Transportation of a small vessel is not just the transportation of cargo, but a complex logistics process that requires reliable equipment. CTB The Russian market offers many options, but the products of this plant stand out for their prevalence and availability of spare parts for service.
It is important for owners of PVC boats or small metal boats to understand that an improperly selected chassis can damage the cylinders or hull when driving on the highway. The design should ensure that the vessel is rigidly fixed and extinguish vibrations that occur on uneven roadway. In this article, we will discuss in detail the technical nuances that will help you make the right choice and avoid typical errors in operation.
The relevance of the issue is due to the fact that many users buy equipment without thinking about its compatibility with a particular type of vessel. FTA It makes a wide range of models, and the confusion in specifications is unacceptable here, and we will look at why this brand has become one of the most popular in the segment of budget and mid-price solutions for the transportation of floating vehicles.
General specifications and construction of FTA trailers
The basis of any trailer is its frame, and in the case of products of the FCT, the most common type of tube is a square or rectangular cross-section, which provides the necessary rigidity for twisting, which is critical when driving on dirt roads to the place of descent. Galvanic galvanic The frame element is a standard that protects the metal from the aggressive effects of salt water and road reagents.
⚠️ Warning: Even if there is a zinc coating, after each trip on salt water or winter road, you must thoroughly wash the frame with fresh water. Hidden cavities can accumulate salt, which will lead to corrosion from the inside.
The chassis is usually based on time-tested solutions, such as domestically produced axles or imported analogues (for example, AL-KO in more expensive versions), the spring suspension or torsion axle is chosen depending on the model: the former are better able to tolerate overloads and poor roads, the latter provide a smoother ride. Stage knots They are often equipped with slip or rolling bearings that require regular lubrication.
The breather is an important element of the design, its length and angle of inclination directly affect the stability of the car-trailer bundle at high speeds. The elongated breather reduces the risk of wagging the trailer, but increases the overall length of the vehicle, which must be considered when maneuvering. Some models provide the possibility of adjusting the position of the loomment along the length.
Popular models and their technical features
The product line of the CST plant is quite extensive, but among water-engineers, several specific modifications are most popular. 883133 It is often chosen by owners of light inflatable boats up to 3.6-3.8 meters in length, it has a minimum own weight, which allows it towed with cars with a small engine volume without losing acceleration dynamics.
For heavier craft, including metal boats and PHD (polymer powder coated) boats, reinforced versions are designed, such as: 881302 or 883123These models have increased load capacity and are often fitted with keel rollers to facilitate loading the vessel ashore without the use of a winch (although a winch is a mandatory safety feature). Load capacity Such trailers can reach 750 kg, which allows you to transport boats up to 5 meters long.
Specialized versions with a padding system deserve special attention. Unlike roller supports, pads provide a tighter fit for the hull, which reduces the point load on the contours of the boat during long transportation. This is especially important for fiberglass hulls, which are sensitive to deformations. Roller systems, in turn, are more convenient for self-loading, because they allow you to roll the boat with less effort.
What is the difference between silk and rollers?
Logs are wide supports covered with carpet or plastic that replicate the contours of a boat. They are ideally weight-allocated, but require fine tuning to a particular vessel. Rollers are a system of rotating elements that facilitate loading but create spot pressure on the hull. For long journeys along the highway, pawns are preferred.
Choice Criteria: What to Consider Before Buying
The choice of trailer is always a compromise between versatility and specialization. full-body The trailer must have a margin of at least 15-20% of the load capacity, so as not to operate the equipment to the limit, which is especially important for the life of bearings and springs.
The second critical parameter is wheel size: the R13 wheels provide better cross-country and stability on the track, while the R10 or R12 are suitable exclusively for urban use and exit on equipped slips. Diameter of the wheel directly affects the clearance of the trailer: the smaller it is, the higher the risk of catching the ground or edge of the slip frame when loading.
- 🚛 Type of coupling device: Make sure the clutch ball matches your car's farcrow (usually 50mm) and check for a safety cable.
- ⚖️ Weight distribution: Check whether the design allows the lodgings to be moved to balance the load on the breather (optimally 25-50 kg).
- 💡 Lighting devices: The presence of LED lights significantly increases reliability compared to lamp analogues, as they are better able to tolerate vibration.
You should also pay attention to the availability of additional options, such as a spare wheel, a bracket for a transom motor or a winch with a cable. The absence of these elements in the basic configuration may require additional purchases, which will increase the total cost of ownership. The length of the lodging is a critical parameter: it must be at least 2/3 of the length of the boat hull for reliable fixation.
The rule of thumb is, the trailer should be more powerful than your boat, and don't use the back-to-back equipment by weight, which is dangerous and short-lived.
Preparation of the boat and trailer for the season
When spring comes, water-engines are challenged to prepare their vehicles for use, starting with a visual inspection of the frame for corrosion and mechanical damage. CTB It requires attention: check the welds and the attachment points of the elements, and if zinc chips are found, they should be painted with a special composition containing zinc in the powder.
Next, you should take the chassis. The wheels should be checked for hernias, cracks and tire pressure. Under-produced tires are a common cause of overheating of hub bearings. Hubs should be maintained: remove the caps, check for lubrication and replace it if necessary. Lithium lubrication is used for slip bearings, special lubricants for rolling are used to withstand high temperatures and contact with water.
Procedure for checking hubs:1. Lift the trailer with a jack.
2. shake the wheel with your hands (there should be no backlash).
3. spin the wheel (should rotate freely, without a hum).
4. check the heating of the hub after a short trip.
Be sure to check the lights and the integrity of the wiring. Contacts are often oxidized during the winter, so the connectors are better blown with compressed air and treated with a contact spray. The winch mechanism also requires lubrication and checking the cable for rags. The rusty cable can break at the most inopportune moment when pulling a heavy boat out of the water.
☑️ Springtime trailer
Rules for safe operation and transportation
Safety on the road depends not only on the technical condition of the equipment, but also on the correctness of the loading. The boat must be installed strictly in the center of the axis of the trailer. Shifting the center of gravity to the left or right can lead to dangerous rolling and loss of handling. Fixing of the vessel shall be carried out by means of belts which shall be stretched evenly, excluding the back of the body relative to the supports.
When driving on the highway, you should observe the speed limit recommended for towing. It is usually no more than 90 km / h, and when fully loaded, even less. The braking distance of the car with the trailer increases significantly, so the distance should be kept double. Sharp maneuvers and rearrangements should be excluded, since the trailer has its own inertia and can go into wagging.
⚠️ Warning: Never leave a trailer with a loaded boat for a long time without being removed from the wheels or mounted on the supports. Prolonged static load on one point of the tire leads to its deformation ("swashing").
Pay special attention to the fastening of the motor. The engine must be raised to the transport position and securely fixed with transom straps to the breather or frame. The engine, hanging on the transom, can untwist the nuts or damage the smock board of the boat due to vibration. For four-stroke motors, it is recommended to use special transport supports.
Comparative table of popular models of FTA
To organize the information and help you navigate the model range, we have prepared a comparative table of basic specifications. Please note that the data may vary slightly depending on the year of release and the specific configuration.
| Model | Load capacity (kg) | Boat length (m) | Type of support | Wheels. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTA 883133 | 255 | up to 3.6 | Roller-shaped | R10 / R12 |
| FTA 883123 | 495 | 4.2 | Lodges | R13 |
| FTA 881302 | 750 | 5.0 | Combie | R13 |
| FTA 883141 | 360 | up to 3.9 | Roller-shaped | R12 |
Analyzing the table, you can see a direct relationship: the greater the load capacity, the larger the diameter of the wheels and the more complex the design of the supports. 881... They are often referred to as an enhanced series, while 883... When choosing between rollers and paddings for medium-duty models (about 500 kg), the combined variants or clean lozenges for transportation comfort often win.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I need to register the trailer in the traffic police?
Registration in the traffic police is mandatory if the total weight of the trailer (own weight + cargo) exceeds 750 kg If the total weight is less than 750 kg, registration is not required, but it is desirable to have documents confirming the ownership and technical specifications (passport of the product).
What class of driver's license is needed for towing?
For driving a vehicle with a trailer, the total mass of which does not exceed 750 kg, the rights of category "B" are sufficient. If the total mass of the trailer is more than 750 kg, but the total mass of the vehicle and the trailer does not exceed 3500 kg, category "B" is also sufficient.
Can I use a FTA trailer to transport other goods?
Technically possible, but not recommended. Logs and rollers are for the hull hull of a boat; transporting building materials or ATVs can damage the supports; for universal use, it is better to purchase specialized removable beds or use a platform.
How often should the hubs be lubricated?
The recommended maintenance frequency of the hubs is once a year or every 10,000 km of run, however, if you often immerse the trailer in water (especially salt water), check and lubrication should be carried out more often, at least twice per season.
What to do if you rust the rope of the winch?
Rusty cable loses up to 50 percent of its strength. It needs to be replaced. You can use a steel cable in PVC braiding or a synthetic cable (Dyneema), which does not rust, does not absorb water and is safer on a cliff, because it does not have the weight and inertia of a metal analog.