Wide beam trailers?

[martyh]

Just have a quick question. For the guys/gals that regularly tow wide beam boats. Where did you find your trailers at? Are they custom made and are they as wide as the beam of the boat?

I have a friend that is looking at a 30ftr with an 11?6? beam but it does not come with a trailer and, he is not interested in leaving it tied to the dock in one place. We have an 8?6? rule in this state but wide load permits are easy to get on an annual basis from what I have read.

I have read through many posts about towing wide beams with and without permits etc, etc, but nobody has mentioned what width the trailers are. I would assume that they are as wide as the beam for stability purposes but want to verify. I have also looked at trailer manufacturers websites and the widest I have found is 8?6? because of the state laws, (I?m guessing).

Any ideas, thoughts or opinions?

 

[slasmith1]

Re: Wide beam trailers?

Most people don't tow them. But I'll ask another important question before I answer. How much does the boat weigh?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Wide beam trailers?

no they do not need to be particularly wide...... I haul 14' and wider heavy equipment on 102" wide trailers.

My 28' wellcraft with just under 11' beam tows very nicely on a normal trailer

If the trailer were as wide as the boat you couldn't keep it out of the ditch

 

[slasmith1]

Re: Wide beam trailers?

Also at 11' 6" in Washington you need more than just a permit.
Pilot/Escort Vehicle Requirements
An escort vehicle and operator must comply with the requirements of
WAC 468‑38-100 Escort Vehicle Requirements. Escort vehicles are required
per WAC 468-38-100 when:
1. The vehicle(s) or load is over 11 feet wide. Two pilot/escort vehicles are
required on two-lane roads, one in front and one in back.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Wide beam trailers?

I have a friend that is looking at a 30ftr with an 11?6? beam but it does not come with a trailer and, he is not interested in leaving it tied to the dock in one place.

Ayuh,... Your Bud is in for a Rude Awakening...

That said,...
Regardless of how wide the boat is,...
Trailers are most always 8'/ 8.5' wide...

The only wider trailers are Yard wagons that Never see the road...

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Wide beam trailers?

Also at 11' 6" in Washington you need more than just a permit.
Pilot/Escort Vehicle Requirements
An escort vehicle and operator must comply with the requirements of
WAC 468‑38-100 Escort Vehicle Requirements. Escort vehicles are required
per WAC 468-38-100 when:
1. The vehicle(s) or load is over 11 feet wide. Two pilot/escort vehicles are
required on two-lane roads, one in front and one in back.

In some states, recreational trailered boats are exempt from many of the over width rules.

 

[slasmith1]

Re: Wide beam trailers?

In some states, recreational trailered boats are exempt from many of the over width rules.

Washington isn't one of them that info came straight from DOT.

 

[martyh]

Re: Wide beam trailers?

Thanks for your replies guys. I am not sure of the weight. I didn't get that far into it with him as it would be wider than I would want to tow.

I was trying to convince him to keep it simple and stay with a narrower boat but he is kinda bull headed sometimes. Your info will be useful in pointing that out.

On the other side of the coin, what would you recommend for the max width if he still wanted to be wider than normal as it seems the longer the boats are the wider they are going to be.

Long story short, I picked up a 24ftr and it has an 8? beam and he really likes it. He got a case of the a** and wants to go longer but they get wider at the same time. So, I am trying to show him the pros and cons of going longer.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Wide beam trailers?

Washington isn't one of them that info came straight from DOT.

Oh I beleive you, I was just adding to your comment, not against it.
Over width rules seem to vary widely from state to state.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Wide beam trailers?

well I trailered mine from new york to louisville with no problem but I haul heavy equipment for a living... I would say mine is as big as anyone has any business towing regularly and honestly a little extreme..... If he isn't a yearly slip kinda guy he isn't a big boat guy..... I do believe tho that is he just wants the longest 'extension' he can get scarabs and such get long and skinny

 

[martyh]

Re: Wide beam trailers?

Well, I showed him the post and the responses from you guys. We talked about it for a bit and I thought that he decided to come back to the 8'6" side of things. I have been pushing the "Keep it simple" theme but it appears that he's got the two foot-itis thing goin on.

Anyway, I just got a call from him and he found a 27ftr with a 9'10" beam. I told him I would bounce the question off of you guys and see what your thoughts would be. I would feel comfortable towing this one but, not if it's gonna be a hassle with crazy permits and pilot/escort cars.

We are going to the boat show in Seattle in 2 weeks and I want him to be able to see in person how wide they actually are.

Anymore thoughts on this?

 

[slasmith1]

Re: Wide beam trailers?

First question is weight. width wise you can tow that with just the annual oversize permit and proper signs on the tow vehicle and boat.

 

[martyh]

Re: Wide beam trailers?

According to an old brochure its average dry weight is 6000 lbs. But, that?s with a single engine. The one he?s looking at has twin V-8?s and I?m of the opinion that the factory weights always seem to be lighter than what they really are. My guess would be under the 10k range with trailer or shouldn?t be over the 12K.

 

[slasmith1]

Re: Wide beam trailers?

sounds about right the listed weights from the factory specs are usually dry weight. This does not include batteries gear fuel water etc. I thought about buying a trailer for mine for winter storage but the weight of the boat was the deciding factor 12,850 dry by the time I add fuel and gear it is over 15,000 without the trailer I didnt want to spring for the new f-550 (wife wouldn't let me)

 

[martyh]

Re: Wide beam trailers?

I didnt want to spring for the new f-550 (wife wouldn't let me)

Yea, I know what you mean. I guess some women just don't understand. When I was trying to sell my g/f on the idea of getting a bigger boat so we could catch bigger fish, she said it would be cheaper to get it from safeway... LOL!!

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Wide beam trailers?

Boats that wide are usually best moved on the water. If not, I'd seriously consider just hiring a boat hauler to take it where it needs to go.