Extreme Trailer Warning

[TeamYamahaTige]

I'm just giving a warning out to those of you who have Pivit Hitch equipped Extreme Trailers under your boats to watch the bolt and nut that the hitch pivits on. After doing my standard walk around which includes checking that bolt, I discovered that for the second time the bottom half of the bolt has sheared. Both times it happened to be before major trips and preceded the day before by the short 15 minute drive to the local lake. So I wasn't driving a long time with it sheared but if it happened on the long trips the bolt could have easily worked out and I dread to imagine what could happen if that did. The trailer has actually been the only thing that has given me problems with my 22i a favorite of the local college club. Also all driving has been at or near the posted speed limits and I am not a crazy driver, anyone of my friends can tell you that. I am just posting this to suggest you guys add this to your walk arounds.

-Brian

[3amigos]

Brian,
I have also had the Pivit Hitch bolt shear twice on my '02 Extreme trailer. The first time it sheared I was at the lake and had to run all over town to find a grade 8 replacement. The second time I noticed it was at home so I'm not sure how long it had been broken! Both times it had sheared at the nut on the thread. I believe the problem is the bolt used on the pivot is not long enough and the shear load is on the bolt's thread. What I ended up doing was to replace it with a slightly longer bolt to get the threads beyond the pivot hole and used some washers to shim the nut. This takes the shear load off the bolt threads. So far so good.

Jeff

[TeamYamahaTige]

Jeff I think you are right about the longer bolt thing since this time Extreme said they are sending out a different longer bolt. What's scary though is that the first time when I got home and noticed it the bolt had already backed out an inch and was starting to bend from the forces on it. The second time it was still flush so I think it happened very close to home. It just sucks now that my return home from college is being delayed a couple of days.

-Brian

[TeamAllen]

Thanks for the heads up! I will check mine this weekend.

[talltigeguy]

So I go out to check my bolt today and it looks OK, but I twist the nut and with my bare hand it loosens. I didn't remove the bolt completely to see where the threads end, but I'm glad that you gave me a head's up. The bolt looks very solid so i just tightened it back up. It's one more thing to put on the mental checklist each time I go out.

[TigeDuner]

Thanks for the heads up. I remove the pin each weekend and put a couple of master locks in the two pin holes as security while the boat is left in storage. Last weekend I noticed that the holes that the bolt you are talking about were starting to wear and the whole pivoting assembly moves up and down a little more than I believe it should. Looking at the assembly, I don't see any way to correct the slack in the enlarged holes. This is very annoying when you are on a road that has alot of bumps or rolls in it and the tounge bounces.
I will plan to check the bolt this weekend for wear. Have you had any of the problems with the bolt holes???

[rmarion]

Add me to the list as well................... Corona Watersports kept the sheared off bolt for referance.

There is a problem, besure and add this to your daily walk around check list.........

Boat was Purchased from from Corona Watersports, 2004 22i.

BTW, Corona Watersports to care of me ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Again Guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Wake Havasu]

I am looking at getting a Tige soon.

Are there other options other than the Extreme Trailer ?

Seems to common to all extreme trailers.

I will not put up with such hassles when traveling.

[switchme]

I have an 04 extreme trailer & checked the pin with no problem so its not all trailers. There are several other trailers avail. though.

[TeamYamahaTige]

The problem with the bolt i think was just the original designs weak point. The shorter bolt supplied put the threads right in contact with the bolt hole on the trailer part and that provided the shearing location on the bolt. Both times it broke in same place. They have a longer bolt for it now that they sent out but also a new design that spreads the load over a larger surface area now. The new design looks better engineered, so I wouldn't worry about similar problems in the future, plus they are good looking trailers. But any of you with the original design and a bolt that barely shows any threads at the end of the nut, I would call about getting the longer bolt because I feel it's just a ticking time bomb. Plus I wonder if the majority of the people with the problems have direct drives because the tongue weight on my seems a little excessive and the axle placement just doesn't looks far enough forward.

-Brian

[whitlock87]

I have a 04 Extreme trailer, with the Pivit hitch.
I have put over 3,000 miles on the trailer. Due to this thread, I pulled the bolt and checked it for signs of ware / cracking.
I could not find anything wrong with it.
My boat is a Switch V

It is one of the bolts that the threads sit in the lower hole.
I will be changing out the bolt to a longer one. (One that the shoulder is touching the metal)

It would be interesting to see which boat this is happening to.
David

[SummerObsession]

I have a triple axle Extreme trailer under my 2003 29' DCB cat. The boat weighs over 7500 lbs without trailer. The trailer is also a swing-away version, and I have never had an issue with the bolt. I have never used the swing feature, so maybe that contributes to the bolt problem, I'm not sure.
Extreme (In my opinion) makes a great trailer, and I wish I would have known I could buy one when I ordered my new 24V.
I would contact the factory and have them send you a replacement. You should have no issues with it.

Good luck, and I hope all is well!!

[rmarion]

I got a call from Tony @ Extreme Trailers, they want me to bring her down, so they can do a once over inspection. Just to make sure everything is in good working condition.

Thanks Extreme!!!!!!!!!!!!