www.iFourWinns.com

Just found out we need a new trailer for our 234 Funship. (Yippee) Anyone have any advice/experience with aftermarket trailers. We boat in both fresh and saltwater.

Thanks.

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'99 234 Candia Funship, 5.7Gsi SX

This was posted on the Sea Ray forum recently...

CHeck these guys out.
http://www.nextrailofamerica.com/

Probably need to adjust the cost listed on the website - but might be a good place to start. Aluminum and affordable.

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

Call Kent at Roadrunner Trailers in Lewisville Texas. He is the Sales Manager and we are good friends. We also boat with the owner. They make a great trailer and reasonable pricing.

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

Just curious, what happened to the original?

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Thanks guys - I'll check those out.

Mike - the factory trailer (galvanized) rusted through in 2 places directly below the drain plug. I had hoped it could be patched, but looks like it can't. Got the same diagnosis from 2 different shops. First guy said he could patch it but that I should "start looking for a new trailer" and the second guy said "Don't waste your money". I'm religeous about maintainence so the rest of the trailer is ok - as far as I can tell. These trailers tend to rust from the inside-out so there may be more problems hidden.

Still debating which way to go. Could probably just patch and get another year, but hate to prolong the inevitable.

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'99 234 Candia Funship, 5.7Gsi SX

Yeah, sorry to hear it! The good news is, the way you're approaching this, you'll end up with a better trailer anyway.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

It's suprising that a 10 year old galavanized trailer would rust through (mine's a 94 and still fine...but only goes in salt water a few times a year...) but getting a new or lightly used one (maybe aluminum this time) with disc brakes would be the best bet....

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Yes - I was definitely disappointed that it couldn't be repaired. We do about 70/30 freshwater/saltwater and I'm very pickey about flushing and washing everything after each trip. Some ramps don't have freshwater flushing areas so I have to wait until I get home and if we do an overnight that might be a couple days for the trailer. Just replaced the brakes/lines this spring and trailer shop didn't seem concerned about the rust then - but now suddenly it's beyond repair. A little frustrating to say the least. I got the same diagnosis from a welding shop and he wasn't going to make a dime if it couldn't be fixed so I think he was being straight with me. I've used this shop before a few times and they've always been very good.

So..PART II of this story....find an AL trailer at a real decent price and am driving up to buy it and I shred a (nearly new) tire on I4. Due to the soft shoulder can't get trailer jacked up high enough to put on spare. Call BoatUS, they send out road service to swap tires which took about 2 hours - so trailer place closed before I could get there. I'll try again next week.

Oh well - if the is the worst I have to worry about then I've got it pretty good.

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'99 234 Candia Funship, 5.7Gsi SX

Sounds like one of our typical adventures.

Good luck, trying again.

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Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

If you are getting aftermarket trailer, make sure the dealer adjust tongue weight of the trailer with your boat on it. It should be 5 to 7 % of total weight. The most of trailer dealers are too lazy to measure the tongue weight with boat on and adjust axles as well as banks and wench post ….

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08 H260 VP 8.1Gi DP.....Previous
2013 Crownline E6 Merc 8.2MAG BIIIX, DTS/SC

Thanks Sushi. I hadn't thought about tongue weight, but was definitely going to have the trailer dealer setup the bunks for the boat.

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'99 234 Candia Funship, 5.7Gsi SX

Man...trying to research trailers. For every brand there's half-a-dozen posts saying "Worst trailer/customer service ever!" and half-a-dozen more saying "Mine's Great! No Problems!"

Good news is I guess they're all about the same....

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'99 234 Candia Funship, 5.7Gsi SX