Which boat trailer

Ezgoing · 16 July 2007, 21:17

Hi guys,

I am looking for a new boat trailer. any suggestions welcome, especially suppliers with good web sites.

Boat is 7.5m with outboard and canopy.

thks

JABS · 16 July 2007, 21:21

Look for a trailer that sits as low as possible. Lower boat equals easy launch and recovery and best stability when towing. Even a few inches makes a difference.

Then add bearing savers and flush adaptors.

Other than that, your choice!

Jimbo · 16 July 2007, 21:36

I've always quite liked Rapide trailers.

I'd avoid Indespension, as I don't like their roller assembly; I've found it prone to failure.

De Graff look good, but for some reason I don't like the keel rollers, not sure why that bothers me! I've used Tim M's De Graff (for sale at a good price!) quite a bit, and despite the wheels being a bit too far apart, it does tow very nicely, and launching and recovery has always been quite easy.

CAN trailers - speak to Nos4r2 before even considering them

Hayling Trailers have always done us proud on the dinghy front, not sure how they'd be with a rib trailer

Hightower · 17 July 2007, 05:30

admilral do a nice simple range of rollercoaster trailers at good prices. Hitch lock and bearing savers, spare carrier and Rod breaking system (keeps cables to the absoloute minimum length) and taper rollers.

al40 · 17 July 2007, 09:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbo

I've always quite liked Rapide trailers.

I'd avoid Indespension, as I don't like their roller assembly; I've found it prone to failure.

De Graff look good, but for some reason I don't like the keel rollers, not sure why that bothers me! I've used Tim M's De Graff (for sale at a good price!) quite a bit, and despite the wheels being a bit too far apart, it does tow very nicely, and launching and recovery has always been quite easy.

CAN trailers - speak to Nos4r2 before even considering them

Hayling Trailers have always done us proud on the dinghy front, not sure how they'd be with a rib trailer

I'd second that for the Rapide trailers. Been very happy with mine (R2B49) and is built really well. Only criticism I would have is the bowden cable seems to get stretched if you do a lot of reversing (mine got stuck on a beach last week and was a lot of agressive forward / reverse movement to get it out) and brake setup needs checked before travelling. Dixonbate have just launched a new website which makes it easier to get spare parts. Can be serviced at std indespension / hallmark dealers. They are also really helpfull on the phone. I believe it's one of the few trailers with disk brakes. http://www.dixonbate.co.uk/powerboat/rapide_roller.asp

RE indespension trailers breaking, We've just been on holiday with friends with a 3 month old indespension trailer who had 2 rear roller brackets snap. Boat is well within weight limits for the trailer. The roller brackets (piece of metal with roller on each end) are aluminium rather than steel and are drilled to mount onto the trailer and seems to be a weak point. Indespension did replace them without any problem tho. I think the plan is to replace the complete roller assembly with snipe / dixon bate which will give a really solid trailer. The boats do sit a bit lower on indespension trailers than rapide as the rear swing beam has a slightly depper Vee so potentially makes it easier to lauch from.

If you are launching in salt water it's well worth getting a trailer with bearing savers and flush ports.

Good luck!

Tim M · 17 July 2007, 10:17

I have owned Indispention, Snipe, SBS, DeGraff, Hayling, and a few others. Here are my keys observations:

I currently have a big DeGraff and I like it a lot. It tows really well and is quite versitile in that you can move things about quite easily; we've had 6 pedaloes on it, as well as a 4m searider and launching trolley. (It's not for sale any more btw!). DeGraff seem to represent very good value for money, and they're quite low down unlike Indispention.

I don't like Rapide much. The university rib trailer is a rapide and a few bits have dropped off it over the 18 months since it was built. It also feels quite unstable at speed.

Indispention are very well built it would seem, but they are incredably expensive. One big trouble is that Indispention make their own rollers which are a slightly different size to ones you can pick up off the shelf in places like towsure. The Indi ones are a hell of a lot more expensive than the towsure ones. Given that they seem to fall off quite a bit (well the ones on Jimbos/mine did) that could be an issue. I found it possible in the end to get round this by replacing all the brackets that they sit on although this is a tad expensive.

So yes, I would get a DeGraff

Peter J · 17 July 2007, 11:47

I had a de graff, it came with the boat. I needed some bits for it and the guys at de graff were really helpful. So for that reason I would recommend them.

iainmartins · 17 July 2007, 17:31

I have a degraff, so far it has been really good. Better than any other trailer I have had.

Nos4r2 · 17 July 2007, 20:34

I've got a Rapide and the aftersales support is fantastic. It tows really well.
They do a particularly good hub flush system that you can use motorway services water hoses on-ie just stick it in and turn it on, no hozelock connectors needed.

Hugh Jardon · 17 July 2007, 21:07

i have had two indespension super roller coasters, i split pinned all the rollers and never had a problem with them coming loose in 10 years.

the indespension trailers are great but are quite pricey with it

the current trailer is an sbs and is an 1800 kg single axle as wanted to get away from a double axle. it is a superb trailer and tows lovely.........however i have had a sealed bearing fail and i am waiting on sbs and avonride to get back to me on this failure as it is premature in their minds. I will then be able to report back on after sales after warranty support.

the sbs has a lot of features on it that are great and it gets the thumbs up from me.

i would recommend reading the trailer features thread and see which items are important to you and then choose the trailer that has the build quality and the majority of the features you desire

Ezgoing · 17 July 2007, 22:21

Anybody got any experience of Brenderup?

http://brenderup.co.uk/default.asp?pageid=614&state=product_list&category id={04A64E18-632D-4C14-8784-9DB0C3E6079B}&nodeid={CA8B6E7F-D993-4BD1-B857-BA58FF67FF53}