new axle tight squeeze

This topic has 3 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 4 years, 9 months ago by smokie.

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August 13, 2021 at 1:03 am #700415

smokie
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Hi guys. I own an 88 pantera II. I had a hub go and mess up my spindle too so I looked into a new axle. I wound up buying a 3500lb rockwell american with new springs and hardware and thought it would beef cake up my single axle trailer. It is a nice axle but after I got it and installed it, I realized my old axle, which I’m assuming is factory basscat, had square tubing and a “drop” weld setup, which made a few inches between the axle and hull, whereas my new axle is a round with no drop and I have a quarter inch, maybe, of gap between my boat bottom and the axle, leaving me concerned it may rub if flexed?… the next trip out after I fixed the axle I broke a bunk board, which lead to an idea… I thought maybe I could just replace my bunks with 4x4s instead of 2x4s lifting my boat an inch an change, and fixing both issues wham bam… has any of you guys seen anyone do the same with 4x4s or seen it on a buddys boat or have any advice? My only concern is making it difficult to drive on or unload from my trailer but it seems like it should work in my head… butt I fish hard and take my boat far often, so making it work properly is key to me. I should have just bought a new axle straight from basscat, but at first it seemed pricy for a lesser axle, that was until I learned by trial and error about the fitment… but im thinking 4x4s would lift me up just right and last longer too, anybody out there done this to their rig?

August 13, 2021 at 8:52 am #700418

mebasscat
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I really don’t think the 4x4s will work because the 2x4s are laying flat that forms to the bottom of the boat the full link of the boards and the 4x4s won’t flex any. Just look at the old boards and that should give you and idea as to the forming to the hull.

August 13, 2021 at 12:44 pm #700419

SLumpp
Participant

I would look at the axle and installing some type of spacer between the axle setup and the bottom of the trailer to get the “gap” back that you had with the old axle set up. Then I would next look at the type of boards that bass cat used for your bunks and go with the same type of wood. Allan from parts or Richard probably know what you are looking for or will steer you in the right direction. Remember this, if you raise the height of the boat on the bunks you are then raising the height where the boat touches the front roller, etc. It all snowballs, just like it will effect how the boat loads and unloads on the trailer. If you could send the axle assembly back and go with one from basscat without generating too much cost that would be the way to go, however I doubt that the manufacture of the axle is going to take it back, which tends to make me want to go with building some type of spacer to drop that axle down a bit to gain clearance. I don’t think you need much, probably 1/2 or less for peace of mind.

August 25, 2021 at 5:45 pm #700619

smokie
Participant

I ended up finding an over under conversion kit to move the axle under the springs, should get me a few inches and leave my bunks alone, hopefully its a winner and dont go to far the other way and make loading and unloading a big pain… especially as wonky as its been low water out west, i seen some interesting things happen at the boat ramp this year so far, a few trailers falling off the end of ramps or people just flat being stupid and trying to launch their boat in the mud and getting all kinda stuck… I’ll write an update on this post as to if the over under kit was a winner when it comes in so maybe if some other guy has a similar issue down the road they can use my story to consider their options, with the kit I’m now up to closer to what basscat wanted for the axle direct and i wouldnt be doing the job twice if i had just ordered from basscat…
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