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The length of the pontoon tubes & the
approximate weight of the boat & motor
Length is easy to determine, it’s usually on the boat title or
sometimes in the model number, or just measure the length of the
pontoon tube. If you get a trailer that is too short, you can end up
with weight distribution problems or if the pontoon tube sticks out
too far in the front it can damage the rear of the tow vehicle in a
tight turn.
Weight can be difficult to determine. It’s usually
in the new boat manufacturers sales literature, but even this figure
can be wrong if your pontoon boats is equipped with options like gas
tanks or deluxe furniture. A typical 20’ newer pontoon with a 40 HP
engine weighs about #1900.
There can be severe penalties for getting the length
and weight wrong. Too short a trailer will cause the pontoon tubes
to damage the back of your tow vehicle. Too light a trailer will
continually give you tire problems and in some cases catastrophic
axle or spring failure. You can always spot the person who bought
the wrong pontoon trailer, they are sitting on the
interstate on a hot
Saturday morning looking for help.
Once you arrive at this figure, I.E. 18'-#1600
20'-#1900 or 24'-#2600 etc., there are a couple other
considerations.
Will you be towing frequently?
Would 4 tires on the ground, versus 2, be worth the
couple hundred dollars extra?
This will steer you to a single axle pontoon trailer or a tandem
axle trailer.
Would you want a trailer with brakes?
If you're traveling frequently and have a heavier pontoon boat,
brakes can be helpful.
Consider local and state laws. Refer to the
single axle
or tandem axle
pages comparing the size and weight of each model of pontoon
trailer. Fitting a Flote-On trailer
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