Boat tralier for trip to Key West

Bob Dowdy · Feb 24, 2003

Need some info & advice---I'm about to start looking for a trailer for my 251 Pro-Line(4000 lbs).I'm long range planning a trip to Key West and plan to take my boat.I will be towing w/ a 1997 Jimmy w/proper tow package.What I'd like is trailer suggestions,best rout from New England,best time to drive and anything that could help--I know it's a tall package,your input is appreciated. Tight Lines Bob

mattttt25 · Feb 24, 2003

Re: Boat tralier for trip to Key West

95 south the whole way my friend. you obviously want a dual axle with brakes. highly recommend checking out the ez loader website. don't have to buy from them, but the website offers all sorts of great trailering info, as well as pros and cons for different types of trailers.

JB · Feb 24, 2003

Re: Boat tralier for trip to Key West

Hi, Bob. You are a long way from them, but www.championtrailers.com has an online catalog that can give a good idea about options and features you want.

snapperbait · Feb 24, 2003

Re: Boat tralier for trip to Key West

Bob.. I-95 is great...BUT... You might want to consider hooking up with the Florida turnpike at Stuart or Jupiter and take it all the way to Homesetad via the Homestead extention... It's a straight shot to US-1... Once you get to West Palm Beach the MAJOR construction mess on I-95 starts... They are tearing up everything on I-95 from West Palm almost all the way to Ft. lauderdale... It's extremly bad... Miami's traffic on a good day is no fun either... I could not imagine towing a boat like yours (I have a 4000lbs. 21' c/c on a tandem with brakes) through there... I'd be a nervous wreck... The $$$ you'll spend on tolls on the turnpike is not cheap, but it's well worth it to keep your nerves in tack enough so you can handle tackling some of those monster fish in the Keys...

As for a trailer, Brakes are an absolute must have... I Always buy a trailer thats about one size too big (mine fits up to 25' boat@6000lbs.) for several reasons... #1 The trailer is longer which keeps my rear tires on the truck from spinning out on the ramp slime (sometimes).. #2 A little extra weight capacity on a trailer never hurts because you're always going to tote some extra gear and a loaded cooler or two around, not to mention a full fuel tank... A spare tire, a couple spare lug nuts, a spare hub with bearings, and a good jack with some tools is always good to have with you even with a new trailer... Have fun, take your time, and drive safe...

Bob Dowdy · Feb 24, 2003

Re: Boat tralier for trip to Key West

To all, thanks for the feed back--Champion Catalog is on the way--What about night travel for the drive and sleeping during the day and missing the heavy traffic?????Also any major ( hills)upgrades along the way????Or maybe I should gas her up and take the Inter/Coastal. Tight Lines Bob

mattttt25 · Feb 24, 2003

Re: Boat tralier for trip to Key West

bob- seriously check out www.ezloader.com and check out the faq pages. answers lots of questions about trailering. driving at night is a good idea, i do that on my trip to canada each year. if you can do the icw, go for it. i will be making two trips up it this spring (50' cheoy lee and 48' ocean) and can't wait.

Solittle · Feb 24, 2003

Re: Boat tralier for trip to Key West

Bob - Before you start dumping your wallet you should load up your boat and take it to a moving company and get it weighed. I estimate that you will be surprised at how much you are over 4,000 lbs. If you get a used trailer plan on buying a new set of tires. I agree with Snapperbait on routing as I live in Miami. Try to avoid the Dade-Broward county roads 6:30-9:30am and 4:30-7pm. Roads are good but traffic is a bitc#.

BillP · Feb 24, 2003

Re: Boat tralier for trip to Key West

Hey Bob, Snapperbait is right...avoid I95 from West Palm south. The ONLY way to go I95 through that section (about 75 miles) is at night. There is very little traffic from approx 11pm to 4am.. Just remember there is construction, lanes are NARROW and speed limits not even close to 70. I'd suggest getting on the turnpike (I75)at Ft.Pierce and go south to the Homestead Extension (or alternate on the Sawgrass Exp). Get on US1 at the end of the extension and it goes down through the keys. Also, day traffic is harsh in the upper keys on weekends. Nights much better. I live about 5 non-stop "trailering" hours from the middle keys. Most times I leave approx 11pm and arrive in Marathon or Big Pine before daylight. Usually have zero traffic no matter which route I take. Key West has the best launching facilities in the keys...at the municipal marina. Parking can be tough to find on weekends. Where are you staying down there?

kdmiller8251 · Feb 24, 2003

Re: Boat tralier for trip to Key West

Bob: I pulled a 21' Cuddy out of miami last June. My first boat... Pulled her up to Chicago. Let me tell ya there was a little Construction down there and the traffic sucked I came out of Miami about 4pm or so. If you can do it, do it at night you are better off and your truck and trailer will run cooler. Make sure you got a good spare and have that baby tied down good. Good luck! Tallman

Jack Shellac · Feb 25, 2003

Re: Boat tralier for trip to Key West

I would definitely take the Florida Turnpike too. Avoid Miami during the weekday rush hours to and from work. Then, after you get past Key Largo, get ready for one of the most beautiful drives of your life. Do it during the day so you can see all the different shades of water. It's two lane all the way, except for scattered passing zones, so allow plenty of time. Oh yeah, don't be surprised by ANYTHING you see in Key West.

Bob Dowdy · Feb 25, 2003

Re: Boat tralier for trip to Key West

Great replys from all and many many thanks. Heres some back round info.My fishing buddy and I ahve fished the lower keys for some 10 years.But strictly flats-- cuddas,permit and jacks,so time to move on and futher out to sea for some bigger action.I have a time share down there for the month of Feb. and figured to charter for 3/4 days a week could run into some serious $$$$$$$$$$. So enter the Pro-Line and towing to the keys,I belong to a local Y.C. and looking into slip or mooring a Y.C. in lower keys area God Bless & Tight Lines Bob

jeff_nicholas · Feb 25, 2003

Re: Boat tralier for trip to Key West

Me and a buddy towed our Seaswirl Stripers to the Keys last month. It's really not a big deal driving down I-95. Get on the Florida Toll Road about Palm Beach Gardens, it's $14+ bucks for a tandem axle trailer to Homestead but well worth it. We were gone a week...slept on the boats ashore a couple nights and in a motel one night in Islamorada ($60) - otherwise we hooked out. WalMart parking lots are my favorite motel, but on this trip we slept ashore at the ramp at Sandsprit Park -- Manitee Pocket near Stuart. My tandem axle trailer had brakes (on one axle), his single axle trailer had no brakes. We both have late model F150's but his is a 4X4 with the big engine, mine is a 4X2 w/ small V8. Both boats are 18 1/2', same model; his is a year younger. He runs a 130 Johnson, I'm a 115 Ficht. If any clear preferences materialized from the trip it was that trailer brakes make your life a lot easier, and his hull shape worked better in the chop on the 30 mile run between Bahia Honda and Key West on the Florida Bay side. BTW, his 130 Johnson got me out of the hole, but my 115 Ficht gets him on top end. I used 7 gallons of gas to his 10. My 4X2 got 2+ mpg better than his 4X4. If you're interested in the log entry (cruise report), just let me know where to send it.

Fly Rod · Feb 25, 2003

Re: Boat tralier for trip to Key West

SnapperBait is right on when fiquring a little more trailer then what you need. Considering the 4000lb boat; motor 4-500lbs; gas at about7.5lbs per gallon;anchor;cooler and if you have a t-top.Bought my 26' dusky #3800lbs. and with all the goodies closer to 6000lbs. I purchased a 7200lb ez loader aluminum trailer with bunks and surge breaks for about $3500.00. Most States and Mass. is one of them that mandates any trailer over 3000lbs capacity must have brakes. Best time to leave Mass. in my opinon is 1:00am to get by the George Washington Bridge. In Islamarada at Bud and Mary's you can rent 21-22'boats for about $200.00 a day. It might be about the same in Key West.

Have a great trip!!!

boater4life · Feb 26, 2003

Re: Boat tralier for trip to Key West

Don't need to say much. Great Lakes Trailers speak for themselves. http://www.greatlakestrailers.com/

Boat tralier for trip to Key West

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