Trailer for a pontoon boat

[bauerdt]

I have been watching Craigslist for pontoon boats, and many do not come with a trailer. And pontoon trailers are (for my budget anyway), quite expensive. Trailers for other types of boats are often for sale, and for a lot less money than a pontoon trailer. If the weight capacity of a Shorelander trailer (for example) was sufficient for the weight of a given pontoon boat, could the skids be modified for a pontoon boat? Would this be safe? Would it be legal?

Thanks much,
Dave from MN

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: Trailer for a pontoon boat

Shorelandr makes pontoon trailers.

Here's a quote i just got from my local dealer for my 3,000 pound 24 foot tri-toon:

. Trailer $3925.00, electric over hydraulic brakes $1230.00, Center bunk $326.00, Spare mt. $55.00, Spare tire $198.00, Tongue Jack $59.00, 16 foot load guides $224.00

WHATEVER you do, do NOT buy a trailer from T&M up in Grand Rapids, MN.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Trailer for a pontoon boat

Nope, there is no reasonable way to modify a standard "V" type trailer to fit a pontoon. If you are looking for pontoon trailers, search the WI lake areas or Chisago lakes area - there are usually quite a few available at a reasonable cost from folks who bought a pontoon and no longer require the trailer. We've got a scissor that gets used twice a year to put in and out

What size pontoon are you looking at? Most are light enough to not require brakes in MN

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: Trailer for a pontoon boat

What size pontoon are you looking at? Most are light enough to not require brakes in MN

Warning: The 3,000 pound limit for requiring brakes (Yes, in MN), is the weight of the boat and the trailer combined. The rip-off trailer (without brakes) I got from T&M in Grand Rapids weighed 880 pounds (and the boat they sold me actually weighs 3,000 pounds). Yes they sold me a rig that was illegal to pull down the road.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Trailer for a pontoon boat

Warning: The 3,000 pound limit for requiring brakes (Yes, in MN), is the weight of the boat and the trailer combined. The rip-off trailer (without brakes) I got from T&M in Grand Rapids weighed 880 pounds (and the boat they sold me actually weighs 3,000 pounds). Yes they sold me a rig that was illegal to pull down the road.

Yes, but your standard 22 ft pontoon on a trailer is well under 3000lbs.

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: Trailer for a pontoon boat

Yes, but your standard 22 ft pontoon on a trailer is well under 3000lbs.

Yeah, but if it weighs 2200 (shoot, my MOTOR weighs 400!), and the trailer weighs 800, you are now at 3000. It's the combined weight that determines whether or not brakes are required.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Trailer for a pontoon boat

Yeah, but if it weighs 2200 (shoot, my MOTOR weighs 400!), and the trailer weighs 800, you are now at 3000. It's the combined weight that determines whether or not brakes are required.

No kidding