You’ve been directed to this section of our web site so that
you’ll know how the pick up process will work.
Before you arrive we need to know The
Length and width of your pontoon. You’ve probably already given
us this information. We want your new pontoon trailer top fit perfectly
so that all you have to do is float your boat onto it. Customers
sometimes don’t know the center to center dimension of their tubes and
we use the following rule of thumb, most 8’ decks have centers at 72”
and 8’6” decks usually have 77” centers. If you can’t measure the
centers we’ll do our best, but please be aware that there may be some
small “fine tuning” when you actually put your boat onto the pontoon
trailer. (usually less than 15 minutes with a 9/16” wrench). |
Pre-Delivery Check List
before you arrive we will
We will Visually inspect the pontoon trailer for any damage or
blemishes caused by delivery or assembly.
Little scratches or imperfections will be touched up. The carpeted bunks
will be checked for tears, sometimes in stacking trailers this can
occur. Tires will be checked for blemishes or weather checking. Bias ply
tires start weathering from the moment they are manufactured, you’d be
surprised how many new
tires we return to the manufacturer. (they sell them to someone else)
We will adjust the trailer for the width and length of the boat.
From the dimensions you give us.
We will check all lighting with a tester to make sure everything
on the trailer is working.
We will torque all lug nuts (by hand with a torque
wrench) and make certain that the proper size and load range are
on the trailer.
Double check the inflation of each tire. If you ordered radials
we won’t send you home with bias ply. If your trailer calls for D range,
we won’t send you home with something else. We won’t send you out with
under or over inflated tires.
We will pop the grease plug, on the hub and visually check for
grease. Trailers come to us already greased but it never hurts
to make sure there is grease in there.
We will rinse away any dirt from the pontoon trailer and mud
from the tires. Because trailers seldom sit on our lot for more
than a few weeks the trailers seldom get dirty. We want you to be able
to see everything on your new pontoon trailers and muddy tires aren’t
acceptable.
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The optimum hitch height is 18” . 17” or 19” will work, but a height of
18” is perfect for most of our pontoon trailers. Hitch height is
important on tandem axle trailers and not as critical on single axle
models. If you have a tall truck or SUV, a drop down, draw-bar with a
height of about 18” is great.
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If Possible, check your tow vehicle wiring. The pontoon
trailer lights will work perfectly, we pre-check them, but we
occasionally run into lighting difficulties with the tow vehicle. If
you’re picking up during normal business hours we have mechanics who can
check fuses and help correct problems, but on weekend we may not have
anyone here with mechanical skills. Some brake trailers take a 5
prong plug.
If you don’t have one we will provide it. |
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NOW STANDARD
on all of our brake trailers, the brake lock-out is built into our
wiring. Back-up lights on the tow vehicle energize a solenoid in the
trailer brake system that prevents the brakes from locking up. No need
to get out of the tow vehicle to use a back up lock-out.
You may need a 5 plug adapter for your tow vehicle to benefit from this
new technology. They are sold anywhere auto parts are available, or we
have them with a new trailer for $12. Because of the additional cost
some trailer manufacturers have been slow to embrace this new
technology, but you’ll appreciate it when you don’t have to get out of
your tow vehicle and try to figure out why your brakes have locked up. |
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At the time of Delivery (pick-up)
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You will receive complete paperwork. We do not hold
titles (unless payment hasn’t cleared). You’ll get a paid bill of sale,
an Indiana ST-108 form showing that sales tax has been paid. Out of
state customers present this form to your state license branch, they
will not make you pay additional sales taxes. When you pay the Indiana
sales tax we’ll provide you with a 30 day temporary tag, (license
plate). You’ll receive the manufacturers statement of origin for the
trailer. (the title) States treat this form differently, in Indiana,
Ohio and Illinois it’s a legal document (a title). In Michigan its
simply a weight slip.
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You’ll leave with everything you need to register your
trailer in your home state.
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We’ll run through the pre-delivery check list,
in your presence. Additionally we’ll show you.
How the front loading winch works, How to use the anti-bucking loop
on the winch stand, How to tie your boat to the pontoon trailer.
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We’ll
check the trailer lights after hooking up to your tow
vehicle.
We’ll show you how to adjust both the bunks and
the winch stand.
We’ll take as much time as necessary to answer any question you may have
about the trailer.
We’ll provide you with a “hitch pin” to secure your pontoon trailer to
the tow ball. |
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We will offer you the
following products at special prices |
Set of 4-#1000 ratchet straps $24.
Your boat should be secured to the pontoon trailer in the stern
and bow.
These 1 1/2” x 15’ long straps are the best we’ve found.
#1000 load rated, #3000 break strength. We buy these at Sam’s
Club (and you can too)
or pick them up from us when you take delivery of your new
trailer. |
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Trailer Lock $25.
Works on our concealed brake
Coupler & all trailer latches. |
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Trailer Lock $12.
Works on non brake trailer couples |
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Trailer and Hitch Lock Kit $29
The small pin goes through the hole
on the trailer coupler, (regular and brake couplers).
The larger pin replaces the removable hitch pin
in your draw-bar. |
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PLASTIC
BUNK COVERING
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Plastic Bunk Covering
We use the best bunk carpeting available. 16 ounce,
rubber backed marine grade. Competitors use 12 ounce,
felt style carpeting. Our carpet is better than the
“thin” stuff but we still occasionally run into
situations where the customer tears the bunk carpet. |
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Some
brands of pontoons have sharp edges,
where the keel meets the nose cone. These sharp
edges can act like razor edges on your carpeted bunks. |
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If our customers pontoon tubes tear up the carpet on our
trailers, we feel sorry about it. No one wants to hear
“it’s not our problem” when you’ve got a
problem, so we try and head off any difficulties. We
sell optional plastic bunk
wrap at our cost with new trailers
to keep our customers happy.
Besides not having to worry about tearing up the bunk
carpet, the other advantage of plastic bunk wrap is that
it’s more “slippery” than bunk carpet. If you launch at
a shallow boat ramp you’ll appreciate the ease with
which your boat slides on and off your trailer with
plastic versus carpeted bunks. |
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ALL TRAILERS - $150*
in lieu of carpet
* complete kit installed on a new trailer. Kits include
plastic on winch stand bow stops.
PLEASE NOTE; these are in lieu of prices for
exchanging plastic versus carpet on bunks on new
trailers.
Replacement parts pricing is nearly double,
we’ve credited the cost of the carpeting versus the
plastic in these prices. |
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HOW TO FIND US |
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There
is a map below showing where we are located. We’re about three hours from greater Detroit or
Indianapolis. Two hours from downtown Chicago or Toledo, OH. If you're coming using a GPS please note that
some GPS’s show Buckingham Rd (our office street) intersecting Co. Rd 17.
It does NOT.
You’ll have to come east into our industrial park on the next street south (Protecta Dr)
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21315 Buckingham Road. Elkhart, Indiana 46516
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View Larger Map
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