Replacement Drift Boat Trailer

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Steelhead
My Clack WF16 is over 20-years old now. The trailer is the original. While I have the bearings repacked every year and try to keep up on the maintenance, I feel like it’s getting to the end of its life span. If I was to buy a new trailer (Black Dog, Clack), they are 3-4K new. Anyone have any pros or cons on specific makes that are available? Want to spend the money wisely. I’ve seen too many old trailers in the Rockies on the side of the highway or freeway and I don’t want to be that guy!
 
My Clack WF16 is over 20-years old now. The trailer is the original. While I have the bearings repacked every year and try to keep up on the maintenance, I feel like it’s getting to the end of its life span. If I was to buy a new trailer (Black Dog, Clack), they are 3-4K new. Anyone have any pros or cons on specific makes that are available? Want to spend the money wisely. I’ve seen too many old trailers in the Rockies on the side of the highway or freeway and I don’t want to be that guy!
Have to ask , what would be wrong replacing the hubs , and bearings for starters ? Maybe a bit of sanding , and paint , new rollers etc . I’m thinking a bunch less than a new one .
 
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My Clack WF16 is over 20-years old now. The trailer is the original. While I have the bearings repacked every year and try to keep up on the maintenance, I feel like it’s getting to the end of its life span. If I was to buy a new trailer (Black Dog, Clack), they are 3-4K new. Anyone have any pros or cons on specific makes that are available? Want to spend the money wisely. I’ve seen too many old trailers in the Rockies on the side of the highway or freeway and I don’t want to be that guy!
Mine is 30 years old. I recently replaced the leaf-springs, the axle, hubs and bearings were good to go. should be good for longer than I will be around.
Much cheaper than a new trailer. I did the labor myself.
 
Mine is 30 years old. I recently replaced the leaf-springs, the axle, hubs and bearings were good to go. should be good for longer than I will be around.
Much cheaper than a new trailer. I did the labor myself.
I did the same last year with my 1985 trailer, but had a shop redo the bearings. Painted using POR 51. I also built a new roller for it and replaced the bunks. Good to go for many more years, longer than I will be using it but wanted to pass it on to my son in good condition.
 
I started with this , cut it down from 8’ foot wide to 7 foot , welded it back up . Replaced just about everything, kept the axle , replaced the hubs ,new bearings , coupler , tires , wheels , chains . Outdoor carpet over new pressure treated plywood. Sanded , and painted all the metal . IMG_1771.jpegIMG_1926.jpegIMG_1927.jpeg
 
Dexter Torflex 2000# axle with hubs and bearings $350
Sandblasting $200
Hot dip galvanized $350
New lights and wiring $100
New bunks (2x4) w/ carpet $50
1-1/2" pipe roller with uhmw bearings $50.
If it's halfway decent design and build, spend a bit of money, and you'll have better than new
similar treatment for the trailer to my 84' Clack Magnum as part of it's refresh...new Dexter axle w/loaded hubs, frame power sanded bare, had some reinforcement flanges welded on the frame, received two coats of POR 51 paint, new led lights and fir bunks with poly skids, new crank and winch, wheels and tires...all in under a grand, still on the road with the couple I sold it to when we moved to the mtns 5 years ago.
The folks at Potter Webster in Portland are excellent to work with, gave them the current axle measurements, they matched up, the new axle w/hubs and bearings was in my driveway a week later.
 
similar treatment for the trailer to my 84' Clack Magnum as part of it's refresh...new Dexter axle w/loaded hubs, frame power sanded bare, had some reinforcement flanges welded on the frame, received two coats of POR 51 paint, new led lights and fir bunks with poly skids, new crank and winch, wheels and tires...all in under a grand, still on the road with the couple I sold it to when we moved to the mtns 5 years ago.
The folks at Potter Webster in Portland are excellent to work with, gave them the current axle measurements, they matched up, the new axle w/hubs and bearings was in my driveway a week later.
Sounds like nice work , my axle was good plus it was galvanized, and really didn’t need hubs , but the new hubs come with bearings , and new race , and just needed to be packed , well not even that if I remember, but I like to do my own wheel bearing grease , so it got redone . Mine gets pulled behind my fifth wheel for my annual summer trip to Montana . So much nicer to tow that trailer behind the truck up there when fishing the lakes , instead of having to load the pontoon boat in the back of my truck . Plus the fact that I don’t have to disassemble,and put it in the fifth wheel ,and then assemble when I get there , and then have to repeat to go home .
 
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