NEED A TRAILER FOR A TRITOON in Arkansas

[High Cotton]

Looks as if I'm taking over my in-laws Bentley 223 Cruise and it has no trailer. I've called a few local places for prices but was wondering what ya'll would suggest. Do I really need a 3 bunk trailer since the engine is not attached to the center tube. What manufacturer would you suggest. Thanks in advance...

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: NEED A TRAILER FOR A TRITOON in Arkansas

If you've got a 3/4 length tube and a separate engine pod, you really don't have to use a trailer with center supports. The slightly shorter center tube is not very heavy.

That said, if you're going to haul over very rough roads or in the mountains or if you're going to be hauling long distances, you might want to get a trailer with center toon supports. Few people really need it however.

22' or larger boat, I'd suggest a heavy duty tandem axle trailer. If your tow vehicle is marginal or if you'll be towing in mountains, surge brakes would be better.

I have a 24' Bennington on a heavy duty trailer without brakes. I seldom tow it, never in mountains, and my 3/4 ton diesel has big brakes.

Your best bet for a trailer from Arkansas is MidAmericaTrailer.com. They can be picked up at their factory in Lebanon, MO, and can be equipped with anything you require. The prices are also very good.

 

[lncoop]

Re: NEED A TRAILER FOR A TRITOON in Arkansas

Ahoy there, feller Arkie! I second everything Bama says (unless he says "Roll Tide"). Where do you boat?

 

[a1nowell]

Re: NEED A TRAILER FOR A TRITOON in Arkansas

High cotton,
Go on Cragslist and look around. There is a company in the Dallas area that advertises here in the Houston area's CL that has pretty reasonable prices. Also lok on CL in your area.

Larry

 

[The Rooster]

Re: NEED A TRAILER FOR A TRITOON in Arkansas

Ahoy there, feller Arkie! I second everything Bama says (unless he says "Roll Tide"). Where do you boat?

Thats "Roll Tigers" Coop !!! Our 243 Bentley did not use a third set of bunks for the center tube. Never seemed to be an issue. Good luck !!!

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: NEED A TRAILER FOR A TRITOON in Arkansas

I'm a Tennessean at heart, but living on one of the best lakes I've ever seen. Yesterday we saw a ocean going motorized barge carrying Atlas rockets for heavy lifting--on the way to Cape Canaveral. Pretty interesting.

Back to Alabama football. It's nice pulling for a winner, and the coaching staff and support staff are just incredibly good. And so is recruiting and quality of players. The football programs at most major universities are incredibly large businesses.

But it's 40 years since I graduated college, and all the big "A" hats, shirts and other paraphernalia just get on my nerves. Virtually every person in this state is wearing either Alabama or Auburn clothes--mostly Alabama. And all the hounds tooth hats, including baseball hats, are also getting old.

I have both an Alabama shirt and Auburn shirt, which I switch around. I really wear them because I got them at Dollar General store for $6.50, and I can paint and work in them.

 

[High Cotton]

Re: NEED A TRAILER FOR A TRITOON in Arkansas

Thanks for all the replies. The boat is on Hamilton, Coop. I would only be pulling it no more than 1 1/2 hrs home and back in the fall and spring mostly as it stays in the water there all summer. I checked into a lift but the cheapest so far is 5700. I figure it would be better in the long run to just get a trailer and not be tied to the scalpers on the lake. They draw this lake down every winter and the boat has to be pulled at around $800!

 

[MaPaHa]

Re: NEED A TRAILER FOR A TRITOON in Arkansas

I keep mine on a trailor all the time and can say the "heavy duty" part is important. I had cracking problems on the outer toons until I added a center toon along with a center bunk on the trailer. The outer toons were taking the punishment right at the axles and thats where they kept cracking at the seams. After adding the center toon and the extra bunk it spread the load out and the cracking went away. This year I cut all the hangers off and added a 3x4 x 1/4 angle all the way down the trailer and welded the axles and hangers back on and it straightened the bowed frame and made it a lot stronger. I'm positive that if I hadn't added the center bunk it would have increased the pressure on the outer toons around the axles. Aside from a quick and easy trip to the Arkansas river, I mostly travel from Little Rock to lake Ouachita.

The best trailer would be a heavy duty with a center bunk for constant use, but for a couple of trips a year to and from Hot Springs you could get by with a lesser build. If so, one thing I would say is to unload as much stuff from it as possible before transit. I had a welding shop fabricate some brackets and I put the center bunk in so it wouldn't be too hard to add one if you found a deal on a two bunk trailer. I also think a transom saver is important to take the pressure off the end of the toons.

I really don't have any good input on where to find one. Mine is a "Diamond" made somewhere in Arkansas I think but it was not heavy duty.

 

[fergusmj]

Re: NEED A TRAILER FOR A TRITOON in Arkansas

I just bought a 24' Tritoon (3/4 length center tube) and was talking with a couple of people. One of them the actual trailer seller. They said that a center support wasn't really necessary since it wasn't a full length with built in transom or anything. My trailer is a mid american trailer and it seems to be a really nice build quality. I went with tandem axle but no brakes as I won't be towing it much.

 

[ArkieBoater]

Re: NEED A TRAILER FOR A TRITOON in Arkansas

High Cotton , try Diamond City Trailers in Murfreesboro, Arkansas 870-285-2524. I have one of their trailers with a 22 foot Sylvan regular
pontoon on it and have been very happy with 4 years of use on the trailer now. The trailer I have has tandem axles with surge trailer brakes. I assume they manufacture trailer for tritoons also.

 

[High Cotton]

Re: NEED A TRAILER FOR A TRITOON in Arkansas

Thanks again for the replies. I checked out craigslist Little Rock area and there are several dealers with ads. Just need to look personally for the right one. :thumb: