R21-EC EZ loader trailer capacity

2

2Drakes

2016 R21-EC
Joined
Sep 24, 2025
Messages
8
Fluid Motion Model
R-21 EC
Hull Identification Number
FMLT2133C616
Vessel Name
Orion
Our single axle EZ loader trailer for our R21-EC has a cargo capacity of 3700 lbs. I'm finding the dry weight of our tug listed at 3150 lbs. Add in fuel, holding water, gear, etc and it seems the capacity could be easily over loaded. I'm surprised RT didn't supply single axle trailers following the 80% rule give or take, but maybe that's overkill. Anybody have any issues with this, opinions? We need to replace our axle, so wondering if available we should go with a higher capacity axle. Thanks for any input and please share if you've done anything similar.
 

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Me Again.
My 2014 shows a dry weight of 2800lbs. I weighed mine on a commercial scale a few years back. It was fully loaded with fuel, water all my gear that I would normally carry.
Tongue weight was 463lbs. It tows really well.
Total boat and trailer weight was 4806lbs.
The Trailer GVWR is 5000lbs so as you say not very much to play with. Not sure what margin of safety is built into the trailer design.

According to EZ Loader info, the axle is rated at 5500lbs. I don't think that the 500lb increase capacity or going with a heavier axle would legally increase the GVWR rating for the trailer, meaning that if you added a 8000lb axle for example and the trailer was not rerated you still could not weigh more than the 5000lbs GVWR listed on the Trailer Info sticker. It would certainly be a better axle for the load that I weighed out at but still not allow you to load up more. (Just my opinion)

Other may have a better understanding of the legalities than I do..
 
Hi. We have a 2016 R21-EC on a 2015 EZ Loader single-axle trailer (Model AB 21R 3700, capacity 3700lbs, GVWR 5000lbs), bought new. Trailer weight 1100lbs + Boat (full fuel, no water, light gear) 3200lbs = 4300lbs; tongue wt a little under 500lbs. We pulled her from Washington (factory) to Oklahoma, and from there to Florida and back, nearly 5000 mi total, in our first year of ownership with no issues except for a leaky bearing seal. Subsequent seasons have seen only about 500 miles per. In our case, the stock trailer has proven satisfactory. In my view, having good tires (Goodyear Endurance) is the top priority for this single-axle setup.

Captain Nice
 
Newf said:
Me Again.
My 2014 shows a dry weight of 2800lbs. I weighed mine on a commercial scale a few years back. It was fully loaded with fuel, water all my gear that I would normally carry.
Tongue weight was 463lbs. It tows really well.
Total boat and trailer weight was 4806lbs.
The Trailer GVWR is 5000lbs so as you say not very much to play with. Not sure what margin of safety is built into the trailer design.

According to EZ Loader info, the axle is rated at 5500lbs. I don't think that the 500lb increase capacity or going with a heavier axle would legally increase the GVWR rating for the trailer, meaning that if you added a 8000lb axle for example and the trailer was not rerated you still could not weigh more than the 5000lbs GVWR listed on the Trailer Info sticker. It would certainly be a better axle for the load that I weighed out at but still not allow you to load up more. (Just my opinion)

Other may have a better understanding of the legalities than I do..
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info Marcel, think we'll stick with the OEM replacement axle and be carefull not to overload.
 
Captain Nice said:
Hi. We have a 2016 R21-EC on a 2015 EZ Loader single-axle trailer (Model AB 21R 3700, capacity 3700lbs, GVWR 5000lbs), bought new. Trailer weight 1100lbs + Boat (full fuel, no water, light gear) 3200lbs = 4300lbs; tongue wt a little under 500lbs. We pulled her from Washington (factory) to Oklahoma, and from there to Florida and back, nearly 5000 mi total, in our first year of ownership with no issues except for a leaky bearing seal. Subsequent seasons have seen only about 500 miles per. In our case, the stock trailer has proven satisfactory. In my view, having good tires (Goodyear Endurance) is the top priority for this single-axle setup.

Captain Nice
Click to expand...
Thanks for the response and information, sounds like we have the same set up. I'm finding the Dexter axles for these trailers are not standard off-the-shelf, so we may have to have one built by Dexter for our tug specifically. On the bright side, it appears we'll have a full new axle set up when all is said and done. Looking forward to getting her on the water.
 
Captain Nice said:
Hi. We have a 2016 R21-EC on a 2015 EZ Loader single-axle trailer (Model AB 21R 3700, capacity 3700lbs, GVWR 5000lbs), bought new. Trailer weight 1100lbs + Boat (full fuel, no water, light gear) 3200lbs = 4300lbs; tongue wt a little under 500lbs. We pulled her from Washington (factory) to Oklahoma, and from there to Florida and back, nearly 5000 mi total, in our first year of ownership with no issues except for a leaky bearing seal. Subsequent seasons have seen only about 500 miles per. In our case, the stock trailer has proven satisfactory. In my view, having good tires (Goodyear Endurance) is the top priority for this single-axle setup.

Captain Nice
Click to expand...
You bring up a very important point in my view - tires. Goodyear Endurance are the only trailer tires [now] made in North America, to the best of my knowledge. All other trailer tires are made off shore, most from Asia. As we say in the world of motorcycling (my other passion) if you only have two tires under you, they both better be the best money can buy.

Kevin
 
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