Float on Pontoon trailer

[powderfinger]

I recently purchased a project pontoon. It came with a scissor lift float on trailer like the one in the link below. Are these trailers capable of sitting the pontoon on the ground? I need to work on the trailer some and would like to sit the boat on the ground or on some sort of blocks temporarily while I am working on it.

My other question is if I try to lower it with the winch could it come crashing down real fast? This thing has been sitting in a shed for 5 years. I was originally planning on putting the boat in the water and then working on the trailer but I don't have anywhere I can leave it in the water.


My trailer is like the SL700N trailer in this link. It is actually made by the same company.

http://www.hoosiertrailer.com/classic.asp

 

[5150abf]

Re: Float on Pontoon trailer

Yes you can set that on the ground, if you are going to block the tubes make certain you are on a bulkhead, either the front middle or very back of the boat.

Tubes are hollow and that is the only place there is enough strength to support the boat.

 

[powderfinger]

Re: Float on Pontoon trailer

Thanks, are these trailers safe to tow? I didn't have any issues getting the pontoon home but the trailer sure is narrow. Seems like it could get unstable very easily. The last thing I want to do is turn it over while transporting it.

 

[lowell7963]

Re: Float on Pontoon trailer

You are correct they are unstable, and feel that way when you tow them. The big issue is dropping a tire in a ditch and dragging the pontoons, or dropping in a deep pothole, even going slow.

Easier to load, but concerning when towing.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Float on Pontoon trailer

Yes, they are safe to tow with, but as you have already experienced, they are unstable. Low speed and no long distances are best. I have seen a few being used on the highway but I wouldn't chance it. Corner slowly as they have a tendency to tip. If towing is in your future' look for a bunk style. You'll have no trouble selling this one.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Float on Pontoon trailer

Instability on a sissor trailer is not as much of an issue as it's made out to be. If it was, they wouldn't be manufactured for highway use and the ads would specify "yard trailer or off-road only". Are they as stable as the wider float on -- no. I have owned both styles of trailers and have never found a sissor trailer unstable. If you drop a wheel in a pot hole it would have to be a foot deep or more to cause the tube to drag. If you hit a pothole that deep you need to spend more time keeping your eyes on the road. Drop any trailer in a pothole that deep and you have more than boat damage to deal with. It helps to know some basic physics to understand why these are not inherently unstable. It all deals with the CG (center of gravity). Although the boat deck sits high, the tubes sit very low which lowers the center of gravity significantly thus negating most of the effects of the narrow wheelbase. I tow my pontoon thousands of miles each year so I see lots of trailer designs including sissor trailers. Driven sanely, these are not unstable designs and they can't be beat for launching and retrieval of a 'toon in shallow water.

 

[ftl900]

Re: Float on Pontoon trailer

I bought my toon on a scissors trailer and towed it home a little over 100 miles, at 50-55mph...

It seemed unsteady at first, but actually towed pretty well. Of course, I was very careful and tiptoed around turns and such.

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: Float on Pontoon trailer

I am in complete agreement with Silvertip. I too have towed many miles with both types of trailers.

 

[powderfinger]

Re: Float on Pontoon trailer

Thanks guys, these comments make me feel much better. I saw some pictures of someone who had one turn over while he was towing but I don't know all the circumstances that led to the turn over. After seeing the pics I got worried even though I towed it 100 miles home with no issues. Looks like there is nothing to worry about as long as you use some common sense while towing.