Before taking your new pontoon out on the water, check out this boating resource guide to find the best pontoon boat trailer on the market to safely transport your pontoon boat.
Whatever size or style your pontoon boats have, there’s definitely one that matches them perfectly.
In this post, we researched all the best pontoon boat trailers on the market to offer you the pros and cons of each.
Use this guide to help you weigh your options when buying your pontoon boat trailer.
Types of Pontoon Boat Trailers
There are two types of pontoon boat trailers. Each has a set of advantages and disadvantages.
Scissor Style Pontoon Boat Trailers
This type of pontoon boat trailer is quite narrow and comes with a center lift mechanism that slides in between the tubes of your pontoon boats.
It is named so because of the scissor-like action it makes when lifting the boat.
Pros
- Quick and easy to be retrieved and launched from even the shallowest of water
- Universal style and can accommodate different types of pontoon boats
- Allows you to lower the pontoon boat to the ground and then remove the trailer and be launched in shallow water.
Cons
- Not the best for long-distance towing
- Tipping over is more common due to its smaller wheelbase
- Pontoon boats tend to rock back and forth or side to side since it doesn’t really support the toons
Bunk Style Pontoon Boat Trailers
Unlike the scissor style trailers, the Bunk style is a full-width trailer that cradles the entire pontoon boat providing a bunk for each of the tubes.
Pros
- Ideal for long drives at a faster speed
- A lesser tendency for your pontoon boats to move while traveling
- Better for larger pontoon boats and heavier engines
Cons
- More difficult to maneuver when loading and unloading boats
- Requires more storage space
How To Choose Pontoon Boat Trailers
Here are the most important things to consider when choosing a pontoon boat trailer.
Size
- Length of The Trailer– Pontoon boat trailers should be 3’-4’ larger than the length of your toons to allow for a swing radius at the front of the pontoons. For example, a 21’ pontoon boat should have a 24’-25’ trailer. Doing this will provide enough trailer tongues during sharp turns, thus preventing the front of your tubes from hitting the rear of the towing vehicles.
- Pontoon Boat Weight– It’s important to know the weight of your pontoon boat plus the engine to determine whether you need a single (two tires) or tandem axle (four tires) pontoon trailer. Single axles on average have a 2000 to 2200 pounds weight capacity while tandem axle trailers can accommodate larger boats up to about 7,500 pounds of weight.
Tow Vehicle Capacity
You can typically find this information on the vehicle owner’s manual. Knowing this will determine how heavy your trailer should be. To prevent damage to your vehicle and accidents along the way make sure you pick a trailer that does not exceed the maximum towing capacity of your vehicle.
Price
Having a fixed budget will help you narrow down the search for the best pontoon boat trailers that suit your needs.
Prices may vary from place to place and typically increase if there are additional features included.
Trailering a Pontoon Boat
Pontoon boats are quite easy to load, unload and tow with the help of trailers that match correctly with your toons. Here are some tips to help you trailer your boats with ease.
- Don’t pull the trailer in too deep. All you have to do is to pull the trailer in deep enough that the tops of the wheel wells are barely under.
- Don’t trail in high winds because you’ll have a tough time navigating and trailering in this certain weather condition.
- As much as possible let everyone off the boat before you load your pontoons back to the trailers.
Check out this YouTube video for more helpful tips on how to trailer pontoon boats the right way.
Pontoon Trailer Cost
Pontoon boat trailers on the market cost as low as $600 to $8000+. The price of pontoon boat trailers would depend on its materials/construction, size, capacity, and style.
Best Pontoon Trailers
Here are our top picks for the best pontoon boat trailers that will surely deliver.
The Hoosier WFB Float-On Trailer allows you to tow your boats with ease and can be used in different bodies of water. It is designed to easily launch your boat in low water areas and offers features that allow for better boat handling while on the road.
Key features: 84″ wide track axle, 20.5 x 8 x 10″ tires and wheels, torsion axle with independent suspension, adjustable bunks, treated bunks, and water-resistant tail lights.
The P-Series Load Rite pontoon trailer offers features that work perfectly on the boating scene. and is made of galvanized steel frame for superior anti-corrosion protection and long-lasting use. Also available with standard smooth stopping disc brakes that are self-cleaning and adjustable. These features are backed by the industry-leading Load Rite 2 + 3 Warranty.
Key Features: Galvanized torsion axle suspension, Bias-Ply Tires, LED Lighting, full-length, adjustable, carpeted bunks, two slip-resistant steps, manual winch, and tongue jacks.
One feature to highlight on the Karavan Single Axle Aluminum Pontoon Trailer is its aluminum construction which stands up to salt and prevents corrosion. It is also fit for smaller pontoons up to 18′ in length and is easy to move and turn given its single-axle design. Comes with built-in smart lighting and wheel bearing systems for a safe and hassle-free ride.
Key Features: Sway Control engineering, Aluminum design, tritoon kit compatible, winch stand ladder, Quiet tow componentry, optional low maintenance disc brakes.
This heavy-duty hot-dipped galvanized trailer from Load Rite offers a multiple sets of axles and is built to handle long hauls and wear and tear on the road. The Load Rite Galvanized Tandem & Tri-Axle AB Bunk is available in 11 different models that can accommodate a wide variety of boat sizes and weights.
Key features: Galvanized frame, torsion axles, disc brakes on all wheels, bead-balanced radial tires, LED lights, one-piece aluminum fenders, carpeted bunks mounted on galvanized steel bunk tubes, winch and tongue jack
The Wolverine bunk style trailer is available in 4 models that are perfect for different needs and budgets. It’s A perfect smooth pulling trailer that ensures that you and your boats are safe while trailering. The complete axle assembly including the fender can be moved forward and backward with ease which helps you obtain the perfect tongue weight distribution.
Adjustable 8’ long horizontal load guides are standard on all float-on trailers except on the All- American models. These load guides allow you to move your pontoon boats out of the water with ease saving you so much time and effort.
Key Features: Aluminum treadplate fenders, Steel 5″x2″ galvanized steel tubing, the capacity of 3500 – 10500 lbs including trailer weight, 3500lb axle, Load guides.
Pontoon Boat Accessories
Pontoon boats are a great way to have some outdoor family fun on the lake or a party with friends out on the open sea. Check out these practical must-have pontoon boat accessories to add to your boat for smooth sailing.
Download Your FREE Boating Pre-Departure Checklist
Recommended Boating Resources
- Recommended Pontoon Boat Accessories
- Best Boat Snacks– These are easy to make and yummy, too.
- Pontoon Boat Hacks– Simplify your days on the water with these boating hacks.
MORE RELATED RESOURCES
If you’re going to make boating a weekly habit, you should definitely check out these14 Pontoon Boat Hacks to make your boat life easier. And while you’re at it, you might also want to learn how to BBQ on a pontoon boat for more delectable boating food for the whole family!
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