Load Rite Trailers - any feedback?

[Blackjack]

My new ride will include a Load Rite 5 Star trailer - I am not familiar with them and wondered if anyone had any feedback or opinions on them?

Thanks

[Frankie G]

John-

I have a load rite as well, though mine has boards on it as opposed to rollers. (older model trailer) I asked a guy who was loading a FinestKind on one at the ramp in Weymouth and he said they are very easy to load up with the rollers. They kind of roll the boat into the right position. Mine is good, but it doesn't cradle the boat as much as the rollers seem to so I have to really make sure I get the boat on the trailer squarely. I think you will be happy with it.

Frank

[boden]

I am on my third Load Rite trailer and have found them all to be satisfactory. With rollers they are easy to load and unload and the boat is always (well almost always) on center. They track well behind the truck and the only rust has been on the springs. I don't think think you could do better.

[Chuckster]

I have my skiff on a Load-Rite (I thought Load-Rite and Five Star were two different companies - ??)...

Anyway, my 19' skiff centers very well on it, and I've had zero problems with it (knocking furiously on wood!). I did buy new urethane rollers for it this winter from Eastern Trailer, and I'll be installing them as soon as I get a chance. The black rollers were leaving marks on the hull, and the washers and hog rings were starting to corrode, so I decided to replace all 16 rollers, washers, and rings.

Other than replacing a couple of sets of lights (corrosion and crunching), it's been a great trailer.

[gf2020]

5 Starr trailers are manufactured by Load-Rite, I believe they are identical other than the name.

From what I can discern, Load-Rite is considered the best manufacturer of galvanized trailers in the East. Another high quality brand of galvanized trailer is Tidewater, this company was started in 2003 by some former Load-Rite execs.

All that said, I would look at upgrading the trailer to a float on style aluminum bunk trailer. I think you will be happier in the long run with the durability and performance of the aluminum trailer and the bunk style will do a better job of supporting the boat.

[DaleH]

Cannot confirm it, but I once heard that 5-Starr trailers were a 'value line' for Load Rite, meaning it came out of the same factory but didn't have the advertising and marketing overhead attached to it, so it could be sold at a lower price than other competing brands and even versus the Load Rite.

I have a L-R trailer now and have zero complaints, but if I trailered a ton, I'd be looking seriously at the aluminum I-beam construction ones too. To me, hull design is one feature to consider before arguing the merits of bunks versus rollers. I believe an adequately rated and equipped roller trailer can support a hull just fine. Ramp grades too can be a factor, for easier on/off, for one type over the other.