Magic Tilt trailer shackle collapses

ZZ13

Well-Known Member
Nov 25, 2009
5,319
Lady's Island, SC
Boat Info
2001 400 Sedan Bridge
Engines
Cummins 450 Diamond
I don't know anything about trailers. A good friend recently bought a new 18' Nautical Star on a Magic Tilt trailer. The starboard shackles go horizontal when the boat is loaded up, causing the fender to drop and rest on top of the tire. Port side is fine. Shackle holds at expected 45 degree angle. Been back to dealer twice and they just lift the weight and loosen the bolt and watch the shackle snap back in place. But first bump on the ride home drops it down again. They don't seem to want to help much.

Anyone know the cause of this? Is it the leaf spring? I can post pictures tomorrow.
 
I think its time to go to the spring shop and get your springs rebuilt
 
So the spring is too weak? Trailer is also new. Guess it's bad out of the factory. I'll check to make sure they are bolted on in the same places as the other side.
 
It sounds like maybe the place that sold your friend the boat and trailer skimped a bit and sold him a trailer that was not heavy duty enough to handle the weight of the boat.

I could be wrong, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express once.
 
Seems to me either the boat is too heavy for the trailer, or the curbside spring is too weak. It’s worth a look to make sure the trailer is rated for for the weight of the boat. Just because the boat fits on the trailer does not prove it will support the weight. If indeed the trailer is underrated beefing up the springs may just shift the failure point to another component like the axles. If the trailer is rated for the boat then it sounds like a new pair of springs is in order.
 
I'm thinking the same thing as the posts above - possibly wrong trailer. Or, as you thought, a defect from factory. Either way, it's new - I'd ask to speak with a manager or owner and the dealership. If you're not getting anywhere with the selling dealer, contact Magic Tilt directly and see what their thoughts are.

That's a shame that he's having problems at the dealer - fitting a trailer is not rocket science and while I could give a pass for a defective part, it shouldn't be something he has to keep going back for.
 
First, I recommend you do not trust anyone at the dealer will know anything about load ratings, axle ratings, tire load ranges, etc. Dealers sell. Period. I am not hating on dealers. They serve a purpose. To sell. Not to fix or diagnose.

Second, you don’t have to be an expert in trailers to be educated. Before you return to the dealer, you need to know what needs to be done. Find the information label on your trailer - the little sticker somewhere. Snap a picture. Then snap a picture of the boat’s information including length, width, weight, etc.
Then post those pictures to this forum and ask the real experts if this trailer is properly sized.
The group on this forum is amazing and teach me things every day.
I had a weak lead spring do just what you are describing. The spring looked okay, but had gotten weak. My trailer was 20 years old though. It is possible a leaf is weak, but more likely the sales team put the wrong trailer under the boat.
I would know for sure before going back.
The conversation should start as, “You sold us a trailer with a load rating less than the weight of the boat....”
Or, “The trailer load rating is sufficient, however the spring on one side is defective. You need to change it.”

You get the idea.
 
You could have a broken leaf in the stack, theres a bolt that goes thru the center to hold them together and thats where the leafs break, had it happen on my box trailer before. cold weather affects the steel.
 
As an addendum to my first post, in my experience with boat dealerships and boat service shops, they typically don’t service trailers. The service technicians are boat techs, not trailer techs. Different skill set. Locally, we have two trailer shops, Mike Geralds Trailers and Herbs Trailers that sell and service all makes of trailers. The staff at these places are trailer encyclopedias.
My guess is they will eventually send you to a local trailer dealership to have them diagnose the problem.
It may be in your buds best interest to stop by one of those types of places and ask their opinion.
 

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