I think the Pacific trailer is well worth the money. Over the years I have towed from Southern California to the San Juans, Lake Havasu several times, up and down the CA coast and just towed back from Olympia WA when I purchased the boat back. I try to keep it at 65mph or under but let's just say I know it will tow like a charm at 80mph. I am always towing with a truck first an F250 with a 460 motor and now with an F250 Super Duty diesel which is way overkill for a Monty 17 so if you are towing with a marginal tow vehicle than yes you probably could get a trailer that is a fair bit lighter than the Pacific. [image: width=] <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail> Virus-free.www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2> On Fri, Aug 12, 2022 at 1:32 PM John Schinnerer via montgomery_boats < montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> wrote:
Yeah, Pacific is the "OEM" trailer maker as I understand it, but expensive, and IMO way overbuilt so you are dragging around a couple hundred extra pounds of trailer. Plus if you're far from their location, shipping will be painful $$.
Depending on your location you can perhaps find a local fabricator with boat trailer chops. Don't try and have them custom fit a solid weld for bunk supports and all that. You just need a carcass (frame, suspension/axle, tongue - get an extendable tongue while you're at it) and then you (or someone else if you're not DIY handy) bolt on the adjustable bunk holders and other brackets. With those you can then adjust the bunks to suit. Trailer fab shops can get those parts, or you can get them from online retailers such as https://www.etrailer.com/Boat-Trailer
Speaking of which, depending on how the frame of your current trailer with rollers is fabbed, you might be able to just pull off the rollers and put on bunk brackets/stand-offs and bunks.
I looked into custom trailer carcass with a local fabricator some years ago. In case it's useful to others here:
His approach was to use all open "C" section steel (except for the tongue/extension where full box might be necessary). He said with the open "C" frame construction, water (salt or fresh) is never trapped inside the frame like with full box construction. Everything dries out. If used to launch in salt water, whole frame can easily be rinsed in fresh. Whereas full box construction always traps some water inside and/or stays wet much longer inside. He did aluminum fabrication, but didn't recommend it unless one had money to burn. More pieces and/or heavier material needed vs. steel so higher costs for both material and fabrication. He said the plain steel could last a long time with the open "C" section material, no trapped water/moisture, and galvanized was problematic because a facility big enough to dip a whole trailer frame in is not easy to find. Galvanized metal can be welded, but it is not commonly done as it generates very hazardous fumes.
Haven't done anything yet but that is what I would do if I decide to get a replacement trailer.
cheers, John
On 8/12/22 12:34, sailhavasu via montgomery_boats wrote:
Just priced out a galvanized trailer from Pacific in SoCal. Right around 5k to 5.5k depending on some options. I considered selling my steel trailer and just getting a new one , it for the moment I decided not to. Wait time was over 8 weeks.
On Aug 12, 2022, at 12:24 PM, John Schinnerer via montgomery_boats < montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> wrote:
Where in the country are you located?
Salt water, or fresh, or some of both?
cheers, John
On 8/12/22 11:32, Kirby Stross wrote: My EZ load galvanized trailer for my M-17 is still serviceable but am thinking of upgrading it to a bunk style in Aluminum or Galvanized. Any manufacturers suggested, Welcome. Maintenance on my aging 1985 trailer is getting tougher due to rusted, frozen parts. EZ loader still has many spare parts but they are out of stock on the shorter roller cross beams. Best Regards Kirby S.
-- John Schinnerer - M.A., Whole Systems Design -------------------------------------------- - Eco-Living - Whole Systems Design Services People - Place - Learning - Integration john@eco-living.net - 510.982.1334 http://eco-living.net http://sociocracyconsulting.com
-- John Schinnerer - M.A., Whole Systems Design -------------------------------------------- - Eco-Living - Whole Systems Design Services People - Place - Learning - Integration john@eco-living.net - 510.982.1334 http://eco-living.net http://sociocracyconsulting.com