Importing - Best Option for Trailer?

[Muddy Toes]

I bought a 24 ft boat in last year and the mob in Florida i bought it off had an Ezyloader ally I beam trailer there all ready to go with Au.spec Led lights, 4 wheel electric over hydraulic disk brakes, 2.45 wide. It was pretty much ADR compliant except for the AU. stamped hitch and rated chain.They export alot of boats to Australia and had one in stock ready for the occasion.It cost $4700AUD.Brand new.I rung Ezy loader direct and they said they could do it with the right hitch and chains if i could buy them here and ship it to them.I couldn't be assed.The boat and trailer came over and it left the dock on a tilt tray and went to Opal trailers at cleveland to get the hitch and chains done.$150.Opal have their own tilt tray so it was pretty easy for them to pick it up and take it back to get the stuff done.When i was looking for a boat i got a quote from Dunbier to build the exact same trailer and they quoted me $12,000 and after the guys down at Opal saw it they also said it would be about that much if they made it.Its a work of art.The only problem i had with the tyres was when i was trying to get a spare no one here could get that "special"USA size, so to save the mucking around i got the trailer re-shoed and sold the other tyres.In the end the change over was bugger all.So with the trailer all good i went down to QLD transport and and it was all good.Just like that.(make sure you have your authority to import a trailer).Who ever recommended Don Bellshaw i ditto that.He's a great fella and if its got to do with U.S boat trailers he's got/can get it.On the 2 inch ball idea i'm not really sure if thats the answer and as for the wiring of the trailer and the plug mine came with a 12 pin plug and when i got my in cab controller done by Wynnum Towbars, Leo actually drove down to Opal Trailers at Cleveland, worked out which plug was which and did my car the same.For me its a no brainer....$12,000 vs about $5,000.

[LoungeLizard]

Thanks mate. Who was the mob you dealt with in Florida?

[Muddy Toes]

I bought the boat off Marine Connection and they used a company called Watercraft Mix to ship it.Both have websites and really easy to deal with.When i spoke to Demian at Marine Connections and the fella at Ezyloader Trailers i was running through the ADR for boat trailers and they both said they had copies of it with them.Just a final thought, i rung a mob called Portsea Marine in Melbourene and they import Peterson Trailers They said they could do one for about that price if it was assembled in the U.S but would be about twice that price if they bought it over, assembled it and you picked it up from here.Obviously it was easier for me to get one put under my boat over there by Marine Connections.

[Noelm]

how about you try the importer that advertises right here on Ausfish? Leisure freight and import, they advertise here so I guess if they were no good, someone would have said so by now!

[cormorant]

Muddy toes. Great trailer. I notice on one of the photos that the rear axel brake hose ( from chassis to axel) looks like it doesn't have enough excess length. Probably just a illusion in the photo angle but a easy fix so it doesn't fatigue .

[Muddy Toes]

Looks to be that way doesn't it? Its done a few thousand K's so far and nothings happened to it but i will have a closer look when i get home.

[haro274]

Just a final thought, i rung a mob called Portsea Marine in Melbourene and they import Peterson Trailers They said they could do one for about that price if it was assembled in the U.S but would be about twice that price if they bought it over, assembled it and you picked it up from here.Obviously it was easier for me to get one put under my boat over there by Marine Connections

Muddy toes- Unless I read your post wrong about the Peterson trailers i think you are a bit missinformed. They will put you on one of there ADR compliant trailers before it leaves the usa if you ship with Portsea Marine. Also those Peterson Trailers carry a 2 year warranty in Oz and aftersales service.

[Muddy Toes]

Sorry, it was in the way i wrote it.I meant to say that their quote was about the same if it was put under my boat over in the USA regardless of the shipper and about double the cost if i picked it up from Victoria all assembled and ready to be registered.The 2 year warranty would have been good but logisticaly it was easier for the boat yard in florida to put the boat on the trailer before shipping instead of introducing a third party into the purchase and have it delayed when time was already of the essence and it was also too hard for me to get the trailer from Victoria.If i had of used Portsea Marine for the import then maybe it would have been a bit easier but when they quoted nearly triple the cost of what i actually paid it was out of the question.

[Muddy Toes]

Muddy toes- Unless I read your post wrong about the Peterson trailers i think you are a bit missinformed. They will put you on one of there ADR compliant trailers before it leaves the usa if you ship with Portsea Marine. Also those Peterson Trailers carry a 2 year warranty in Oz and aftersales service.



As a bit of a late thought, if this is Justin Harris or an affiliate then this was the impression i was left with after our communications and if i'm your wrong then feel free to clear things up.No harm intended if i wasn't getting my facts right.
Cheers.

[leezor]

OK, so I think I have found the boat I want in Florida. It comes with an EZ loader (ally) trailer which is pretty much new and is legal to tow in Aus i.e <2.5m wide. Boat + trailer will be less than 2 tonnes.

What would be better: Importing the trailer and fixing up wiring, coupling etc or getting a new Aus spec trailer made in the US? Can anyone recommend a trailer manufacturer in Florida that make a decent trailer?

I ended up getting All American Trailers in Miami to supply mine. Sent over the coupling, wiring, lights and plug which they fitted in the factory.
Good company to deal with and they kept me informed of the progress all the way through, very happy so far.

Import approval arrived last week, boat and trailer leave the US tomorrow and arrives in Brisbane late April.