I am looking for some opinions here.
I currently have an early 80's, Spartan, steel frame, tilt bed, full roller boat trailer under my 84 Aluminum Sylvan Skipper 18 1/0. This is basically the same boat as the 1970's Starcraft Holiday 18 and is about maximum capacity for the trailer. I believe the trailer has a 2000lb axle but since the trailer tag is illegible, I cannot be certain.
This trailer does not have brakes and only an 8 ft tongue which puts the boat right behind the truck when on the road.
I have already re-done all of the trailer wiring and it works, and has worked for years, flawlessly. I don't really have many complaints about the trailer's performance hitching up, hauling, launching or loading besides the boat riding so close behind the truck and riding high on the trailer, it's a tilt bed after-all.
Option 1. Update the trailer. I am thinking about installing surge brakes, replacing the axle with a 3500lb unit, replacing the tires with a proper load rated pair, and installing a 10 ft tongue with a new winch stand.
Option 2, replace the trailer entirely. I have a friend who swears by the newer, wider, low slug trailers.
Cost is close to even if not favoring the upgrade by a couple hundred bucks.
Pics available if they'd help.
Thoughts?
I currently have an early 80's, Spartan, steel frame, tilt bed, full roller boat trailer under my 84 Aluminum Sylvan Skipper 18 1/0. This is basically the same boat as the 1970's Starcraft Holiday 18 and is about maximum capacity for the trailer. I believe the trailer has a 2000lb axle but since the trailer tag is illegible, I cannot be certain.
This trailer does not have brakes and only an 8 ft tongue which puts the boat right behind the truck when on the road.
I have already re-done all of the trailer wiring and it works, and has worked for years, flawlessly. I don't really have many complaints about the trailer's performance hitching up, hauling, launching or loading besides the boat riding so close behind the truck and riding high on the trailer, it's a tilt bed after-all.
Option 1. Update the trailer. I am thinking about installing surge brakes, replacing the axle with a 3500lb unit, replacing the tires with a proper load rated pair, and installing a 10 ft tongue with a new winch stand.
Option 2, replace the trailer entirely. I have a friend who swears by the newer, wider, low slug trailers.
Cost is close to even if not favoring the upgrade by a couple hundred bucks.
Pics available if they'd help.
Thoughts?
