Trailers

[Mac26Mpaul]

Sooner or later, I'm going to have to replace the Mac trailer. Has anybody in Oz had a proper trailer made for theirs. If so, about how much are we talking?

Cheers,
Paul

[bartmac]

I've got a 26m trailer spare....for sale 0428899246

[Mac26Mpaul]

Hey Bartmac, Are you talking about a Macgregor made trailer?

[bartmac]

Yes a Macgregor 26m trailer....I thought my 26x trailer was beyond repair....but after sandblasting and some work it's like new so don't need the 26m one anymore

[Mac26Mpaul]

I was actually interested in the guys that have had trailers made in Aus. I have a aluminum macgregor trailer, but to be honest, I dont put much faith in it and only use it to tow to the ramp 200 mtrs away from the house.

Besides its obvious flaws with the wheels, winch etc, mine has collapsed at the drawbar once already, and has now been welded up, but I'm not too happy with that as the draw bar is not straight with the trailer anymore. The previous owner of my boat reckons it was about 1920kg on the trailer with motor. Add fuel water and gear and your certainly over 2 tons, maybe several hundred kilos over with cruising gear. I am told it is illegal to have a single axel trailer over 2 tons on Aus roads which would mean just about all the guys towing macs for a cruise must be illegal

I am either going to have a new one made, or possibly have the mac one beefed up to Aus standards, with a better draw bar and winch and perhaps duel axels and decent wheels and tyres. Just wondering if anyone else has gone either way and about what it cost.

[bartmac]

I have a feeling that's going to cost plenty....dual axle,break away brake system etc etc $10000 plus????

The 2 ton limit is for break away brake systems....it's mandatory over 2 ton in NSW not sure in QLD

[Mac26Mpaul]

Jeeeez!!! In that case maybe I'll just beef the current trailer up a bit, put a decent winch on it at a more sensible height, and put some decent tyres on it, and prey a lot!

Theres a Mac on fleabay right now with a Belco (I think it was) duel axel trailer. I wonder how much something like that cost....?......

[keith]

Went to the Mandurah boat show last year and got a price for a aussie built dual axle ally trailer at $16500
Got a price for a new Suzuki 90hp last week at $12500 plus another $1500 for the gear/throttle control
When you compare prices to the USA who's getting shafted time and time again

[bartmac]

Exactly my sentiments.....when costed I realised the economic way was to stick with what I had....sandblasting $500,POR15 paint (3 components) $300,new wheels alloy rated at 1240kg each c/w truck tyres rated similar $780,contructed new bunks c/w carpet $150,electric winch ebay $150,new bearings & seals x 2 lots (one lot spare c/w grease sealed that travel with us....american sized not necessarily readily available,new master cylinder already fitted,slave cylinders refurbished.The original plan was to take the second trailer I bought and convert it to a dual axle set up but ran into the 2 ton rule....by making everything heavier I did then exceed it and would need a breakaway system which would cost at least $2000 on top of the dual axle set up $4000???When adding it all up and doing a lot myself it still seemed as though it would cost $10000 or so.We tow with a Ford transit truck (ABS, Traction control,Electronic stability control)and feel quite secure......have experimented with emergency braking and it all seems to happen good.As long as we only fill our water tanks after towing we come in under 2 ton.A mate of mine sold his trailersailer.... he said for the time and cost it was cheaper to rent a yacht the few times a year he used his

[Mac26Mpaul]

Thanks, thats just the info I wanted. Not a chance my missus will let me spend 10 or 16 grand on the trailer after I spent so many hours explaining what a bargain the boat was before we bought it I'll do similar then I guess, but probably have to have a new draw bar made as mine is bent.... and maybe have the aluminum beefed up a bit at the front where it failed before.....

Anyway, we are planning to use the trailer as more of a yard trailer (ramp just down the road) for a while so guess I can think about it for a bit.....

Yes, anything to do with boats, we certainly do get shafted in this country...........

Thanks

[cruiser]

Hi Paul,
Ivan Wilson over at FMS may be worth talking to. I was going to get a new trailer made by FMS when I first purchased my 26S but decided to first have the old one done up for the time being. Have not decided which way to go at this stage but now looking at doing the old one up even more for the time being. I think Ivan has done a few trailers for Ms & Xs but it would probably pay to have a look at the specific trailers he has done as most trailer builders are more into boats that take most of the weight on the keel and therefore use rollers, rather than bunks, on the trailer for support. He rang me once when he was wanting help with specs for an X or M trailer for a guy that lived over near FMS.

FMS Custom Built
31 Benronalds Street
Seventeen Mile Rocks Qld
Ph: 3279 7881
http://www.fmstrailers.com.au/default.htm

[Mac26Mpaul]

Thanks for the info mate. I'm in no rush but have noted their details.

Actually We dont even have a legal tow hack at present. We are using a Magma (1500kg tow capacity), but only launch at the end of the road which is a few hundred metres away. The kids are just too young to do the good trips right now that involve driving (whitsundays, Hervey bay whale watching etc) so we are content to save some money for a decent tow hack and a trailer upgrade.

[igooba]

Hi Paul, I just had mine made 2 months ago. Was $9,500 on the road all up for 3tonne running gear with 2tonne compliance (not electric brakes) twin axel, disk brakes, hydr brakes, spare wheel/hub rescue package, bearing buddies, LED lights, full gal, guide posts, rollers and bunks. Got it done at sales trailers here in south Sydney. I was a little worried about the extra height at the boat ramp however it has been no problems at all. Next job is to sort out the ladder.

[Mac26Mpaul]

Thanks Igooba, Looks good and 9 and a half K,, certainly cheaper than expected
Not sure whether to just beef my Mac one up and live with it, or spend a great deal of time working on SWMBO to get one like yours

[igooba]

Something I noticed when speaking to the main Aussie trailer vendors (dumbier, mackay, transtyle, boeing) they all have standard frames (and pricing) based around length to powerboat ratio. To them, a 26foot trailer is going to need to hold a large power cruiser upwards of 3+tonne. They simply don't have in their product range that length in a light sailboat setup. You end up paying for compliance over 2 tonne, brakeaway etc and are up around 15-20k. The smaller custom guys like sales trailers were able to be more flexible.