Towing a C-25 with a 2006 Frontier

I am currently looking at buying a trailer for Miss Pam, my 2004 CD25. The weight quoted for an 8200lb load capacity Magic tilt tandem axel aluminum trailer is 880lbs. If Wild Blue's trailer is 2,000 lbs. galvanized steel, the weight difference of the trailer alone is 1120lbs.
 
Those aluminum trailers are light, but I'd wonder. The wheels, brakes and axles stay steel I assume, and they weigh a lot. 880 lbs is ~1/3 of a steel trailer, and that seems pretty drastic, since they only change the frame?

Using a specific gravity difference of 2.8:1 (aluminum is lighter,) and a strength difference of 60:40 (aluminum isn't as strong,) if the whole trailer was changed from iron/steel to aluminum, one would expect a weight savings of ~50%. Since not everything can go to aluminum, a 33% weight seems a bit much (same load capacity.)



Boris
 
My Pacific 8000# gvwr galvanized trailer is 1330 pounds. I'm not sure how much more an aluminum trailer costs vs galvanized but it might be worthwhile for a heavy boat like the Tom Cat. Would the cost per pound saved for an aluminum trailer be worth while for a lighter boat like the CD 25?
Eric
 
OK, here are numbers for E-Z Loader trailers, which are what the factory uses. I've had 2 of these and feel they're a good trailer.

For a 102" trailer, 7500 # capacity aluminum 4 bunk weight is 1500#.

For a 102" trailer 7000# capacity galvanized roller is weight 1900#. If you go up to 16" wheels, which the trailer under Journey On has, the weight is 2150# and the capacity is 7500#. Yes those tyres are heavy.

The roller trailer is worth any extra weight (and cost.) They make it really easy to launch/retrieve.

I can't explain the difference between E-Z Loader and other brands, but the difference between E-Z Loader aluminum and galvanized seems reasonable to me. The Magic Tilt also has galvanized axles, tongue and spoke wheels, and I don't know how they get that weight.

I've weighed Journey On and made a weight breakdown. Ready for cruising and WITHOUT fluids a tow weight of between 8500# and 9000# is reasonable. I would size the trailer for 7500# NET.

Boris
 
I just bought a new Nissan Frontier and am happy to report that it tows our CD22 well. I'm very surprised and happy that the V6 does so well, it tows just fine and I've had to stop quickly a couple of times and it had no problem stopping the boat smoothly.

Of course, we haven't gone up a big hill yet but the Frontier seems to have sufficient pulling power, especially after downshifting to 3rd gear. But compared to my V8 Dodge Durango, I can definitely tell I'm pulling with a V6 even if the towing capacity is higher. I can't even imagine using the Frontier with a CD25, I would think that it would really put a strain on the engine. With the CD22, I feel it works out just fine but wouldn't want to pull anything much heavier.

Peter
c-Dancer
 
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