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Author Topic:   Alum Trailer for 18' Outrage in Northeast

Ranjr13 posted 04-10-2007 05:57 PM ET (US)
I've read every thread here, talked to many of the major trailer manufacturers, and have become frustrated trying to find a good dealer of a high end aluminum trailer in the Southern New England area.
I want a single axle aluminum, disc brakes, aluminum wheels nice but not necessary, guides or side bunks a must, bunks down the center that are heavy enough so as not to bow (I see some manufacturers that actually carpet 2x4's and call them bunks), either center rollers or center v-bunks for keel support. I also like the design of trailers who use "tongue wrap" - the art of bending the side beams just prior to merging with the tongue so that when joined, both of the side beams and the tongue are parallel with each other - even if just for a few feet.
Loadmaster is great - just that the closest dealer the manufacturer recommends is in Norfolk, VA. Karavan can't find a dealer that believes supporting the keel of a Boston Whaler is important. There are Venture dealers all over the place, but I'm not thrilled with the level of construction/design - probably fine, but not really up to where I'd like to see it. Load Rite says tongue wrap isn't available on less than a 3 axle trailer.
Anyone have any thoughts or am I looking for something in CT that I really need to go down South to get?
The boat is a 1985 18' Outrage with a '98 150 Johnson.
Bob
Peter posted 04-10-2007 06:14 PM ET (US)
Is this new.photos.yahoo.com/whaler186/album/576460762347092655/photo/ 294928804323680907/16 what you are looking for? It's a FastLoad 17-19SX with torsion axles. If so, you may have to go to Florida or Virginia unless you get lucky like I did buying it used from another CW member. It did not have keel support so I have added a center bunk to support the keel.
Ranjr13 posted 04-11-2007 09:09 AM ET (US)
Peter - the link says the pic no longer avail - if you have one I'd like to see it. I will go 10+hours south of here if I absolutely need to, but finding something in my area from a good dealer would be my first choice. Thanks...Bob
Peter posted 04-11-2007 11:05 AM ET (US)
Try this link.
i177.photobucket.com/albums/w231/Whaler-Fleet/18Outrage-MillsCanvas.jpg .
Aluminum bunk trailers are becoming a bit more prevalent in this area but I think there is a drawback to them. Many of our boat ramps are not graded correctly and so launch and retrieve on the float-on bunk trailer on a ramp with a shallow grade is difficult. I went to one ramp at high tide last fall and could not get the trailer deep enough to get the Outrage off it because the grade of the ramp was too shallow. I am in the process of lowering the Outrage on the trailer by about 2 inches which may or may not have made a difference in that case.
At another ramp with a proper grade, launch and retrieve was quite easy.
I would have preferred to get a galvanized, keel roller bunk trailer with a tilting frame which always worked well for me in the past with my first Outrage but this aluminum float-on trailer happened to be available at the time. I figured I would give it a try.
Ranjr13 posted 04-11-2007 11:29 AM ET (US)
Peter - nice setup - your Whaler sits about 5" higher than mine does right now - the chines sit an inch or two below the tops of the fenders. Bringing that down would probably work well for you.
That is the setup I'm looking for - with disc brakes, LED lights - I like the looks of that trailer - wish there was an active dealer with an inventory here in CT.
gf posted 04-12-2007 09:34 PM ET (US)

Contact Diamond Marine in East Haven, they will set you up with a good deal on a Venture aluminum bunk trailer.
http://www.diamondmarine.net/
http://motors.search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZdiamondQ2dsuperstore
The Venture trailer might not be equivalent to a Loadmaster in quality but it's certainly adequate for an Outrage 18.
I have a Road King aluminum trailer under my Mckee Craft 196, I purchased it from American Trailer in Worcester, but I believe they are no longer in business.

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Author	Topic: Alum Trailer for 18' Outrage in Northeast
Ranjr13	posted 04-10-2007 05:57 PM ET (US) I've read every thread here, talked to many of the major trailer manufacturers, and have become frustrated trying to find a good dealer of a high end aluminum trailer in the Southern New England area. I want a single axle aluminum, disc brakes, aluminum wheels nice but not necessary, guides or side bunks a must, bunks down the center that are heavy enough so as not to bow (I see some manufacturers that actually carpet 2x4's and call them bunks), either center rollers or center v-bunks for keel support. I also like the design of trailers who use "tongue wrap" - the art of bending the side beams just prior to merging with the tongue so that when joined, both of the side beams and the tongue are parallel with each other - even if just for a few feet. Loadmaster is great - just that the closest dealer the manufacturer recommends is in Norfolk, VA. Karavan can't find a dealer that believes supporting the keel of a Boston Whaler is important. There are Venture dealers all over the place, but I'm not thrilled with the level of construction/design - probably fine, but not really up to where I'd like to see it. Load Rite says tongue wrap isn't available on less than a 3 axle trailer. Anyone have any thoughts or am I looking for something in CT that I really need to go down South to get? The boat is a 1985 18' Outrage with a '98 150 Johnson. Bob
Peter	posted 04-10-2007 06:14 PM ET (US) Is this new.photos.yahoo.com/whaler186/album/576460762347092655/photo/ 294928804323680907/16 what you are looking for? It's a FastLoad 17-19SX with torsion axles. If so, you may have to go to Florida or Virginia unless you get lucky like I did buying it used from another CW member. It did not have keel support so I have added a center bunk to support the keel.
Ranjr13	posted 04-11-2007 09:09 AM ET (US) Peter - the link says the pic no longer avail - if you have one I'd like to see it. I will go 10+hours south of here if I absolutely need to, but finding something in my area from a good dealer would be my first choice. Thanks...Bob
Peter	posted 04-11-2007 11:05 AM ET (US) Try this link. i177.photobucket.com/albums/w231/Whaler-Fleet/18Outrage-MillsCanvas.jpg . Aluminum bunk trailers are becoming a bit more prevalent in this area but I think there is a drawback to them. Many of our boat ramps are not graded correctly and so launch and retrieve on the float-on bunk trailer on a ramp with a shallow grade is difficult. I went to one ramp at high tide last fall and could not get the trailer deep enough to get the Outrage off it because the grade of the ramp was too shallow. I am in the process of lowering the Outrage on the trailer by about 2 inches which may or may not have made a difference in that case. At another ramp with a proper grade, launch and retrieve was quite easy. I would have preferred to get a galvanized, keel roller bunk trailer with a tilting frame which always worked well for me in the past with my first Outrage but this aluminum float-on trailer happened to be available at the time. I figured I would give it a try.
Ranjr13	posted 04-11-2007 11:29 AM ET (US) Peter - nice setup - your Whaler sits about 5" higher than mine does right now - the chines sit an inch or two below the tops of the fenders. Bringing that down would probably work well for you. That is the setup I'm looking for - with disc brakes, LED lights - I like the looks of that trailer - wish there was an active dealer with an inventory here in CT.
gf	posted 04-12-2007 09:34 PM ET (US) Contact Diamond Marine in East Haven, they will set you up with a good deal on a Venture aluminum bunk trailer. http://www.diamondmarine.net/ http://motors.search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZdiamondQ2dsuperstore The Venture trailer might not be equivalent to a Loadmaster in quality but it's certainly adequate for an Outrage 18. I have a Road King aluminum trailer under my Mckee Craft 196, I purchased it from American Trailer in Worcester, but I believe they are no longer in business.