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Started By
Message
help with boat trailer size/set up
Posted on 6/27/26 at 10:44 am
Posted on 6/27/26 at 10:44 am
boat is nominally 14x6, flat bottom. Very heavy. I’ve had it on this shitty cargo trailer (which I extended) but I’m tired of being ghetto with it and it’s a pain in the arse to launch and pick up, plus it tows like shite.
what size bunk trailer should I be looking at? Single axle preferred. I’d like to buy once (good hubs, good tires, good springs). Freshwater only but I’m towing with a Jeep gladiator so weight is an issue (lighter would be better). Aluminum?
what size bunk trailer should I be looking at? Single axle preferred. I’d like to buy once (good hubs, good tires, good springs). Freshwater only but I’m towing with a Jeep gladiator so weight is an issue (lighter would be better). Aluminum?
5
Posted on 6/27/26 at 12:37 pm to cgrand
Where you located? I bought a McLain boat trailer for mine. Baton Rouge on Airline
Posted on 6/27/26 at 1:24 pm to jorconalx
Hammond
I saw their listing on a search. Do you like the trailer?
I saw their listing on a search. Do you like the trailer?
Posted on 6/27/26 at 1:40 pm to cgrand
quote:
Aluminum?
Aluminum trailers suck, especially boat trailers.
Find your nearest magic tilt dealer and get a basic galvanized steel trailer with leaf springs. Will be the cheapest and also the best option. You cant make that setup heavy enough to matter. I saw a jeep gladiator pulling a bumper pull camper today.
Posted on 6/27/26 at 1:54 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
good advice thank you 
I’ve repowered many a boat but never re-trailered
I’ve repowered many a boat but never re-trailered
Posted on 6/27/26 at 2:05 pm to cgrand
Our skiff trailer is a 25 year old whatever Mike Gerald sells galvanized steel trailer and its still in perfect shape even with a few salt water trips on it.
The problem with aluminum trailers is they are shitty erector sets, and all the important parts are steel anyway. Aluminum is for beer cans and air planes. I have an aluminum erector set boat trailer, probably the 5th or 6th one ive owned in my life, and they have all been hunks of shite.
The exception would be a fully welded custom aluminum trailer but those are absurdly expensive and IMO, not nearly worth the price. Its still aluminum, and aluminum sucks.
The problem with aluminum trailers is they are shitty erector sets, and all the important parts are steel anyway. Aluminum is for beer cans and air planes. I have an aluminum erector set boat trailer, probably the 5th or 6th one ive owned in my life, and they have all been hunks of shite.
The exception would be a fully welded custom aluminum trailer but those are absurdly expensive and IMO, not nearly worth the price. Its still aluminum, and aluminum sucks.
Posted on 6/27/26 at 2:41 pm to cgrand
quote:
I saw their listing on a search. Do you like the trailer
Yes, I have a 17 ft flat bottom metal boat. It’s actually more trailer than I need, but it will last forever.
Posted on 6/28/26 at 8:29 am to jorconalx
I had good experiences with Mike Gerald’s.
Posted on 6/28/26 at 8:56 am to Popths
quote:
I had good experiences with Mike Gerald’s
We have as well. We’ve actually bought 2 from them in the last couple of years
Posted on 6/29/26 at 6:41 am to cgrand
$500 on FB Marketplace.
I think this one is well worth the price. You may have to move the winch post back and maybe shorten the tongue but it's all you will need.
I think this one is well worth the price. You may have to move the winch post back and maybe shorten the tongue but it's all you will need.
Posted on 6/29/26 at 9:17 am to CHEDBALLZ
right on thanks brother, I have a message in to him. How would I go about shortening the tongue?
Posted on 6/29/26 at 9:57 am to cgrand
Take the winch, hitch etc off. Cut about 2 ft off. Drill holes for hitch and bolt the hitch and winch back on. My McLain was long too, I cut a couple feet of mine. Used a sawzall to do it
Posted on 6/29/26 at 10:20 am to cgrand
Easy to do, move your winch post back where you want it. Unbolt the coupling, cut the tubing with a grinder using a metabo blade, drill your holes and bolt it back on. For a few hours work you could cave $1000 bucks. Looking at the coupling i would probably just but a new off e-tailer parts. You need some tounge weight (100-150lbs) so you might not need to cut much off.
Posted on 6/29/26 at 8:06 pm to CHEDBALLZ
thanks to both of you. So if that trailer is for an 18’ boat, and mine is 14’…how many feet of tongue would I cut off? Or more simply, how many feet of tongue do I want between the winch post and the coupling?
Posted on 6/30/26 at 7:35 am to cgrand
Personal preference on how much room I guess. Hook your truck to the trailer, put the boat on the trailer and adjust the winch to your boat. Then decide
Posted on 6/30/26 at 8:21 am to cgrand
Posted on 6/30/26 at 8:52 am to cgrand
Pretty much length x width + est weight, galvanized should last a lifetime. Had a sportsman for my tunnel that lasted dunking in saltwater.
Posted on 6/30/26 at 12:51 pm to cgrand
My opinion is a trailer with a long tongue is mych easier to maneuver in reverse. I'd leave the tongue at length and move the winch post. You do need to make sure you have enough tongue weight though.
Posted on 6/30/26 at 2:21 pm to dreingineer
I want the tongue to be as long as reasonably possible. Keep my truck outta the water, and I agree its much easier to maneuver. My current trailer has far too short a tongue and it sucks.
Posted on 6/30/26 at 7:39 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
thanks that makes sense I hate short trailer too which is one of the reasons I want to get it off this cargo trailer
unfortunately I can’t use the standard 14’-17’ trailers (the 1500 dollar ones) because my boat is 53” at the bottom of the transom. The cheaper ones fit 50” max. This was discovered by getting a 2800 dollar quote on a magic tilt…when I asked the guy why he pointed that out. The McClain in that size is about the same price.
bummer
unfortunately I can’t use the standard 14’-17’ trailers (the 1500 dollar ones) because my boat is 53” at the bottom of the transom. The cheaper ones fit 50” max. This was discovered by getting a 2800 dollar quote on a magic tilt…when I asked the guy why he pointed that out. The McClain in that size is about the same price.
bummer
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