Boatmate Trailers
Operating from an 80,000-square-foot factory south of Knoxville in Maryville, Tenn., Boatmate Trailers has been in business since 1983 and are committed to innovation, uncompromising quality, and offering their customers limitless customization.
Each year Boatmate continues to refine the details of their pontoon trailers. Wide transom steps at the back of the trailer not only look nice, but also provide easy access to the vessel. One exclusive feature is their spiral stairway. Noticing that the steps on many trailers required a stepladder to even reach, they designed a spiral stairway with a step that begins below the trailer’s frame and allows easy access to the boat itself.
They’ve also transferred many design features and options from the tow boat market into the pontoon market, so now pontoon trailers have the choices of 18-inch wheels, color-matched trailers, and RGB light packages.
Sales representative Joey Duffy said, “Our standard trailer is anything but standard. Each pontoon trailer comes with a swing tongue, premium boarding ladder with dual handrails, heavy-duty bunk brackets, leaf spring suspension, brakes on all axles, aluminum alloy wheels, black Gatorstep nonskid, appropriate rated DL jack and winch, Step-mate transom steps, LED lights, and an under-hull spare mount.”
Along with limitless customization, Boatmate also offers a 5-year warranty on all of their trailers, in keeping with their goal to exceed customers’ expectations with quality trailers and exceptional service. (www.boatmatetrailers.com)
EZ Loader
EZ Loader began as a family-owned business in 1953 and has since branched into having three manufacturing centers plus 14 distribution centers in North America and 24 worldwide. Specializing in making trailers for every budget and body of water, their pontoon trailers have hydraulic disc brakes, 13-foot or larger wheels, and a unique drop step on their bow entry steps that provides easier boarding or loading from the front of the boat.
General Manager Conrad West said, “EZ Loader’s ‘Best in Class’ warranty provides for years of trouble-free trailering and nationwide service should a customer need it.” Every new EZ Loader customer will receive a complimentary one year membership to BoatUS, which includes the TowAssist feature providing roadside assistance for both the tow vehicle and the trailer.
Prioritizing safety and durability, all EZ Loader trailers are NMMA certified for trailer specifications and best manufacturing practices. Numerous patents and innovations ensure that the most up-to-date designs and technology are used to build strong and durable trailers. Wires and brake lights are kept in a non-corrosive environment, which will preserve the trailer for years of use. The company offers their custom color painted trailers in aluminum or galvanized construction.
EZ Loader has seen pontoon trends grow to ever bigger boats. Conrad said, “As the pontoon market has grown and evolved, we have seen a much higher demand for larger capacity trailers that can provide a safe and reliable way to transport large triple pontoon models with greater horsepower and features.” They’re dedicated to keeping pace with the growth, and recently completed a custom 32-foot trailer. (www.ezloader.com)
Pontoon Trailers
Selling USA-made pontoon trailers all over the country, Pontoon Trailers based in Indiana works with two different manufacturers and an ecommerce database to deliver to both dealerships and individual boat owners. When Andrea Bedford and her husband Ryan began the business 25 years ago, Andrea had already spent years in the pontoon business.
She said, “We have a lot of knowledge about pontoon trailers, and there isn’t a question about them we can’t answer.”
And they’re happy to share that knowledge with everyone. Their website contains a handy trailer library educating customers on the different options available and what details they should take into consideration when purchasing a trailer.
With an array of offerings including multi-axle and lift trailers, they have whatever is needed to meet their customers’ needs. Pontoon Trailers offers galvanized frames for saltwater environments, and those trailers use a different wiring system that won’t corrode in the salt water. For inland and freshwater use, they upgraded their painting process to Tuff Coat paint, which increases durability exponentially and keeps the frame from rusting.
Andrea noted that the biggest difference between their trailers and their competitors is that, “Our trailers sit higher. When pontoons sit up on the bunks, the weight of the pontoon isn’t weighing the trailer down and sitting on the fenders. We also use larger tires, which helps when you’re traveling because the trailer will follow the truck better.”
Another improving feature of Pontoon Trailers is a wider and easier-to-access winch stand. Wide steps and a convenient handrail help owners of all ages to more easily access the vessel on the trailer.
To prepare for the upcoming trends of ever-larger pontoons, the company sells trailers for boats up to 10 feet wide. Their tandem axle frames are 4 inches of steel, while their super-duty frames are 5 inches. Because many pontoons now have a larger center tube, Pontoon Trailers offers a stern extension to support the center tube. Andrea said, “It’s so important to remember all of the size considerations of your boat when you’re choosing a trailer so you purchase one that fits correctly.” (www.pontoontrailers.com)
Karavan
For peace-of-mind performance at every turn, Karavan trailers are designed to securely carry pontoons of any size. Established in Hartford, Wisc. in 1986 by Scott and Mike Boyd, Karavan has nearly four decades of experience building feature-rich trailers. Their expansive network of dealers and distributors spans North and South America, Australia, Europe, and Asia as a testament to their customer satisfaction and industry leadership.
Karavan has a number of high-quality features to provide reliable, worry-free towing. Durable, attractive finishes such as powder coating and galvanized finishes offer lasting protection. SwayControl engineering ensures better handling via welded tubular design and adjustable axles. QuietTow componentry eliminates trailer squeak with nylon double bushing springs, and ShortFree lighting has an all-plug, sealed, and fully grounded system.
“Price matters, but quality trumps price everyday,” said Sales and Marketing Vice President Patric Schmit. “While it is great to find the cheapest trailer on the market, Karavan prides itself in providing a trailer that will stand up to the elements and outlast the competition.”
He also noted that while the rush of Covid orders has naturally tapered off and they’ve seen the trailer industry pull back in both pricing and volume, they are excited to use their expertise to continue to meet the dynamic demands of the industry. (www.karavantrailers.com)
Load Rite Trailers
Empowering you to spend more time on the water instead of fussing with your trailer, Load Rite Trailers are built for quality, simplicity, and reliability. Their goal is to give you worry-free trailer operation that will help you smoothly board, launch, and load your boat.
Built for punishing weather and water conditions, Load Rite trailers are constructed with corrosion-resistant galvanized steel. Standard equipment includes torsion axle suspension for a smooth ride, surge disc brakes for reliable operation, easily grease-able hubs for simplified maintenance, LED lighting with sealed connections for increased reliability, and fully carpeted bunks for ultimate hull support. And their warranties are extensive with a two-year coupler-to-taillight warranty and an additional three years on frame integrity.
Growing out of another manufacturing business 35 years ago, Load Rite was born when one of the owners needed a trailer for his personal boat. Convinced he could build a better one than what was on the market, he began manufacturing trailers as well.
In addition to seeing trends of larger and heavier pontoons, Load Rite also has many customers with additional convenience or safety requests. A few trends they’re seeing are brakes on all the wheels, trailers with plastic-covered bunks for even easier launching and loading, or for a boarding ladder with a first step that’s easily reachable from the ground. (www.loadrite.com)
Phoenix Trailers
Because the best way to safely haul your boat is with a tight tolerance between the hull and trailer, Phoenix begins that superb fit with precision engineering and rigid construction standards. In 2004, Chip Schwein began Phoenix Trailers with decades of experience designing and building trailers with his engineering friend Bill Harper. Building on a trailer platform they’d previously developed, they upgraded all the components and began making quality trailers. Of his company, Chip said, “Our quality of components and level of finish is what sets us apart. We’re viewed in the industry as a high-end trailer company and we strive every day to meet that reputation.”
Now that people are trailering their pontoons more and using them to travel extensively, Phoenix works hard to ensure that built-in features make it convenient to transport your boat. A self-centering design simplifies the loading and launching process, while the strength of their one-piece frame construction and heavy-duty suspension works in tandem with their bunks to give customers the smoothest ride with the best handling during transport.
As pontoons have soared in popularity, Chip notes that pontoons have evolved from small, slow leisure boats to much larger and heavier power boats. Designed to match these growing expectations, Phoenix builds trailers for maximum highway safety and easy loading. Knowing that details are the ultimate finishing touch, they offer many trailer customizations including custom colors, logos, and wheels.
“We’re always happy to speak with customers, and we’ll meet or exceed your expectations,” Chip concluded. (www.phoenixtrail.com)
Wolverine Pontoon Trailers
Because necessity is the mother of invention, Lyle Johnson began Wolverine Trailers when he had an order for a trailer but none of his dealers could fulfill it in time—so he decided to shop for suppliers and make it himself. After years of working with independent boat manufacturers, Lyle was already aware of what was needed to get the job done. And he’s carried this value for customer service across the last 27 years of making excellent trailers at Wolverine.
“What stands out about our company is the compassion we have for everyone and everything involved,” Lyle said.
As the pontoon industry heads toward ever larger and heavier boats, Wolverine makes sure their trailers can accommodate the trends of triple tubes, large center tubes, and performance add-ons such as lifting strakes.
While offering trailers with original and unique designs, Wolverine believes being first in value is the lifeblood of their company. But their highly competitive pricing does not take a back seat to quality. Their aluminum trailers have double the materials and double the line labor offered by some of their competitors. Their full line of pontoon boat trailers have a range of choice finishes, from primer baked finishes, to final baked topcoat powder-coated finish, to hot-dip galvanized and aluminum trailers.
“Building a team that understands the challenges we face in building higher quality trailers for less money has its ups and downs, but the bottom line is making our customers win,” Lyle said. (www.wolverinetrailers.com)
Hoosier Trailers
In a lake-side setting where nearly everyone loves to spend time on the water, Spreuer & Son has been manufacturing their line of Hoosier trailers in Indiana for more than half a century. Building on the strength of good traditions, Hoosier trailers continues to make advances to meet the demand for durable, heavy-duty trailers that boaters can count on for years to come. Their trailer line includes full size float-on trailers, box tube frame raising and lowering trailers, and classic tubular design trailers. The all-steel construction can be finished in a black powder coat for fresh water or a rust-free galvanized finish for salt water.
As pontoons have grown not only in size, but in horsepower and amenities, company president Myron Noward has seen the popularity of pontoons soar.
“Just about everybody on a lake has a pontoon—they’re more popular than anything else,” said Noward. “Now that pontoons are so big and so fast, far fewer people are buying speed boats. Hoosier Trailers has focused on building sturdy trailers with heavier duty tubing to match the demand.
Their classic round tube trailer can handle loads up to 5,000 pounds and 26 feet long. A 48-inch wide design and low center of gravity makes it incredibly stable on the road. The entire trailer frame can be raised and lowered with a unique winch, cable, and sheave system. An adjustable tongue extension provides extra trailer length for easier launching. Other standard features include water-resistant taillights, rubber rollers for boat protection, taillight cases, and an adjustable trailer frame. (www.hoosiertrailer.com)
PMI Marine
Celebrating 35 years of providing high quality pontoon trailers, PMI Marine has the experience to know what a difference it makes to not skimp on the good stuff. While some trailers are made only for storage and not for travel, PMI builds trailers that will go the distance with quality components. Instead of using old-fashioned drum brakes or smaller front loading winches, PMI is adamant they use only the finest parts.
CEO and company founder Paul Myers said, “It’s used so much that people usually discard the statement, but we use only the finest components. We use modern disc brakes, the highest ply rated radial tires, 3200-pound front loading winches, and big high capacity tongue jacks that won’t fail in a year.”
Caring about the customer and preventing parts failure is a top priority for PMI. Using quality parts and high-end components means that the equipment won’t fail soon after most warranties end.
Paul said, “In the second year when the tongue jack or the winch fails or the tires go bald, most people won’t holler for warranty, but they should. We know what can go wrong, so we prevent warranty claims by not having failures in the first place.”
When Paul began his career selling boats for Harris FloteBote, he saw that trailering a pontoon was new. Most dealers sold pontoons to customers who wanted to berth at the local lake and never leave. But over the years, the trend has moved towards travel. Because modern pontoons can weigh upwards of 4,000 pounds or more, customers need to be aware of their trailer capacity limits when purchasing. PMI offers an informational website to tell the potential buyer everything they need to know to make an intelligent trailer purchase. (www.pmimarine.com)
ShoreLand’r
Updated with new models to fit today’s larger and heavier pontoons, and overbuilt in terms of safety standards, ShoreLand’r Pontoon Trailers are loaded with great features to help you go the extra mile for years to come. Smooth, stable towing is possible with the heavy-duty 3-inch by 5-inch tube-steel frame, precision built axles, and factory-balanced wheels. Carpeted bunks, a sturdy winch with adjustable post and dual cushioned deck stops will ensure precise loading at the ramp. Easily board with steps and a safety handrail; enjoy simplified maintenance with fully-grounded wiring and LED side-marker lights. Dependable disc brakes with corrosion-free rubber brake hoses are standard on all brake models for smooth stopping power.
Reminding boat owners that trailers truly are an important part of the purchase, ShoreLand’r’s PR Manager Renee Mason said, “Boat trailers are often seen as a ‘necessary evil’ in the boat buying decision. Customers need to remember that nothing will wreck a family vacation like being stranded on a highway with a trailer issue. Your boat will spend a large percentage of its life on the trailer. Make sure your trailer is not the obstacle to getting on the water.”
Options for two different finishes will help your trailer look great for years to come. The beautiful powder-coat finish in textured matte black is baked on for chip-resistance in non-corrosive water. The hot-dip galvanized finish coats both the frame and components in a thick coating for extreme resistance to salt water.
ShoreLand’r offers a line of helpful trailer accessories, such as a spare tire and tire bracket, load guides to easily center your boat, and a swiveling tongue jack making the trailer straightforward to hitch. And all ShoreLand’r trailers come with a free 90-day BOATUS membership with its myriad of benefits including Trailer Assist and on-the-water towing services. (www.shorelandr.com)
