Previous owner recommended much lower trailer tire pressure....???

neuro

New Member
Jul 20, 2018
7
Memphis, TN
Boat Info
2003 SEA Ray 182 SRX
Engines
Mercruiser 4.3
The trailer for my 19 foot Sea Ray 182 SRX has tires rated at 50 psi max. When looking over the boat and trailer before I purchased it, I noticed the bulge in the sidewalls and asked the previous owner about it. He said he likes to run it at about 35 psi, wanted a "soft ride". I'm thinking excessive heat and wear....
What would you recommend a proper riding pressure with a 2600 lb boat, tires rated at 50 psi max?
 
Find the spec plate on your trailer. It will give you the correct inflation numbers.
 
The trailer for my 19 foot Sea Ray 182 SRX has tires rated at 50 psi max. When looking over the boat and trailer before I purchased it, I noticed the bulge in the sidewalls and asked the previous owner about it. He said he likes to run it at about 35 psi, wanted a "soft ride". I'm thinking excessive heat and wear....
What would you recommend a proper riding pressure with a 2600 lb boat, tires rated at 50 psi max?

You're both right: 35 will ride softer. It will also cause excessive heat and wear.

I run mine fully-inflated and let the suspension do its job.
 
You're both right: 35 will ride softer. It will also cause excessive heat and wear.

I run mine fully-inflated and let the suspension do its job.

I agree, let the suspension do its job. Under-inflation, while creating a 'softer ride' means blow-outs in the summer at highway speeds, dented rims with potholes, and other problems.

The important thing is the load rating pop the tire and trailer. Example - if you are running a 15" tire with a 2200 pound max load per tire at 50 PSI, running at 35 is probably fine. But if you are running 13' tires with a 1400# rating at max pressure, running flat is asking for trouble.
 
How far did the PO trailer the boat?

I had a similar setup with a 180br and also ran mine about 40 psi. Softer ride for sure, but I live in FL, so there's no potholes. The ramp was within three miles of my house, so there wasn't much time to get the tires too hot from the under inflation. If you're close to the ramp you might give it a shot and see how you like it.

DISCLAIMER:
I would never take the tires out on the highway under inflated, or drive for a long period of time in town.
 
With your load and that rating, sounds like you want to be in the 45# range. No?
 
Fairly new tires, replaced in 2016. Typically around where I live we will drive 1 - 2.5 hours. But we're planning a long haul north next year, 1300 miles.
 
Fairly new tires, replaced in 2016. Typically around where I live we will drive 1 - 2.5 hours. But we're planning a long haul north next year, 1300 miles.
Fill to max. pressure as indicated on the sidewall. You can't go wrong!
 
Fill to max. pressure as indicated on the sidewall. You can't go wrong!
Unless your trailer has brakes, and now the footprint of the tire has been reduced, no different than overinflated tires on your daily driver or motorcycle
 
It it maybe a good idea what some engineer calculated and had the mold transfer to the tire.
 
Unless your trailer has brakes, and now the footprint of the tire has been reduced, no different than overinflated tires on your daily driver or motorcycle
B.S. on that. Tires are not over inflated if inflated to the max pressure. Beyond that, they are. I've hauled boat trailers for over 30 years and NEVER had a problem with tires inflated to the side wall specs. brakes or not.
 

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