Tounge weight of a CW 30 on a factory trailer/triple axle?

serpa4

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 20, 2020
Messages
286
Fluid Motion Model
R-23 (Sterndrive)
Hull Identification Number
FMLC3051D818
Vessel Name
DayLo
MMSI Number
368173760
I'm setting up my truck to go get a C30 next week.
Anyone know the tongue weight of the factory trailer with a C30 on it?
If it is a triple axle, I don't think it would be the 10% of about 12,000 - 13,000 boat/trailer combo. However, I could be wrong.
 
We have a 2015 C 30 S. We had a custom aluminum try-axel trailer built for the boat. We had the trailer constructed to carry 16,000 pounds.

So all that said, when we did a real world check of the weight of boat and trailer it turned out to be just over 16,000 pounds (boat and trailer). The boat had no fresh water or black water and about 50 gallons of fuel. We determined this by weighing the boat on the trailer and the F350 tow vehicle (just over 24,000 pounds total). We then weighed just the truck and it weighed 8,000 pounds.

The takeaway is the boat weighs much more than the factory estimate. Their estimate is without;
Generator
AC units
Anchor and chain
And of course no gear, water, or fuel.

So ask your dealer or the factory to weigh the boat and trailer prior to delivery. As for the hitch weight, the Cat Scale that we weighed the combo and then truck alone at estimated hitch weight to be 1400 pounds.

I would strongly suggest that you verify as soon as possible or preferably before delivery.

The trailer build and boat placement makes a huge influence on hitch weight.

Good luck.
 
Dam. I hope not. I'll have to get it weighed. Thanks for the I fo!
 
Your dealer or factory can verify the hitch weight by putting just the jacks on the scale. This will tell you the actual weight on the hitch.

Also, just an FYI, if you have any issues with sway when towing put the ball down a couple of inches. Not sure what the physics involved are but it completely eliminated any sway issues.

Good luck.
 
Sorry, or obviously, weight just the truck with the boat attached. Confirm the weight of just the truck without the boat attached first, and the difference is the hitch weight.
 
A previous poster suggested "putting just the jacks on the scale." This doesn't work. The jack has a shorter moment arm (lever length) to the tires than the hitch. I tried it and the difference is about 25% with my boat/trailer. You can buy a scale that weighs the actual tongue weight at the tongue, but I think it's best to use the two weighs method. There are variations, but I suggest this;

Park the truck and trailer on a multi-segment scale with the rear hitch of the bumper over the gap between segments. Weigh. The weight on the front of the scale (truck) is A1. The weight on the back of the scale is A2.

Open the hitch and jack it up just enough to get the trailer off the hitch ball. Weigh again. The weight on the front of the scale is B1 (The truck weight). The weight on the back of the scale is B2 (The boat and trailer). It's possible that the jack or some of the axles are on different segments. If so add them together.

Tongue weight is A1 minus A2. (It's also B2 minus B1; both calculations should be fairly close or there is a problem with the scales.)

Percentage tongue weight is (A1 - A2)/B2 times 100. There are different recommendations of acceptable numbers, but less than 6% is likely to cause sway, and no one recommends more than 15%. I've never heard of anyone having sway problems in the 8 -10% range. In any case, you need to stay within the limits provided by your truck and hitch manufacturer.
 
Got a truck gas station weight ticket on my 2018 C30, AC/Gen options. 1/4 diesel and 3/4 water. Fully packed for 10 day trip, food, cloths, linen, tools, etc.
Came in at 16,020 on the trailer.
Tongue was 650 lbs (have a receiver with a ball weight scale built in) and towed great on the triple. Wind and passing trucks has not much effect.
If the trailer is the one from EZ loader that I think it is, triple axle with 4 bunks, then its rated for 13,500 and has an empty weight of 3,000.

This means my boat weighs about 13,000 as packed/provisioned. Cutwater website says dry weight of 10,200. However, add 1,300 fuel/640 water=1,940 of liquid + 6x80lb batteries = 2,420 additional for wet weight. Add 500lb generator and a couple AC units, say 700 additional lbs. So, the boat should weigh wet, but empty mathematically should be about 13,200.
Actually, that is close to my actual weight of 13,000, but I'm missing 950 fuel and 160 water. I'd probably weigh about 14,110, full packed, provisioned, tools, etc.
As for the trailer....
So, 13,500 rating - 13,000 actual boat weight is only 500 lbs margin and I didn't have and additional 950lbs of fuel and 160 water!
The trailer is under spec'd in my opinion. I need to verify the model I have, but it has 225/75/15 tires at 2850 each.
That is 17,100 lbs of tire capacity. Not much excess capacity there either. However, I did find some G rated (14ply x 110psi) 225/75/15 tires rated for 3,490 each. This would bring the tires to 20,940 which is much better!
 
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