B25 New Trailer. I have narrowed it down to 3 choices

[Ttownthomas]

Buying a B25 from Ohio. Trailer is shot. Have to go pick it up and haul it back to NC. I have settled on a New trailer from a manufacturer I am familiar with and I am down to three choices.

Here are the boat specs to the best of my research:

1972 Bertram 25 Mark II convertible (Its the open boat with a canvas top NOT a Sportfish Flybridge, Not a Hardtop)
Twin Mercruiser 165 Sterndrives
Advertised weight 4450 per 1970's sales literature
Fuel tank may be anywhere up to 115 gallons
Has a dinette and Galley
Suspect 35ish gallon water tank

Below are the trailer options. I'm inclined to go with the 9000lb trailer but is that overkill for this open boat?
I regularly tow it 100+ miles. Truck is plenty capable (12,300 lb capacity)
These are not the GVWR's these are the capacities BTW.

Aluminum I-Beam 25' Boat 6400 lb capacity $4975
Torsion Axles
Aluminum Rims 
4 wheel Disc Brakes ( 2 Wheel Standard) Surge
Saltwater Package - All Stainless Hardware and Aluminum Wood Brackets 
Stainless Lug Nuts 
Aluminum Spare 
Spare Hub Spindle Carrier 

Aluminum I-Beam 25' Boat 6900 lb capacity  $5585
Spring Axles 
Aluminum Rims 
4 wheel Disc Brakes - Surge
Saltwater Package - All Stainless Hardware and Aluminum Wood Brackets 
Stainless Lug Nuts 
Aluminum Spare 
High Mount Spare Carrier 


Aluminum I-Beam 25' Boat 9000 lb capacity $6350
Torsion Axles
Aluminum Rims 
4 wheel Disc Brakes - Surge
Saltwater Package - All Stainless Hardware and Aluminum Wood Brackets 
Stainless Lug Nuts 
Aluminum Spare 
Spare Hub Spindle Carrier 

[ktm_2000]

Ouch, I don't remember paying that much for my trailer, but I didn't get rims or a spare tire.

I doubt that you need the 9k trailer, I'd lean towards the 6900# one capacity wise as it is close to what I've run successfully for years but the torsion axles of the 6400# are somewhat appealing (I've had a spring break on me).

I think but do not know for certain that Bertram's published weight did not include a fuel load so the weight could be almost 1000# more than the 4500 stated. Even so the 6400# would give you 900# or 16% reserve for extra stuff, with empty tanks even more.

[Ttownthomas]

I guess the big question in my mind is how close is the boat to 4450.

I know fiberglass gets heavier with time due to some water absorption. Whats unsettling for me is that the ads say both the FBC and the Moppie are both 4450.

[Ttownthomas]

Anybody had their open boat weighed? CamB25 says his hull weighed 3200 pounds without engines and rigging.

Read somewhere that L6 Sterndrives are 650lbs each

3200 lb
650
650
= 4500 without rigging.

[Rocket]

Is this a one time tow or will you be towing long distances regularly? Are you a leadfoot or do you noodle along at the speed limit?

I tow my 20' baron 1,500 miles each way every summer. I have done this drive about 8 times each way. I used to have a tandem axle trailer that was the right rated capacity for the boat. Many years I had problems with bearings or tires or lug nuts. I got really tired of breaking down. Two years ago I purchased a tri axle trailer that was built for a B25 and had a capacity of 9500 lbs. The thing is really long, but it tows very smoothly and is a dream to back up due to it's length. I have not had a problem ever since, I know it is massive overkill, but it allows you to hammer along at 80 mph without being stressed. I check all the bearing temps and tie downs everytime we stop for fuel which is about every 5 hours.

If it is just one trip, buy the cheap trailer, drive slowly as you can stand and you should be fine, more than one trip, go for the overkill!

[ktm_2000]

When I bought my boat I got it from Waukegan, IL and took it home to MA on a dual axle trailer rated for 4050#. I drained the tanks and took everything I could out of the boat which was detachable and heavy. I had spare tires + bearings, the tires got a bit warm so I was going slow and was regularly taking 1 hr breaks but got home without anything going wrong.

Here's a pic when I got home https://photos.app.goo.gl/Z1bnQSCHQhPDgvNb7

I agree with Rocket's theory of if you want to tow a lot, go a bit overkill but I don't think you have to do 2x the boat's rated weight. I've been fine with a trailer rated at 7250# and think that when I replace it I would go a little lighter. I am rebuilding my B25 with all composites and taking a lot of weight out of it.

[Ttownthomas]

I tow 100+ miles 5-8 times per year. And I drive fast. I have burned up plenty of hubs on my caronlina skiff trailer. I guess I know why. The dealer probably issued the minimum rated trailer. Lol.

[Ttownthomas]

Here's a pic when I got home https://photos.app.goo.gl/Z1bnQSCHQhPDgvNb7

Those wheels are dinky.

[HotSpot]

Those wheels are dinky.

Here's towards the other end of the spectrum..


I'd tend to lean toward Rocket's advice on the longer distance commutes, but honestly this thing takes up a huge amount of space in the drive way, and also sits high. On the other hand, the extra length is useful when launching at a shallow ramp.

[ktm_2000]

Yes those wheels were tiny, the Bertram was way too big for that trailer (it was for a 22' boat and rated for 4000# ) even so the Bertram made a 1000 mile trip home on it. My current trailer is much more substantial.

[CamB25]

Chris,

Is there nothing available between 6900# and 9000#? Seems like a big jump. Is the 9k trailer a dual or triple axle

I would avoid spring axles. Rust, rust, and more rust. I hauled my Scout to VA escaping from hurricane Florence and realized that somewhere along the way one of my springs had snapped in half. Lots of rust after only 1 year of in and outs.

Cam

[Rocket]

HotSpot, that's very similar to my set up



I don't think I got the photo posted correctly, it did not show up in the preview

[mike ohlstein]

[mike ohlstein]

Attsaladda boats....

[Carl]

wowww...that's a 1st.

Can't say I've ever seen a trailer mounted on top of a rack on a truck.
or a boat stacked on top of a boat on top of a trailer....with a truck pulling it with a boat mounted on top?!

I've seen marinas with less boats...


Great looking boats...but that view is pretty intense too.

[ktm_2000]

That ford must be a beast. I would have thought you'd need a dually to do what he is doing carrying the boat on top.

Most 3/4 ton trucks are good for carrying at least 2000# but I would think the work body would be pretty heavy

[Waytooslow]

I went through the trailer dilemma when I bought my Bertram in Maine (I live in Georgia). Ended up buying a Seal Lion trailer with a 7000+ capacity for around $3500 new. I was having trouble finding a used trailer for $2500 that would not need 1K to go the 1200 miles. Anyway the Sea Lion is a reasonable trailer not a great one as it has a lot of Tie Down Engineering parts on it (an Atlanta Co) and I still have not forgiven them from their earlier disk brake kits. Also I prefer spring trailers as I can replace a spring on the road but can’t do that with a torsion axle—the spring trailers are also cheaper. Finally you can have too much trailer as learned years ago when I used a trailer with 2x weight capacity (10K needed 5K) and the road shocks eventually killed all the engine gauges due to the stiff ride.

Bought from these folks: http://traileroutlet.net/product/com-7300/

[Ttownthomas]

Ended up buying this:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2019-Load-Rite ... 3211051719

[ktm_2000]

that seems like a really nice trailer, torsion axles each rated at 5k. disc all the way around. Nice!!!!

[Waytooslow]

I like the "Road Ends in Water" sign. I am sure there is a story behind that sign.