hardyboy

For those who haven't heard about us... we are Tomahawk Trailers, Inc. located in Milton. We specialize in new aluminum boat trailers. You may have seen our Starline model rolling through the streets.



Long story short, we are asking...



What kind of trailer is your boat sitting on? Hi-Tech, Magictilt, Loadmaster, home-made, etc.???

Is it a single, tandem or triple axle trailer?

What do you like about your trailer?

What irks you about your trailer? Any issues you have faced?



We are simply looking to compare our current design against the likes/dislikes of local boat-trailering individuals like yourself. We are not posting this to bring on the bashing of our competitors products, for there is surely to be plenty of praise for a number of their products. We simply want some honest input on your personal trailer experiences.



Your input is appreciated.

billin

Magic Tilt. I would like to see someone in the trailer industry come up with and offer a trailer with all the common sense stuff already on it. Such as a spare tire and a jack. I understand that this varies by region as to what sholud be considered standard but it is a safe assumption that in a saltwater community people would want or will need and dont know stainless bolts etc. whereas in the great lakes region it aint a big deal. I would like to see someone start offering a salt water series and a fresh water series.

snapperfan

In the last 8 years I have had a 2002 ShoreLand?r aluminum, 1973 Magic Tilt galvanized, and a 1997 Rocket galvanized.



The Rocket is still in good shape. I have been through several sets of springs but that's to be expected in saltwater use.



The Magic Tilt was okay for it's age but the rear cross member was nearly rusted through where the bunk brackets attached.



The 2002 ShoreLand?r aluminum was a total POS. Aluminum frame, galvanized cross members and cadmium plated bolts are NOT a good mix in saltwater. Guaranteed to corrode. All trailer builders need to read up on galvanic corrosion and crevice corrosion. After two years I started replacing the fasteners with SS to keep if from falling apart. The el cheapo tail light sockets were corroded beyond repair after about a dozen dunks in saltwater. The side marker lights did not even last that long.



Why does nearly every trailer manufacturer sell trailers that are not road legal for use in Florida? (i.e. Gross weight over 3000 lb. requires brakes on ALL wheels?)







(3) BRAKES ON ALL WHEELS.--Every vehicle shall be equipped with brakes acting on all wheels except:



(a) Trailers, semitrailers, or pole trailers of a gross weight not exceeding 3,000 pounds, provided that:



1. The total weight on and including the wheels of the trailer or trailers shall not exceed 40 percent of the gross weight of the towing vehicle when connected to the trailer or trailers; and



2. The combination of vehicles, consisting of the towing vehicle and its total towed load, is capable of complying with the performance requirements of s. 316.262.

InshoreCommander

It'd be easier to just bring mine by and have you "fix" all of the problems on my 3 year old trailer.

Captain DP

In the last 3 years I have had an Ameritrial, Starline, and a magictilt.

The ameritrail was probably the worst, I had to replace every light, wire and brakeson it in about a year.

The starline I didn't keep long but the person I sold it to has recently had issues. I'm sure he will chime in soon.

The magictilt has been the best I have only replaced one light, aground connection and they sent me a set of lug nuts b/c the originals rusted (free).

As far as suggestions: I think it would be a great idea to keep all the ground wires run back to the tounge of the trailer so they stay out of the saltwater "Most" of the time.

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hardyboy

Thanks for your responses. Keep 'em coming!

Jighead

I have a Kenner cc on a single axle Tracker trailer. I like the swing away tounge seems to be a good trailer. It has the side step that runs from the fender all the way to the back of the trailer. This is a good feature unless you want to add guides on the side. I have not found the PVC style or the horizontal carpeted guides withkit that does not require me to cut holes in the step.Most of the ramps near my home are very steep and getting the boat on the trailer usually requires leaving the trailer too shallow, then backing the truck down deeper then cranking it the rest of the way. If I back the truck too far down the boat will float over the fenders:banghead:banghead:banghead. Any ideas?

cuzmondo

hardyboy,

Kudo's to you for seeking input. As with all things, price is usually a consideration, so the more you can do and include, at a good price/quality point will go a long way toward helping sales and keeping up your reputation.

I feel I have to tell you that my last trailer was an Owen's and Sons. By far the best trailer I've ever owned, or seen bar none. It was an aluminum frame, with torsion axles, and Kodiak discs. It was so great and towed so well that I was interested in buying another when I bought the current boat I own. I priced them and found I could buy an equivalently (sp) made, but smaller trailer for my current boat for about $600 more than I paid for the DHM trailer I ended up buying. The DHM I bought is a decent trailer; it's aluminum, torsion axles with Kodiak discs, and so I thought comparable to the Owen's and Sons, for $600 less, but mainly I didn't have to travel to Tampa to get it. If I had it to do over I wouldn't hesitate to drive to Tampa and pay the additional $600. As I mentioned, the DHM is "decent", but they did cut some corners. For example, the fender supports are flimsy, rather than have a crossmember running the complete width and mounting the fender supports to it, they simply clamped on two short pieces of aluminum tubing to the fram and mounted the fenders to that. Not really a structural problem, but a cheap shortcut. Also, I don't believe they did much of anything to align the axles. All four tires wear excessively on just the inside edges. One trip to the Keys and back (barely) and they're shot. My O & S trailer was towed all over Florida before I got it and after and the tires were like new when I sold it. It was perfectly aligned.

lobsterman

I have a loadmaster trailer dual axle and I absolutely, possitively hate the mickey mouse oil fill axle caps. I have had problems with mybearings and seals more times than I can count. I need to replace 2 spindles and hubs right now as we speak, but they won't be that kind for sure.

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Just_Ducky

I have a magictilt 2 axle and its all I need. No issues and I didn't buy it new.