Sub $1K kit trailers...

They are the biggest out there for several states, that's why I mentioned it for you. They generally have the best price on anything, they also have some used stuff, but I think that would be bigger trailers. I thought a landscape trailer if you could get it right would work for a raft.
 
I've been down the kit trailer road. Harbor freight and Northern Tool. I don't recommend them. I made a boat trailer from the Harbor Freight offering they called the red trailer for my first Momarsh Fatboy. The trailer twisting and vibration caused a rub through on the hull. I bought the one Northern tool offered. It was advertised as heavy duty. I had to order that one. I took it back when I discovered the only difference was 12" tires rather than 8" on the Harbor Freight. I hope you find one that fits your needs. Maybe a modified Malone kayak trailer would work.
 
Carl said:
Yep, I've looked at new trailer prices, they sure aint as cheap as they used to be!
With how salty the water is down here even in the bays, I will be lucky if I get 4 more years out of my old trailer. Not looking forward to having to buy a new one.
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I went aluminum when I moved down there. You just can't spray the salt off enough.
 
Ed L. said:
I've been down the kit trailer road. Harbor freight and Northern Tool. I don't recommend them. I made a boat trailer from the Harbor Freight offering they called the red trailer for my first Momarsh Fatboy. The trailer twisting and vibration caused a rub through on the hull. I bought the one Northern tool offered. It was advertised as heavy duty. I had to order that one. I took it back when I discovered the only difference was 12" tires rather than 8" on the Harbor Freight. I hope you find one that fits your needs. Maybe a modified Malone kayak trailer would work.
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Thanks Ed, I appreciate the first hand info. Your comment about the folding trailer confirmed what I'd expected about them, I'll steer clear.
 
Wanted to update this thread. I bought and modified a Stirling 5x10 kit trailer from Tractor Supply this spring for our raft. It fits my needs well. Cheap and very light, easy to put together. I wanted the smallest and lightest trailer possible for the raft to be able to move it easily without the weight of a typical utility trailer and to be able to tuck it away in a corner. The kit went together super easy, although I did get drug down in making some modifications (upgrading the spring hangers and reinforcing that area of the frame, making and extending the bed to 12' to support the raft, putting on a folding tongue, etc...). I sure wouldn't want to push the weight rating of the trailer, but for the 200 pound raft we have on it, it is literally perfect.

Trailer as modified. Black paint is on custom or heavily modified pieces. Broke off the license plate the first use, I'm ordering an axle flip kit to get a little more clearance before next summer.
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Last trip of the season on Sunday.
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That was the last trip of the year on the river for us. Got on the water about 3 hours too early and had to fight with a lot of ice from the night before even though the air temp was really nice. The ice finally completely melted by the time we were ready to take out.
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River friends.
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Had to go lake trolling the next day to get some fish for dinner. Another beautiful day.
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tod osier said:
We were just up in Montana looking at Colleges for Gus. That place has an awesome inventory.
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Tod~

Interesting thread. I have 7 trailers right now - 6 boat, 1 flatbed/utility. Two were bought new, the rest used. I enjoy working on trailers - mostly because there are no engines involved - and still think they are one of the last bargains (i.e., value for money) in the world of vehicles.

My last boat trailer (duckboat-size) I bought via Facebook Marketplace. The drive to Connecticut was worth the trip. As it happened, the seller rehabs older trailers - and does virtually everything I would do - right down to the Pettit TrailerCoat/RustLok. It required no improvements once I brought it home - for less than half of a new rig. Dairy country where I live is not a hotbed of boating - but the Nutmeg State (as you know) has plenty of coastline.

Best of luck in your hunt for the right trailer - and many happy miles of (motor-free) hauling!

SJS
 
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