Trailer

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Tuscany
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Trailer

Post by Tuscany »

Ok, I know this is a boring question, but it's a boring winter..

I'm placing an order for a new custom C channel steel trailer from Loadmaster Trailers of Ohio.
My boat will be a solid navy blue hull with a white boot stripe, so I'm looking to order a nice matching trailer with a boarding ladder welded on for easy bow entry, extra LED grommet lights, electric over hydraulic discs, and custom wheels.
Since it will be fresh water only usage, should I order it to be sharp, or should I kiss good bye to the custom look, and opt for life long preserving galvanized?
Price difference is $400.00

The other question is suspension. Springs or torsion. All of my current trailers are torsion, and although torsion does ride better, my 26' trailer wears out tires at a fast rate due to a lack of equalization and alignment problems with torsion.
My former boat trailer was spring, and although it squeaked like hell, I never had a single tire issue in 14 years.
Thanks.
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Re: Trailer

Post by jhnmdahl »

I like springs because they are a little simpler mechanically, but even my old Acura Integra had a torsion bar suspension that worked just fine. As for galvanized, I think one of the tiebreakers for me would be whether I left it outside exposed to the elements, or whether it was an inside boat/trailer.

My EZ Loader is powder coated, but I don't think it's galvanized - that appears to only be an option on unpainted trailers from them at least.
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Re: Trailer

Post by Tuscany »

Well, I store the boat and trailer inside over the winter. The boat stays on the trailer at my house during the summer outside, under a large tarp that covers everything.
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Re: Trailer

Post by Big Block Power »

Myself I love painted trailers.United I was in salt water then I would go galvanized. I'm a torsion bar fan they tow better to me. Most people don't rotate there trailer tires. I did and it extra the life allot. The rear tires always chopped and more wear on the front tires on my trailers.I hate a squeaky trailer. Drives me nuts. We trailer all the time.
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Re: Trailer

Post by Tuscany »

Tough call on suspension. I'm still not sure.
I hate the squeaks as much as anyone, but my 26' enclosed with rubber ride eats left rear tires. No way to fix it except toss the axle and weld on a new one. I bought the trailer new with 5200lb Dexters. Probably just a bad axle when it was new.
Running perfectly level is also a must with torsion since there is no equalization.
My old shorelandr ran on springs, squeaked constantly, drove me crazy, but never had a tire issue in 16 years.

I do think I'm going to opt for matching paint. The garbage can look just doesn't do it for me. I'd rather re-paint in a few years if necessary.
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Re: Trailer

Post by Big Block Power »

As the saying goes go with your gut then.
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Re: Trailer

Post by Tuscany »

Haha, all that said, I'll probably go with torsion.
I'll let Loadmaster surprise me.
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Re: Trailer

Post by Big Block Power »

Lmao. I have had pretty much every brand of trailer. Right now under my yellow boat is a Eagle. It by far pulls the best I've ever pulled with. Not sure if it's the trailer or the speed I pulled it At but I got 3-4mpg better. Also it is built way better than any trailer I've had. I just wish it wasn't yellow or I would put my black boat on it.
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Re: Trailer

Post by Tuscany »

Every time I towed with my shorelandr, one eye was always in the mirror waiting for the trailer to split in two.
It came with the boat, and wasn't meant for a boat as heavy as it carried. Somehow, it held up.

Eagle builds a solid trailer. I looked into that company also. Top notch merch.
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Re: Trailer

Post by Big Block Power »

Yea the frame is heavier built, they use more supports. Just more solid. Well worth the money.
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Re: Trailer

Post by jhnmdahl »

Big block, have you ever tried EZ Loader? It's what my local Cobalt dealer orders, and it reminds me of Eagle in many ways.
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Re: Trailer

Post by Big Block Power »

Yes I had them on my celebrity and my stingray boat. Easy loader reminds me of the old roller trailer. Every manufacture used them. I kind of put them with Shorelander. Not a huge fan of them. I would go to Prestige or Heritage after a Eagle in the used world. But I'm not a fan of my 6 bunk Prestige yet.I have not been able to get my boat loaded on it straight very easy. I'm hoping that was because the water level was low. I can't think what I had under my Donzi that trailer was very good. I couldn't load crooked no matter what I did. It was a Heritage trailer. I knew it was built in Illinois. Also had the same trailer on the last 220 I had. My 200 had a Dorsey trailer and that was equal to the Heritage.
Honestly if I was buying a new Cobalt I would spend the extra money and put a Eagle under it.
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Re: Trailer

Post by jhnmdahl »

Heritage and Eagle were the two others I looked at, but I didn't have a good reason not to go with my dealer at the time. If I were buying a boat that was much bigger than 21', I probably would have done some additional research...
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Re: Trailer

Post by Tuscany »

My dealer sells Venture and Eagle.
Obviously I'm not going to buy a Venture, and my dealer never got back to me on an Eagle.
I found Loadmaster trailer co. http://www.loadmasterboattrailer.com/?P ... 20Trailers which came with great reviews. They're a small, single location custom trailer builder, and their plant is in Port Clinton, OH. A four hour drive. A few dollars more, especially when you start adding the must have options, but their design looks like it can haul a tank across the country
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Re: Trailer

Post by Big Block Power »

Yes my buddy that owns a dealership here uses load master. They have good customer service. I've talked to them a few times. If your dealer uses Eagle to me is a no brainer.
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