 The
weight of the trailer is another important consideration.
The carrying capacity of a trailer is based on the weight
the axle can support and the weight rating of the tires.
Tandem axle trailers usually have 4000+ lbs. plus axle
capacity. Some cheap tires only carry 800 lb. so on a tandem
axle trailer the capacity would only be 3200 lbs. The axles
might support 4000 lbs, but the tires might only support
3200 lbs. The weight of the trailer is deducted from the
capacity. A trailer with 3200 tires weighing 800 lbs. is
capable of carrying 2400 lbs.
Some trailer manufacturers don’t think you’re going to
travel, and skimp on tires, lights, and bracing. You can
recognize these things by looking at the trailer. The same
companies skimp on the strength of their frames by using
thin-walled steel. Buyers often assume that all 4” or 5”
trailer frames are made of “strong” steel, but they’re not.
Most people selling trailers won’t know anything about the
steel. But by looking at the way the trailer is braced and
the weight (on the title or in the literature) you’ll learn
a lot.
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MANUFACTURER COMPARISONS
Manufacturers not shown do not
have their weight in their literature on websites. |
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Our PMI-224 with
4" brake frame is 1100 lbs.
Our PMI-224-SD with 5” frame is
1400 lbs.
Mid-America PT-24T with 4" frame 980 lbs.
Mid-America PT-24THD with 5" frame 1190 lbs.
EZ Loader™ TEZP-22-24 with 5" frame 1157 lbs.
Yacht Club™ P2435 with 4" frame is 1020 lbs.
Yacht Club™ P2444 with 5" frame is 1040 lbs.
The Yacht Club 5” frame is ONLY 20 lbs. heavier than
their 4” frame. (?) Must be thin walled 5” steel.
Karavan™ 22-25 4" frame varies 900 lbs. to 1085 lbs.
Hoosier™ WFB-224 4" frame is 840 lbs.
Wolverine™ 24 TAB 4" frame is 720 lbs.
Genesis™ PT-24S 4" frame is 650 lbs.
Most reputable national companies 24’ tandem axle
trailers weigh about 1,000 lbs. PLUS |
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Trailer tires, lights,
and bunks weigh about the same. 10” or 12” tires might be
lighter than 13” but these differences might only amount to
50 lbs. The Yacht Club 4” frame is 80 lb. less than the our
4” frame while the Yacht Club 5” frame is 60 lbs. lighter
than our 4” frame. Our 5” frame weighs 360 lb. more than the
Yacht Club 5” frame. If you pay extra for a 5” frame
it’s pointless if it’s made of thin wall steel.
Weights are taken from the manufacturers’ websites or price
lists. We were surprised by the light weight of the
Wolverine and Genesis but the information is from their
source. When a trailer weights half of competition, it seem
odd. That trailer should cost a lot less, it has half the
steel. Trailer weight is required on the statement of origin
and it’s an important DOT number.
The weight of the trailer tells you how much steel you have
supporting your pontoon. For a small pontoon with a small
engine it might not matter. But if you have a 3500 lb.
pontoon with a 400 HP engine the trailer weight is a guide
to the strength of your trailer. Elsewhere we outline the
stress, bucking and twisting, that affects pontoon trailers
that doesn’t affect ordinary boat trailers. Carrying
capacity is meaningless if you have a weak frame. A 5” frame
is not a benefit if it’s made of thin walled steel.
 We
say that you won’t have trouble on the road with a tandem
axle trailer. This image is on the internet and this person
certainly had problems. The trailer is one of those
light-weight narrow axle wheelbase models.
We don’t want to frighten anyone, but you’ll be the one
standing on the side of the road if you have trouble.
You must pay attention to what you’re getting in a trailer.
A wide axle trailer
(96” is best) and a trailer that weighs more than 650 lbs.
would have probably prevented this. |
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Trailers for Pontoons