Trailer weight capacity

[Tug]

Hello All,

New to the site .... In an 1hr and a 1/2, I'll be the very proud owner of a '03 ProStar 205v with the 350 hp engine and upgraded towards an X2.

Wanted a nice MC since I was 15. My question is,
the boat is about 3k lbs. The trailer is the factory single axle.

Would there be any problem if I stuck 1K lead in the boat and be able to tow it safely?

Thanks! I look forward to spending alot of time here and of course.....on the water!

Tug :smile:

[PeteS]

Hi and welcome to the site, Tug! Congrats on your recent purchase, that's great. You'll love the boat, but heck you already know that.

I don't think towing safety would be your concern with leaving your weight in the boat, I'd just be more worried about the additional wear and tear on the trailer and tow vehicle. That's 1000 more pounds bouncing up and down on the trailer's suspension/tires, and potentially 100 more pounds on your hitch. Just a few thoughts. Welcome again!

[Professor]

Good Morning Tug and welcome to the site. There are some members who I am sure will be able to assist with your question...much better than me. I am not sure what other weight you are adding (upgraded towards an X2) but I believe most single axle trailers used will have a capacity of about 5200#. Also, consider towing capacity of your vehicle. What GA lakes do you use?

[MarkP]

Hey tug

Welcome aboard. I don’t know what your trailers weight cap is but you may find that info on a plate or sticker on your trailer. My trailer is an 93 and any info on mine has worn off.

[sfitzgerald351]

Take a look at the axle itself. It will usually have the rating in lbs stamped on it. Then you need to find out what MC rates the trailer at (I have a 1984 MC trailer rated at 3500 #) and use whatever number is lower.

Have you considered using fat sacks or a ballast system?

[MarkP]

I think you may want to consider what extra weight might do to your tires.

[boatwake]

Welcome! It’s great to see another GA MasterCraft owner. I have a 03' X2 on a tandem trailer. I'm not sure what the weight spec is on the MC trailers, but I would be careful adding too much. I read somewhere that the 210/X10 was the largest boat MC was putting on a single axel trailer. Since the 230/X30 is listed as only about 300 more pounds than the 210/X10 (X10 is listed as about 25 lbs more than an X2), I would be concerned with a 1000 more pounds. It’s a little more work, but have you considered adding pumps and saks?

[east tx skier]

Welcome, Tug. I don't know about "can you," but here's what I'd suggest about "should you." A good set of trailer tires can run you as much as $200 or more. It would seem reasonable that the more load they must bear, the faster they will wear (maybe not). Assuming that stands to reason, if you through a couple of sets of tires in a short period of time and the extra time it takes to fill a fat seat won't seem so bad afterall.

Where are you getting the lead. I've been toying with the idea of putting about 180 lbs of lead under my observer seat for slalom.

[Brn85ss]

I could be wrong but I don't think i've ever seen a single axle trailer rated for more than 3500#.So I would think that,or the load rating on your tires would be your guide.

[G-man]

Tug

Don't do it if your traveling very far at all. We had a customer that couldn't understand why he constantly had bearing problems, the last time he bought it to us we got in the boat because the tires were pooched out. He had 2-450lb fat sacks filled to the brim in the engine compartment. He had two huge igloos packed with the weekends supply. A lot of trailers are rated for about 10% more weight than the boat, trailer. It is real easy to overload a trailer. Throw in lack of maintence and you have problems.

[AirJunky]

Congrats on the new boat, Tug. Your gonna love it!
I'm not sure about max weight on a single axle trailer either but I do tow my '94 205 on a tandem axle trailer with about 800 lbs of extra weight on board. In 4 years of doing it, I've never had to replace anything & never seen any obvious signs of problems on the trailer. I have the weight scattered throughout the boat so it's not focused at any one point which makes the boat handle better & I'm sure helps with it on the trailer (having 1000 lbs under the engine cover might make it a little light in the bow).

I do have a couple of friends who also tow with their weight on board, one Malibu & the other a Calabria. In both cases their hauling quite a bit more weight, like 1500 lbs, and both have had axle & bearing problems.

[Ski-A-Rees]

I wouldn't if I were you! I would baby that brand new trailer as much as you can! Always put stuff in your car and transfer it to your boat when you get to the ramp! You'll be sorry when you miss treat it and it leaves you stuck on the side of the road!

[sfitzgerald351]

Good point on the tires. They will likely be the true limiting factor. Most 14" tires are only rated for 1760 lbs each for a total capacity of 3500#s. With 15" tires (I think what all the newer trailers ship with) your load range is 2150-2450 per tire for a total capacity of 4300-4900#s.

I with a 5000# axle and Load Range D 15" tires you could get a trailer rating up to 4900lbs. With a 3,000 lbs boat, 1000lbs of trailer, 200 lbs of gas, 500 lbs of "stuff" you're at 4800lbs, right up against the load limit. So forget about adding weight.

I had 2 trailer tires blow out on me (from a bent axle) and it's NOT PRETTY and very SCARY :eek: :eek: :eek: . With overloaded tires, they will heat up and you run the same risk. Be sure you keep those tires inflated to the recommended pressure (probably about 45 lbs cold) and you'll be fine as is.

[ChrisG]

Tug, congrats on the new boat. I'm going to reiterate what a few people have already said, why don't you go with fat sacs? One thing that wasn't mentioned is the difficulty you may have with launching and trailering. At least with water, you can fill up and empty.

[MasterMason]

Also, I know where my brother lives there are wake restictions as well as speed restrictions in the docking areas, so adding the lead in his case would get you a stiff ticket if caught.

[AirJunky]

Hehe, thats the beauty of using lead, Mason. On first glance, the CG doesn't know it's even weighted. A few years ago at the hydroplane races on the Columbia river a buddy with a Response & I got inspected by the CG. They made him empty his fat sacs & never even noticed my lead.

[SteveO]

Welcome to the board. I can totally relate in your long wait to ownership. I had to use the BIG 40 to justify it with the wife. It's my midlife crisis that the family can enjoy... :D

[Tug]

Hey everyone,
Thanks for all the welcome. I was very suprised with all of the posts. I will do the research on trailer limits. Hopefully, I can put about 500# of lead without too much concern (will check limits). I think I am going to have some fat sacs as well included in the deal but it's still pending. I've got the boat just waiting on the sacs. I'm going to start saving money now for all of the gas I hope to burn this season.
We usually ski on lanier around 6 mile creek. I was the one last year with the most duct tape on the boat seats. We may be closer to Mary alice park area this season...I don't know. Carter's lake is wonderful but a 55 mile one way trip. Lanier is 10-15 but on weekends it's like rush hour traffic.
Thanks again all. I'll try to put a pic or two if I can ever figure out how to do so. Atlfootr is a friend and may help me with that. Cheers, Tug

[atlfootr]

Hey everyone, thanks again. I'll try to put up a pic or two, if I can figure out how.
"Atlfootr" is a friend and may help me with that. Cheers,TugHey Tug,

Just read the many responses to your post, like I told ya "lots of good ppl here, for suggestions :toast:
Also, took the liberty post'n those pic's that you wanted.

See ya on the lake :steering:

[boatwake]

Tug, make sure you put a spare tire on that prize. You hopefully will never need it, but you do not want to have to leave it along the road.

[Tug]

That's probably the first thing I need to buy. Was looking at a tower boom and bimini top but the tire should be first. Priced speakers and lights and it looks like that may wait 'til next tax season. Holy cow, you need a 2nd mortgage to get that stuff. Cheers

[boatwake]

No kidding! You can say a few bucks on the spare by getting a non MC wheel. If it looks really off just cover it with a MC spare cover (about $30). I have most everything else, but I still need to add lights.