What do we do about the trailer?

G

golftrek

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 21, 2012
Messages
86
Fluid Motion Model
C-248 C
Vessel Name
Banjo
Hello, as we just posted we are purchasing a 2008 Ranger Tug 25 in Wilmington NC. She comes with a 2009 Load Rite trailer which appears to be in great condition.
We do not have a truck that can tow the boat and have no plans to purchase one. We plan to keep the boat in the water at a marina.

What should we do with the trailer? Should we sell it? Is there a market for a used trailer? We could store it but then we would have to pay storage fees and in our experience unused trailers tend to deteriorate.

Any suggestions? Jim and Jo Ann
 
If your convinced that you don't want to keep the trailer I'd suggest taking a few photo's to use for a post on Tugnuts that you can target to 25 owners. It would seem someone out there has or will be buying a 25 that wants a trailer that their purchase did not include. I'd also contact your closest Ranger Tug dealer to let them know you have said trailer for sale. Maybe they'd even take it on consignment so you don'thavetobe concerned with storage.

Jim
 
A trailer is a mighty nice thing to have when a hurricane approaches. You can also use it to take the boat out of the water for maintenance (e.g., checking zincs, bottom paint, etc.) or laying the boat up for winter. Depending upon how your boat is equipped, there are multiple systems in an R-25 that can freeze and damage the boat. I was very glad I had a trailer when hurricane Irene blew through Eastern NC last August pushing a eight foot storm surge ahead of it. The Southport area is kind of ground zero for hurricane groundfall here in NC. Pulling it does require a substantial vehicle but you can probably find someone around the marina who will do it for a reasonable fee.

But enough of my preaching, welcome to the Ranger Tug faternity. I hope you enjoy your R-25 and maybe we will bump into each other one day in our travels through the Eastern NC coastal waters.
 
There is definitely a used trailer market. Let me know if you want to sell it, I might be interested... if the price is right 😉
 
Why wouldn't the marina stow the trailer and when you have the boat pulled it has the trailer to put it on instead of them having to rig it up with jacks and timber? I think it would be easy for them to move around your boat in the marina when the lift is in operation on other boats.
 
Don, here in the south part of North Carolina most people leave their boats in the water year round. We plan to use the boat all year. So the boat will not be pulled for storage. The only time the boat will be pulled would be to have the bottom painted or other work.

Most marinas do not store trailers. We will have to find a place to store it.

But the hurricane issue is one to consider. Even though we do not have a truck we could probably hire someone to pull the boat on its own trailer to get it out of the water and further inland in the event of a hurricane. So we might keep the trailer just as hurricane insurance.

Thanks for all the great advice. Jim and Jo Ann
 
golftrek":23ljcnhg said:
But the hurricane issue is one to consider. Even though we do not have a truck we could probably hire someone to pull the boat on its own trailer to get it out of the water and further inland in the event of a hurricane. So we might keep the trailer just as hurricane insurance.
Click to expand...

Instead of hiring someone you might consider renting a 'UHaul' or 'Penske' truck to tow it inland. The trailer will also be a valuable asset to include with the boat should you ever come to sell it.
 
I have been told that UHaul will not rent a truck to haul a boat as heavy as a Ranger Tug 25. Has anyone had any experience with using UHaul or another rental company to haul a Ranger Tug 25?

Jim and Jo Ann
Soon to be owners of Banjo 2008 Ranger Tug 25
 
golftrek":907u8mob said:
I have been told that UHaul will not rent a truck to haul a boat as heavy as a Ranger Tug 25. Has anyone had any experience with using UHaul or another rental company to haul a Ranger Tug 25?

Jim and Jo Ann
Soon to be owners of Banjo 2008 Ranger Tug 25
Click to expand...

I've no experience of renting one to tow an R25, but the R25 has a nominal dry weight of 5700lbs and the towing capacity of U Haul's 26' truck is 7500lbs according to their website: http://www.uhaul.com/Reservations/EquipmentDetail.aspx?model=JH

If it was a matter of urgency due to an approaching hurricane I would just rent the truck (but that's just what I would do, I'm not saying you should).
Also, any garage that does breakdown or accident recovery should be able to tow an R25 without any problem.

Just floating some ideas. 🙂
 
I am sure in an emergency we could make arrangements to get the boat hauled. But alot of folks in our area say that it is better to leave the boat in the water unless you are going to haul it to the western part of the state (North Carolina) which would be a several hour drive. We have a problem in the eastern part of the state with storm surge and flooding. I guess there is really no good answer. Just pray we don't get hit and have good insurance.

In any event we will keep the trailer for now. Thanks for all the good input. Jim and Jo Ann Soon to be owners of Banjo 2008 Ranger Tug 25
 
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