VM Trailers

[Konabud]

Just thought I'd throw this in here for anyone who has an older VM trailer. Coming back from Shasta we lost the whole trailer from the truck when the trailer tongue broke in half (going 60 MPH down I-5). We are feeling very fortunate that no one was hurt or killed in the incident but after putting 6 months into fixing the boat I'm just sick.The break was at the factory weld where the side channels join the tongue. It's my opinion that the break was caused by a use (or misuse) of channel for the wrong application compounded by the age of the trailer. If you have one of these older trailers ('78 original trailer that came with the boat) check it out carefully. I had just done a complete maintenance (brakes and bearings) before leaving for Shasta and didn't have a clue. Luckily we seem to have escaped with only cosmetic damage to the boat caused by going through a barbed wire fence. I already have another trailer on order and should be up in a couple of weeks.
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/3112VM2.JPG
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/3112VM1.JPG
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/3112VM3.JPG
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/3112VM4.JPG

[squirt'nmyload]

wow...that had to have been a scary moment when the boat broke loose. glad to see it didn't get totaled or kill any one. that thing traveled pretty far on its own if you were on that highway!!!

[Flip]

Is that cop car a new CHARGER?

[squirt'nmyload]

i think that is....i've been seeing them pop up around here in phoenix. they are all black with black wheels. i think they look pretty good as long as they are not pulling me over!!

[fkeys]

That sucks!! It's good the boat survived. When and if you repair it - cut that whole C-channel out and weld in 3" x 3" x 1/4" square pipe. I'm surprised that dinky channel held this long. Here's mine..
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/5776tongue-med.jpg

[Konabud]

Yea it went a ways, if you look at the last car on the freeway you can kind of see the tire tracks. I was actually pretty surprised it broke as there was hardley any tongue weight on it, I actually moved the boat up about 3 inches since I've had it (less than a year) to stop it from bouncing on the ball. If I keep it I'll fix it just like that (square tube) and make a garbage hauler out of it. If I sell it I'll fix it enough to get it to the lake to switch trailers, haul it to wherever it's going and then cut the tongue back off!