New Boat Trailer (to me)

[Double Stack]

Well a while back I had asked (in the classifieds) if ifishers could help me out finding a replacement trailer for my Bass Tracker. Everybody was really helpful, but Pelhament hit the nail on the head. This was a ski boat trailer till yesterday- now it’s for a bass boat !. I had all four of the skids removed, and the ones it rests on replaced and raised three and a half inches. Then I had two mounts on each side added for guide-on boards that I’m going to mount and carpet. I still have to prep, primer, and paint the whole trailer black. When I get done it will be a black trailer with red carpeted skids and guide-ons.

When I picked this boat up it was totally rotted, I mean it was so bad I couldn’t even use most of the old wood as templets. Now it’s finally coming together. I refurbished everything so far with nothing more than a skill saw, a tape measure, and an electric drill. It’s just a case of "use what you’ve got".

O and the best thing is I’m throwing a new 55 pound thrust bow mounted Minn Kota on tomorrow. The one with the autopilot !.

Man I’m stoked !. I feel like I have a 19 ft fiberglass.

So what do you guy's think ?

[veilside180sx]

Looking good man. How fast is it, and what size is the motor?

[Double Stack]

Thanks VeilSide !. She's got a 35 horse Mercury. I've never been clocked, but i'm guessing 35 to 40 ??? I know you can water ski with her.

[arkansasbasser]

That's a really nice looking rig. Really cool the way that you adapted that trailor for your Tracker. Looks like it came with it. Good job!

[fishnazzi]

I have a Tracker about same vintage .........Nice Job!!!!

[MXRacer105]

Congrats Double Stack.....

Get that bow mount on her and go out the and catch some bass. A 55# TM should move that boat around really nice. I will keep an eye out for you out there.

[Double Stack]

Arkansasbasser,
Stoked !. That’s what I was thinking.

Fishnazzi,
Nice man. What year is yours ?. Mine’s a 78.

MXRacer105,
She is going to move with the 55#, that’s just about double my old Minn Kota’s strength !. That old one was more than enough, this one is just overkill !.

Hey thanks a lot guys !. I’m going to get that Minn Kota on just as soon a possible, but I just realized it’s opening day for big, black, furry suckers. I might go out to try and put a hole in one with my 06. Ahh so many things to do so little time.
Wish me luck- I might be up to my elbow’s in blood later.

[Pelhament]

Looks great, glad that trailer worked out! I should have my boat complete in the next month or so, then I have to start working on my trailer as well.

[BassinFever]

That's a great trailer and I'm sure twice the trailer that came on it. Don't forget to get a spare.

It probably has ford bolt pattern, you can get some used ranger wheels cheap that would really set it off. Check the tire stores!

[Hunt'nFish]

Wish I had known.....I have a old Tracker trailer in the drive way that needs to go.
Free to anyone willing to put a new axle under it.
Not worth fixing to me and will get cut up soon.
Hunt'nFish

[Double Stack]

Pelhament, man I’m stoked !!.
Sounds good on your boat and trailer. Hell I should have my boat ready to go sooner than your’s. If you want to go fishin some time drop me a PM and we’ll rip some lips.

BassinFever,
Yea the only thing that isn’t better about this new one is that it’s bigger, but hell I’m fine with that !.
I’ve got a spare on the trailer, but the tire is rotted out. I already found a lightly used 14" tire to replace it for FREE. Can’t beat that !. I’ll look in to some Ranger tires as soon as I have the cash to blow. Thanks.

Hunt’nFish,
Haha that just wrong !!. The only thing on my old trailer that was still good was the axle. I already gave it away. Thanks for the thought but no big deal. I’m totally happy with the way things turned out !.

[fishnazzi]

I was wrong mine is an 89 version guess you did take a few years off of her!!!!!! Good job.

[Hunt'nFish]

Originally Posted by Double Stack

I’ll look in to some Ranger tires as soon as I have the cash to blow.

Hunt’nFish,
Haha that just wrong !!. The only thing on my old trailer that was still good was the axle. I already gave it away. Thanks for the thought but no big deal. I’m totally happy with the way things turned out !.

Looks like you have a higher weight rating on the axle now. The rating on my Tracker Tail was only 1800lbs and that left ZERO margin for camping gear and such. You are better off the way it turned out. That's a large part of the reason I got a new trailer, to haul lots of camp gear.

Oh, about those Ranger tires.....
I bought 4 - 2WD Ranger factory alum's, and while they are the right bolt pattern, the hub hole is too small. Make sure you measure and get 4WD tires...I believe the hub holes are bigger on the 4WD. I need to put mine on the lathe and turn them to fit, but that is looking to be a pain in the butt. Maybe a hole saw and mandrel.....
Hunt'nFish

[BassinFever]

Originally Posted by Hunt'nFish

Oh, about those Ranger tires.....
I bought 4 - 2WD Ranger factory alum's, and while they are the right bolt pattern, the hub hole is too small. Make sure you measure and get 4WD tires...I believe the hub holes are bigger on the 4WD. I need to put mine on the lathe and turn them to fit, but that is looking to be a pain in the butt. Maybe a hole saw and mandrel.....
Hunt'nFish

Wow, I didn't know that, I do know that the 4X4 wheels are 15" X 7".

[Hunt'nFish]

Originally Posted by BassinFever

Wow, I didn't know that, I do know that the 4X4 wheels are 15" X 7".

hummm your right, didn't think about the 4WD tires being 15".
The 2WD's are 14", but ya gotta deal with the small hub hole issue.
Let me machine a pilot mandrel for a hole saw and you guys can borrow it.
Hunt'nFish

[veilside180sx]

If you take the wheel into the machinest w/o a tire on it, I'm sure they'll bore those out for you. Of course, that's assuming there is enough material to not be structurally unsound.

[1bigfish]

Great job Double Stack. That boat looks great and the trailer is really coming along. I can't wait to see it once it is all done.

[Double Stack]

Thanks for the heads up on the Ranger tires, but I think I’m going to stick with these for a while.

Glad you all like it, and thanks for the interest. Here are a couple pics from a couple of days ago, when I made it road ready. I still have to do the guide ons. It was great to get her out, but my fully charged battery died in about 45 min.

It was still a nice day for lunch on the lake, and some games of fetch with my lab.

[Twothirteen]

Congrats on the setup so far man, she looks very nice!

Did you try out the Minn Kota yet? (looks like it's mounted, how did you like it??)

[Pelhament]

Nice job, the trailer looks much better in black. Also like the blur job on that lake!

[Double Stack]

TwoThirteen,
Thanks man !. Yea I was using the new motor a little bit before the battery went out. I didn’t get to use the autopilot, but the motor is very strong !. Then only thing I don’t like so far is that the left and right controls are electric. My old one was controlled by cables which made it much easier to control along with the momentary button bing positioned a lot better. I’m sure that I’ll be loving the new one when the wind is kicking, and my autopilot is keeping me in one spot hands free.

Pelhament,
Stoked you like it !. Haha yea I tried to camo the lake a little. I knew it wouldn’t fool the regulars, but it might keep some noobs out. Besides, that’s just a waterskiing lake anyway !.

[Hunt'nFish]

You will LOVE that Minn-Kota 55lb Autopilot.....I have two of them. Hint: flip for the wireless co-pilot.
Very nice setup, sure brings back memories of my ol Tracker.
Hunt'nFish

[Double Stack]

I'm going to be picking up that wireless remote soon- it’s just too cool not to. Stoked you like the motor man, I’m sure it’s going to grow on me.

[Hunt'nFish]

Well, an update on converting those Ranger truck tires to trailer tires:
http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?p=2520390#post2520390
Worked out slick and pretty spiffy.
Hunt'nFish