problem w/ supra ssv trailer

chuck · Outlaw Joined: 22 Apr 2003 Posts: 170 City: Arlington Wa

I bought an 03 supra ssv last march. The first time out we tried to load up on the trailer and the bow came in below the trailer buddy. Thankfully there were no chips but damn....we had a hell of a time loading. Tried deeper in....shallower in...soak the bunks....faster....slower...nothing helps. My friend bought the same boat at same time and has the same prob. we met a guy on the lake w/ an 02 ssv...w/ a huge chip in the bow...SAME PROBLEM. Dealer says "you have to know how to load"....I HAD AN X-STAR W/ 200 HOURS AND NO PROBLEMS. Has anyone had this problem? and what did you do to cure it?.....for now I hand crank....

Spyplane8 · Outlaw Joined: 10 Feb 2003 Posts: 228

I have an 02 SSV with tandem axle trailer. I have the boat buddy also. I do know if your bow is lower than the boat buddy that means you have your trailer in to deep. I also am not sure how steep the boat ramp you load on either. I put our trailer about fender deep and pull on until I stop on the bunks than I just throttle it up until my nose is about an inch or two away from the boat buddy then I just bump the throttle and it works fine. This may be a stupid question but you dont have ballast full or alot of people in the boat towards the front when you are trying to load do you?

chuck · Outlaw Joined: 22 Apr 2003 Posts: 170 City: Arlington Wa

no I empty the ballast and make everyone stay towards the back.....although I have thought of leaving the ballast half full to load but never did....I didnt want to leave a trail on the way home...I can load ok if someone is in front crankin a little when I power up ....I try to make the LOAD/UNLOAD as quick as possible so as not to be "THAT FREAKIN IDIOT W/ A BOW LINE AND HIS OLD LADY JACK KNIFIN INTO THE DOCK."...

THE BOAT FREAKIN RULES......HANDS DOWN.

George · Addict Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 552 City: Chattanooga

It has to the that the ramp is too steep or the tralier is to deep. we have had it happen on one certain ramp.

Phaeton · Addict Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 572 City: Redding

The trailer is TOO DEEP. The front of the fenders should be at the water level. Any deeper than that is to deep.

Geoff Standish · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 843 City: Calgary

I've had some problems like that with our moomba trailer. I think they are both made by Boatmate. I've found if the ramp is too steep, then you will have this problem. I've found that like everyone says, just go in until your fenders are at water level then just juice it up. It's ussually pretty ugly. But it's all you can really do. Try to find a better launch if you can.

Avoid going deeper, I had a bad experience doing that. I just thought if I go deeper it will make the bow go over the boat buddy. But the ramp was so steep (and one of the cement blocks on the launch was missing which made the trailor drop down) that my guide polls actually floated away (They are the foam covered ones). The boat floated over top of the exposed poll and put a good scratch on the bottom of the boat. It's on the bottom of the boat which was good. But it sure hurt me mentally! Probably the worst launch experience I've ever had...

keithf · Posted: Jun 11, 2003 11:04 am Post subject:

We had the same problem initially, which is made worse by a steep ramp. We now do this:

1. Back the trailer in so the bunks are submerged - wet bunks make the boat slide on without having to gun it.

2. Pull the trailer out until the top of the fenders are just out of the water.

3. Drive the boat in and slightly onto the bunks, until the nose lifts as the bow rides up on the front bunks.

4. Back the trailer down until the top of the fenders are just under the water.

5. Drive the boat onto the trailer completely.

2 and 3 only needed for a steep ramp.

Hope this helps! Keith.

gusthecat · Outlaw Joined: 28 May 2003 Posts: 183

All of this is good advice, if any of it looks new then try that first. I've seen this issue on other sites with other boat/trailer combos. One fix that I saw was to put a roller at a strategic location at the front of the trailer to help push the bow up to the buddy. I can't find the link, but there were a couple of guys that had a similar problem to yours. They both already had one roller in front & ended up adding one more & it solved the problem. IIRC they added the new roller farther back down the trailer from the first one & it helped push the bow up sooner & kept it from getting caught under the buddy. Hope this helps.

chuck · Outlaw Joined: 22 Apr 2003 Posts: 170 City: Arlington Wa

cat...know exactly what your talkin about. Ive been kikkin around the idea of addin a roller...like other trailers have. Havent worked up the balls to bust out the welder on my new trailer though. I think that would solve the prob. regardless of the depth. On busy days when the herd of jetskis is rippin around the depth of the trailer is not much of an issue. My friend bought a new trailer for his epic...(forgot the brand) but when he loads the bow doesnt even touch the buddy...rides like 1/4" above...regardless of how many refreshments he had that day. Thanks for the advise..

gusthecat · Outlaw Joined: 28 May 2003 Posts: 183

If you don't want to weld it right off the bat you can always through bolt it to make sure that it's positioned correctly, fine tune it & then come back & weld it when you get it in the right spot. (It's a tough decision either way, to drill or weld your new trailer - ugh!)

Grouch · Posted: Jun 12, 2003 2:34 pm Post subject:

I have the same problem with my Moomba and We just drive it up on there as far as we can and than just crank it the rest. I have already gone through 1 boat wench.