Trailering and Motor Tilt

[Fillet1]

I have been Tilting the motor all the way up, and lowering the tilt lock on my 90 zuki to trailer. The motor doesnt sit on the lock just above it, held by the hydraulic ram.

I know its better to trailer with the motor as far down as possible. My skiff sits high enough on the trailer that I can tilt the motor pretty far down, but I dont know if trailering in this position creates any other probs? Is there actually less strain on the ram? I'm not really concerend about the transom, because my belief is that the transom is under much more strain in the water beating around in the chop than on the trailer. My concern is stress on the ram.

What position are you guys putting your motor in to trailer it?

Also - are you putting the boat in gear when you trailer to prevent the prop from spinning and damaging the lower seals ?

[Harry]

According to the manual. It says don't trailer with the motor resting on the tilt lock. With that being said, When I bought the boat and trailered it from Va back to NJ ,The dealer told me that's how to transport it.... :-[

Now that I'm home I only have about 6 blocks from the house to the ramp and just let the ram hold it up.

If you do a lot of trailering, they say the best thing to do is use a transom saver to carry the weight.

As far as leaving it in gear. I always left any boat I trailered in neutral. I doubt the wind would spin it. In fact I NEVER seen a prop spinning on any boat I was ever following on a trailer.


Anybody else ???

[Fillet1]

I dont rest it on the tilt lock but flip it down as a safety. I have heard that the transom saver transfers road stresses and bumps directly to the lower unit.

Heres my theory, tell me if I am wrong. The transom saver really does nothing as to supporting the weight of the motor bearing on the ram. The weight of the motor hanging inside the transom wants to fall into the boat but is held in position by the ram. When the boat bounces the motor would want to pull the lower unit UP which is against the direction of support provided by the transom saver. So the motor ram still is forced to bear the weight of the motor pulling up on it.

The more balanced position would be with the motor in as much of an upright position as possible. But If I do that I lose the safety of the tilt lock. Maybe thats where the transom saver would provide a benefit.

[Weezy1229]

i just trailered my 1965 from richmond, va to nags head, nc. i kept my motor up with the tilt lock engaged. i am glad i did too cause going over the main bridge into the outer banks makes the boat and truck bounce up and down over every joint in the bridge. i am sure it was putting some force on the motor to move. but, needless to say, no problems at all. love my skiff.

p.s. just incase anyone was wondering, we went out in oregon inlet and fished the inlet. 2 ft swells was no prob for the ol skiff.

[o2bfishn]

Try this product at, m-ywedge.com, thats what I use. $36.90 with shipping. ;)

o2bfishn

[Fillet1]

O2bfishin - Do you have a suzuki? What position is the motor in with the wedge?

[o2bfishn]

I have the DF140 on a 238DLV, just got it about 3 months ago. Motor sits a little lower than with the tilt lock, but not much. ;D

o2bfishn

[MajHarry]

I picked up my JV17 from an Ashland dealer - and they had me tow out of there with the motor in full up tilt on the lock. The manuals specifically states NOT to do this because a bump can bring the engine up off the tilt lock...

Hmmm

I have to believe that the folks at the dealership see a lot of damaged stuff - unless someone can suggest otherwise - I think I'll continue to trailer with her up...

Cheers,

MHM

[Harry]

Same dealer, Told me the same thing 001

I towed her back to NJ, 6hr ride. Everything was OK. 006

[mbi777]

When I bought my 1655DLX with the 40Hp 2 stroke on it almost four years ago, my dealer told me to raise the motor until the second speed kicks in and stop there. Had not had any problems. I have trailered my boat over a dozen times 3 hours one way, and I can't count how many an hour away.

[Slim to None]

on our big boats we trailer with the motor down on the lock but we dont lower the trim motors. this way you kinda have two safety locks. if you set the lock, then trim down maybe 1/2 an inch, this will take the load off of the trim motor but still allow it to act as a second safety. on my skiff i trailer it with the motor down. but i have a really tall trailer and my 25hp isn't going to drag. i dont like how much it bounces with it all the way up. just my .02 cents.

[o2bfishn]

Slim,

That's what so nice about the m-ywedge. It takes the weight off of the trim motor and ram, the motor will sit a little lower than it would with the tilt lock on. The motor weight is (more) on the rear of the tramsom not over the transom like it is with the tilt lock, but high enough so you won't drag the bottom of your motor. No need for a safety, the motor can't drop down. Its made of a fairly hard rubber, but not to hard, offers good protection from rough roads (shock loads). Its easy to use and cheap ($36.00). BUT it don't float, remove it before you launch. 001

I only use it while traveling, I store the motor on the tilt lock at home. Probably other ways just as good but I like simple and easy (kiss). No I'm not on commisson.


o2bfishn

[excapmarine]

Just received my...........m-y wedge..today. Will go to stall and install on my CS tomorrow.

[lakebiker]

According to the manual. It says don't trailer with the motor resting on the tilt lock. With that being said, When I bought the boat and trailered it from Va back to NJ ,The dealer told me that's how to transport it.... :-[

Now that I'm home I only have about 6 blocks from the house to the ramp and just let the ram hold it up.

If you do a lot of trailering, they say the best thing to do is use a transom saver to carry the weight.

As far as leaving it in gear. I always left any boat I trailered in neutral. I doubt the wind would spin it. In fact I NEVER seen a prop spinning on any boat I was ever following on a trailer.


Anybody else ???


I know this is a little older thread however being the mouth I am, I've got to put my 2 cents in. I've always used a transom saver even thou my dealer told me the same thing as most of the rest of you guys, use the tilt lock but, my engine is also sitting on a jack plate putting it even further back. As for towing IN neutral, what's going to happen IF you do hit something with your lower unit? You're gonna brake something. I ALWAYS, tow IN GEAR. If you do hit something, the leg will kick up just like if you hit something in the water. ;D

[shaggy3131]

My Suzuki manual clearly states to tow the boat and motor with a transom support. That Virginia dealer also told me to tow with the motor raised all the way and on the lock. That lock is really flimsy looking for a 400+ pound motor. So, as soon as I could I installed a transom support and I feel more secure about my substantial investment when trailering. The transom support I installed straps the motor to one end of the mount and the other end of the transom mount is attached to the rear cross brace of the trailer. So the motor can't bounce up and the bottom of the mount get displaced to allow the motor to fall. I lower the motor onto the V of the transom saver, then lower the motor a little more to get pressure off the hydraulic ram. Because stock CS trailers do not have a rear roller, it took some engineering to mount the lower end of the transom saver to the trailer.

In addition I remember reading about a Suzuki owner who had oil leak into the gas somehow when he had his motor raised and locked all the way up for an extended period of time. Another good reason to use a transom saver.

[FLboy3]

Hi, I just pulled my 2480 dlx with 140 4 stroke suzuki from chatlees in NC to just north of tampa fl. Chatlees put a transom saver on for me, but only after me insisting. It bolted to the cross member of the trailer and the foot of the motor sits in a V that has a strap that go's around the motor so it can't bounce. Worked great tilted at about 4:00 or 3/4 down. Don't know exactly about the angle but worked great. My brother bought the 1980 dlx with the 90 4 stroke suzuki back in april from chatlees and pulled it home to tampa without a transom saver and tilted to their recommendations and his rear deck cracked between the transom and deck on the way home which I know is common. I didn't have any cracking anywhere. Motor held solid.