Trailer "disolved" after 23 yrs.

J

Jack in Alaska

New member
My original Easy Loader trailer that came with my 83 C-Dory finally failed today after 23 years in/out of the salt water on many hundreds of beach launches. It started out in 1983 with a trip from Kent, Wash. to Alaska over the Alaska Hyw. The roller across the back is just about crumbled to pieces, the side bunk structures are rusted through, the bunk bolts are broken and trying to tear a hole in my boat bottom and the galvanizing is peeling off. It did it's job. No more good money spent on worn out equipment.
I am looking for a replacement and the info below is good stuff in making a decision.
I wanted a tandem axle but found a Canadian made(Roadrunner), 6000k capacity, single axle, bunk style, double galvanized, 22' length capacity with surge brakes for $2800.
Does anyone have any experience with this brand either good or bad.
The salmon are in and hitting so I need to make a quick decision.
 
Jack-

No experience with this manufacturer, but wouldn't a single axle trailer be a lot harder to launch from than a tandem in the beach sand? I'd favor a tandem with as big and wide tires as I could get mounted on it. Joe.
 
I agree with Joe, you want as much tire floatation as possible when launching from beaches and river banks. Get a tandem! My sled came with a single axle trailer and I have been stuck on the river bank 3 times trying to launch/retrieve it due to the trailer sinking up to the axle. This would not have happened if I had a tandem! And yes this was with a 4x4 truck!
 
Thanks to both of you for your ideas. When I purchased this boat/trailer, in July 1983 at the factory, it came with a single axle trailer. I asked about switching it to a tandem but Mark Toland told me that a single works better in the sand when turning/manuvering it as the wheels just roll and do not make big ruts. In my experience since then he was correct. I launched it myself in those days but in retirement I have quit doing my own brain surgery and with 4 metal hips/knees I quit launching my own boat and now hire launching out. There is a busines here that uses log skidders for beach launching and they could pull/push a boat trailer around in the sand without any wheels. Very powerful machines. They launch up to 32'x12' boats in the surf.
Today I had my old one "scabbed" back together to get by until I find a new one. The welding guy said it was like welding plate onto a window screen. As this is prime time trailers are in short supply. Others have had similar problems as me. Last winter when the rig was buried in the snow it was hard to concentrate on boat trailers.
It will work out, fish will be caught and alll wil be right with the world................Jack :D
 
Jack,
I don't have a roadrunner trailer myself, but that said they have a good reputation around here. I have compared them to EZ Loader at the Vancouver BC boat show and they seem to be better built, in part because they are welded rather than bolted together. I ended up with the EZ Loader when I bought my 25 because it was what the dealer sold and it came as a package. I think you'd be well served by the Road Runner though.
Ron
 
Jack,
I just checked the Canadian Roadrunner Trailer website. It looks like they have a much better selection of single axle trailers than most US companies. I am a big fan of single axle trailers but it is hard to find one with a large carrying capacity. Looks like Roadrunner had them up to 6000lb capacity! Sounds like a good call to me and great price.
 
I recently traded my new EZloader trailer for a new Roadrunner 4500 Long, bunk trailer. Roadrunner, in my estimation anyway for what it's worth, makes EZloader look very, very second rate.

cheers - Dave
 
Well...today I purchased the RoadRunner trailer here in Anchorage for $2840.

It is rated at 5200 lb. capacity with bunks and has a single 6000 lb axle with surge brakes and 6 leaf springs. He had those special made withy heavy axles/springs for commercial fisherman that use them for their beach skiffs. I got the last one like it that he had for this year.

I spent this evening adjusting the winch/bow roller height and location, moving the axle forward about 20" for better balance and adjusting the bunks to be flat. I made the bow roller hit the boat just when the transom is at the end of the bunks so as to give a good support. I did this all with the boat 200 miles away using measurements and good guessing. After getting the boat off of the old trailer and onto the new one I will fine tune it all.
Tomorrow I have to organize side boards to guide and keep the boat on the trailer in the rough water landings.

Last week I saw at least 10 trailers smashed when their boat hit them coming on in big waves. It is quite a show and folks line the beach watching for something to do.

Thanks for the good words about that brand. I feel the same way after working with it tonight.
 
Lining up to watch boats and trailers get smashed... Must be Alaska's version of "NASBOAT" instead of NASCAR. Sounds good on the trailer.

Now.... how is the fishing???
 
Byrdman":331qkhku said:
Lining up to watch boats and trailers get smashed... Must be Alaska's version of "NASBOAT" instead of NASCAR.
Click to expand...

We do a somewhat pale "Lower 48" equivalent while sitting in the bleachers at the Shelter Island launch ramp on a warm sunny weekend afternoon.

(Yes, the city installed benches.) :roll:

Don
 
Jack,
After looking into trailer prices last year, I know you have a bargain. My old trailer is getting ready for the bonepile, too. Would you mind telling us who is the dealer you bought the trailer from?
Thanks,
Pat
 
I just performed a complete overhaul of my 1994 EZ Loader trailer after the main crossbeams rusted through and I almost ended up dragging my transom down the highway. I must say that although the EZ Loaders may not be as good as other trailer makes with welded parts, it was nice to be able to buy 2 brand new crossmembers for about $200 instead of having to but a whole new trailer. My roller assemblies also had extensive rust, and new roller assemblies can be quite expensive to replace. I came across a paint product at our local marine store called POR-15. It is absolutely amazing stuff. Painted right over all of the rusted parts on the roller assembly and it forms a thick, watertight, rust proof seal and stops the rust dead in it's tracks. I have seen other trailers here that are painted entirely with this stuff and I have yet to see one with any new rust appearing on them. I decided to paint my whole trailer with it and it looks great....almost like having a brand new trailer. Unfortunately, I can't paint the insides of the tubular steel. However, I have noticed that the bottoms of the tubes are what tends to rust, so I tilted the trailer and poured the paint in, then raised & lowered the jack to rock the paint back & forth. I have a brake rinse hose and also picked up one of those 50 foot garden hoses from Home Depot that has lots of little holes along it's length. Will be running it inside the side rails leaving it loose enough that I can jiggle it around when rinsing off the trailer. Just need to remember to rinse out the insides of the square guide on tubes. Can't think of what more to do to try to make my trailer last.
 
Hello Bill,
Thanks for the concise and imaginative report on your trailer repairs. I'll be trying out some of your ideas as I rework my old rust bucket trailer. The hint about the paint is especially useful.
Pat
 
Yes,

POR-15 is great stuff. Until now I've tried Rustoleum rusty metal primer on rusted metal, but was never very impressed with the result. This stuff really works.

Bill Showalter
 
Sold my old 23 year old disolved trailer for $400 last week.

To be used for hauling 4 wheelers. Never to be dunked into the salt water again.

My Road Runner trailer is doing well so far. I replaced the wimpy 2x8 bunks with 4x6 timbers covered them with teflon pads.
 
Jack Just to give you more confidence in what you bought, my brother has a 1973 18' Hourston on a single axle Roadrunner trailer. The boat and trailer where used mostly in the salt chuck for its first 25 years, but now is used mostly in freshwater. It is a great trailer.
Jimbo
 
Jimbo,
Thanks for the positive note. After the 1st salt water dunk the tail lights crapped out so i am back to my old light bar. It has worked w/o problem for 5 yrs.

Jack
 
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