Tips to Find Cheap Boat Trailers
Summertime for many people means boating time. Whether you use your boat a lot, or just now and again, you still need to get it to the lake. For those of you who don’t have your boat at the marina, you need reliable transportation.
Many people buy their fishing boat or pontoon boat without the trailer. Even a pre-owned boat that came with a nice dual axle trailer may not be suitable for the boat. If you are using your boat regularly, then you need a good boat trailer.
There are really good, dependable and cheap boat trailers available. You will need to do your homework, but there is no shortage of places to find a good boat trailer. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Cheap Boat Trailers
While not wanting to spend top dollar on something you won’t use all that often, you still want a reliable single axle or dual axle trailer to get your boat to the water and home again.
New Trailers
It is possible to find new cheap boat trailers for less than the top retail cost. You need to do some digging around.
Boat Shows and Boat Dealerships
Boat shows are all about selling boats and accessories. Many times, they will sell off these accessories for cheap. The trailers are often used as floor models or demos.
The dealerships and boat shows still need to transport the boats around. These trailers are usually made of aluminum or galvanized steel and can be bought for a fraction of the retail sale price. Although they are slightly used, they most likely have never been off the lot. They could have been sitting in the showroom for several months or even years.
They may have slight imperfections and slight wear on the trailer tires from moving around but are basically still brand new. There may even be some that are older for sale when newer models come in for sale.
Used Boat Trailers
Finding a cheap used boat trailer is going to be the best way to save money. There are several ways to find a used trailer and several things you need to look for.
Ask Around
Just getting the word out there in your social circle will bring in ideas and leads. Ask around at work, or even put up a notice on a public bulletin board. Word travels fast this way. Someone you work with knows a guy who knows a guy.
Mention it to your family and friends. People like to look out for each other, and someone always has the inside scoop somewhere. They will also ask around, and that gets the word out without any effort on your behalf.
Check with your neighbours. They may have a small boat trailer sitting in their garage or at the cottage. They may have someone in their circle who is selling their trailer. Mention your interest when visiting your doctor, your dentist and even at your local pub.
Check Locally
Check bulletin boards at your church, the local grocery store, any community centers close to where you live. Keep your eyes open for signs in your neighbourhood, as someone may just put up a sign on their lawn.
Local, neighbourhood newspapers and newsletters have a ‘For Sale’ section where people can post notices for items they are selling. These ads are often free to post and have less competition for buyers.
Take a stroll down to your neighbourhood garage sales or boat storage locations. You may find something sitting there already, but it gives you an opportunity to mention that you are looking to buy, in case they know someone.
Boat Dealerships and Boat Shows
These companies deal with everything boat. They will often have used trailers that have been traded in, used for their own use or part of a package with the boats for sale.
Auction Sales
Attending auctions from businesses, estate sales or other types of auctions where there are larger types of items available. Police auctions can also be a great place to find cheap single axle boat trailers, as they are something that was confiscated and sold off for a very low price.
Keep an eye on foreclosure sales, as well. When businesses close, their stock is sold off for a very low price to cover their own expenses. Bad for their business but a great opportunity for you.
Scrap Yards
Scrap yards tend to have one of everything. It’s worth your while to check by and see what there is there. You may find trailer frames, leaf springs, or torsion axles to build your own bunk trailer. If you don’t mind doing a bit of work you can make one for a really low price.
Go Online
There are plenty of places to look online for used boat trailers.
Dealerships
Dealerships will have a section for selling off their used or even slightly damaged equipment. These will be in great condition, as they will have been refurbished or mended.
Often, they sell items that have been dented, scratched or slightly damaged in ways that only affect the appearance and not the performance. If you don’t care what it looks like, take a look at these sites.
Forums
Get on to a forum about boats, and you can find out almost anything you need to know. People are all too happy to hook you up to someone selling something, or maybe you will find the guy yourself.
Sales Sites
Pages for items for sale like eBay, Craigslist and the like are great places to look for used boat trailers. You can pinpoint down to your neighbourhood or expand your search for a far as you are willing to look for the right trailer.
Social Media
Get your message out far and wide. The best part about using your social media platforms is you can get as specific as you need to. You can mention size, price range, location, single axle, dual axle trailer, bunk trailer, roller trailer or anything else you are looking for.
Get your friends and followers to pass the message on and find message boards, online sales pages and hashtags similar to what you are looking for. You can find what you need within a short period of time, if not several options.
What to Look For
Buying cheap used boat trailers means you need to be a bit wary. ‘As is’ can have a lot of different meaning. Never buy an item until you can see it first, if at all possible. You want to check it over and if possible, take someone with you, as an extra pair of eyes.
Things you will want to check before buying a cheap boat trailer:
- Trailer Lights – plug it into your tow vehicle to make sure all the trailer wiring and trailer lights work.
- Trailer Brakes – while the boat trailer is plugged into the tow vehicle check the brakes of the trailer. Test the boat trailer to see if the electric/hydraulic brakes or surge brakes work
- Trailer Manufacturer – check the trailer manufacturer sticker and the gross vehicle weight rating on the used boat trailer. You want to make sure it’s going to be capable of pulling your pontoon or aluminum boat.
- Manufacturing Material – Check to see what material the trailer was manufactured. Is it a lightweight aluminum trailer or a heavy-duty painted/galvanized steel trailer.
- Trailer Tires – Always check the quality of the boat trailer tires. Does the boat trailer have new tires? Is the tire a good quality tire with thicker sidewalls or a cheap trailer tire? Are the tires cracking or signs of it not holding air? If you are hauling long distances, a good tire could save you the aggravation of a tire blow out. Smaller tires also can’t handle heavier boat weights and will be more prone to leaving you stranded on the side of the road.
- Trailer Wheel Bearings – Check to see if the boat trailer bearings need to be replaced. Jack the single or multiaxle trailer up and give the wheels a spin. It shouldn’t rumble or grind, it should spin freely.
- Boat Trailer Rollers – Is the trailer a bunk trailer or does it have boat trailer rollers instead? Spin the rollers and check for missing ones. If its a bunk trailer check the carpeting and check the bunks for cracks/damage.
Road Worthy
Check the trailer over thoroughly. You want to make sure it will be able to handle the boat. Check the tires, and make sure there is a spare tire, with tools, if possible. Make sure the frame isn’t bent or damaged.
Check for repairs, rust and other damages that may be covered up with a coat of paint. Steel frames may have been welded or repaired, and there could be some serious structural damage.
Right Size
Measure the trailer. Make sure it will fit your boat. Different trailers are made to suit different boats, and some sizes will vary depending on where it was made. Make sure it is wide enough and long enough. Measuring it will ease your mind.
The tires are important for the size and weight of the boat, plus for the distance, you plan on driving with the boat. Make sure they are the right size or that the trailer will accommodate the bigger ones.
Weight
Don’t buy a boat trailer the same weight as the boat. Add 15% weight to the boat when considering the weight allowance of the trailer. You will be adding the motor, your gear, and other items, that will take the weight over the actual weight of the boat itself.
Legal
If there isn’t any paperwork or deeds, then check for serial or identification number. You need this to register the trailer. If there isn’t one, you need to find it through other means or forget it.
You don’t want to end up with something stolen or something that had been so damaged it was written off already. It may be slapped together just to get it sold, so always check for the registration, ownership and serial numbers.
Lights and Electrics
Check that the brakes work and the brake lights come on. A burnt-out bulb is not as much of a problem as some electrical damage. You can change the bulb, but do you really want to have to rewire the trailer.
Keep in mind the trailer will be going into the water, so electric brakes may not be the best choice for those near oceans and salt water. The lights should be waterproof and covered securely.
LED lights are a better option as they are waterproof and don’t drain the electricity. They are durable and brighter than incandescent lights.
Cheap Boat Trailers, Safety First
The best advice is safety first. You want cheap boat trailers but not the worst. Don’t jump on the first one you find because it’s the lowest price. Chances are, it’s cheap for all the wrong reasons.
If you are having boat or trailer problems and unsure about what to look for, take someone with you who does know. Buying online or from strangers is fine as long as you check out all the parts and equipment.
We are here to help. Please contact us with any comments or questions you have, and we’ll be happy to help.