Something wrong with the trailer on this malibu?

dfinn · Newbie Joined: 25 Aug 2009 Posts: 46

I took a look at this boat this weekend. Seemed pretty clean and I'm thinking about making an offer. The only thing that seemed unusual was how low the back of the trailer sat. It was literally about 1 or 2 inches off the ground. This isn't normal is it?

STANG KILLA SS · Posted: Sep 29, 2009 10:18 am Post subject:

the boat appears to be sitting pretty low too. the distance from teh frame rails to the boat is pretty short, not much lower, maybe only 1-2" and the amount of hull tucked below the top of the fender seems more than usual. could just be the angle.

the prop/rudder bar is usually pretty low. but that one seems really low. small tires? although they appear to be nearly touching.

Commodore · Ladies Man Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 11636

Put the trailer on your hitch and see how much the tongue goes down. The trailer jack may just be way up.

After putting it on your rig, then look how much distance is in the back. It's designed to protect the rudder and prop, it can take a hit. If it drags everynow and then, no biggie. Mine drags like a sonofabitch when putting up for the year in my storage garage, doesn't even phase it.

dfinn · Newbie Joined: 25 Aug 2009 Posts: 46

txnx · Newbie Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 35 City: t.c.

My boat sits about 1" higher that one, on my trailer, I guess what matters is how the running gear sits in relation to the trailer guard. If all the bunks are solid, I wouldn't sweat it. To get it on the pad, you could install rollers on the guard and also back it on an angle? Also check the tire to fender clearance, maybe you can size up the tires 1 or 2 sizes. Maybe the prev owner decided to save a buck and go with a shorter tire.

txnx · Newbie Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 35 City: t.c.

So I took a look at my boat on my trailer, my hull only sits 1/2" below my fender wells and the prop guard sits 2" + from the ground with the jack almost all the way up.

jonyb · Addict Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 844 City: Paducah

Don't think the jack is too high Haugster, look at the angle of the fenders. It looks level.

I wonder if the axles can be lifted a little? That trailer the way it sits would murder my driveway.

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

My trailer sits about the same. I may only be another inch off the ground back where the guard is. I scrape every time I go in and out of my driveway, even trying to angle it. It is a minor amount of scrape, but it does it each time. There are some things you can do to get it up a couple inches, like jonyb suggested. You may have to consider some sort of ramp that gets the trailer up to clear the curb. I'd say this is one of the downsides to inboards is the trailer clearance in the back is minimal compared to I/O's, from what I've seen.

Broccoli B · Posted: Sep 30, 2009 7:37 am Post subject:

Yeah, just lay some 2x8's down before the curb.

dirtysparks · Wakeboarder.Commie Joined: 07 Jul 2004 Posts: 2428

What brand of trailer is that? For reference, this is my boatmate trailer's clearance. It looks like your wheels are a bit more tucked, could have shoddy leaf springs. I'm not sure if you can get different shackles for your leaf springs to bring it up a little. That would scrape on darn near anything. If you do keep it stock, you could buy some caster wheel thingies to bolt on the bottom alleviating some of the scraping. Not sure what they're called but I've seen them on an X1 trailer. Hope you don't have any speedbumps around!

dfinn · Newbie Joined: 25 Aug 2009 Posts: 46

ok, after seeing your trailer I definitely think something is up with the trailer on the boat I looked at.

txnx · Newbie Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 35 City: t.c.

I just came to me, you may be able to solve the problem by replacing the leaf springs. My old boat/trailer had bad leafs on them. Some where broken and the other was sagged. I replaced them and all was better.

STANG KILLA SS · Posted: Oct 02, 2009 7:37 am Post subject:

yeah of all out ideas the sagging leaf springs seems to really be the most likly.