View Full Version : New Ace Trailer
RedDog
01-16-2010, 09:47 AM
In an earlier thread I mentioned I had ordered an Ace trailer and expected delivery in about a month. Well I placed the order mid-day Thursday and it showed up in my driveway 8:00 AM Saturday. I like it! Now to put the outdrive back on my 22 so I can float it off of the old trailer and on to the new one.
RedDog
01-16-2010, 09:49 AM
Question for ya -
New trailer came with 205/75 bias trailer tires on 15 inch galvanized wheels
On old trailer I have fairly new 205/R75 radial trailer tires on 14 inch crome wheels.
Which would you use?
The galvanized will outlast the chrome, especially if you see salt at all.
BUIZILLA
01-16-2010, 09:57 AM
15's
why is the tongue jack so tall?
fogducker III
01-16-2010, 10:28 AM
Why not use the "old" tires and rims until they wear out or rust out and then you have a nice shiney new set to use...?:wink:
fegettes
01-16-2010, 10:33 AM
I bought an Ace Trailer for my Donzi Sport/deck boat about three years ago. I am very pleased with it. The trailer under the Donzi Sport was a truly rusted out tube steel trailer and I was concerned if it would make it two miles to the boat ramp so that I could swap trailers. This tube trailer also had chrome wheels on it and chrome wheels are notorious for rusting out, especially here in the salt water, but for some unexplainable reason, all four wheels on this rusted out tube trailer were absolutely fine. I kept the wheels and junked the trailer as nothing else was salvagable on it. When I slide the Sport on to the Ace Trailer, it was a perfect fit.
One thing about my trailer, it always seemed to flex going down the road, and as tight as I could get the boat anchored to the front winch, it always seemed to loosen up a little, and then it would start rocking on the trailer. To correct this, I bought a galvanized turn buckle to hook from the front boat eye to the lower winch post and it now rides solid, no more rocking.
Also, the tires that came on my Ace Trailer have not worked out to well. Within a few hundred miles the tire tread would start bubbling and separating going down the road. After the third tire went bad, I just replaced them all.
My suggestion woud be to stay with the larger tires.
Steve
I bought an Ace Trailer for my Donzi Sport/deck boat about three years ago. I am very pleased with it. The trailer under the Donzi Sport was a truly rusted out tube steel trailer and I was concerned if it would make it two miles to the boat ramp so that I could swap trailers. This tube trailer also had chrome wheels on it and chrome wheels are notorious for rusting out, especially here in the salt water, but for some unexplainable reason, all four wheels on this rusted out tube trailer were absolutely fine. I kept the wheels and junked the trailer as nothing else was salvagable on it. When I slide the Sport on to the Ace Trailer, it was a perfect fit.
One thing about my trailer, it always seemed to flex going down the road, and as tight as I could get the boat anchored to the front winch, it always seemed to loosen up a little, and then it would start rocking on the trailer. To correct this, I bought a galvanized turn buckle to hook from the front boat eye to the lower winch post and it now rides solid, no more rocking.
Also, the tires that came on my Ace Trailer have not worked out to well. Within a few hundred miles the tire tread would start bubbling and separating going down the road. After the third tire went bad, I just replaced them all.
My suggestion woud be to stay with the larger tires.
Steve
Marathon Tires?
fegettes
01-16-2010, 01:41 PM
Marathon Tires?
I don't remember exactly what they were, maybe 'Trail America'.
Last Tango
01-16-2010, 07:53 PM
Look at the sidewalls on the "fairly new" radial tires and see if you can determine the manufacture date. Usually it is a 4 digit number and reads something like this: 4304 That means the tire was made in the 43rd week of 2004. Now, if the last two digits show that the radial 14" tires are more than 4 years old, then use the new ones.
Tires have a shelf life - the safety window is about 4 years in normal use. Max is about 6 years even if they are "stickers" on the warehouse floor still waiting to be shipped. After that, you run the risk of sidewall failure regardless of the actual mileage on the tires.
The clock is already ticking even on your brand new tires.
Boat trailers sit a lot. In the sun. In the cold. Tires take a real "environmental" beating. Do the SAFE thing.
Look at the sidewalls on the "fairly new" radial tires and see if you can determine the manufacture date. Usually it is a 4 digit number and reads something like this: 4304 That means the tire was made in the 43rd week of 2004. Now, if the last two digits show that the radial 14" tires are more than 4 years old, then use the new ones.
Tires have a shelf life - the safety window is about 4 years in normal use. Max is about 6 years even if they are "stickers" on the warehouse floor still waiting to be shipped. After that, you run the risk of sidewall failure regardless of the actual mileage on the tires.
The clock is already ticking even on your brand new tires.
Boat trailers sit a lot. In the sun. In the cold. Tires take a real "environmental" beating. Do the SAFE thing.
I read that tires take 100,000 years to rot in salt water. I know I have run them a helluva lot long than 4 years. I think it's like the oil companies saying we should change oil every three thousand miles, when even in the owners manual it states 8500 miles. Bottom line is that tire companies want to sell tires. There is no way I think they are rotting sitting in a warehouse. To me, that's just ludicrous. Btw, every tire I've owned has suffered from sun degredation, and I've never had one fail due to sidewall problems. I've owned boats and trailer in Florida since 1982.
RedDog
01-21-2010, 07:41 AM
15's
why is the tongue jack so tall? - you don't have to bend over to crank it :-)
VetteLT193
01-21-2010, 07:57 AM
I'm glad you are happy with the trailer.
I suggest to keep the 15" wheels and tires. Galvanized wheels were recommended to me by multiple manufacturers as being the best and won't give issues with two different metals on each other (hub Vs. wheel).
As far as tires go, I haven't had problems yet with mine. I think they are the same brand as yours. I took the boat from the factory to Tallahassee. (325 miles) Tallahassee to Melbourne round trip (650 miles) plus my regular weekly runs over summer (60 miles round trip, average every other weekend)
So... maybe 2000-ish miles so far. Not much I know, but all still good.
When I read about bias Vs. radial I found that bias == better for more sitting. Radial == better for more driving. I'm 50/50 so who the heck knows.
mrfixxall
01-21-2010, 09:41 AM
stick with the bias tires,they will out last the redials 3 to 1:yes:
RedDog
01-21-2010, 09:43 AM
I'm happy but will make some adjustments. I feel the bunks hang too far past the frame rails so I am going to move them and the bow stop about 10 inches forward - the max the bow stop can go. This will have the trailing edge of the bunks about flush with the trailing edge of the frame rails. While moving the bunks, I am going to lower them so that the bottom edge rests on the frame cross-members. This will be a 3-1/2 to 4 inches lower
CHACHI
01-21-2010, 10:15 AM
Tim, just make sure that when all your adjustments are made and the boat is on the trailer, the bunks are past the transom so the boat is 100% on the bunks.
Ken
gcarter
01-21-2010, 10:24 AM
One other thing, if you ever plan on getting some dollies, which can fit between the bunks, make sure that the cross members aren't so close to the ends of the bunks/transom that the dolly bunks can't be placed under the transom.
VetteLT193
01-21-2010, 10:35 AM
before you move the bunks take some measurements off your current trailer. From the transom to the rear axle, and nose to the rear axle.
Ace set mine up to be a good few inches of bunk left over after the boat was set. this way, even if you manage to find a really screwed up ramp and can't get the boat all the way on the trailer the transom is still supported.
if you move the bunks forward the boat will be forced to go forward no matter what. It may mess up the balance of the trailer is what I am getting at.
I bought a brand new Quickload trailer for my Formula. It took four days to build, and it fit pefectly. The price was $3500. I didn't get the disc brakes, but I did get the flush kit. Captain Jack at Quickload in St Pete. My Fastload trailer was built a couple blocks from there. They wanted $5200 at Owens and Sons, and I went to school with one of the sons. That was a "buddy" price. All in all, you can't beat Quickload. All stainless fasteners too. I've been to every trailer mfg in the area, and it has to be the trailer capitol of the world.
RedDog
01-24-2010, 11:39 AM
Got the new trailer under my 22 on Saturday. Fits and rides nicely.
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