Made a monkey of my dinghy trailer, need advice

Series of thin bits of wood, getting thicker as you pull the launching trolley up on them. E.g. old skirting board, then floor board, then both, until dinghy up. Chuck it all in the boot or dinghy when on the road
 
bikedaft said:
Ps; or - let some air out the road trailer tyres. Get the dinghy and launching trailer on. Then reinflate road tyres.
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That's actually an old farmers trick ...

BUT caution ... if the tyres are TUBED - then fine let them down completely - but if they are tubeless - DO NOT deflate too far as the side walls may not seal to rim ...
For both - not a good idea to move the trailer before inflating tyres again.
 
Along the idea of the larger trolley wheels route, could blocks be welded in between the trolley wheels and the frame to compensate for the extra height.
Alternatively a roller welded to the back of the road trailer to lower the friction level.
 
Better dinghy combi trailers have a full width roller for the trolley A-frame. You really don’t want the trolley wheels to be able to ground over bumps, that could put a nasty shock loading on the dinghy if it’s strapped down.
 
billskip said:
View attachment 205295
This looks to me like a plate is welded on, and the unit plate is bolted to the welded on plate....
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Fine ... but makes no odds that the Indespension unit is not suited to this trailer as it raises the trailer too high for the trolley.

The easiest possible solution as another suggested - let down the tyres on the trailer ..... or as I said - reduce size of wheels / tyres on trailer ...
 
Refueler said:
Fine ... but makes no odds that the Indespension unit is not suited to this trailer as it raises the trailer too high for the trolley.

The easiest possible solution as another suggested - let down the tyres on the trailer ..... or as I said - reduce size of wheels / tyres on trailer ...
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Ok, my comment was about the criticism of welding the unit directly to the frame when it appears not to be so.
The OP says doesn't remember the original suspension fixing, and photo (1) could just be an offering up...
The easiest remedy is to try taking a little weight by lifting and pushing the boat up the trailer instead of trying to pull it if possible, or little ramps,or adding a winch.
Don't think I would want the hassle of deflating, inflation of tyres, but it is of course a possible solution that really depends on launch/recovery site/situation, blocking a launch ramp while messing with tires I doubt would go down well.
 
billskip said:
Ok, my comment was about the criticism of welding the unit directly to the frame when it appears not to be so.
The OP says doesn't remember the original suspension fixing, and photo (1) could just be an offering up...
The easiest remedy is to try taking a little weight by lifting and pushing the boat up the trailer instead of trying to pull it if possible, or little ramps,or adding a winch.
Don't think I would want the hassle of deflating, inflation of tyres, but it is of course a possible solution that really depends on launch/recovery site/situation, blocking a launch ramp while messing with tires I doubt would go down well.
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I don't disagree about the deflation / inflation aspect ....

But the reduction of wheel / tyre diameter could restore the couple of inches Inde units have added .... or as I originally advised - car ramps - but they tend not to be cheap ...

I think if you go back - he does know the form of the old suspension - but was as I surmise - unable to source same to repair. He's basically trusted a friend to fit replacements - which he now finds are unsuited.
 
Refueler said:
Fine ... but makes no odds that the Indespension unit is not suited to this trailer as it raises the trailer too high for the trolley.

The easiest possible solution as another suggested - let down the tyres on the trailer ..... or as I said - reduce size of wheels / tyres on trailer ...
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Well I would expect that 99% of road base trailers for Enterprise dinghies use these indespension units (assuming he bought the right weight capacity), bolted to a plate like that under the cross beam, and with the same size tyres (though they would also have mud guards fitted). So the suspension units and fitment look normal for the job.

Also, it is essential that the trolley wheels are pulled high enough off the ground so they can’t touch the road with the suspension fully compressed, eg after hitting a pothole.

So with properly designed Enterprise road base and trolley there will always be a need to pull the boat and trolley up onto the trailer. The real issue seems to be the lack of a roller system to help the trolley slide forward and engage when the weight is taken off the trolley wheels.
 
dunedin said:
Well I would expect that 99% of road base trailers for Enterprise dinghies use these indespension units (assuming he bought the right weight capacity), bolted to a plate like that under the cross beam, and with the same size tyres (though they would also have mud guards fitted). So the suspension units and fitment look normal for the job.

Also, it is essential that the trolley wheels are pulled high enough off the ground so they can’t touch the road with the suspension fully compressed, eg after hitting a pothole.

So with properly designed Enterprise road base and trolley there will always be a need to pull the boat and trolley up onto the trailer. The real issue seems to be the lack of a roller system to help the trolley slide forward and engage when the weight is taken off the trolley wheels.
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Hi D .... if you go back and read Post #1 ... the Inde units are not same as original :

Quote :>
I have an Enterprise Dinghy road trailer that had rubber suspension axles. On one side the axle had started to drop causing the launch trolley wheel to touch the ground. I wasn't sure how to deal with this and a friend offered to replace the axles. He welded new axles onto the bottom of the trailer which looked a great job. However, like a prune, I didn't realise that when the trailer was lifted by a few inches it would mean the launch trolley can no longer be easily dragged onto the road trailer. The slight extra height means that the launch trolley wheels leave the ground before the trolley is properly mounted and I'm not strong enough to drag the launch trolley the last few inches to meet the clamp that holds it on the road trailer.
<Unquote

I agree that a winch would be a great addition ... but the trailer / trolley combo as I read was OK until one side suspension unit gave out ... the friend fitted the Inde Units which have now caused trailer to be raised too high for trolley to engage properly.
 
billskip said:
What happens if one lifts the front of the road trailer an inch or so,wouldn't that lower the loading end?
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Don't ask me - ask OP !! ;)

Actually recall he already answered saying he was already lifted high at trailer front ...

I can appreciate OP's problem as I have a couple of trailers that height is an issue for the smaller boats I have ... and is why I end up using the HIAB to lift the boats onto them.

I think for OP ... fitting a small manual winch on front of trailer and a couple of ramps at back end would solve the issue..... the winch making light work of it ... I have been looking at winches myself and to be honest - 12v winches now are so cheap ..... literally what a manual winch cost not so long ago ...
 
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