A25 trailer recommendations

[CobaltVet]

I’m looking to buy a trailer for an a25 - I know there are some nice custom steel options, but I prefer aluminum to keep towing weight within comfortable range for vehicle (a whole other topic). I also need it to fit in a 30’ storage space for winter (overall length of boat and trailer).

Most of the 8400lb capacity trailers are around 30’ alone, meaning I need a shorter trailer or a swing tongue or removable tongue.

The rear of the a25 definitely extends well beyond the transom, so the overall length of the boat is almost 26’, the hull is not that long.

Anyone have specific dimensions of rear of bunk to rear of boat or specific experience with shorter trailers or other helpful feedback?

Happy Thanksgiving!

[Auburnbuilder]

If you end up going with a steel trailer Loadmaster is the way to go. My boat is a 2005 255, with a 27' overall length. Garage is 30' long exterior dimension.
About 29' interior length dimension. You would need to go with a removable tongue like i did with mine. Loadmaster did a great job and it tows vey well.

[Snowman8]

You need to have a trailer long enough to support the transom of the boat so don’t buy a trailer that is too short and makes the transom hang off the back of the bunks. Just me but there is no way I would have an aluminum trailer with an aluminum swing away tongue. It will break on you sooner or later. If the tongue is made out of steel and attached to an aluminum trailer it might be okay. Unless you need aluminum for salt water I would stray away and stick with steel. Realistically I bet there is only a few hundred pounds difference in a steel trailer vs an aluminum one. An aluminum 8400lb New Venture trailer weighs about 1300lbs, my overbuilt Loadmaster weights about 1800lbs. Sorry but if you are that worried about a few hundred pounds you probably have the wrong tow vehicle.
There is another post in the R series looking for a trailer for an R5, I have a bunch of pictures of my Loadmaster trailer.

[CobaltVet]

Thanks S8,

The a25 has a rather long swim platform- I definitely want to support the full transom. That said, do I support the actual transom (where the outdrive mounts), or even farther back along the “extended running surface?”

I talked to Loadmaster recently- nice folks, and they recommended the removable tongue option for shortening overall length.

The aluminum trailers (with/without swing option) I’m looking at have a 5” tall galvanized steel box tongue.

I certainly see plenty of trailers with swing tongues, fewer with removable tongues- any substantial differences? Either is relying on 2 pins to stay put, right? The whole trailer is held by one hitch pin? I suppose in the case of the hitch, you have the receiver sleeve so you only have push/pull force, whereas the swing hardware has vertical force and lateral force as well. Does the removable tongue stabilize these other forces as well?

Thanks again,

Jake

[Big Block Power]

Either tongue design is fine. The trailer manufacture will make sure it will handle the load. I like the swing away. Just me. They also will design the bunks to the boat. As long as you don't get a universal aluminum trailer like venture. They are good trailers but.
Here are 2 pictures of incorrect and correct length of the bunks.
Myco makes a great aluminum trailer.

[Snowman8]

You are correct that both a swing and a removable tongue are both basically held with 2 pins. Loadmaster told me they use the removable because they believe it is stronger. I’m sure either a swing or removable is fine but I just don’t like how swing tongues are made, they seem like they would be easy to break, I know there are thousands of them out there but its just me.. Also the reason most are swing tongues is because most trailer manufacturers use surge brakes. I believe it would be a bad Idea to have a quick coupler for a hydraulic brake system, seems like it would be a place to introduce air into the system, Loadmaster also make an extendable tongue for those that don’t want to back the vehicle to the edge of the water or even into the water.
I had a bad experience when I was a teenager on a family vacation. We had our Fourwinns boat in tow and we stopped for lunch on our way to a cabin that my parents rented for a week. When we went to leave the boat swung around and hit the back of our van. While we were eating someone must have needed the pin more than we did and took the removable pin. Luckily we were just barely moving and didn’t do hardly any damage to either their van or the boat/trailer. It just sucked having to leave the boat in the restaurant parking lot while having to go buy a couple bolts to replace the pin because we couldn’t find a pin long enough to fit through both of the holes in the swing tongue. After that we just left the tongue bolted solid! That kinda put a bad taste in my mouth for any kind of swing or removable tongue! If I did have either it would be bolted or locked solid. Plus I built my shed 60’ long so I can back my crew cab long box truck and R5 in with extra room to spare! I just didn’t build it with tall enough doors... hence that’s why I have the bimini EZ fold system now.

[CobaltVet]

I think we’d all like a couple more feet!

[Tuscany]

Loadmaster supports right to the end of the extended running surface. That’s where the weight is concentrated.