Removing 1 wheel from tandem for manouvering

[bjames]

Any problem removing 1 set of wheels from the tandem trailer just to easily manouver it into a tight parking garage. The wheels would be put back on once parked for the winter.

The reason for this is I use a John deere riding tractor to snake this into a carport for the winter. Its all paved but requires some fairly tight turns. I figured converting the trailer into a single axle will reduce some resistence. Thoughts?

[Sodar]

You are going to need to test and see if the wheel bottoms out on the fender with just one set of wheels on one axle. My guess is it will, but your mileage may vary.

[thatsmrmastercraft]

Also, make sure you take off a wheel from each side. Just sayin'








Seriously, if you are looking for maneuverability, try taking off the rear set first. If you rub, then try taking off the front set.

[FrankSchwab]

Originally Posted by thatsmrmastercraft

Seriously, if you are looking for maneuverability, try taking off the rear set first. If you rub, then try taking off the front set.

Wouldn't that make it fairly difficult to actually move the boat?

[Thrall]

Not sure where the CG is on the trailer, guessing closer to the rear wheels to provide some tongue weight. If the X25 is as nose heavy on the trailer as my X2 (compared to an X15 which has much less tongue weight than the X2), you may want to take off the rear wheels anyway just to lighten the load on the tongue.
If you can't find a good balace, take one front and one rear wheel off??
The torsion axles should support the weight of the boat with only 1 set of wheels on, no problem, and not hang the other axle down too far.
Another option if this don't work out well for you is a short wheel base vehicle with a front hitch, maybe borrow a Jeep? I had a side loader garage at the last house that would have been physically impossible to back the trailer into without the using the front hitch on my old CJ. (Required 2 hookups every time we took the boat out. On the Jeep, out of the garage, on the truck, back on the Jeep, into the garage!)

[Rockman]

I ran into the same problem when getting our 190 into the house garage this weekend.

I removed the rear wheels on our tandem and the trailer weight was unstable. Seemed more back heavy than anything so I put the rear tires back on and removed one of the front tires just to see if that would work better but the front axle came down all the way to the floor due to the motor weight.

So I bought 4 skate plates off of amazon and will put these under the tires after we get the boat in the garage. They are rated for 6,000 lbs so they should work pretty good.

[maristardd]

Could you use a set of these instead?

http://www.amazon.com/Skates-Wheel-D.../dp/B000UAGDTC

I have not used personally, but I know car dealerships use stuff like this all the time to move cars around the showroom.

[Rockman]

Yep,

Those are the ones I just ordered:

4 12" Tire Skates Wheel Car Dolly Ball Bearings Skate Makes Moving A Car Easy (Sold by Wayfair).

$199.99 with free shipping.

[Miss Rita]

The reason for this is I use a John deere riding tractor to snake this into a carport for the winter. Its all paved but requires some fairly tight turns. I figured converting the trailer into a single axle will reduce some resistence. Thoughts?

Removing a set of wheels from one axle of the trailer will reduce resistance, but if your lawn tractor can get the boat into position without removing wheels it's not worth the trouble.

[bjames]

Originally Posted by Miss Rita

Removing a set of wheels from one axle of the trailer will reduce resistance, but if your lawn tractor can get the boat into position without removing wheels it's not worth the trouble.

The tractor moved my old Moomba LSV (tandem trailer) fairly easily. This year it will be a 2009 Xstar that will be moved. Its when trying to pivot the tounge and back up thats tough on the hitch. I may try removing 1 front and 1 rear wheel.