eat into sail time.