Trailer help

[hbb]

I need to purchase a trailer for a 23' Striper and am getting a lot of conflicting advice. I know I want tandem axles, disc brakes, and 7000 lb capacity. It is from there that I run in to problems. I am looking for help in deciding between aluminum and galvenized, rollers vs. bunks, and electric vs. surge brakes. Any suggestions or specific experience you could share?

Thank you for any help!

 

[Charlie]

Tandem is good… disc is good… 7,000/lb capacity? What does the boat weigh? Make sure you can carry the wet weight of the boat and all your gear (including those suitcases of cloths and coolers full of ice and fish). I had a 21’ Proline with 8000/lb tandem and used the whole 8000 pounds! Boat wet with gear was 7000/lb then additional gear from friends, plus coolers full of ice and fish! Adds up quick!

Galvanized (which was my last trailer) probably the best choice, depending on how much use in “salt”! I currently have a tri-axle (not galvanized) and don’t have any problems with it, but seems that the galvanized was a little easier to maintain. BTW it is a 15000/lb trailer which carries a 13000/lb boat!

Bunks (which I have now) by design puts less stress on the hull, but rollers (which I had in the past) are okay if set up right and never had a problem with either. If you are going to be bouncing the boat around a lot you probably should get bunks. Also, if you put pledge on the bunks the boat will slide right on and off… just like rollers!

Electric vs. surge brakes… I would have to recommend Surge! I know of two many problems friends have had with the electric.

In a nut shell… Get the one you want! Just make sure it’s large enough to carry the whole load!

 

[AlK]

Don't buy by price - unless you are comparing the exact same (make & model)trailer. Be careful, do not underbuy. As previously noted you will be surprised what your rig fully loaded weighs. Error on the larger side. As far as the wheels go for a 7000lb trailer, I would be looking at 15 inch trailer tires.

 

[nedarb2]

i just bought a trailer last month and had the same problems, so i can help you out a bit.
I bought a tuff trailer from sherwood on victoria, picked it becasue of price and also I-beam construction = no/reduced hiding places for the salt water using a tube construction.
You will want a bunk trailer, unless shallow water launching is an issue. The bunks give more surface area under your hull and therefor reduced pressure points.
Aluminum vs galvanized - aluminum is more expensize and we told sherwood price is no issue. we talked to sherwood and tuff trailer directly (who makes galvanzied and aluminum) and they both reccomended galvanized. Reason being: the galvanzied trailers are made much sturdier, heavier, and most importantly the trailer can handle all the raod vibrations with out cracking. THey said with the roads around here, aluminum trailers bveing much lighter duty, and not-flexible, the aluminum will crack under the vibrations of the raod. On the east coast its fine where they have paved roads everywhere, but here on the westcoast its galvanized, or cracks.
Brakes - correct me if im wroing but i think surge is illegal here in bc, but it IS legal in washington, so ithink electric is your only choice. Mines electric drum brakes - considered going disc but were only going to trailer maybe 3 or 4 times a year, and are going to mount a fresh watertank in the back of our treuck to flush the brakes as soon as we get the boat out of the water.

 

[Striper Sniper]

Hey Nedarb2, just so you know, surge brakes are legal in BC. I have a tandem galvanized trailer to pull the Stripper and I had the trailer inspected as required as I purchased it in Oregon. On side with everything else you said. I should mention that I like disc brakes because they are easy to wash the salt water off after each useage. SS

 

[spring fever]

I concur about the weight. I run a 24' skagit Orca about 7000 km a year. I would go for the 8500 lb rig which is still tandem, I too think that surge brakes are illegal on that size trailer and most importantly I would get oil bath hubs. I have taken out an axle and had to replace the bearings every year because of salt water intrusion into the hub-even with buddy bearings and without. Now I can see the second I have salt water intrusion-just change the oil to run 300 km home and then flush the bearings and change the seal. I haven't lost a bearing in the 3 years since I 've had them. Servicing bearings every year becomes a breeze and it is not so messy.

 

[SUDS]

I believe you have to have electric brake control on the larger trailers in BC. I think it can be electric or electric/surge.
I just brought a EZ Loader back from Ontario for my son, he installed a controller in my truck and he had the dealer convert it to electric brakes to meet requirements in BC. It is a tandem axle bunk and rated at 6600lbs. I had a Campion 672 hardtop on it and it handled it well. It also has the oil bath hubs.

 

[Striper Sniper]

Well guys, I also spoke to the RCMP before I brought my trailer in with surge brakes and I was told they were fine........... SS

 

[Slabby20]

Just my 2 cents. I say get the disc brakes. I always had drum until this trailer. No comparison between the two. Disc is so much easier to maintain and rinse. They will last a lot longer because you don't get trapped salt water like you do with drums. I also agree that bigger is better on weight capacity. Nothing worse than an undersized trailer (been there)

 

[SUDS]

I just checked the Motor Vehicle Act for BC the ICBC site it appears to me that in cab controller required on trailers over 2800kg. Also surge brakes are illegal on trailers over 2800Kg (6100 lbs).

 

[ReelAffair]

quote:Originally posted by SUDS

I just checked the Motor Vehicle Act for BC the ICBC site it appears to me that in cab controller required on trailers over 2800kg. Also surge brakes are illegal on trailers over 2800Kg (6100 lbs).

I agree 100% because I am a certified inspector and over 2800kg surge brake are ILLEGAL, on smaller and lighter trailers they are fine

 

[Striper Sniper]

Hmmmmmmmm, I was never asked anything about the size / capacity of the trailer........ thanks for the information. SS

 

[hbb]

Thank you for the information!!! I like the aluminum I-beams from the saltwater rinsing perspective, but I hadn't considered potential fractures from rough roads.

According to the boat dealer, the boat weighs 5990 lbs, and he recommended a a 6000 lb trailer. I have doubts to say the least, and wanted something stronger, so went with a 7000 lb trailer. I bought it with a steel 7000 lb trailer that worked great, but it hasn't been in saltwater. I am going to sell the steel trailer, and probably purchase a galvenized trailer with disc brakes.

I'm leary of the electric brakes around saltwater, but my truck is setup to use them and they work great on a other trailers I've towed.

 

[Charlie]

quote:Originally posted by hbb

Thank you for the information!!! I like the aluminum I-beams from the saltwater rinsing perspective, but I hadn't considered potential fractures from rough roads.

According to the boat dealer, the boat weighs 5990 lbs, and he recommended a a 6000 lb trailer. I have doubts to say the least, and wanted something stronger, so went with a 7000 lb trailer. I bought it with a steel 7000 lb trailer that worked great, but it hasn't been in saltwater. I am going to sell the steel trailer, and probably purchase a galvenized trailer with disc brakes.

I'm leary of the electric brakes around saltwater, but my truck is setup to use them and they work great on a other trailers I've towed.

NO WAY... would I buy a 6000/lb trailer if the boat weighs 5990 (WET) w/o gear! The 7000/lb trailer should be the minimum and will probably get the job done... but, you need to watch your loading! I would have gone with at least a 8000/lb.

The rest is personal preference and what is required by law in your area. If it is legal in your "State" you will be fine traveling in other areas as long as it is legal where registered!

 

[bigredsnapper]

Hey hbb, just think if you caught an 11 pound salmon and left him on board you'd be overloaded.....I think you should find a new boat dealer.

 

[the fog ducker]

I had just had SS Disc brakes setup on my EZ Loader Tandem ( 4 of them ), as well as the new Coupler to match , cost a few bucks , but , let me me tell ya , WHAT A DIFFERENCE , Unreal breaking , I love it , Easy rinsing as well . I agree , 2000 lbs above the boat weight dry, a minimum for the trailer sizing . Gas , Water ,Kicker , all fishing gear, eats that up real fast !! my 2 bits , Cheers ..

the Fog Ducker