Pontoon Boat trailering

duster · #1 May 3rd, 2006, 08:56 AM

I just bought a 22 foot pontoon boat on a Hoosier scizzor jack trailer.How are they to tow?I understand you have to be careful cornering but other than that how are they?

BillP · #2 May 4th, 2006, 05:20 PM

I've been towing a 20' toon for 10 yrs now and a 20' Proline "pointy bow" boat before that. Toons are aero-dynamically "dirty" compared to a pointy bow boat. Toons hit a "drag wall" way before a regular boat does. Towing the toon gets me 10mpg at 60 mph and the Proline got 15mpg...it's all about wind resistance. If I was going to tow the toon a lot I would get a van to help keep wind off the boat.

Sway is less on toon trailers because they have the small dia wheels. I can't tell the difference towing the toon around corners from any other boat.

Silvertip · #3 May 4th, 2006, 05:47 PM

The 'toons act just like the balance bar a tight rope walker uses. It sort of counteracts the effects of the narrow tread width of the trailer. They tow just fine.

duster · #4 May 8th, 2006, 05:10 AM

Well I towed the boat home on Friday without any problems.The boat stayed behind the truck and didn't sway around at all.Thanks for your input.

hdh · #5 October 22nd, 2008, 04:19 PM

I am purchasing a trailer for my 20 foot starcraft pontoon. The trailer is similar to a scissors type, but does not go up and down. How much clearance should there be between the pontoons and the road for this type of trailer (it is a double axle, if important)

chrisg · #6 October 22nd, 2008, 06:06 PM

Mmmm... I have a 24 footer on a single axle. I would say I have around 2 foot of clearance between the road and toons ( I had to find a gently sloping ramp to put it in) but it has a warning on the trailer not to exeed 45MPH!
Yup, got her up to 50 when I was not payin attention, a truck flew by and the thing started swaying like no tomorrow. had to slow down to 30 before it would get back in line! Luckally I will be keeping it in the water and only have to make the 30 mi trip twice a year!

Is that the single axle doing that?

tashasdaddy · #7 October 23rd, 2008, 07:04 AM

Chris, you are close, if not over load capacity of a single axle trailer. also if you have a scissor trailer that makes it worse. i have a 20' on bunk trailer, that has been pulled at 70mph, with out problems. i have 10 inch wide tires, and get no sway. i also tow with a Astro van.