Trailer Kit?

[HaleSeezer]

hey all,
Just wondering if anyone out there has ever heard of buying a boat trailer in the form of a kit you assemble yourself. I know Harbor Freight has a small one but I want to know if there was a bigger one out there. My 19' deep-v would crush that one! Could be an interesting business model if anything. Sell the individual parts the customer would then assemble effectively creating a "home-built" trailer. It might keep the price down and cut out the middleman. Just a thought....
thanks,
Jim

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Trailer Kit?

Tough to do since any kit would have to bolt together which would suck and make it heavier than a welded trailer. Why would you think there could be any cost savings?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Trailer Kit?

some trailers DO bolt together and you CAN order ALL the pieces online.... expect to pay about 600% of the normal cost

 

[Bondo]

Re: Trailer Kit?

hey all,
Just wondering if anyone out there has ever heard of buying a boat trailer in the form of a kit you assemble yourself. I know Harbor Freight has a small one but I want to know if there was a bigger one out there. My 19' deep-v would crush that one! Could be an interesting business model if anything. Sell the individual parts the customer would then assemble effectively creating a "home-built" trailer. It might keep the price down and cut out the middleman. Just a thought....
thanks,
Jim

Ayuh,... I've got one that I believe was a "Kit" wagon, 2 ton tandem, probably from the '70s or so,...

I'm guessin' ya bought the Plans, 'n some of the parts, maybe wheels, hubs, axles,...
'n used locally bought channel iron,...
It's a Welded trailer,...

Or it's homebuilt by a Mighty Handy guy,... Nice wagon, just alittle light, 'n with weird springs,...

 

[BigDfromTN]

Re: Trailer Kit?

Im thinking they don't due to a product liability nightmare.

Besides bolting together a trailer instead of welding is asking for trouble in the long run I would think. Any slack causes wear and problems later.

My thoughts are too that if you can weld one together... Just get plans and material and do it. Or use another factory built as a pattern.

By the time you buy it all and assemble it. Im thinking you might could buy a ready to go trailer and come out ahead, especially if your time is worth anything at all.

 

[HaleSeezer]

Re: Trailer Kit?

it was just a thought...something I'd wondered about for some time.

I just thought that without having to go through a dealer or pay someone for assembly the final cost might be reduced. The company would just have to ship the parts to the user (kind of like a kit car) and the end user would assume liability for the final product since the company simply manufactured and sold the parts. As long as there were no defects with the individual parts the company wouldn't be held liable for user error, much like if you buy a complete trailer and use it for something other than its intended function.

I don't weld and don't know if I'd actually do something like this. Just wondering if it exists.

by the way, my current calkins roller trailer is bolted together and seems pretty solid. It just doesn't fit the boat.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Trailer Kit?

My first boat trailer was a "kit". It was an Holsclaw. While many local dealers carried and sold them "finished" with the boats they sold, Holsclaw also sent unassembled ones right from the factory to individuals. Took maybe 5-6 hours to assemble it as I recall. All of the parts were in cardboard boxes - the largest being the frame. Everything was disassembled except the hubs were mounted on the axle and pre-greased. Excellent trailer - all roller, coil springs and shocks. Best trailer I ever owned.

That was 1968. I believe they went out of business in the early '80's.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trailer Kit?

EZ Loader used to be all bolt together. Not sure if they still are or not.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Trailer Kit?

The shipping cost would kill you.

 

[HaleSeezer]

Re: Trailer Kit?

yeah you're probably right. that'd be a LOT of BIG boxes!

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

Re: Trailer Kit?

I believe I've seen some bigger aluminum trailers being sold as a kit.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Trailer Kit?

EZ Loader used to be all bolt together. Not sure if they still are or not.

Yes. My E-Z Loader on the last boat was bolt together.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Trailer Kit?

yeah you're probably right. that'd be a LOT of BIG boxes!

Mine was a 16 footer with 1000# capacity. Truck freight drop shipped. $125 and the shipping was included. The largest box was the frame - maybe 10' long x 2' x 3'. Two people could easily carry it. The rear roller bunks were cantilevered on brackets mounted to the top of the axle.

 

[HaleSeezer]

Re: Trailer Kit?

like I said, just checking on my options. My boat is a 19' I/O that weighs around 2000 to 2300 lbs. give or take. Right now it sits at the campground 3 hours away but only a few hundred feet from the ramp. Can't really weigh it yet since the trailer is nowhere near roadworthy, hence the reason I'm hoping to find a new trailer before the end of summer. Plus, I want to start on replacing stringers and the floor over winter.

Guess I'll be hunting through craigslist and local boat yards!
thanks again!
Jim

 

[roscoe]

Re: Trailer Kit?

I'm thinking you just might want to pay the $1400 for this one if your boat fits.

3100# capacity, brakes, swing-away, sure-lube, galvanized, and just an hour drive from you.


Ahlstrand Marine - New Boat Trailers: Karavan 3100 lbs. Galvanized Bunk Trailer

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Trailer Kit?

Sorry to say but out of the box thinking is:
You need floor, stringers, and a trailer... All you actually HAVE is an engine and drive,.... You would probably get off MUCH cheaper to just buy a solid boat with a proper trailer.... Then part out what you have now

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Trailer Kit?

Im thinking they don't due to a product liability nightmare.

Besides bolting together a trailer instead of welding is asking for trouble in the long run I would think. Any slack causes wear and problems later.

Nope, nothing to do with liability. No different than a kit car, kit airplane, etc... I've bought 'box' trailers up to 2000# capacity that were bolted together. All plenty strong. Problem is the trailer ends up heavier, and it often isn't any cheaper.

 

[HaleSeezer]

Re: Trailer Kit?

the floor isn't all that bad. just a soft spot or two near the back and the transom is fine. The boat is actually pretty solid. I'm just assuming a stringer or two might need replacing once i get the floor up. besides, I hate the carpet anyway, and I'm on a budget. just doing things here and there to move it along.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Trailer Kit?

Galvanized trailers are all pretty much bolt together. Here's an interesting fact I found out by perusing the Load Rite catalog, you can buy every single part, the tongue, cross members, winch stand, axle mounts, axles, brakes, rollers, bunks etc EXCEPT the main rails for the frame. Its as if they didn't want you to be able to do that.

 

[airshot]

Re: Trailer Kit?

Yep, some years back bought an EZ loader trailer kit, all galvanized for up to 14' boat with a 1000lb capacity. Excellent trailer, pulled wonderfull, never rusted. Had it for 8 years then sold the whole outfit. Trailer kit delivered to my home by semi freight was 200 bucks.
All I added was a safety chain and a winch. Same trailer at the local dealer was 359.95 and his was just painted. The ones they have now are quite cheap, not very heavy duty at all.