Boat trailers

In order to check how much it will cost to make the frame, I would need to find out the dimensions of the aluminum beams. Any suggestions?
I know I will have to seek advice from an engineer, as Par suggests - but to find out if it is cost efficient to get going on the project at all, I'd like to estimate the cost of the entire trailer. Do you guys have an approximate guesstimate of the dimensions needed of aluminum and/or galvanized steel on the trailer?

Thanks!

 

You may be much better off refitting an older trailer with the size and material of your liking. I have an aluminum "I" beam triple for my Chris and I wouldn't even think about trying to bend the beams on that thing, and I've tried some pretty wild stuff over the years. I also have both box section and structural "C" channel type trailers. These have bent pieces on them as well, but could be welded to shape.

Axles, hubs, springs and the like can be had mail order or through a parts store. I regularly knock the races and bearings out of any new to me trailers and replace with fresh stock. Hardware additions or replacement is simple enough.

Welding on a brace or cross piece is easy enough, though aluminum isn't easy to weld well without lots of practice. Other then the adjustments and fitting required for any trailer, I can't see how you'd save much over the mass produced units. Your material costs would be higher because you wouldn't be buying the bulk the plants are and the same would apply for the parts and hardware.

The design and engineering costs may exceed the purchase price of a good used trailer.

As far as pricing, ask a metal supplier to give you a price on 80' of 4" channel. This would get you in the ball park for a 25' boat. Then pick up a Tractor Supply catalog and price out axles, hubs, wheels, tires, bunk hardware, brakes, hitch, springs, etc. You'll find the price way out of line once totaled up, using full retail values. This would not count the engineering, welding and fabrication costs necessary for completion.

 

PAR,
Thanks. You are probably right. However, I am looking at mass producing the trailer if it is significantly better than existing trailers and in the ballpark as far as price goes. Should the 4" be used on the entire frame?

All welding will be done by a professional welding shop, so they should do it with proper quality. Once the prototype has been made, I can order a quantity from Taiwan.

...but if it was only for me, I'd settle with a plain production model.

 

Lars, sit down with an engineer and have a frank discussion on trailer design.

Mass produced trailers are intended to serve a range of weights with little more then hardware upgrades. In other words, the basic frame for a trailer may be used as a single axle rated for 1,500 pounds or a tandem rated at 3,000.

This means the trailer is over sized (read unnecessarily heavy and costly) as the 1,500 pound example above and the 3,000 pound version a better match for the money invested as the size of the materials and capacity are matched better.

Mass produced trailers also need be built with some speed or you'll pay out the nose on labor costs. This means the design will reflect this and also why we see so many mandrel bent box section rigs on the market. It's a fast and strong construction method, not as long lived as other methods, but not an issue after the sale.

It boils down to, how much improvement can you and your design/engineering team develop into a trailer. Once you establish that you can make major improvements in trailer design, you have to decide if it's cost effective to offer a better trailer to the market. Market analyses with your sales/marketing staff will ultimately be the go or no go vote on the project and would be the thing I'd do first.

What you may find after all this research is that the market is open to a real improvement in trailer design, but not willing to spend the extra dollars to have one. There are so many lesser quality/designed trailers available, not quite as friendly, but still serviceable for the use intended.

In my experience, I've found the owners of small boats generally don't know much about trailers nor the operation and care of them. As a result, I see boats sitting on poorly fitted trailers, damage caused by improper loading/launching and shortened lives for both boat and trailer. Its at the larger end of the trailer scale that I see some thought from the owners. It's harder to launch and retrieve a 27' power cruiser, harder to tow and requires deliberate steps taken. These trailers will have good guides, brakes, bunks, rollers, winch etc. as they need be or the mass of the craft will crush an undersized or cheap part. The investment in a larger boat will require the same in a trailer.

In this country, over 80% of the pleasure craft are under 20'. This is the small end of the trailer scale, most could get by with a single axle, no brakes and single speed hand cranked winch. Brakes are necessary in hilly areas and on heavier craft, but most don't fall into this category.

Run a market analyses and see what shakes out.

Good Luck,

 

Owner Lower Creek Enterprises

Where can I buy heavy duty torsion axels? I want quads to haul a 12,000
lb gross weight incuding a 32 ft. Owens. Thanks for any help.

 

No idea. Sorry.

 

hey there:
for anyone out there who wants to build their own trailers or do a trailer upgrade should look at this site and company.
www.magnaplas.com
there located in Washington (WA) a new company starting out here in the USA, but have been in Australia for 15-20 years. and australian trailers are awsome.
Goto there photo gallery on there web site and youll see what i mean.
This company supplys all of australia's leading boat trailer companies and will be here in the US too.
I think there site is still under construction, but you get a good idea on there products.
I upgraded my trailer, simply looks amazing, and works like a dream i couldnt believe it.
IF you wanna ask me any questions about my trailer how it was and how it is now, jsut pm me. other wise get in contact with the company, youll be glad you did...
www.magnaplas.com

hope they can help you.
Regards.
JM

 

Sounds a little sales-pitchy to me JM, but looks like good stuff. Too bad my boat's fiberglass

 

haha, absolutley, of course i would wanna try tell people about these rollers, i know of many people who have damaged there boats from there trailers, If i can help out my fellow boaters, then im deffinently going to do it

Cheers.

 

What kind of boat do you have? Perhaps you could provide a picture of it and your trailer.

Regards;
Mike Schooley

 

Hi Folks.
My Names Ed.
Refering to a previous message here from JM (Josh92)
I infact am starting up Magna Plas Marine Prodcuts for boat trailers.

Let me tell you about my company.
Magna Plas has been operating since 1985 in Melbourne, Australia.
And now after 19 years of research and development in the Australian market, supplying all of Australias Big trailer companies, It's time to introduce our product to the US market.

Our boat rollers, guides, slicks, bunks and bumper covers are specifically designed for use on Aluminum Boats.
We manufacture our Rollers & Slicks out of Magnalene (Polyethylene) which due to the nature of the material, unlike the standard rubber rollers do not cause cracking or splitting, and have a guarenteed lifespan of Min 20years.

At present as a new company we are still in discussion with distributors and stores to sell our products.
But are also setting up a store online where you can purchase online...

If you have any questions about our products or for more information email me at info@magnaplas.com or check out our website at www.magnaplas.com

Thanks for your time.
Ed