Pontoon Trailer Guides: What You Need to Know About Trailers
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Pontoon trailers are a great way to get your pontoon boat to and from the water without having to worry about how you’re going to do it. Trailers make it easy for you to tow your pontoon behind your vehicle and avoid any damage that might be caused by dragging it along the ground. But, not all trailers are created equal. In this article, we will discuss the different types of pontoon trailer guides available and help you decide which is best for you.
Factors to Consider While Buying a Trailer
There are many factors you need to consider while purchasing a pontoon trailer. Some of the key considerations are:
- The size of your pontoon boat
- The weight of your pontoon boat
- Whether you need brakes on your trailer
- The terrain you’ll be traveling on
- Your budget
1. Size
The first factor to consider is the size of your pontoon boat. You need to make sure that the trailer you purchase is big enough to accommodate your pontoon boat. If you have a small pontoon boat, you might be able to get away with a smaller trailer. But, if you have a large pontoon boat, you’ll need a larger trailer.
2. Weight
The second factor to consider is the weight of your pontoon boat. Pontoon boats can range in weight from a few hundred pounds to several thousand pounds. You need to make sure that the trailer you purchase can handle the weight of your pontoon boat. Otherwise, you could end up damaging your pontoon boat or your trailer.
3. Brakes
The third factor to consider is whether you need brakes on your trailer. If you’re going to be traveling on rough terrain, you might want to consider getting a trailer with brakes. That way, you can avoid damage to your pontoon boat or yourself if you hit a bump in the road. However, if you’re only going to be traveling on smooth roads, you might not need brakes on your trailer.
4. Terrain
The fourth factor to consider is the terrain you’ll be traveling on. If you’re only going to be traveling on smooth roads, you might not need a large or heavy-duty trailer. However, if you’re going to be traveling on rough terrain, you’ll need a larger and heavier-duty trailer. That way, you can avoid damage to your pontoon boat or yourself if you hit a bump in the road.
5. Budget
The fifth and final factor to consider is your budget. Pontoon trailers can range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. You need to decide how much you’re willing to spend on a pontoon trailer. Once you’ve decided on a budget, you can start shopping around for the perfect pontoon trailer for you.
Types of Trailers
This is an important part of this pontoon trailer guide. Now that you know what to look for in a pontoon trailer, let’s take a look at the different types of pontoon trailers available. The two most popular types of pontoon trailers are scissor-style trailers and bunk-style trailers.
1. Scissor-Style Trailers
Scissor-style trailers are built using a center lift mechanism that is installed between the boat’s tubes. The lift is connected to a winch that lowers and raises the entire vessel.
The lift’s configuration is similar to that of a seesaw, so the pontoons hang without the support and may shift back and forth, side to side.
Because this trailer is so vintage, it isn’t very safe for long-distance towing or extreme speeds. When towing a scissor trailer, you must exercise greater caution since the corners might cause the boat to roll off and smash into the road.
The most common application of this type of trailer is in boatyards, where dealers move many boats every day. Because this design is adaptable and may be utilized on a wide range of pontoon boats, it’s very popular. The width of the trailer is determined by the number of tubes on the pontoon boat.
A scissor trailer is not suggested for heavy floor plans or people who intend to tow the boat long distances.
2. Bunk-Style Trailers
The bunk-style trailer has bunks that hold each pontoon in place. The pontoons are less likely to teeter and shift while being towed down the road since they nestle into the bunks. For long distances and higher towing speeds, this type of trailer is a safer option.
This trailer is for all pontoon boat owners who want to tow their boat for more than 10-15 miles down the road. This is the trailer to have if you travel by your boat.
This design may be used with two or three-tube pontoons. The majority of trailer producers also provide tritoon kits and extended tritoon kits that allow you to convert a bunk-style boat with two tubes into a bunk-style boat with three tubes after it’s finished.
Best Pontoon Trailer Guides in the Market
Mentioned below are some pontoon trailer guides that are demanding in the market.
1. Extreme Max Trailer Guides
These are a must-have for anyone who wants to unload their trailer quickly and safely. They’ll assist you in loading faster, and more securely, keep you from overloading your trailer, maintain proper orientation of your vehicle with the load deck, and be especially beneficial at night. These indices are made to function under severe impacts such as rough water or big pontoons, which have a height of 30 inches which is ideal for pontoons. Remember, it’s for freshwater use only, not suitable for saltwater or brackish water.
- Set of two heavy-duty pontoon guide-ons for improved overall loading and stability
- 2.5″ industrial-grade steel frame with non-marking PVC coating; 30″ overall height
- Zinc-coated for freshwater use, not intended for use in saltwater or brackish water
- Designed to install easily over 2″ wide x 2″ tall cross members
- Hardware kits are available for trailers up to 2″ wide x 6″ tall – See Extreme Max part number 3005.3784
2. Tie Down Engineering High-Impact Trailer
These high-impact guide-ons allow you to safely bring your pontoon boat onto the trailer in strong winds and powerful currents. The non-marking molded PVC covers and is intended to be placed between the pontoons.
The top bars on each end attach to the trailer cross members that are two inches wide by 2-3 inches tall. The guide-ons come with all required mounting hardware.
- Helps guide your pontoon boat safely onto the trailer in high winds and strong currents
- Hot dip galvanized steel square-tube posts are covered with non-marking molded PVC materials
- Designed to be mounted to the trailer frame between the pontoons
- Mounts to trailer cross members 2 in. wide by 2-3 in. high
- All mounting hardware included
3. VE-VE Boat Trailer Guide
The VE-VE boat trailer guide-on offers several advantages and is a quick, simple, safe, and accurate method to position your pontoon boat while launching or loading at a busy boat landing.
For added corrosion resistance, the gold zinc plated coating is applied. Packaged in pairs with all mounting hardware for trailer cross members 2”-3” wide x 4” high or less. Gold zinc plated (for freshwater use) or hot-dipped galvanized (for saltwater usage) are the two finishes.
- 1 Pair, Zinc Plated, Pontoon Trailer Roller Guide-Ons ( AMERICAN MADE )
- 28” tall steel tube weldment gives the 13″ Roller assembly a height adjustment up to 29-1/2″ high.
- Roller Guides mount to trailer cross members ( on inside of pontoons ) for width adjustment.
- Complete with mounting hardware to fit frames 2″-3” W. x up to 4” H.
- “Zinc Plated” finish ( For FRESH WATER use )!
Conclusion
In the end, we conclude that it is better to have a pontoon trailer because it gives you many benefits. It helps you move your pontoon boat from one place to another without any difficulty. You can also use it for long-distance towing and extreme speeds. There are different types of pontoon trailers available in the market, so choose the one that best suits your needs and requirements.
FAQs
Trailer guides help you to load and unload your pontoon boat quickly and safely. They also help to keep the pontoon boat properly oriented while being towed down the road. Additionally, trailer guides can be especially beneficial at night. Some trailer guide models are designed to function under severe impacts such as rough water or big pontoons.
There are many pontoon trailer guides available on the market, so it is difficult to say which one is the best. Some of the most popular pontoon trailer guides include Extreme Max Trailer Guides, Tie Down Engineering High-Impact Trailer, and VE-VE Boat Trailer Guide. Ultimately, it is important to choose the pontoon trailer guide that best suits your needs and requirements.
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