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I’ve used and sold pontoon
boat trailers for thirty
five years. I’ve probably
sold 30,000 trailers and
even though I’ve always
tried to handle the finest
brands, I’ve seen and
warrantied almost anything
that could go wrong with a
pontoon trailer. On this web
site I’ve gone to great
lengths to provide accurate
information and tell you all
that I know about pontoon
trailers. Many pontoon
trailer manufacturers don’t
have sales brochures. Others
have a page devoted to
pontoon trailers mixed in
with features of their PWC,
fishing boat, or fiberglass
boat trailers. Trailer
manufacturers that have web
sites don’t have anything
but specifications. It’s
difficult to find pertinent
information about their
trailers. There are
companies building pontoon
trailers that just don’t
understand pontoon trailer
construction. They get by
with poor, weak designs
because many people don’t
tow. But with some pontoons
pushing 5,000 lb., the buyer
who isn’t paying attention
can get themselves into
trouble. I don’t have much sympathy for the person looking for a trailer on Craig's List, e- Bay, or at the used car dealer who sells trailers. This buyer wants a cheap trailer and there are plenty of sellers who’ll help them. I do have sympathy for the new boat buyer who is depending on a marine industry professional to recommend a trailer. When you buy a boat and trailer package, you’d expect that the dealer would select a trailer that would meet your needs. Many dealers try to talk you out of buying a trailer so they can get your winter storage business. They sometimes sell you a trailer only grudgingly. Often trailers recommended by some dealers are selected solely on price (and their profit potential) or selected from a vendor who sells fishing boat or PWC trailers. One brand is popular with dealers because it’s easy to adjust. The dealer saves half an hour setting up the trailer but you have to check and re-adjust it every trip. Boat salesmen know all the features and benefits of pontoon boats but they usually know little about pontoon trailers. Don’t believe me? Ask one about carrying capacity or differences in tires. The new boat buyer may compound the problem by spending all his money on the boat. Little consideration is given to the question if you can safely transport your boat and family to the lake. Since most dealers don’t stock pontoon trailers and most manufacturers don’t have literature or competent web sites, your first chance to see what you bought may be when you take delivery of your boat and trailer. It may be financed and you will own it when you arrive at the dealership. In this web site I’ve made one basic assumption that most people do not make. I assume that you will tow your pontoon trailer. I’ve heard salesmen ask, do you tow a lot? The answer is usually NO and you’re sold a storage trailer. The question should be where do you tow?  The
answer can range from about
four miles from the ramp to
a storage building or only
two hundred miles to the
city (at highway speeds)
once a year. Neither trip
would constitute “a lot” but
you’d want a different
trailer for a crowded
highway at 70 mph than a
short mile trip on quiet
rural roads. If they decide
to take their boat to
another lake, or miles away
for service they may get an
unpleasant surprise.The point of this web site is to help you make informed decisions about pontoon trailers. If you have an older 18’ pontoon with a 25 HP engine, you probably can’t go wrong with any trailer. If you have a modern 22’ pontoon with a 115 HP engine you really need to pay attention, otherwise you’ll be the one with your family in the SUV sitting on the side of the road with a problem. |
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