Aluminum I-Beam Trailers - Best Manufacturer?

firecadet613

Well-Known Member
May 10, 2007
5,253
Indiana
Boat Info
SOLD - 2007 Four Winns V358
Engines
Twin VP 5.7GXi V-Drive / ZF63s
Looking at buying a used runabout that doesn't have a trailer. I boat in freshwater but have always liked the clean, easy look of an Aluminum I-Beam trailer versus a painted steel trailer that can get rock chips and rust.

I've narrowed it down to these three brands - how would you rank them and why?

Load Rite
Venture
LoadMaster (Tampa, FL)
 
I bought a new 2017 Venture triple axle aluminum I beam trailer last fall to bring my 89 300DA home. I like it very much, it was cost effective, well built and handled the load very well.I have disk brakes on all three axles and adjustable bunks for good hull support. I also got an electric winch. Venture is made in Baltimore MD, not far from me and they built and delivered the trailer to my dealer in three days!

All the brands you mentioned are good trailers, I don't think you'd go wrong with any of them.

A few musts for me were, disk brakes on all axles, adjustable bunks and winch post and leaf springs (handle heavy loads better than torsion axles).
 
We have a 2008 Road King random axle, bunk Aluminum I beam trailer for our 20' Grady. I have trailered boats for decades and by far this is the best built trailer I have owned. it came with the boat when we purchased it used.
Nothing has rusted other than the brakes with 5 seasons of salt water use. I love the aluminum I beam frame, high quality hardware, torsion axles and led lights. Highway towing is a breeze. This is our first bunk trailer as roller trailers are more popular here on Long Island due to many not so steep and not well maintained ramps. I put the plastic covers on the bunks which made launching/retrieval easier. If I were to buy another trailer I purchase another road King trailer in a "New York minute".
 
Look into Karavan. I have just ordered a 7800 lb tandem with stainless hardware and torsion for 3600 for our being built 26 crownline all aluminum. I think caravan is out in the mid west.

Good luck
 
Owens and Sons makes a very robust aluminum trailer. They rest the weight of the boat on top of the I-beams (which is how I beams are designed to work) rather than bolting cross members to the flanges and resting the weight on them.
 
I had my old 2003 260 Sundancer on a Loadmaster Aluminum Dual Axel Trailer with a 9800lb rating and it was rock solid. I would highly recommend one.

-Kevin
 
Thanks for the feedback. Looks like my options are a Venture Commander Series (loaded trailer) or a Load Rite 5-Star model, which are in stock and nearby where the boat is. If not those, I could go with a Loadmaster or Owens & Sons and have a 3 week wait.
 
Looks like it'll be a LoadMaster aluminum I-beam. Would like an Owens & Sons but don't want to wait 3 weeks for one. Load Rite would be a 3 week wait as well.

Looked at a Venture Commander Series 6000lbs trailer today that a dealer has in stock, decent but for the same price I can get a Loadmaster with more features/spare/built to my specs for this boat. The Loadmaster is built a lot more solid - only using U-Bolts on the winch and bunks. The Venture has U-bolts holding those on as well as the axles and fenders. Too many u-bolts for that price, although it seemed pretty stout.

Too hard to settle on that when for the same money I can get a custom build delivered to me.
 

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