Shorelander or Trailmaster boat trailers?

[Hunt4Ever]

I'm trying to configure an 18' Lund Alaskan. I have a choice of two trailers. Shorelander or Trailmaster. I want a trailer that will take quite a bit of road use, and I only want to buy it once. Which one is going to last longest, and provide the least amount of headaches? While I'm at it, rollers or bunks?

[Mr Nailz]

I've had 3 Shorelander trailers and have been very satisfied. I would definatly buy another. That's part of the reason I bought my new boat. As far as rollers or bunks, that's personal preference. I prefer rollers for ease of unloading and loading (IE: you don't have to back in as far and easier to roll in). That's my opinion.

[Lionel]

In my opinion, neither of those trailers are very good. Sure, they'll get you to the lake and back (for a while) but are not what I feel comfortable with under my boat. I owned trailers made by 4 manufacturers (major brands) and they were all junk. All of them gave me trouble of one sort or another. MOST trailers are made with one thing in mind and that is price. They are enginnered to be produced as cheaply as possible and they meet only the most marginal strength, saftey, and boat-to-trailer fit standards. I spent many years messing around with trailers that were substandard in almost every aspect. I had to strengthen frames, rebuild crappy adjustable brackets, re-wire lights, and the list goes on. Upon ordering my last new boat, I was set to buy the steel to make my own trailer when someone told me about Eagle trailers. I was skeptical but visited a local dealer and gave one of their trailers a thorough inspection.
It was exactly the kind of trailer I had wanted all along and actually didn't cost any more than comparable models. I ordered one that day and have never looked back. Do yourself a favor and at least check one out. What you won't find are cheap adjustable bunk brackets that are weak and never quite fit your boat. You will not find flimsy beams and cross members that are shotily bolted together. You will not find lights that blow out every other time you launch. What you will find is a trailer that exactly fits your boat, is built far stronger than needed, and will give you peace of mind. If you are like me and trailer literally thousands of miles every season, check out Eagle.

[PJM]

Hunt4Ever

I read Lionel post and I agree that Eagle is a good trailer but so is Shorelander. I have owned both and trailered thousands of miles and even down dirt roads in Canada and have never had a problem other then a 1996 trailer that had bad tires on it. So to say the none of those trailers are very good is a poor choice of words. If you buy a Pro-V by Lund a bunk might be a better way to go but as far a Trailmaster I have not seen may complaints on this sit about them.

[FJH1]

I know it's not one of your options, but get an Eagle. It's made to fit your boat like a glove.

Best Regards,

FJH

[luredaddy]

The trailer under my first Lund was a Shorelander, it will be my last. The trailer under my 1650 Lund is a 4 bunk Trailmaster. I cannot say enough good things about it! There are threads in the archives dealing with this topic. Eagle is a quality trailer, you would do well with either.

[Hunt4Ever]

Eagle trailers, I just checked out their website. They are about 40 minutes from my house. They didn't have a dealer list. I'll have to call I guess.

[David Kysar]

Stay away from Shorelander, there statements of origin are not acceptable at some states. I bought a new shoreland in wisonsin then moved to Pennsylvania a year later and they won't accept the Statement of Origin. Shorelander won't help (they have no service)

[JBL]

I agree with LureDaddy. The Trailmaster is a good quality trailer. The Eagle is an excellent quality trailer but does cost more. My dealer wanted another grand to put an Eagle under my 1800, went with the Trailmaster and am very satisfied. Personal preference here is a bunk trailer. IMO, easier loading, less chance of dropping the boat on the concrete if you have a brain fart and forget to lock the bow clamp after retrieving, or release it before backing the back of the boat into the water when launching.

[PJM]

David Kysar


I find this hard to believe so there has to be more to the story then you are telling us. This still does not make it a bad trailer.

[Bob G2]

Here's a question for all you Eagle guys. Does it only come with Carlisle tires, or can you get Goodyear Marathons on them. The Eagle trailers I have seen so far have had Carlisles on them.

[ProV]

If anyone needs a price on a package i can give one.I sell E-Z Loader,Trailmaster,Eagle,C-Hawk.Respond with your E-Mail address and i will send you a quote.

[MarkG]

I have owned both ,, Shorelanders and Trailmasters,of these choices Trailmaster is the choice. Just make sure you do not underbuy. Go with a 4 bunk setup, and 13" or 14" radials depending on your boat size and weight. You will be pleased. But as others have suggested ,also look at Eagles, as their reputation are, as being the best. I am not sure if they are more expensive.They probably are.
The only time I would use a Shorelander is maybe for a smaller more lightweight 14 or 16' boat .They seem fine for that. As far as Carlisle tires,I myself have had no problems with their radials,including 4 years and lots of miles on a previous Trailmaster. Still had plenty tread,looked great and held air fine when I sold it .

[chadk66]

Contrary to most of the above posts, I have had a shorelander bunk on my 17' tournament series Crestliner for a year and a half and it is an excellent trailer. I have never had a trailer that was so easy to load a boat on. In the last year I have really started to pay attention to the trailers the boats I see are sitting on. I am amazed at how many are on trailers that appear to be much too light for the boat. Just Friday I was driving down the interstate behind a guy pulling a 2025 proV lund and a bunk trailer. I was amazed at how the wheels were tipping. I looked really closely and the axle was really flexing causing the wheels to tip thus obviously wearing the tires unevenly. I followed him for quite a while to watch this then I passed him to see what trailer it was. It was a shorelander and it was a much lighter trailer than the one I run under my 17' boat. He was pulling a 20' boat with what appeared to be a standard amount of gear. I don't think we should bash any companies trailers without knowing what the ratings of the trailers were that we are using. I honestly believe we as consumers need to make more of a point to spend another 200-300$ on the next size bigger trailer once we determine what is adequate. I think we'd all have less trouble.

[David Kysar]

PJM,

That is the whole truth, Shorelander doesn't stand behind their product. There statement of origins will not title in Pennsylvania, they won't give me a "good" one with GVW. If you don't believe just call the DMV they said it happens all the time with Shorelande the last 3 years.

[EsoxProSport]

Very impressed with the Trailmaster PC1830 Trailer I have on my new matching Lund 1675 Pro Sport. Its rated at 3700lbs, is built like a tank.. It came with a few extras too, 4 Bunks, Poly Bow Roller, and Radial Tires. All this and a 3 year warranty sold me. So far it launches and loads flawless.

[chadk66]

David,
I'm sure there are ways around your unfortunate circumstance. I encountered the same situation a number of years ago when I moved from ND to MN. I went in to license a small horse trailer and a snowmobile trailer. They asked for a title and I told them we never received one when we bought them. Well the nice lady told me that we'll just consider them home made then and she titled them as a homemade trailer. Call up your DMV and ask them how to license your homemade boat trailer.

[David Kysar]

Yea I could title it that way, but when you buy a new trailer you shouldn't have to go that route. Just wonder if Shorelander stands behind their warranty as I have had such I difficut time with them returning phone calls.

[Stotch]

Hey FJH,

Read your reply regarding the "Eagle Trailers" fits like a glove.

My current boat is a 1990 Crestliner Phantom 180 with the SST transom. Am considering the Eagle trailer but need to know just how the trailer would be able to " fit like a glove " with my particular year and model boat.

Anyway you can help would be greatly appreciated. Are these Eagle trailers available with a hot dip galvanized finish ??

Thanks.....Stotch