SHETLAND OWNERS ASSOCIATION

According to my car's specs the maximum weight on the towball should be no more than 75kg.
There's no doubt that mine is a great deal more than that.
I guess that at some time in the past my trailer has been used for a boat long than the Black Hawk (17ft) and someone has shifted the axle rearwards.
I need to shift the axle forwards (to reduce the towball load) before I measure for a new brake rod.
No doubt there's a mathematical theorem that will work out precisely where the axle should go - but can I ask any Black Hawk or 570 owners to tell me the distance between the location point of their hitch and the centre line of the axle?
I know this will vary from boat to boat but it'll give me a start.
At present I've got a fraction over 5 meters.



Thanks in advance,

Deaks

Hi,
You really need to know the distance from the axle to the transom to get the trailer balanced. Once you have that distance right the nose weight doesn't really vary much no matter how different the distance from the bow to hitch is on different makes of trailers.
Chris

Don't forget the weight of your engine as well. when you have the Engine on the back the weight will change again.

Steve

Correct me if I am wrong, but it doesn't look like you have an engine on the boat? If not, then with a decent-sized engine on it (say ~150 kg), it might not be to badly balanced.

Hi,
now I've seen all the picture on a pc screen instead of a cropped smartphone picture, and now knowing you haven't got a motor fitted yet, I'd agree that it doesn't look too far off the mark as is...
Chris

We have a 570 with 75 horses on the back. From the Tow ball to the middle of the axel is 460 cm. we tow with a Kia Sorrento

Thank you to everyone for your responses.
You are all quite right and the weight of an outboard (currently languishing in the garage) will lighten the hitch load.
When I've looked at images of other Hawks/570s on trailers I have to say they all seem to be a similar layout to mine.
But I think I'll sneak it forward about a foot. When the boats fully back together I'll measure the hitch load and post the results.
Thanks again,

Deaks