Boat Trailers Among boat dealers, one of the top lines of boat trailers is built by Load Rite . All of their steel trailers are HOT DIP GALVANIZED where the whole frame and its components are submerged in hot galvanizing solution so all the crevasses and the inside of the frame are fully coated so the chance of rust is practically nonexistent. The frames and the axles are heavier duty than anyone else's. Load Rite also makes all heavy duty aluminum boat trailers where rust is virtually impossible. The aluminum trailers are preferable for salt water application. All trailers are available with single, double, triple and quadruple axles depending on the length and weight of the boat.
Hydraulic brakes, inertia style, are available on all the trailers. We prefer disc brakes to shoe brakes. Stopping is faster, less problematic and from a maintenance standpoint they are much easier. All the trailers starting with 2,000 pound capacity are available with brakes from single to quadruple axle brake systems.
All trailers are available with rollers as well as bunks. We prefer bunks as they provide better boat support especially for aluminum boats. No aluminum boat manufacturer will warranty an aluminum boat with a roller trailer. We have seen aluminum boat hulls with multiple stress cracks that were impossible to fix where the rollers were supporting the boat. The boats subsequently had to be scrapped. On fiberglass boat we still prefer bunks as they provide better support and eliminate indentations that develop on the fiberglass wherever the roller was supporting the boat. Now "LIQUID ROLLER" is available in spray cans and that makes the launching of the boat slicker than ice.
Many customers have called to inquire about 10-12' john boat trailers. No such thing exists. Nobody builds a trailer for a 10-12' boat as it financially does not make sense since a 16' 800 pound capacity trailer costs within $10 of an especially built 10-12' john boat trailer. NICK's MARINE stocks from 16' 800 pound to 32' 12,000 pound capacity trailers.
When you shop around, remember that trailers are just like cars or anything else. You can buy a Hyundai for $13,000 or a Rolls Royce for $500,000. Both of them will take you there and back if you are looking for transportation but, obviously, some people prefer the Rolls Royce because it is the best, gives you the best ride, the best reliability, the easiest use and the most comfort. We have had customers bring their boats in on cheap trailers less that 1 year old with buckled frames, bent axles and bent hubs. Keep in mind that you do get what you pay for. It does not make sense to go cheap on a trailer when the cost of the boat may be 20-30 times the cost of the trailer.