Upgrading my trailer and trolling motor

fishandkamp · December 26, 2017, 09:09:14 PM

I own a Lowe Stinger 170 which is a 17 1/2 foot long bass boat with a 70 pound thrust MK Maxum tm and the factory Karavan painted trailer. Has anyone here replaced their trailer with either a Venture or Load Rite trailer. I am looking at either an aluminum or galvanized trailer. I am thinking of upgrading the Maxum to a Riptide Terrova with I Pilot. Who has experience with them. How do you like the spot lock?

Oldfart9999 · December 27, 2017, 11:05:28 AM

I have the older Terrova with Spot Lock, it isn't as accurate as the new Spot Lock but I like it for deep water and shallow with calm water, you'll like the new one. There are other features that you'll like also like being able to record a trail and then letting the motor run it for you while you fish, there are a couple others also.
Rodney

fishandkamp · January 11, 2018, 09:47:53 PM

Well, it is getting exciting. I ran around this week comparing Venture trailers ( made 20 minutes from my house) and Load Rite trailers ( made about 2 hours above Philly PA). I also looked at a few others. You could tell the salesmen were only interested in taking my money, not showing me trailers outside in the terrible cold.

Anyway I plunked my money down on a brand new Load Rite galvanized trailer. I wanted an aluminum one but the swing tongue option got difficult. So we have a 2018 2400 pound Load Rite Elite series trailer. It is a bit longer than my original trailer, it has the 6 inch long LED lights with the galvanized step to protect them, a torsion axle that should run really smooth and larger 14 inch radial tires. They should be great on those long runs to TN, KY and maybe even to the big G for a rally some time!
Now for the goodies, we added a 2 foot long piece of factory trailer tongue and the swing away tongue kit. Also it was ordered with the quick slide bunk material, no carpet so the boat will load better and the bunks will last longer. Finally, I chose new Boat Buckles with stainless steel hardware and 5 foot long side boards. The rig should play nice! I stuck the old trailer on CL and got a more than a few legit offers already. Now all I have to do is wait till my foot recovers from today's surgery and the new trailer comes in YEA!

After that I will get the trolling motor replaced.

I know there was some postings about getting a trailer to replace a factory one under a fiberglass boat. Take a good look at the Load Rites. They have a series of galvanized built just for replacing a factory bassboat trailer. One thing about the galvanized trailers they look good with the aluminum wheels. So do the Aluminum trailers. Many of the guys around here are going that way.

Man it has been 1 day and I already am tired of sitting with my foot elevated and iced. I might jusdt have to use an oxy or two soon! THUMP, THUMP, THUMP!!!

Mike Cork · January 13, 2018, 01:24:24 PM

Very cool, a new trailer will definitely make unloading and loading easier and the entire trip more enjoyable.

Take your time with the foot. Don't need something to go wrong, your time line is already pushing being ready for the spring. A set back could put you bank bound during the spawn

fishandkamp · January 13, 2018, 05:57:35 PM

I am a goal oriented person. I am doing absolutely nothing for the next few weeks, just as my doc has told me top do.
I also set a goal of fishing Dale Hollow during the last week of March/first week of April. We are traveling down to Huntsville AL. to see a friend and her kids ( we used to camp with them on the Potomac river) then it is on to a week in TN. I hope to stop and see Bigwrench and a couple of other members here along the way.
No goals no success in life! Just have to make your goals achievable and each one bigger and better than the last.

fishandkamp · February 01, 2018, 07:59:23 PM

Well today was the day. I drove over to the trailer shop. They transferred my boat to the new Load Rite trailer. it was supposed to be a 2800 pound galvanized trailer. That was to be made with a 3x3 frame. Instead they had standardized their lineup some. i got a new 2018 model and it was made with a 3x4 frame. It is registered as a 3000 pound trailer. It fit soo nice after they adjusted the axle to the frame. They set it for the correct tongue weight and that made everything else work well.
I will have to get pictures. They are installing a swing tongue kit, 5 foot long sideboards, new stainless boat buckles,and even two guide posts with light. This will make up for the two marker lights located in the front step on the old trailer. i used to depend on those for judging where the trailer is in low light conditions. I will not be able to miss those 40 inch poles with lights up about even with the gas engine.

What a difference when someone that knows how to set a trailer up properly dos his magic. Oh I forgot
there is a new spare to match the other two tire/ rims and it will be mounted using a slanted tire carrier. I can't wait to see how slick the Load Rites poly bunk material gets.
Next the old girl gets a a new MK Riptide Terrova and maybe a new HB Helix 10 Mega SI
Would someone else please entertain the monkey for a while, my wallet is starting to hurt!

Oldfart9999 · February 02, 2018, 08:22:18 AM

Sounds like you made out quite well. Congrats!! As far as the monkey, you're on your own, we all have to deal with the ugly little fur ball also!

Rodney

coldfront · February 02, 2018, 12:22:28 PM

Quote from: fishandkamp on February 01, 2018, 07:59:23 PMI can't wait to see how slick the Load Rites poly bunk material gets.

have heard its REAL important to keep the bow strap on until in the water!

fishandkamp · February 03, 2018, 08:08:07 PM

Man I stopped over the trailer shop today and got to see my boat sitting on the new trailer.
I am super stoked, it fit that thing like a glove. I was worried how the 5 foot long side boards would fit and have the 40 inch guide posts behind them. I did not want it to look goobered up. The boards are centered over the single axle and there is about 8 to 1o inches between the rear guide post and the boards.
Those led lights on top of the guide posts are going to work really nice when you go to change lanes on the highway at night, as well as when backing down a steep ramp first thing in the morning, before it is light out. They got the spare tire and cover done and the "custom" brackets for the boat buckles installed.
Now I just waiting on the 3x4 swing kit for the trailer tongue. She will be home soon.

fishandkamp · February 08, 2018, 09:25:07 PM

Well it is home finally. Dave's Trailers in Glenn Burnie did a fantastic job. All of my upgrades were done and the boat tows like a dream. I love the difference the torsion axle makes. It pulls almost silently and far smoother than a sprung axle. Here are some pictures. I hope these work as I have never used before.

fishandkamp · February 08, 2018, 09:31:47 PM

Here are a few more.

BigDBasser · February 09, 2018, 06:26:21 AM

Quote from: coldfront on February 02, 2018, 12:22:28 PM
have heard its REAL important to keep the bow strap on until in the water!

Just a reminder on those new bunks. I put them on my trailer and they are really slick. My boat slid off the trailer while backing down a steep ramp one morning. They also scuffed up the fiberglass pretty bad where the boat sat on them.

They'll last forever, but I'd recommend that you cover them with carpet like you would normal bunks. They aren't so slippery, and it doesn't mark up the bottom.

fishandkamp · February 09, 2018, 12:28:57 PM

Every one of those slick bunk materials acts differently. Their purpose is to be slick though. I am not sure about the ones Load Rite uses, but I have had the ones Tie Down makes before. In fact I had them on several trailers and I like them. Of course these were painted aluminum boats , not fancy fiberglass boats. The first trailer I put them on had a 15 foot electric powered reservoir rig on it. I always leave the front strap attached till I get the boat to the water. It is a good safety practice as you found out. Usually, I will prep the boat prior to going in the ramp line. Once I get to the waters edge I unhook the front strap and either get in the boat so someone else can launch me, or I attach my Z Launcher rope and launch myself. Neither of those operations takes more than a fews seconds, so I am not worried about holding anyone up.

Truck57 · February 13, 2018, 04:35:35 PM

Very nice looking trailer (and Lowe 170!)
I have a 2000 Lowe 170 Special Bass with the original Lowe galvanized trailer. The latter is starting to show some weld cracks, so I'm rationalizing that I should get a new one with brakes and a swing tongue

fishandkamp · February 13, 2018, 09:33:39 PM

Very nice looking boat. We will have to get together on the water sometime. If you wish to see mine in person that can be arranges. I purchased it and all the mods were done at Dave's Trailer in Glen Burnie.
I am very curious with that motor what is your top speed.

Truck57 · February 14, 2018, 10:55:57 AM

Thanks. It'd be great to get together on the water. I'll PM you on that.

My Johnny 70 hp gets me up to 45mph (GPS reading) when I don't have all of BassProShop's inventory and heavy pax like myself onboard... It's been a great boat and motor for the 7 years that I've owned it.

I upgraded my trolling motor to a 24v Minn Kota Maxxum 65# from the original weak 12v Envirude branded Minn Kota that was on it. Awesome difference. I can only dream about the latest and greatest TMs from MK...

I'll have to check out your trailer more closely. Mine is still ok for now, but it'd be nice to upgrade it.