Towing Question- Need Advice

Smithnmin

Member
Okay everyone, I am having trouble making this decision on my own and need everyone's expertise, input, or opinions. I'm purchasing a Sunfish on the East Coast and I need to get it back to Colorado. I can:
a. have it shipped to Colorado and buy a trailer for it here when it arrives. In just a preliminary search it's about $950 to ship, then purchase trailer $500-$1000... most costly
option
b. buy a trailer on the way, already have a possible option a Load Rite 14F1000WT for $950, pick it up and drive back myself. Visit family, see some sights...
c. pick up, tie it to the top of my Tacoma, drive back and buy a trailer here.

As a side note, the Load Rite trailer is nice and sturdy for driving across country, I could probably really pimp this rig out with pvc tubes for mast/boom storage. If I got it back here some other way I would probably buy a Trailex trailer- lighter, more maneuverable- I could move it by hand, more expensive, but not necessarily as sturdy for a cross-country trip.

Let me know if I'm missing something or if there is an obvious solution here.
 
b. buy a trailer on the way, already have a possible option a Load Rite 14F1000WT for $950, pick it up and drive back myself. Visit family, see some sights...
c. pick up, tie it to the top of my Tacoma, drive back and buy a trailer here.

As a side note, the Load Rite trailer is nice and sturdy for driving across country, I could probably really pimp this rig out with pvc tubes for mast/boom storage. If I got it back here some other way I would probably buy a Trailex trailer- lighter, more maneuverable- I could move it by hand, more expensive, but not necessarily as sturdy for a cross-country trip.

Let me know if I'm missing something or if there is an obvious solution here.
A Tacoma pickup is slightly larger than my Nissan.

I put a ⅜" bolt through the gudgeons, and ran a cable to a chain bridle—attached to two front bumper supports. 'Used PVC as tubing and sacrificed a sock to prevent scratches to the hood.

Return home, put a WTB ad in Craigslist, and you should have a trailer soon. :)

Fullscreen capture 1062017 72927 AM.bmp.jpg
 
If you take your time, you should be able to find a decent trailer for about $300-$500, and it might need about $100 of tires and/or wheel bearings. If you can't find something in roughly this price range before you buy the boat, by all means take the boat home on a roof rack and shop for a trailer at leisure. But I hope you are not going across the country strictly to buy the boat, you should be able to find one closer to home...
 
What about something like this...https://images.app.goo.gl/Ai4h8dDNhwYgC4tG8
I have the harbor freight version, paid about $60.
6EE01C5A-E81E-4A89-B7F8-884A5A8A4F91.png
 
We used the Harbor Freight version as well on our F150 short bed and and padded the cross brace and bed and our boat rides very well. If you use this method make sure and run a strap thru the bow handle to the back of the bed to keep her from sliding backward. Good luck
 
What about something like this...https://images.app.goo.gl/Ai4h8dDNhwYgC4tG8
I have the harbor freight version, paid about $60.View attachment 41236

Unfortunately, I'm just one person, partly why I'm getting a Sunfish is that it is a fun boat that I can handle on my own. I could probably get it off of this rack but doubt I could get it back up there on my own. I'll also be storing in a boat storage lot, so need something that it can sit on for the winter. I like the idea though...
 
If you take your time, you should be able to find a decent trailer for about $300-$500, and it might need about $100 of tires and/or wheel bearings. If you can't find something in roughly this price range before you buy the boat, by all means take the boat home on a roof rack and shop for a trailer at leisure. But I hope you are not going across the country strictly to buy the boat, you should be able to find one closer to home...

Mostly traveling to pick up this boat, the west is a dry desert for sailboats. I could go to CA but I have some family back East that I can visit so the trip has a dual purpose.
 
Unfortunately, I'm just one person, partly why I'm getting a Sunfish is that it is a fun boat that I can handle on my own. I could probably get it off of this rack but doubt I could get it back up there on my own. I'll also be storing in a boat storage lot, so need something that it can sit on for the winter. I like the idea though...
Sorry I realized I wasn’t very clear in my post.
I was suggesting option C, but use something like the bed extender to bring the boat home on your Tacoma This option would work best for me as I don’t like to make these types of purchases (the trailer) because I need to. I like to wait for the right deal. There’s always gonna be a boat or trailer for sale at the right price, its just very rarely exactly when you want/need it.
Not to mention the logistics of registration and plates for the trailer.

btw you can also use the bed extender flipped to be parallel with the bed making your bed 3’ longer, and then slide the boat in the back for short trips. This is how I use it to go to the lake. Wheel the boat right in the back with a dolly.
 
The perfect deal is out there. You just need to be patient. I bought a trailer for $50 that was covered in camouflage duct tape that looked awful. When I got it home and stripped the tape off, I found that the frame was galvanized and in perfect shape. All it needed were tires and bearings.
 
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Personally, I'd try to buy boat and trailer in Colorado and bypass a lot of potential x-country headaches. SF and trailers are everywhere. FWIW
 
I wouldn't tow an empty trailer any distance at all. :eek:

You'll come around to remembering it the first time you back up! :confused:
I have been using my kayak trailer a lot lately for various things. A couple of days ago my wife and I took her car to the grocery store. As I drove by several parking places she looked at me and said, “you know that we aren’t pulling a trailer right now, right?”
I said “Of course I do!”
I lied.
 
Buy a Harbor freight trailer before you leave, don't assemble it, register it in Co. When you get to the point your ready to pick up the boat, assemble the trailer. You'll have to figure out how to secure it to the trailer, but ratchet straps and foam blocks should help. Drive boat back home, them make better permanent mounting for the boat.

Good luck.
 
Okay everyone, I am having trouble making this decision on my own and need everyone's expertise, input, or opinions. I'm purchasing a Sunfish on the East Coast and I need to get it back to Colorado. I can:
a. have it shipped to Colorado and buy a trailer for it here when it arrives. In just a preliminary search it's about $950 to ship, then purchase trailer $500-$1000... most costly
option
b. buy a trailer on the way, already have a possible option a Load Rite 14F1000WT for $950, pick it up and drive back myself. Visit family, see some sights...
c. pick up, tie it to the top of my Tacoma, drive back and buy a trailer here.

As a side note, the Load Rite trailer is nice and sturdy for driving across country, I could probably really pimp this rig out with pvc tubes for mast/boom storage. If I got it back here some other way I would probably buy a Trailex trailer- lighter, more maneuverable- I could move it by hand, more expensive, but not necessarily as sturdy for a cross-country trip.

Let me know if I'm missing something or if there is an obvious solution here.
I suggest that you car top it and drive it yourself. When you get back to CO, take your time in finding the right trailer. It'll cost a lot less than shipping the boat and you can visit family and sights along the way. Without a trailer, parking and driving will be easier and there won't be any additional cost for tolls for the third axle. And buying a used trailer is always a risk and certainly not one you want to take just before an 1,800 mile trip. Sunfish trailer wheels are so small and have to turn so fast that the bearings really heat up on long trips. Even new small trailers are risky on long high speed trips.
I just found a junked trailer and put $200 into new parts plus about 15 hours of work. It'll work great!
Best of luck!
 
Jon boat trailers are a nice fit, or bigger sailboat trailers or small 15-16 foot runabout trailers. We use our empty Day Sailer trailer or Sorg trailer to haul Sunfish when needed. They are heavy enough that they don't bounce when empty, and ride on 12 or 13 inch tires that are better for highway speeds. Good ride for Sunfish....or two...or three... We also use them to haul lumber, every now and then you see a knowing glance from someone when we are at Lowes or the "Ah Ha" moment for others.
lumber trailer willow.jpg
 
Mast filled with water in the off season, froze and split. Repair was optional, but non insurable.
 

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