How To Buy A New Or Used Boat Trailer. What To Ask For In New, Watch Out For These In Used Trailers

I’ve included a comprehensive trailer buyers guide that you can get free from our web site. The description will give you a good starting point. They limit descriptions to much once in a while

Buying a new trailer First decision obviously is are you going to be using it in saltwater or freshwater, and the type of support the boat trailer is going to give your boat. Either way insist on safety cables NOT chains

Bunk Trailers
This trailer will support your boat hull better than any other type of trailer, and while that is true it might not always be the best trailer for your particular situations.

Roller / Bunk Trailers
The second type of trailer is a roller bunk. This type trailer has bunks in the forward part of the trailer and a rear section of rollers for many people this may be the ideal trailer.

All Roller Trailer
As the name implies your boat is sitting completely on rollers. This type trailer offers the least amount of support for your hull since all the weight is being carried on rollers that are spaced a around the hull.
So the type of trailer you feel best fits your needs, varies widely depending on where you will be using your boat most of the time. If possible always get a bunk trailer for your boat regardless of the material but boat is made from.

Trailer Material
Aluminum boat trailers might seem to be the obvious choice for saltwater, but don’t forget that they are much lighter than steel trailers, and may in fact be a better choice if you have limited towing capacity vehicle. As I mentioned in the video it is vitally important that you insist when buying a new boat trailer that anywhere on the trailer where stainless steel or galvanized steel touches the aluminum that there be a barrier tape applied to the aluminum side of the trailer. 3M makes the industry standard in barrier tape to prevent galvanic corrosion. And while it might not seem like that big a deal I’ve seen it eat through an aluminum trailer frame in less than four years.

Steel Trailers
If you are going to be buying a steel trailer there’s a lot less to worry about when it comes to corrosion. Just make sure as above it’s rated for the way the boat along with the rest of the information we passed along.

Axles Single or Tandem and make sure they are have Torsion axle suspension, not a leaf spring suspension. Even in freshwater leaf spring suspension tends to rust together into a solid piece in a very short period of time. See the video it does a good job of showing you how torsion axle suspension works.

Used Trailers What To Check – Things To Look Out For

1. How heavy is your boat be sure you check the capacity played on the trailer make sure it’s rated for that load.

2. Be sure that can remove the lug nuts on both wheels, there are times when the bolts themselves are so rusted you will never get the lug nuts off without an impact driver. And chances are you’re not to have one of those handy when you get a flat so take them off and put them back on before you buy that trailer.

3. Check the spindle, this is the plate at the end of the axle that attaches to the wheel you want to make sure that it isn’t corroded badly. An easy way to do that is to take a small hammer and tap the metal all the way around the end of the spindle. If a little rust falls off that’s fine but I’ve seen the pieces of metal fall off the spindle which of course means a much weaker axle to wheel connection.

4. Be sure that the brakes work if the trailer has them.

5. Wheel Bearings
The only way to be sure the bearings haven’t been full of a combo of grease and water is to pull of the caps (hopefully bearing buddies or axle protectors) and take a look at the grease. If there is real seal problem it will be easy to detect just by taking a look behind the wheel.