trouble with rt178 hitting spare when launching

[jkirch]

I just got a rt178 about 6 weeks ago and love the boat for the most part . This is the first boat that I have had that has the spare under the boat instead of on the side . It seems that how ever I launch the boat it at least rubs the tire or actually catches the eye on the rim . I tried moving the spare as far forward on the trailer as I could but that didn't help . I have a 25 hp motor that doesn't have enough umph to back off the trailer if it isn't in far enough . My plans are to get a bracket to mount it on the side but it is more in the way there when fishing alone .Has anyone mounted a spare under the frame instead of on top of it ? Would it bottom out on the road that way?

[illini71]

I have the same boat and hp. I just let slack out of the front strap then drive it of. When I load it I can never drive it all the up always a foot or two from the top.

[fishon396]

I have the same boat with a 75hp motor and back in and leave about 1 or 2 inches of the trailer fender sticking out of the water and that works for me. I measured the distance between the spare tire and keel guard of the boat while sitting on the trailer and it was 7 1/2 inches in the front and 1 1/2 inches of clearance in the rear.

[Great Scott]

Most trailer mfg, rather than build a proper
spare tire belly rack, they want to make shift the thing
and most times it looks like crap and sometimes
doesnt work.
My new Heritage trailer had a big U bolt to secure the
tire to the frame. Layed on top of a cross member,and
looked like an after thought. I took it of and put it in the
bed of the truck.
If the rack is built properly the spare drops down between the
A frame, looks good and serves sometimes as a place to stand
while launching or securing your boat.
Side spare mounts were made for 30s model cars. LDS

[Ranger RT]

Mine does it...I back in real slow till I see the boat just start to move off...if I go fast it will slam down on the spare and it knocked the center cap off one time

[Panama]

Tie a long floating rope to the eyelet. Tie the other end to the trailer or the trailer hitch. Back up until the boat floats and hit your brakes. The boat floats off. Pull up a little if needed. Take the rope off the truck and use that to put the boat where you want it. When you load the boat, back in far enough that the eyelet does not hit. My brother had to get those trailer guides for the trailer of his boat.