Trailer

Steve in Minneapolis

Steve in Minneapolis

Active Member
Jul 20, 2020
248
Minnetonka
Boat Info
2021 290 SDX
350 HP Mercruiser
Metallic blue with Sand (bar) interior
Engines
350 Mercruiser with Bravo III
If your boat has a trailer, did you order a matching Sea Ray trailer, or something else? I'm ordering, but it seems like the SR trailers are kind of expensive. One for a 29 SDX lists at $8500 to start! I only use it a few times a year, and the boat sits on it for storage. Are there any less expensive options you've had success with?
 
I bought a custom made trailer last fall from Loadmaster Trailer in Port Clinton Ohio.
Can't say enough about the quality of the trailer, and the great customer service.
 
This is a sticky subject. Not having the original matching factory trailer is a huge flaw at re-sale time. People select trailer delete when ordering, thinking that they are saving a few bucks, and they find that not having the correct trailer for a trailerable boat is a big deal. Next to ordering the wrong (small) engine, this is the quickest way to devalue a boat.
 
Interesting thought. Here, many boats don't have trailers, even if they are "trailerable" because so many people live on the lake. They take the boat to the dealer, who cleans it, winterizes, covers, stores and then relaunches in spring. So, it may not be as big a deal here. Personally, I don't want to pay the $2500 service every year for all that... so that's why I want a trailer. I do agree, if I can't save significant money, I'll get the SR trailer.
 
When ordering mine from the factory, the SR branded trailer was $4000 more than an aluminum, dual axle, dual disc brake, alloy rim, Led light loadmaster or venture trailer ordered from the same dealer. Made the choice easy.
 
My 2003 Searay trailer is from Shoreland'r, which is still in business and very responsive with reasonable parts prices. I added brakes to the 2 of 4 wheels which did not have them as my tow vehicle is relatively light. Don't know if you could get a better price on the same trailer and add your own SeaRay decals.
 
Just to follow up. I have talked to a few trailer dealers, including 2 local ShoreLandr dealers. An aftermarket trailer with 8k capacity will cost between $8k and $9k. The SR factory bunk trailer with 2 axle braking is $8500, or with rollers it's $9500. So, the savings with a new aftermarket trailer is insignificant, and the SR fitted trailer would probably fit the boat better. So, if we order the new boat, it will include a new SR trailer.
 
Wow, that sounds expensive, but sounds like you have settled in on a plan.
 
Sea Ray just contracts to an outside vendor to build trailers to spec anyway. My 220 trailer is original to the boat and not a SR brand. They build boats, not trailers.

I have had new boats from manufacturers with trailers that were barely load-rated acceptable. The bow winches were puny. Axles barely sized to carry the load.

At least with getting your own trailer, you can specify some things a little heavier duty than minimum.

My 280 is on a triple axle built by Hi-Tech Marine in Panama City, FL. Very solid trailer and sized a few thousand more GVWR than necessary.

For me, I don’t trust a dealer to provide me with a low-bid trailer on a larger boat. For smaller boats, not as critical.

BTW - I manage a mini-fleet of 15 boats from 14 to 45 feet long. All of them have a trailer - so I deal with this issue all the time. Don’t assume your factory trailer is up to the task. Educate yourself and check GVWR, bow winch load, and tire/rim load ratings.
 
Three years ago I bought a bowrider that spent its life on a lift, without a trailer. I had a Loadmaster Aluminum Trailer built (Tampa, FL). Great trailer.

The cost was similar to the factory painted trailer but after having 3 of those on prior boats, the aluminum was a no brainer (and I'm in freshwater). Higher quality, not painted steel to get paint chips and rust, and easier maintenance.

I had no issues with resale.
 
DWABoat said:
Sea Ray just contracts to an outside vendor to build trailers to spec anyway. My 220 trailer is original to the boat and not a SR brand. They build boats, not trailers.

I don’t trust a dealer to provide me with a low-bid trailer on a larger boat. For smaller boats, not as critical.

BTW - I manage a mini-fleet of 15 boats from 14 to 45 feet long. All of them have a trailer - so I deal with this issue all the time. Don’t assume your factory trailer is up to the task. Educate yourself and check GVWR, bow winch load, and tire/rim load ratings.
Click to expand...
Yes, that is correct that Sea Ray does not build their own trailer. But, just as an FYI, and I believe the OP already knows this based on his responses, the "Sea Ray" trailer is a ShoreLand'r trailer. SL is by no means a low-bid trailer. They are not inexpenisve, but they are a fantastic trailer - even overbuilt. Given what I do for a living, I see many different brands of trailers and, obviously, a boat load of SL's! I'm not putting another brand down, but SL is definitely top notch.

SL's are available as either painted or galvanized - user preference.

Case in point... I had one under my 260DA (close to 10K gross) - a dual axle. Trailering home on the highway, about 70mph, I started to feel a very, very slight shake in the steering wheel. Checked mirrors, didn't notice anything. After about 30 seconds I saw it... smoke from a wheel! Started to pull over to the side of the road and my passengers asked why. I said we had blown a trailer tire. Nobody in the truck had any idea - I barely knew. The tire was absolutely trashed - tread was completely separated from the rest. That trailer was so well built that it fully supported everything, even with just one active wheel on the port side. No damage to anything else - changed the tire and was right back on the road.

Steve, you can certainly get the same trailer by buying it yourself. And it will be the same thing. Just make sure you're taking into account shipping and the time to properly setup the trailer. There's also something to be said for "easy" and buying it as a package.

Side note... in the smaller boats, the SL trailer that comes with the boat IS less expensive than buying the SL trailer outright. But that's because of the volume discount that SR gets since pretty much all of the smaller boats are trailered - while much less of the bigger ones are.
 
I am adding a power winch to retrieve my 20' SeaRay on a bunk trailer. Currently, I either wade in to my crotch or back into the water 5 more feet half way the retrieval. This retrofit requires a new winch post as the Profile 2000 can't be converted. Now the rig may be too long for my garage. A roller trailer might have been easier.
 
I had a trailer under my ‘06 260DA. The manufacture used very poor components-bearing, tires, etc. It took about 2 years to go through it all and replace. When done, I stripped the graphics, purchased SR graphics off of ebay and everyone thought it was a factory SR trailer......

Bennett
 
Steve are you still looking for a trailer? I had one built for our 290DA from Venture trailers here in MD. Triple axle with upgraded EOH brakes. Its beefier than needed but I wanted something quality, and more importantly, safe. Long story short we ended up moving and got a wet slip. The trailer has maybe 250 miles on it and is almost brand new. If your interested PM me and we can maybe work out a deal. Its their bunk 10625 trailer with 12625 weight and brake specs.

Matt
 
Last edited:
Lazy Daze said:
Yes, that is correct that Sea Ray does not build their own trailer. But, just as an FYI, and I believe the OP already knows this based on his responses, the "Sea Ray" trailer is a ShoreLand'r trailer. SL is by no means a low-bid trailer. They are not inexpenisve, but they are a fantastic trailer - even overbuilt. Given what I do for a living, I see many different brands of trailers and, obviously, a boat load of SL's! I'm not putting another brand down, but SL is definitely top notch.

SL's are available as either painted or galvanized - user preference.

Case in point... I had one under my 260DA (close to 10K gross) - a dual axle. Trailering home on the highway, about 70mph, I started to feel a very, very slight shake in the steering wheel. Checked mirrors, didn't notice anything. After about 30 seconds I saw it... smoke from a wheel! Started to pull over to the side of the road and my passengers asked why. I said we had blown a trailer tire. Nobody in the truck had any idea - I barely knew. The tire was absolutely trashed - tread was completely separated from the rest. That trailer was so well built that it fully supported everything, even with just one active wheel on the port side. No damage to anything else - changed the tire and was right back on the road.

Steve, you can certainly get the same trailer by buying it yourself. And it will be the same thing. Just make sure you're taking into account shipping and the time to properly setup the trailer. There's also something to be said for "easy" and buying it as a package.

Side note... in the smaller boats, the SL trailer that comes with the boat IS less expensive than buying the SL trailer outright. But that's because of the volume discount that SR gets since pretty much all of the smaller boats are trailered - while much less of the bigger ones are.
Click to expand...

Lazy,
Good post. I completely agree with everything you said. Sea Ray is not a “low bid” dealer, in my opinion. That is why I own two Sea Rays and will only purchase Sea Rays in the future.
Having owned Larson, Bayliner, VIP, Sea Ark, RV campers, etc...it is just beaten into me that I don’t trust a sales team to spec the right thing for me in anything - boats, trucks, RV trailers, etc. I have gotten some really flimsy trailers over the years.

I am a firm believer we should all educate ourselves and be aware of what we need instead of trusting someone else.

When I bought my 2017 Rockwood travel trailer, I even crawled under the trailer before we bought it to check the axle load ratings.

I should have prefaced my comment with my belief that SR will provide a good trailer - but still check it!!

In God We Trust, all others, we crawl under the trailer and look for ourselves.

d
 
Thanks for all the excellent replies! Yes, understood that it's a SL trailer. I agree it seems expensive, but in the end, it sounds like it's reasonable, at least compared to others. And, there is the issue of fitting it to the boat.

Funny thing is that I've tried to find a local trailer dealer without much luck. They don't call back, don't have info, or don't want to be helpful. So, considering the convenience, and everything involved, we will probably get the factory trailer. I've learned a lot from you guys! Thanks so much for being so helpful! MDolesh, I'll send PM.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,143
Messages
1,427,143
Members
61,054
Latest member
MrMckinzey
Back
Top