Trailer ??? - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

macojoe · 03-12-2004, 09:38 PM

I have a 1975 Wellcraft V20 I/O total weight fully loaded at least 4000#
I am looking for a New Trailer. I have seen the EZ Loader, 5 Star aka Load Rite and a few others.
What do you guys think is the best bang for the buck??
It will be fore a 20 footer, 4000# Tandam, with brakes. all rollers.

I have heard that alot of the brake syatems are junk and need full replacement pretty quickly??

This will be my first new trailer and the first with brakes.

I would like to do this right the first time!

Thanks!!

Bigcat · 03-12-2004, 09:52 PM

Loadmaster aluminum, one of the best made.Just make sure you get it with the SS hardware kit and torsion bar suspension.
Just my .02

Vectorfisher · 03-12-2004, 09:59 PM

I have had 2 Load Rite's now and they seem good, the old one had leaf springs and drum brakes, new one has torsion and disc brakes $3100.00 for the new one 7000# GVW The new one will be far easier to maintain!!

MTC · 03-12-2004, 11:59 PM

Try Edgwood Trailers in Warwick RI. He has the best prices in N.E.

macojoe · 03-13-2004, 12:03 AM

This is good!! Keep it coming!!

MTC What brand does he sell??

And anyone no who is loacal to sell the load master?

fishaholic18 · 03-13-2004, 12:17 AM

Macojoe, I have a Venture trailer that I got with my boat in 2000. It has been good seeing the abuse it gets. I put it in the salt 3-4 times a week from April - November. I had to replace the brakes and rollers at the end of last season. I replaced the backing plate,wheel cylinders and shoes as an assembly for I believe a $100.00 or so, I did it myself. The trailer has been good to me exept for the brakes. Go with disc if you can, seeing that salt causes havic on drum brakes. Torsion bar trailers are supposed to be more friendlier than springs also. Hope this helps.
Here's a link..http://www.venturetrailers.com/

macojoe · 03-13-2004, 12:24 AM

I have heard of the Ventures and was wondering how they are!! I guess the brakes are the big thing! I think I would go with springs as I can change this my self for easy money. Never had to deal with torsion and I bet they are more money.
was that a brand new trailer in 2000?? thats only 3 years to ahve to do all that work??

fishaholic18 · 03-13-2004, 12:30 AM

Yes it was new. I could have gone longer with the rollers, but a few were showing cracks. Drum brakes just plain suck!!! I work on mine myself so it's not that big of a deal. The brakes freeze/rust up often, and I do flush them.

macojoe · 03-13-2004, 12:33 AM

Well if I could get a Venture with disk brakes I should be fine?? I am going to take a lookat these also! Thanks

Van · 03-13-2004, 10:09 AM

MJ:
My buddy has the same boat as you. He had it on a EZ loader for many years when it finally rotted through.
Now he put it on a Load Rite. SINGLE axle. (duals are overkill for a 20'). It has a crap load of the new yellow rollers (more rollers than his old EZ). It has surge brakes, but they never last long anyway. i thnk it has a flushing adaptor for them.
Its a great trailer. If you need more detail, I can ask him the model/length/$$ etc...

macojoe · 03-13-2004, 10:41 AM

That would be great Van!! Thanks.

I have a 1980 Calkins single axle under it now and I got that with the boat 6 years ago.
It is really starting to show its age now. This is why I am looking.

I have put a new tounge , axel, springs, and all rollers, and had to make all new roller brackets for it about 3 years ago, as there are no parts for Calkins around any more.

Van · 03-14-2004, 09:29 AM

Gimme a couple of days, and I'll have it.

macojoe · 03-14-2004, 09:46 AM

Thanks!! I am in no hurry! I have to sell a motor before I can pay for one any how.

Mr. Sandman · 03-14-2004, 06:45 PM

I have a venture for my 23 seacraft good for 5700#. Seems good for the $. Great rollers..and lots of them! Breaks seem fine but they are not disk. Comes with the flush kit. Pricing is pretty good. I cant recall what I paid exactly... but my best price was in RI.

The basic winch is pretty basic, if you do a lot of trailering you will not want to crank 5000# after a days fishing. (I put my boat in may and take it out in Nov. so I don't trailer much. All winter it is on the trailer and I only go 0.2 mi to the water in May. That said, I took the boat from LI to MV on it and it was fine, no problems.
Get some bearing buddies and a power winch if you use it alot.

I looked around a little but different seacraft 2 dealers told me these were very good for my boat although others would clearly be fine as well. I have nothing against any of the other brands but I think you can get a heavier trailer and save a few hundred with a venture. Also, I like the HD plastic stand-on fenders.

good luck

macojoe · 03-14-2004, 10:07 PM

Thanks Sandman this makes 3 for Venture, 1 for EZ loader, 2 for 5 Star, and 7 for Loadmaster.

But I think a Loadmaster is going to be a bit hi for me?? Does anyone no who around Mass, RI sell Loadmaster?? I did a search for them and they are in Florida.

Thanks guys!! I also asked the ?? a couple of other places to.

Who would ever think a trailer would be so hard to by

gf2020 · 03-15-2004, 02:45 PM

For my new 20' McKee Craft I purchased a Road King single axle aluminum trailer through Millway Marina in Barnstable.

I did a lot of trailer research and decided that I wanted a high quality float on style aluminum trailer. Of the brands that are readily available here in New England, the Road King offered the best value.

You can also get a Float-On brand trailer from Walmsley Marine in Warren, RI. Their pricing was excellent, they were just a bit out of the way for me.

Team Rock On · 03-15-2004, 06:24 PM

Loadmaster only sells bunk trailers. After having rollers for 4 years and bunks for 2, I think bunks are the way to go. The Loadmaster trailers are semi custom for your particular hull. On my boat there is about 1/2" of play. Drive the boat on and you are on perfectly every time. I can load my 29' boat solo very easily. There's a dealer on thehulltruth.com (East Coast Trailer?) that will give you a quote by email and arrange delivery if you want. I have almost 15,000 miles on my Loadmaster in the past 2 years and had 2 minor problems. The reverse solenoid went ($60) and I had a brake problem which caused some serious damage to the entire brake system. After a little haggling Loadmaster sent me the parts (rotors, pads, calipers) for free under warranty. I had to pay for labor.

macojoe · 03-15-2004, 06:31 PM

Thanks TRO!! I am going to call them tomorrow. I was going to do it today but got side tracked.
But I think by what a few said That they may be a little price range??

I have kind of stayed away from the bunks as I have heard and seen people that can't get there boats on or off in low water??
The way i fish i never no when I am coming and going, so i need to be able to get it up and down, high or low water.
How do you deal with this??

Thanks

Team Rock On · 03-15-2004, 07:02 PM

I also heard about those same problems when I ordered mine but never experienced them even once. I need around 3 feet of water to launch on a flat ramp. I have problems loading sometimes when there is too much water on a steep ramp. The stern stays afloat which pushes the bow down and then the winch handle hits the bow. I have to pull the truck up a bit on the ramp till the stern sits down on the bunks. I've loaded the boat in 2' of water, but this is where lots of HP and a strong winch man help!

Van · 03-18-2004, 10:59 AM

MJ:

I saw my buddy last night and got the skinny on his new trailer.
As I said he has a step lift 20 with a 150 yammy.

It is a loadrite with 24 yellow rollers. He got a bigger(longer) than needed because he is the king of overkill. But anyway he got the one for a 20-22 footer with brakes, singel axle, 77" between fenders, 15" tires. With a capacity of 3600 lbs. Model No. 22360096RB. You can find it easy on their website.
http://www.loadrite.com
Follow the links to roller trailers and they are all listed there.
So the main info is he paid about 3K for it mid last summer.

He says it fits his boat really well after some minor adjusting.
ALso the new models are much better construction than in the past.

Hope this helps, Good Luck.
V.

macojoe · 03-18-2004, 11:09 AM

Thanks Van!! I was talking to a Load-Rite dealer last night. He can get me a 19 T 4200 tandam with all rollers 24 I belive with no breaks and a 2 year warr. for $2395. Now I no the first thing said is going to be get the breaks!! But I have a big truck and have never had brakes all this time. And just want one less problem.
Have not decided what to do yet?? But was told that the prices are going up soon on traliers!! Something about a shortage of metal or something?? But I got that from the EZ loader guy and now the Loadrite guy?? So I better think soon.

I am going to go look at a 5000 # used trailler this afternoon. See what kind of shape it is in??

Ok Thanks to all !!

gf2020 · 03-18-2004, 11:31 AM

Brakes on one axle are required by law in MA for all trailers with over 3000 pound net capacity. Ditto for CT, and they require brakes on all axles down there. I don't know about RI.

If you want a roller trailer, look for a Tidewater. They are a new company that was started by a few guys who left Load-Rite down in PA and started this new company. The trailers are built with identical components as a Load Rite and priced a few hundred dollars less.

I know that Millway in Barnstable and Edwards in Falmouth carry Tidewater.

macojoe · 03-18-2004, 01:59 PM

Thanks gf2020! I just called Gary at tidewater and he is a nice guy! Told me what model to look for and had me call his guy Andy here in are area. He inturn sent me to eaither Edwoods or Nauset.
I have to go to Falmouth to look at a used trailer and while i am there i am going to check out the trailers at Edwoods.

I will keep you guys posted

macojoe · 03-18-2004, 04:27 PM

Well i went to look at a trailer that a guy had for sale in the wantad today!! He said it was for $1000 and was for a 20 foot boat 5000#
Well it was at best a 2500# trailer for a 17 to 18 tops!! Looked like a old EZ loader or something?? No name or tags or anything? Had car tires and rims on it. But trailer was in pretty good shape.

Stoped at Edwoods Boat yard today and checked out the Tidewater trailer. Nice trailer but lots of cash$$$$ I have found deals on loadrite and 5star. I can get a 19T 4200 for $2395 and the Tidewater TRT4400 d2 for $2995!

The search goes on!!

macojoe · 03-22-2004, 05:35 PM

Well i got a trailer today it is a Load-Rite 21T4200EWMTG2 pretty nice trailer.
I got for $2100 and that is just in time as the prices are going up Wed. Some places already went up. I called one place and he told me $2300 and then I called yesterday and he said it has gone up to $2800!!

Thanks for all your help guys!!