Boatmate - upgrade from single to dual

[viking]

I wish I had a dual axle trailer as much as I tow.
I researched and Boatmate does not do trades. They can't even tell me where to find a local dealer. They just told me to contact my boat dealer:(

Is it worth looking into or am I looking at a losing proposition trying to order one and work through my dealer? I'm not that impressed with them in the first place and order most of my parts through a dealer in MN.
What is the average cost of a dual axle, swing-a-way tongue?

Anybody out there wanna trade :)

[jeffrogge]

On mine the tandem trailer with swing away tongue was $1000 dollar upgrade. NOt sure about how much it is worth though, sorry. It is well worth the money thought, the only time it sucks is to move the tongue to the side in the garage. I have seen a few on ebay though.

[mmandley]

I wouldn't trade my dual axle for a single anyday. I love the look and the safety.

I would get in contact with a lot of local dealers who sell Used boats. You might be able to talk a trade with one of there boats. Easiest is to find a Moomba boat and see if you can barter a swap out. Make a win win, dealer makes a little extra money and you get dual axles. Just a thought

[kaneboats]

There may be some trailers available in coastal areas where guys swap them out for galvanized trailers for saltwater use. You just don't want one that has been dipped in the saltwater even once.

[Canuckle Head]

I love my single axle trailer. A lot of the boat launches around here have tight radius turns and a dual would be a total beach to maneuver. What don't you like about your trailer?

[sandm]

I have single as well and love it for it's ease of maneuverability, however I only tow 10 miles one way to the lake. If I was going further, I would have opted for dual axle..

[viking]

I love my single axle trailer. A lot of the boat launches around here have tight radius turns and a dual would be a total beach to maneuver. What don't you like about your trailer?

Every body of water is over an hour a way and put tons of miles on just getting to the lakes/rivers. Place we go it usually 150miles round trip every weekend. We make several trips over 250miles one way (you know this is Big Sky country right??) I'd like to have a little insurance of the 4 tires instead of just 2!!

[jeffrogge]

I love my single axle trailer. A lot of the boat launches around here have tight radius turns and a dual would be a total beach to maneuver. What don't you like about your trailer?

I really only see this being a problem if you are trying to push it by hand or backing it up with a geo metro.

[Canuckle Head]

Well, I've seen more than one guy stuff his boat and dual axle trailer down a bank and into the bushes at my local boat launch. They're usually the guys with the big oversized 4x4. At least they have the horsepower to pull them out. Unlike my GEO metro....:D

[newty]

Viking, I'd look around for a used inboard tandem trailer and then sell yours. You shouldn't have any problem, other than color. Although black would be fine on your boat.

[Big Boss]

I had to replace my single axle trailer a couple of years ago due to being hit by a drunk/high driver. It's a 2007, and cost to buy a new one was $3,400. I thought about upgrading to the dual axle, but Boatmate said it would be 2-3 months before I could get it, so I didn't do it. Lucky for me the dealer in the city where the accident happened had a brand new single in his warehouse because one of his customers upgraded.

Aaron

[Razzman]

Well i've had both and would never go back to a single. Doubles ride better, have a better distributed load capacity, I don't have to worry about loading the boat and being right at the capacity limit and of course as said the safety margin with four tires. What really used to aggravate me was singles have the habit of pivoting at the hitch point, especially on rough roads and that really bugged me. I also tow no less than an hour on any outing and it's a "feel good" factor for me. I've never had issues turning or manuvering my double and i've been in some pretty tight spots.

[Canuckle Head]

If I had a bigger boat like a Mobius I would want the dual trailer for sure. But for my little Outback V the single seems to do me just fine. Anyway, I'm sure that the intention of this thread was not to get into a discussion about single vs dual and good luck on your search!

Hey Viking, did you ever find a better deal on those Chrome logos?

[sailing217]

We called boatmate and another fellow boater had his trailer totaled after it fell off the end of the ramp underwater and bent the crossmember ripping it back up. Anyways it was $5500-$6500 for a new double-axle boatmate for 22-23ft boat. I see people on the insurance thread having no idea that they cost so much and are underinsured on the trailer.

[newty]

There you go viking! Launch your boat and then back your trailer off a cliff. You may have to pay a little extra for the tandem upgrade but hey isn't that what insurance is for?:p

[viking]

There you go viking! Launch your boat and then back your trailer off a cliff. You may have to pay a little extra for the tandem upgrade but hey isn't that what insurance is for?:p

Now that is funny right there Newty
But it would look a little fishy (sorry for the pun) to have that happen only a few days after this idea was posted. Maybe next year? Hmmmmm

[newty]

LOL yea u might want to give it some time...:p