toughest Nt trailer : Trailers

crocbt · Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 11:43 am Post subject: toughest Nt trailer

Time for a new trailer and wanted every one thoughts on the toughest trailer for NT conditions. Also looking for little tricks which help look after the boat on rough roads. Looking at mackay of road series http://www.mackaytrailers.com/boat-trailers/off-road.
your ideas and photos would be great :cheers:

nomad · Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 12:26 pm Post subject: Re: toughest Nt trailer

Voyager seem ok as well
The best way to stop bashing your boat about is to SLOW DOWN.
When youre sitting in your 4wd and the ride is smooth, you wouldnt believe how much of a flogging your trailer cops

Swoffa · Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 1:29 pm Post subject: Re: toughest Nt trailer

Voyager is by far the best that I have found. Excellent product and fantastic after sales support and assistance.

Depending upon the size of your boat, I would definitely recommend dual axle as it really reduces the effects of corrugations.

Jimjanski · Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 1:43 pm Post subject: Re: toughest Nt trailer

Just speaking from personal experience, im currently running a telwater alloy trailer, Honestly a dunbar galvo trailer would of been better, never had a problem with a dunbar, i'm currently on my second telwater trailer, the first got pinched (first low point is that they look pretty so people want them.) the second reason is i have had to upgrage nearly everything on it, including tightning up most of the bolts on the trailer. the break calipers have rattled loose, jammed and locked one of the wheels on stuart hiways at 90kn/h (was a wakeup call), i have blown the right bearing near corroborie and had to upgrade the axel and hubs, jockey wheel, i have also had to upgrade to lights to make it strong enought to do some fording, lost both lights on the adelaide river floodplain doing the long crossing (slowly as well). Telwater alloy trailers dont handle the territory very well, they look the good and are quite light but definatly a sealed road trailer (warranty is also completly void if you take it off road. Fine if all you fish is the harbour) , (brand new around $4000, the ammount i have spent upgrading it would probably equal ) Dunbar galvo trailers are one of my favourites and have been the least hastle and most reliable trailer I have experenced.

AM · Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 3:44 pm Post subject: Re: toughest Nt trailer

I have an FMS Trailer under a 9 meter plate boat , no rollers all skids 3 years old just perfect, but not cheap. I re do bearings each christmas and check brakes still havent touched them always on the dundee road, the bloke who builds them is a gem, I never even met him and he fitted the boat to the trailer and the transport guys brought the lot up.
2 rods second opinion?

Basstad · Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 4:59 pm Post subject: Re: toughest Nt trailer

Voyager do a good trailer,LT tyres standard aswell as Ford H/Duty bearings as standard and a good brake system where the pads are bolted in.

Daves trailers are better out of the box than most of the other's,the full keel roller system is just about impossible to get off of the other manufacturers but is standard on his,i went tandem this time with roller rocker springs which is impossible unless custom made but is just an option with Voyager.

Remember all of your beloved hard earned boat rides on the trailer and at the end of the day doing a roadside fix or even worse can be really costly it is well worth spending the cash upfront and getting the best you can possibly buy first time.........i've been stuck on the side of the road with mates gear that is nowhere near up to the task and it usually ruin's a trip...........don't get caught out............and do your maitenence.

Basstad · Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 5:06 pm Post subject: Re: toughest Nt trailer

I had a look at the trailer in your link..........that spare wheel would snap off after 1000k of corrogated dirt road IMO..........spares should mount directly onto the 'A" frame and lay flat on the trailer IMO......seen too many break their mounts off otherwise.

DOUG · Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 5:47 pm Post subject: Re: toughest Nt trailer

Are your roller rockers galvanized ??

2rods · Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 6:45 pm Post subject: Re: toughest Nt trailer

Yep... They make a good trailer.. One of the better ones around...

Voyager makes good trailers too.. But check your bearings when you get one :-)

and if you like your boat look at wheelbarrow tyres instead of skids.... And either spray the trailer with soft seal... Lanolin or sump oil... Inside and out...

AM wrote:

I have an FMS Trailer under a 9 meter boat , no rollers all skids 3 years old just perfect, but not cheap. I re do bearings each christmas and check brakes still havent touched them always on the dundee road, the bloke who builds them is a gem, I never even met him and he fitted the boat to the trailer and the transport guys brought the lot up.
2 rods second opinion?

MattyA · Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 6:50 pm Post subject: Re: toughest Nt trailer

Mate I've got a Dunbier trailer, galvanised and dual axle. All rollers, its a drive on jobby and is pretty solid. I can't fault it. The bloke that had it before me took it on lots, and lots of dirt and no problems. I've had it on some crappy roads too and hasn't been an issue.

As said above, maintenance is key, plus slowing down so your gear doesn't get flogged pretty important.

I have mates with Voyager trailers and they rave about them. You don't ever see one on the side of the road so they must be alright.

Cheers

Matt

crocbt · Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 7:11 pm Post subject: Re: toughest Nt trailer

MattyA wrote:

Mate I've got a Dunbier trailer, galvanised and dual axle. All rollers, its a drive on jobby and is pretty solid. I can't fault it. The bloke that had it before me took it on lots, and lots of dirt and no problems. I've had it on some crappy roads too and hasn't been an issue.

As said above, maintenance is key, plus slowing down so your gear doesn't get flogged pretty important.

I have mates with Voyager trailers and they rave about them. You don't ever see one on the side of the road so they must be alright.

Cheers

Matt

i currently have a dudbier and am in the process of on a warranty claim that is why im looking elsewhere don't want to say to much yet but they have alot of excuses when it is finalised i will let you know how i go :evil:

MattyA · Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 7:32 pm Post subject: Re: toughest Nt trailer

[/quote] i currently have a dudbier and am in the process of on a warranty claim that is why im looking elsewhere don't want to say to much yet but they have alot of excuses when it is finalised i will let you know how i go :evil:

[/quote]

That doesn't sound good mate, mine is 7 years old now, maybe they aren't made like they used to be? I really can't fault mine, although it's not uncommon for a lemon of any brand of anything to come along sometimes, I think they call them "Monday trailers" or "Friday trailers" cos they're either made on a Monday when everyone is thinking about the weekend they just had, or on a Friday when everyone is thinking about the coming weekend!

Cheers

Matt

mako · Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 8:11 pm Post subject: Re: toughest Nt trailer

One way to care for your trailer (and boat too) is to lighten your boat as much as possible by placing items in your tow vehicle. The other thing is to have the tiedown not too tight. A mate did a rough dirt trip with his tinny and literally 'pushed in' his floor and the boat did not perform very well after that. Long skids are essential to distribute load.

Basstad · Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 9:56 pm Post subject: Re: toughest Nt trailer

mako wrote:

One way to care for your trailer (and boat too) is to lighten your boat as much as possible by placing items in your tow vehicle. The other thing is to have the tiedown not too tight. A mate did a rough dirt trip with his tinny and literally 'pushed in' his floor and the boat did not perform very well after that. Long skids are essential to distribute load.

Skids on an alloy boat should NOT bear weight they are only there to stabilize the hull,the center rollers should take the weight on alloy boats right along the keel or centerline that is their structual backbone.
The more rollers the better,overloading boats on trailers is asking for hull damage.....been there done that.

Over tight ratchet straps can cause cracks on the chine and transom corners on some weaker hulls........Tie them down firm and regulary check them......coming loose usually causes more damage.

Brent Matthews · Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 10:08 pm Post subject: Re: toughest Nt trailer

Dunbier = Aspro (had 2) lasted 3 years each but there cheap too
Telwater Alloy = Disaster - Cracking aluminium members and u bolts and p..s poor after sales service. (been trying to get a replacement guard for 3 months)
Older telwater galve were good. Circa 2006
Mackay not not bad
Next one I get I will pay the money and get a Voyage tandem with wheelbarrow wheels.

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