What would you look for if you were buying a trailer?

I've got a 19' bow rider with a 3 liter MerCruiser sterndrive that I bought
new in 1998; it's the last boat I'll own until I win the lottery and buy a
flotilla of assorted boats.

Rather than replace everything on the original galvanized Escort trailer
that's been showing its age for more than a year, I'm thinking of a new
trailer.

I've pretty much decided on a galvanized trailer (bunks, not rollers) with
disc brakes, brake flush kit, LEDs for lighting, spare tire holder with
spare tire, Super Lube or Turbo Lube bearings, fenders and swiveling tongue
jack.

I don't have a need for guides and I may add bunk slicks/glide ons to the
bunks.

I boat mostly in salt water, a couple of times a week.

So, what did I forget, what would you add?



http://members.cox.net/wgander/MyBoat.htm

William Andersen wrote:
What would you look for if you were buying a trailer?

I've got a 19' bow rider with a 3 liter MerCruiser sterndrive that I bought
new in 1998; it's the last boat I'll own until I win the lottery and buy a
flotilla of assorted boats.

Rather than replace everything on the original galvanized Escort trailer
that's been showing its age for more than a year, I'm thinking of a new
trailer.

I've pretty much decided on a galvanized trailer (bunks, not rollers) with
disc brakes, brake flush kit, LEDs for lighting, spare tire holder with
spare tire, Super Lube or Turbo Lube bearings, fenders and swiveling tongue
jack.

I don't have a need for guides and I may add bunk slicks/glide ons to the
bunks.

I boat mostly in salt water, a couple of times a week.

So, what did I forget, what would you add?



http://members.cox.net/wgander/MyBoat.htm




I've been thinking of a new galvanized trailer for my sailboat for a
while now.
My priorities;
galvanized
bunks
extra long , hinged tongue. (so I can avoid putting vehicle rear wheels
in salt water and I want to park boat/trailer in garage for winter)
Proper suspension..(2000 lb capacity for 1200-1400 lb boat + motor)
extra wheel mounted on trailer winch bracket
brakes??? jury is still out for this size boat... but would make sure
brakes are ss type.
Why replace a trailer only 8 years old? Mine is 20 this year and my
biggest concern is that it is enameled steel previously used in freshwater.

Harry Krause wrote:
William Andersen wrote:

What would you look for if you were buying a trailer?

I've got a 19' bow rider with a 3 liter MerCruiser sterndrive that I
bought new in 1998; it's the last boat I'll own until I win the
lottery and buy a flotilla of assorted boats.

Rather than replace everything on the original galvanized Escort
trailer that's been showing its age for more than a year, I'm thinking
of a new trailer.

I've pretty much decided on a galvanized trailer (bunks, not rollers)
with disc brakes, brake flush kit, LEDs for lighting, spare tire
holder with spare tire, Super Lube or Turbo Lube bearings, fenders and
swiveling tongue jack.

I don't have a need for guides and I may add bunk slicks/glide ons to
the bunks.

I boat mostly in salt water, a couple of times a week.

So, what did I forget, what would you add?



http://members.cox.net/wgander/MyBoat.htm





Aluminum instead of galvanized, stainless disc brakes, and torsion bar
instead of springs.

Wonder how much your version would cost compared to a standard
galvanized, bunk type with leaf springs?
I was quoted about $3000.00CDN with the ss disc brakes for gal steel,

I can already see rust on the outside so I'm concerned how much rust may be
on the inside of the tubes, where I can't see it. Most of the nuts and bolts
are rusted, so replacing anything will mean sawing/grinding away the nuts
and bolts. I could replace everything and I still have a rusting, eight year
old trailer.

"Don White" wrote in message
...
William Andersen wrote:
What would you look for if you were buying a trailer?

I've got a 19' bow rider with a 3 liter MerCruiser sterndrive that I
bought new in 1998; it's the last boat I'll own until I win the lottery
and buy a flotilla of assorted boats.

Rather than replace everything on the original galvanized Escort trailer
that's been showing its age for more than a year, I'm thinking of a new
trailer.

I've pretty much decided on a galvanized trailer (bunks, not rollers)
with disc brakes, brake flush kit, LEDs for lighting, spare tire holder
with spare tire, Super Lube or Turbo Lube bearings, fenders and swiveling
tongue jack.

I don't have a need for guides and I may add bunk slicks/glide ons to the
bunks.

I boat mostly in salt water, a couple of times a week.

So, what did I forget, what would you add?



http://members.cox.net/wgander/MyBoat.htm




I've been thinking of a new galvanized trailer for my sailboat for a while
now.
My priorities;
galvanized
bunks
extra long , hinged tongue. (so I can avoid putting vehicle rear wheels in
salt water and I want to park boat/trailer in garage for winter)
Proper suspension..(2000 lb capacity for 1200-1400 lb boat + motor)
extra wheel mounted on trailer winch bracket
brakes??? jury is still out for this size boat... but would make sure
brakes are ss type.
Why replace a trailer only 8 years old? Mine is 20 this year and my
biggest concern is that it is enameled steel previously used in
freshwater.

William Andersen wrote:
I can already see rust on the outside so I'm concerned how much rust may be
on the inside of the tubes, where I can't see it. Most of the nuts and bolts
are rusted, so replacing anything will mean sawing/grinding away the nuts
and bolts. I could replace everything and I still have a rusting, eight year
old trailer.

"Don White" wrote in message
...

William Andersen wrote:

What would you look for if you were buying a trailer?

I've got a 19' bow rider with a 3 liter MerCruiser sterndrive that I
bought new in 1998; it's the last boat I'll own until I win the lottery
and buy a flotilla of assorted boats.

Rather than replace everything on the original galvanized Escort trailer
that's been showing its age for more than a year, I'm thinking of a new
trailer.

I've pretty much decided on a galvanized trailer (bunks, not rollers)
with disc brakes, brake flush kit, LEDs for lighting, spare tire holder
with spare tire, Super Lube or Turbo Lube bearings, fenders and swiveling
tongue jack.

I don't have a need for guides and I may add bunk slicks/glide ons to the
bunks.

I boat mostly in salt water, a couple of times a week.

So, what did I forget, what would you add?



http://members.cox.net/wgander/MyBoat.htm





I've been thinking of a new galvanized trailer for my sailboat for a while
now.
My priorities;
galvanized
bunks
extra long , hinged tongue. (so I can avoid putting vehicle rear wheels in
salt water and I want to park boat/trailer in garage for winter)
Proper suspension..(2000 lb capacity for 1200-1400 lb boat + motor)
extra wheel mounted on trailer winch bracket
brakes??? jury is still out for this size boat... but would make sure
brakes are ss type.
Why replace a trailer only 8 years old? Mine is 20 this year and my
biggest concern is that it is enameled steel previously used in
freshwater.




Wish I lived close to you. I'd take that old rusted trailer off your hands.

Gene Kearns wrote:
On Sun, 19 Mar 2006 03:07:34 GMT in rec.boats, Don White penned the
following thoughts:

Wish I lived close to you. I'd take that old rusted trailer off your hands.


Well, I have a rusty twin axle trailer on Oak Island that is free to
anybody that cares to haul it off. It comes with a clear title.....


'The Oak Island'??
http://www.mysteriesofcanada.com/Nov.../oakisland.htm

Twin axle would be too big for me....thanks anyway.

If I recall correctly (and I may not...)
I think fiberglas springs were used on Corvettes (?)
and the wonderfull Chevy Astro Van.
The Astro springs would be at least in the ballpark of
what's needed for a boat. There may be mounting issues,
but it would surely tame the corrosion issue.

"Chip"


"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 18 Mar 2006 17:29:38 -0500 in rec.boats, Harry Krause penned
the following thoughts:



Aluminum instead of galvanized, stainless disc brakes, and torsion bar
instead of springs.

Ditto on the aluminum trailer.... however I'd opt for springs and
realize that they will need to be replaced about every 5 years...

--

Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Oak Island, NC.

http://myworkshop.idleplay.net/
Homepage*
http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats

Wouldn't even consider it.
If it was practical, someone would have done it.
I want to buy a trailer I can trust - not an experiment.

"Chip Chester" wrote in message
. ..
If I recall correctly (and I may not...)
I think fiberglas springs were used on Corvettes (?)
and the wonderfull Chevy Astro Van.
The Astro springs would be at least in the ballpark of
what's needed for a boat. There may be mounting issues,
but it would surely tame the corrosion issue.

"Chip"


"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 18 Mar 2006 17:29:38 -0500 in rec.boats, Harry Krause penned
the following thoughts:



Aluminum instead of galvanized, stainless disc brakes, and torsion bar
instead of springs.

Ditto on the aluminum trailer.... however I'd opt for springs and
realize that they will need to be replaced about every 5 years...

--

Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Oak Island, NC.

http://myworkshop.idleplay.net/
Homepage*
http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats

"William Andersen" wrote in message
news:qj6Uf.29$pV4.17@dukeread03...
Wouldn't even consider it.
If it was practical, someone would have done it.
I want to buy a trailer I can trust - not an experiment.


Granted, it would be an experiment, and my post was unencumbered by the
research process.
However, here are some folks who are experimenting, and seems they've
discovered some
added benefits. It'll take awhile to trickle down to small trailers,
though.

Lifted from
http://trailer-bodybuilders.com/mag/...es_ror/index.h
tml :

Composite springs have a number of desirable attributes. They are very
light, weighing about a quarter that of steel. Typically a three-leaf steel
spring for a 9-tonne (20,000-lb) axle weighs 34 kg (75 lb), while an
equivalent composite spring has one leaf and weighs less than 8 kg (16 lb).
This translates to a total vehicle weight saving of 156 kg (344 lb) on a
three-axle bogie.

Composite springs have a damping factor 200 times that of steel, which
benefits ride and handling, and they also generate significantly less noise.
They last between 1½ to five times as long as their steel equivalents. If
failure occurs, it takes the form of gradual de-lamination rather than a
sudden fracture, allowing the vehicle to reach its base.

The ROR composite spring installs exactly like a steel spring, but performs
more like an air spring. Its ride characteristics are similar to an air
suspension. The composite spring's low dynamic load coefficient - the factor
that determines road damage - qualifies it as equivalent to an air
suspension and therefore as "road friendly" as air. Currently, however, EEC
"road friendly" legislation specifies air suspensions.

End of quote.

Of course, no cost mentioned.
I know my boat would like it better with a trailer suspension that's more
like an air-ride suspension.

"Chip"