Supra Sunsport Trailer measurement question

[mabbore]

Hey guys, so I picked up this Supra Sunsport skier (1987) and trailer about 4 months ago. I have had her on the chain of lakes a dozen times already this year(w/wetsuit : ). My question is about the trailer seen in this pic (sorry its not better, its all I had that showed the trailer). The trailer is clearly not original, it a roller trailer and the main issue is the axles are not placed accordingly to provide the proper tongue weight. From the pics I have seen on here, it looks like they axles are placed too far back putting too much weight forward of them placing too much weight on the tongue. Also I am a pretty big guy (6'3" 265) and I cannot even remotely budge the tongue when I try to pick it up. I was wondering if any of the sunsport guys could give me a measurement to help me adjust the axle position. if anyone could possibly give me the measurement of the transom to the center of their dual axles?

Thanks in advance, and hope to see some of the other Supras on the chain this year.

9774

[mabbore]

Come on you sunsport guys. I know this is a pain in the a$$, but I would really apprecaite the help.

[bens250ex]

I don't have a measurement since I have a comp, but I would say just move the axles to where they sit basically right under the engine. The next question is can that be done with that trailer? Its hard to tell from the pics

[michael hunter]

I have never seen any inboard on a roller trailer. Your boat weighs 3k plus equipment and fuel. The tongue weight should be 300-450 lbs. I would be more concerned about the support on your hull. I saw some trailers on Ski it again and here. How does your prop and rudder fit on the roller trailer?
To answer your question my 89 is 81'' from the bottom of the transom and the center of the duel axles.

[mabbore]

Michael,

Thank you so much for your help. THats about what I figured for tounge weight 10-15%. There is actually plenty of room for the prop and the rudder since the rollers make it so high. As far as support the Hull has 4 seperate sets of supports with 8 wheels on each.

[lively]

Do you have a welder ? C channel ? Why not move the boat back and make a true inboard prop gaurd and bow support , maybe
Take a day to fab up and a day to paint .. Alot easier to do rather than moving axles he'll u wouldn't even have to remove the
Boat

[mabbore]

Do you have a welder ? C channel ? Why not move the boat back and make a true inboard prop gaurd and bow support , maybe
Take a day to fab up and a day to paint .. Alot easier to do rather than moving axles he'll u wouldn't even have to remove the
Boat

I do have an arc and mig welder and have just been putting this off until I could put my boat on the lift in the water. I really want to weld up a nice inboard style bow stop, add actual bunks and weld up a prop guard. The axels are actually really easy to move, they are just u bolted to the c-channel. This trailer need tires, bearings, and a new master too : (. Whatever I really don't tow much so it can wait.

[DAFF]

Rather than spending the whole summer fabing the roller trailer why not buy a trailer specifically designed for these boats. In the long run you will be much happier and spend more time on the water. $ for $ I don't see much diference in cost in the long run. Sure they might be harder to find but with all the stringer rotten corpses out there you will find something in the budget.

[mabbore]

Thats true, but for the budget that I am on, plus this trailer is really beefy.

[matt k]

a sunsport is just a closed bow comp, right?

Either way, here's what mine looks like on the factory trailer:

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m112/shinymax/ccba7179.jpg

the angles are different, but your front axle doesn't look a ton further back than my axle... I can roll mine around the dirt driveway with some help, but I can't lift the tongue alone.

If my boat was that high, I'd have to park the truck in the lake to get it off the bunks. Most of the ramps near me are pretty gently sloped.

[wiatowski]

Rather than spending the whole summer fabing the roller trailer why not buy a trailer specifically designed for these boats. In the long run you will be much happier and spend more time on the water. $ for $ I don't see much diference in cost in the long run. Sure they might be harder to find but with all the stringer rotten corpses out there you will find something in the budget.

agreed... https://forum.supraboats.com/showthread.php?10671-1986-Sunsport-project-in-western-Mass. buy this and switch trailers and either fix it and sell it or just sell it and get your money back. :)
Better yet buy it go home through Ontario, drop the boat off at my place... I'll give you a few hundred for it... and go home with an empty trailer, and sell the one you got. Takes a weekend.;)


And no a comp isn't the same as a Sunsport.

[mabbore]

a sunsport is just a closed bow comp, right?

Either way, here's what mine looks like on the factory trailer:

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m112/shinymax/ccba7179.jpg

the angles are different, but your front axle doesn't look a ton further back than my axle... I can roll mine around the dirt driveway with some help, but I can't lift the tongue alone.

If my boat was that high, I'd have to park the truck in the lake to get it off the bunks. Most of the ramps near me are pretty gently sloped.

HAHAAHAH, yeah I totally have to almost dunk my truck to get her off the trailer. Thanks for the pick. Do you have one of the front bow stop?

[kvand347]

I just re-did my trailer to fit my boat. Not sure what the trailer was meant for, but it works for me. Here are some pics that may help you decide what you want to do. I would definitely ditch the rollers and build brackets for bunks. Mine are 2x6x10.

http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/o621/kvand347/IMG_5914.jpg
http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/o621/kvand347/IMG_5915.jpg
http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/o621/kvand347/IMG_5916.jpg
http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/o621/kvand347/IMG_5917.jpg

[kvand347]

Some more pics...

http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/o621/kvand347/IMG_5918.jpg
http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/o621/kvand347/IMG_5919.jpg
http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/o621/kvand347/IMG_5920.jpg

[Salty87]

kvand ...do you have a thread about your boat? grey isn't the most colorful shade but your boat looks tight. grey cover, trailer and grey platform...is this your handy work?

tower looks great too? is it mc?

is that perfect pass on your transom? (3rd wire)

very nice...sorry for threadjack.

back to topic...i'm with wiatowski. get a bunk trailer and sell your roller.

[mabbore]

Some more pics...

http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/o621/kvand347/IMG_5918.jpg
http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/o621/kvand347/IMG_5919.jpg
http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/o621/kvand347/IMG_5920.jpg

Wow, thanks for the pics. The trailer looks sharp. Where did you get the bunk support hardware? Are you running this trailer without brakes?

[lively]

Smp trailer .. It holds my sunsport great ;) http://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z433/lively86/d8c22e89.jpghttp://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z433/lively86/03226d48.jpghttp://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z433/lively86/13002794.jpg

[kvand347]

kvand ...do you have a thread about your boat? grey isn't the most colorful shade but your boat looks tight. grey cover, trailer and grey platform...is this your handy work?

tower looks great too? is it mc?

is that perfect pass on your transom? (3rd wire)

very nice...sorry for threadjack.

back to topic...i'm with wiatowski. get a bunk trailer and sell your roller.

I started a thread but I haven't kept it up. Search "'93 Supra Sunsport" and you should find me.

The cover is actually black, but with all the pollen on it it looks grey. The boat and platform were the handi-work of the previous owner. I'm going to have to re-do the platform at some point because it is cracking. I painted the trailer to try to go with the boat. It ended up darker than the boat, but I like how it turned out.

Tower is a fabbed up mastercraft. Works well for the lines of the boat. Again, previous owner.

No perfect pass yet. That is the first on the list. The wire you see is the puck transducer for the depth finder.

Thanks for the compliments! Wish I could take more credit!

[kvand347]

Wow, thanks for the pics. The trailer looks sharp. Where did you get the bunk support hardware? Are you running this trailer without brakes?

You betcha! I thought they might help. I think you can fab up your trailer and make it work. Just takes some time, creativity, and some welding skills.

Trailer is run without brakes, but they are on the list of things to get. I don't like not having them especially with kids in tow. I take it really easy and give myself lots of space. I do have drilled and slotted rotors which seem to help.

The rear support came with the trailer. I just replicated that to make the front ones. You can see from the pictures how I did it. Shouldn't be too hard for you to fab up.

Let me know if you have any questions or want any close ups. I'd be happy to help!

[kvand347]

Smp trailer .. It holds my sunsport great ;)

I'm super jealous!! Wanna trade?? ;)

[lively]

I'm super jealous!! Wanna trade?? ;)i got lucky .. with this one it had all that front stuff welded on before i just extended the supports , but if you look at my thread in the earlier pics and see what it is now .. man lol ..... its just rustoleom black gloss x10 can , and i sanded it down with my da sander .. new pine bunks with fresh carpet ... yours looks great man ! did a hell of a job ! and i like how your bunk brackets are long , sure you have 4 lags at least ?

[matt k]

I dunno if this is still helpful at all, but I was up at the lake over the weekend so I took some pictures of the bow stop

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m112/shinymax/991149d6.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m112/shinymax/5613e00d.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m112/shinymax/511480bf.jpg

Also, I really hope that's a reflection on the hull, 'cause I don't remember having a massive scratch there :|

[csuggs]

[QUOTE=matt k;73613]a sunsport is just a closed bow comp, right?
QUOTE]

No - A Comp is closed bow, open bow version of a Comp is a Conbrio I think. The Sunsport is a deeper boat with higher freeboard and an open bow. The closed bow version of the Sunsport is a Marauder.

[csuggs]

Here's a side shot of my Sunsport. The engine is slightly forward of the front axle. This set-up rides really nice behind a half-ton pickup, truck sits level and rides great.

http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac71/csuggs/DSC02193a.jpg

[matt k]

oh, yeah, that's a much deeper boat than mine, thanks for the correction

[Bravura88]

I agree with lively. If u have a welder get some steel and modify that trailer. I bought a trailer for 500 and cut the back out and welded in a guard. It shouldnt take more than a few hours, including paint. Save ur $ for more upgrades on the boat!

[mabbore]

Thanks for all the pics guys, here is a pic of what I am wokring with. I know it is super sketchy. I plan on moving up the axels, then also moving up the rear cross support, building some bunks, alignment polls and a better bow stop.9965

[mabbore]

Thanks for everyone’s help. I was able to do a temporary fix. I moved the axles up 15 inches to correspond with Michael's measurements. I also widened the rear rollers to give more room for the prop. It is soooooooo much better now. The lounge weight is just right around 300-400. Could not be happier for the moment. Next step is the brakes. They have not worked since I got the boat in February. I opened the master cylinder reservoir, and it was toast. Full almost to the top with chunks of rust. I would really rather rebuild it but I think I will just pick up a new actuator. Then on to converting to bunks. Baby steps, lol..

[kvand347]

Thanks for everyone’s help. I was able to do a temporary fix. I moved the axles up 15 inches to correspond with Michael's measurements. I also widened the rear rollers to give more room for the prop. It is soooooooo much better now. The lounge weight is just right around 300-400. Could not be happier for the moment. Next step is the brakes. They have not worked since I got the boat in February. I opened the master cylinder reservoir, and it was toast. Full almost to the top with chunks of rust. I would really rather rebuild it but I think I will just pick up a new actuator. Then on to converting to bunks. Baby steps, lol..

Sounds like you got it to where you can at least use it without too much worry!

Post up some more pics when you get some time so we can see your work.