Drift Boat Trailers...

Hello, all.

The time has come for me to start thinking about getting a trailer for my driftboat.  I've seen a few sites online but wanted some input as to where I could look to possibly purchase a used one?   I'm in Southeast Michigan so the market is pretty much non-existent for 'local' dealers/sellers.

any ideas on where I could go online for such a thing?   Buying new isn't out of the question, but they do tend to be a bit expensive..

Thanks!

Mike

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Permalink Reply by Loren Turnquist on May 2, 2012 at 6:32pm

Try Craigslist you might end up with a old boat you have to get rid of but a small price to pay for a trailer.

Permalink Reply by Lawrence E. Long on May 3, 2012 at 7:24am

Michael: I am in a similar situation needing a trailer for a 13' peapod about 54' wide at the gunwales and about 170Lbs.  Used boat trailers around salt water here in Maine are usually in bad shape- unless galvanized.  This boat will end up in Montana so a painted rig should be OK.  I bought a new 5'x8' utility trailer from Tractor Supply' -1500 lb capacity with 13" tires.  I will be taking it to the village blacksmith and having the 4' long "ramp" cut back to 24" and welding on brackets such that it can  be supported by chains or pulled back up- like the tailgate of a truck.  Pulling off the boat the rig can be used to haul elk,topsoil,firewood etc.  When it gets out west  I will report on the performance.  This may not be a good idea but having a multiple use trailer sounds reasonable.  Am I crazy?

Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on May 3, 2012 at 7:30am

Lawrence, I had also looked at Harbor Freight trailers which I am sure are similar in concept to the Tractor Supply trailers. I was pleasantly surprised that many folks have been using them for many years with excellent results. Some of them have welded the parts together instead of relying on the supplied bolts. A quick search on Google will turn up an amazing amount of information on people's creativity with these trailers and with other converted trailers.

Michael, how about a laminated "mahogany" trailer? ha-ha

Lawrence, I am still available to help with pictures, let me know.

Rick Newman

Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on May 3, 2012 at 7:39am

Michael, are you familiar with "All of Craigslist"? Here's the link to a search I did on their site. It was for utility trailers, in the Midwest, specifically Michigan. You need to delete the last ad you view rather than click back to the site. http://www.allofcraigs.com/2011/01/craigslist-midwest.html?cof=FORI...

Rick M Newman

Permalink Reply by Michael Rosso on May 3, 2012 at 9:46am

Thanks, Rick!

I have actually checked them out.  (my wife loves the site)   I have found a few that are reasonable, but for what you can buy a no-frills trailer for new, nothing that was close enough to my place has been really worth my serious consideration.

But I bet I WOULD be the only one with a laminated Mahogany trailer... hmmm..  I will consider this carefully...

Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on May 3, 2012 at 5:22pm

It wouldn't rust!

M

Permalink Reply by Michael Rosso on May 3, 2012 at 9:42am

Lawrence,
I was thinking the same thing (about the multi-use, not you're being crazy.). But first let me just say how interesting it is to hear you speak of village blacksmiths and hauling elk as if they were normal, everyday occurrences. :)
I have considered purchasing a simple, painted trailer and then just purchasing the rollers and accessories I need then welding them on. I worked as a metal fabricator for about 8 years and still have access to all the necessary equipment.
I think you're definitely onto something!
Many thanks
Mike

Permalink Reply by Juan Antonio Murua on May 3, 2012 at 2:12pm

Hello I am blacksmith, living away from you. But if you need some idea may be able tohelp as many trailers manufactured.
Bye

Permalink Reply by Lawrence E. Long on May 4, 2012 at 6:05am

Mike:  If I had your skills and access to the equipment I would not hesitate to modify a utility trailer. The 5'x8' was about $600, winch,spare tire etc will add less than $200.  _ much cheaper than a "real" boat trailer.  You might need a larger rig depending on the length of your boat.  Get one with "Bearing Buddies"- or install your own.  My tandem axel rig for the 20' has never had a bearing failure in more than 30 years.

Good Luck.  If Rick Newman can teach me how to load pictures I will send them along.

Permalink Reply by Dave Barnes on May 4, 2012 at 4:01pm

I just found an old utility trailer, replaced all the wood, added some 2x4 crosspieces (drawn in here because I forgot to take final pic before loading boat). For the roller, I drilled holes in the back end and shoved in bedframe casters. I then mounted a furring strip along the bottom to keep them from rotating - goofy maybe, but they work like a dream. I wrapped the crosspieces in thin sheets of polyethylene (like disposable cutting boards) so they slide easily, but you could put bunk carpet. whole thing under $400, $300 for the trailer itself. includes the bearing buddies I added. The rear crosspiece, I actually mounted using gate hinges so it could pivot a few degrees and make sure there is always a flat side of 2x4 against the boat.   Not nearly as cool as a real drfitboat trailer, but they are easier to fin on Craigslist and cheap to put together.

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Permalink Reply by Phillip Westendorf on May 5, 2012 at 6:33pm

Mike,

I have the same problem as you.  The drift boat I am building will be finished this year and to date I have no trailer.  Here's what I am considering;  purchasing 2" Sq steel tubing (1/8" wall)  and fabricating a drift boat frame.  I know two guys with Hydes and they are willing to let me measure their frames and make a drawing.  That's the easy part.    There's not really too much to make one.

Steel will cost about $100-$ 120 (Alro Steel or Peerless Steel).  it comes in 20' lengths and they will cut for about $ 5 per cut.  Tractor supply has a couple of axles that will do the job.  About another $ 100 or so.  Wheels are another $ 180 or so.  You want a minimum of 12" dia wheels.  Springs & other axle mounting Hdwe another $ 100.   Lights, paint and misc hdwe about $50.  So your looking at about $ 500 big ones for a custom built one.

This isn't too difficult as I built a 6' x 10' Flat bed trailer for a snowmobile about ten years ago and it's still on the road, hauling a Polaris Quad.

Option 2;

Make the sketch and contact a trailer manufacturer.  There's lots of them in Michigan-Indiana area.  Ask them to build it for you and see what they have to say.  I live in the Great Lakes Bay Area, we have a good supplier on M-46 about 1.5 miles East of I-75.  They are called Tow-Line Trailer Sales,  989 752-0055.  They sell components too.

If you not in a hurry I'll be contacting them sometime in the future to get a quote.  Still have to make a drawing.  Not difficult, I spent 40+ yrs. as an Mfg. Engineer working for GM/Delphi.   Maybe we can work together on this and help each other out.

 

phil w.

 

Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on May 6, 2012 at 10:14am

Phil, I have looked for years for driftboat trailer drawings.I know that they are very simple, just a rectangle, triangle and a tongue. Well, a few other important parts! In my opinion I for one would appreciate your efforts. I just bought a trailer and drove 1,000 miles to get it and I live in driftboat country. I need to replace the short winch support bracket as the trailer was built for a pram. Fortunately I have one that is tall enough that came from my first trailer which unfortunately rusted out. So far from the $1,000 spent on the original boat and trailer I got a winch bracket and an anchor.

Rick Newman

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