We plan on trailering our 10' Achilles so I've been researching some things. Read some articles that you need a particular trailer depending on the inflatable. Has anyone here trailered one? I thought I would just get a small jet ski trailer but after reading some articles not sure if that's good or not.
trailering an inflatable
- Thread starter BJL
- Start date
Not too long after I bought my 4WD truck and camper, I towed my aluminum boat many miles down a gravel road at highway speed one night. In the morning I was amazed and sickened by the damage to the boat. The plastic trailer lights were gone - just pieces left and the boat itself looked like it'd been beaten with heavy chains. In decades of towing various boats with various vehicles, I've never seen anything like it....so never thought to avoid it. The heavy all weather tires on the truck picked up that gravel and threw it like bullets - even tho' the truck has mudflaps. The mudflaps are now much longer. :-( I'm very sure that an inflatable would have been destroyed. Your situation is almost certainly different, but it's food for thought.
Lar.
Lar.
Inflatables will need to be well tied down and a flat soft bottom inflatable might work on a small flat bottomed utility trailer, at least in fresh water. Its not rocket science, just think about what could go wrong because it will if not considered in advance..
Abrasion from rubbing against the trailer or tie downs would be my second worry; after blowing off.
Abrasion from rubbing against the trailer or tie downs would be my second worry; after blowing off.
local trailer guy called Continental trailer (the one I'm interested in) and they suggest adding 2 bunks in the middle for more support on a soft bottom inflatable which made sense to me. I don't want to use a utility trailer as I want the least amount of lifting to get in the water.
- Joined
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I trailer mine, and to be honest, I put zero thought into the trailer configuration. I deflate the keel,put it on the utility trailer, tie it down and put straps over it and off we go.
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2009
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I have a 12 foot hardbottom inflatable and I bought a trailer for it. It looks just like any other boat trailer with two bunks it rides on. The trailer was about $800.00 I strap it down front and rear. I tow it at highway speeds behind my SUV with no problems.
Ditto Barbara,
Did the same and the trailer I bought was a Jet-Ski Trailer.
If your buy new (as mentioned around $800.00), just have them adjust the bunk rails and front rail where the winch is for your inflatable. If you buy a jet ski in the future, all you do is re-adjust for the jet ski.
Pretty simple to do yourself.
Walter
I bought a used jetski trailer for our rib and towed it back and forth to the marina every weekend last year without incident.
I do not tow with the motor on; just the rib. Latched through the bow ring and two retractable straps installed at the rear of the trailer, which attach to the lifting rings in the back of the rib. Works great.
I do not tow with the motor on; just the rib. Latched through the bow ring and two retractable straps installed at the rear of the trailer, which attach to the lifting rings in the back of the rib. Works great.
Thanks everyone! Found a local trailer guy who really went out of his way to order me the correct trailer, which was the single jet ski. Total cost 850 with larger tires and the swivel jack. I thought it was a fair price and will do the job. I do think I'll also tow without the engine as I read somewhere that can put stress on the transom since it's attached to tubes.