How Universal Are Trailers? Buying a Boat Without One.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I'm seriously looking at a 1995 Cobalt 252 that has lived on the same lake on a covered lift for its entire life, so no trailer. There are plenty of used trailer options out there that should fit the boat, but they obviously aren't Cobalt specific. Should most any trailer designed to fit a 25' deep V boat work, or should I expect to do some customizing of rails to make it fit?

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: How Universal Are Trailers? Buying a Boat Without One.



Provided it has enough load capacity and enough length, you can make almost any trailer fit almost any hull. Operative word is MAKE. Expect to do some customizing of bunk or roller position. Even expect to possibly change axle position to get correct tongue weight.

It might be worth while to take a helper and some tools.

This trailer originally had an 18 footer on it. When I sold the 18 and bought my 21 foot cuddy, the trailer was too good to let go so I put on the 21 footer.

It "sort-of" fit for the ride home, but when I did get home I moved the winch post and rollers. I also added a couple more rollers and moved the axle about six inches forward. Wish I could find the photos of me winching the boat off blocks and onto the trailer.

 

[onewhippedpuppy]

Re: How Universal Are Trailers? Buying a Boat Without One.

Thanks Frank! So I'd probably be looking at bunk adjustment to better fit the hull and winch vertical adjustment to line up with the boat eyelet? With the bigger tandem axle trailers I think moving the axles would be problematic, most have leaf springs with the spring receivers welded to the trailer frame.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: How Universal Are Trailers? Buying a Boat Without One.

Thanks Frank! So I'd probably be looking at bunk adjustment to better fit the hull and winch vertical adjustment to line up with the boat eyelet? With the bigger tandem axle trailers I think moving the axles would be problematic, most have leaf springs with the spring receivers welded to the trailer frame.

Depends entirely on the design of the trailer. The eyelets aren't typically welded to the frame, but are secured to a bracket/u-bolt which simply gets moved with the axles. Some trailers (like one of my boat trailers) actually have a separate subframe which is unbolted and can slide anywhere along the frame, axles/springs and all. The main issue is adjusting any brake hardlines.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: How Universal Are Trailers? Buying a Boat Without One.

You are right, many trailer ARE welded and it's a little more common on the bigger trailers than the smaller ones.. I have a 30' trailer that came to me under a 27' century cruiser... to put my 28' wellcraft on it I had to shorten the front of the 2 outer bunks 2 feet and cut off a welded on bunk bracket on each side because the wellcraft has lifting strakes that were sitting on the front of those bunks. I have also hauled a 28' regal cruiser on it.... Both boats fit perfectly without any other modifications.

My trailer has spring perches welded on and worse yet fenders and running boards welded in place and holes for marker light wiring and brake lines factory torched in the frame... moving the axles would be a MAJOR undertaking for the average guy... also my bunk brackets are all welded and non adjustable

If the boat and the trailer have the same deadrise angle then it is fairly likely they will work together and if the trailer was built for a similar size and style boat it is fairly likely that the tongue weight will be ok

Many trailers are all bolted together as mentioned above and those are generally VERY adjustable to fit just about anything.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: How Universal Are Trailers? Buying a Boat Without One.

So much depends on your intended use of the trailer. Long v short hauls; highway/city/rough roads; every weekend or twice a year. And if you know you will almost always use the same ramp, then there may be a preference based on the facility. That can bring in a bunks v rollers choice.

Also as to bunks v rollers, it's a lot less complicated to rig bunks. In fresh water may be the better way to go--and this from a guy who generally finds rollers superior to bunks.

 

[JimS123]

Re: How Universal Are Trailers? Buying a Boat Without One.

Any trailer of the right length and capacity will work. The right adjustments will need to be made. A new trailer will be a piece of cake to set up. Depending on how old a used one is, some of the bolts may be rusted, making adjustment a chore.

I have set up a new trailer in a couple hours, while an old used one took me a day and a half, plus 3 trips to the hardware store.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: How Universal Are Trailers? Buying a Boat Without One.

^^^^ +1 nothing special about trailers fitting to boats. Most trailers are adjustable whether they are bunks or rollers. The boat will probably fit fine on most trailers, and you can 'tweak' it to your perfection.

The big things are to get the weight and length proper.

I bought a 24-26 Ft, 6,000 lb capacity bunk trailer from Load-Rite/5 Starr for my 24 foot Formula. Drove the trailer to the boat yard (300 miles away) and they loaded it right on, no problems.

 

[onewhippedpuppy]

Re: How Universal Are Trailers? Buying a Boat Without One.

Great feedback, thanks all! I'm pretty handy so I'm not worried about doing the work, just wanted to know what to expect so I could have the appropriate tools handy.

 

[Brian 26]

Re: How Universal Are Trailers? Buying a Boat Without One.

The amount of time you spend fitting it will directly correlate to how little time it takes you to load at the ramp. I have a 23' Glastron with the "Glastron" trailer it came with from the factory and I was shocked at how well it fits the boat. You can't get it on crooked at the ramp.

If you buy a brand new trailer for your used boat don't expect to get it back in the resale value over if it had a 1995 trailer on it. It's weird but a lot of buyers do not care about the trailer.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: How Universal Are Trailers? Buying a Boat Without One.

If you buy a brand new trailer for your used boat don't expect to get it back in the resale value over if it had a 1995 trailer on it. It's weird but a lot of buyers do not care about the trailer.

Yup, there is that old saying . . . "the trailer goes along for the ride" . . . pretty tough to sell a trailerable boat without a trailer. On my 1991 boat, I had a 2005 trailer. . . could have been an older trailer, would not have changed the market value of the 'package' any.

Just part of the fun of boat ownership

 

[four winns 214]

Re: How Universal Are Trailers? Buying a Boat Without One.

When I bought my 1984 Sea Ray cuddy back in 2006, it was on an EZ Loader trailer that did not fit the boat. The bunks weren't adjustable. I had a local welder (also a boater) cut the bunk stands and move them so the bunks fit the hull. Before that was done, one of the hull strakes rested on a bunk and the boat sat crooked. Now it rests and loads perfectly. With all that said, I'd make sure any trailer you buy has adjustable bunks.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: How Universal Are Trailers? Buying a Boat Without One.

some of the above comments just aren't always true.... NOT ALL boat trailers are adjustable without cutting and welding... it is very important to understand this when shopping and to know the difference

It is also important to know the weight of the boat and weight capacity of the proposed trailer

 

[gtochris]

Re: How Universal Are Trailers? Buying a Boat Without One.

Depends on the use. Living on a lake and a previous boat we had growing up had a "storage type" trailers (local, winter storage moves only, old, rusty but worked) no brakes/ not real road worthy and now- having a souped up 5 Star with Torson axle, Disc brakes, and LED lights it really depends on what you plan to use it for.

I found people were trying to get 900-1500 for real junk trailers on Craigslist when I was shopping or I could drive 100 miles and get a Brand New never used Galvanized bunk for $1800 I elected to go new. Having done a long haul I don't regret. It towed beautiful!

 

[Elkhornsun]

Re: How Universal Are Trailers? Buying a Boat Without One.

The trailer needs to be able to adapt to the profile of the boat. The bunks need to support the hull so the centerline is not hitting the axles. The width is also a consideration as it affects the height of the boat over the axles and how deep into the water you need to get the trailer to float off the boat at a launch ramp.

With a used trailer expect to be replacing the tires within a year's time and repacking or possibly replacing the wheel bearings. If it has been used in salt water add in the cost of replacing the lights.