How to properly adjust pontoons on trailer bunks?

[SoCalAngler]

I noticed that my pontoons sit about 2-3 inches forward of the tail end of the bunk boards. Typically should not be a problem. However, I have an aluminum plate that is welded to the bottom rear end on the port pontoon. The plate is used to mount the live well pump and transducer. I think the plate is welded at the bottom of the rear cone seam. The plate is resting on one of the bunk boards (dual bunk boards for each pontoon). I'm assuming it has been this way since new. Do you see this as a problem? I thought that over time, the rear cone seam weld, at the plate area, could crack from bouncing along the road.

As you can see in the pics, I have about 2-3 inches of where I can move the boat back so the pontoons sit even, or with a 1 inch overhang, with the bunk boards. This would be a simple process of loosening the bow stop/ladder mount U-bolts and moving it back 2-3 inches and re-loading boat. To completely avoid plate from resting on bunks, pontoons would need to overhang the bunk boards by 1 inch.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

[HandymanHerb]

Weight your tongue and see what it is, you can move it back as long as you don't get the tongue weight to light, that will cause you to fish tail at speed

[cwag911]

I think it's perfect where it is.

[curtiscapk]

+1

[The_Hellbilly]

I agree with Herb, it comes down to trailer balance & tongue weight. Figure that out first. If you have to take a saw and shorten that bunk after, so be it.

[redbeard]

I agree with Herb, it comes down to trailer balance & tongue weight. Figure that out first. If you have to take a saw and shorten that bunk after, so be it.

1+

[BobG]

Mine sits farther forward than that, and I have had no issues with it. What matters is balance and tongue weight. Believe me, that REALLY matters. The dealer who sold me my boat and trailer had it set so the tongue weight was essentially ZERO. I didn't know, and figured they DID. I towed like that 1,100 miles home, and it was squirrely as hell. Nearly killed myself, when I unhitched it, and the tongue just flew up in the air. Once I got the tongue weight to 10% of the combined weight of the boat and trailer (400 pound tongue weight) it towed great. Then I had to replace both axles. The dealer sold me a trailer rated at 2,999 pounds, without brakes. The boat and trailer weighed 4,000 pounds which requires brakes, both in the state where they sold it to me, and in every state between there and Colorado (also required in CO). These asshats knowingly sold me a combination that is both unsafe and illegal. Do not buy a trailer from T&M Marine in Grand Rapids, MN. They build them there (the owner of T&M also owns the company that makes the trailers). They do not care about your safety nor compliance with the law.

[SoCalAngler]

so, any comments on the live well bracket and possibly cracking the seam weld I spoke of?

[MH Hawker]

You can shorten the bunks a bit.

[Krochus]

so, any comments on the live well bracket and possibly cracking the seam weld I spoke of?

Not a problem. (Welder hat on) the soft pine will conform to the pressure point of the bracket weld. In fact we'd use pine under large girders that were wobbly when stood during fabrication because a convex flange would sink into the wood and sit steady.

Between the carpet and the wood I doubt you have much additional pressure at that point.

[tuned]

The dealer who sold me my boat and trailer had it set so the tongue weight was essentially ZERO. I didn't know, and figured they DID. I towed like that 1,100 miles home, and it was squirrely as hell. Nearly killed myself, when I unhitched it, and the tongue just flew up in the air. Once I got the tongue weight to 10% of the combined weight of the boat and trailer (400 pound tongue weight) it towed great. Then I had to replace both axles. The dealer sold me a trailer rated at 2,999 pounds, without brakes. The boat and trailer weighed 4,000 pounds which requires brakes, both in the state where they sold it to me, and in every state between there and Colorado (also required in CO). These asshats knowingly sold me a combination that is both unsafe and illegal. Do not buy a trailer from T&M Marine in Grand Rapids, MN. They build them there (the owner of T&M also owns the company that makes the trailers). They do not care about your safety nor compliance with the law.

What the hell were you doing in my neck of the woods, Bob? I live about two hours from there. I, also, bought a trailer for my OLD toon from these idiots. Poor welding, cheap paint, horrible customer service and not even a very good price for all the lack of quality. I could go on.
The triple bunk I got from Ty's buddy over in Elhart, IN is twice the value for almost the same price. Like night and day.
Sorry about the hijacking, SoCal, but when a guy needs to rant, it is hard holding back

[BobG]

What the hell were you doing in my neck of the woods, Bob?

While they are a HORRIBLE stealership, they just happen to have the best prices on Tahoe pontoons in the universe, so I drove 1,100 miles each way and got a GREAT boat on a CRAPPY trailer. I'm still contemplaining taking it up with the Minnesota Attorney General's Office to recoup the cost of making the trailer legal - about $1,200.