boat transportation question
 

Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 73 boat hauling

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Hey everyone, I need your opion on a different way to move your boat down the highway.

As some of you know, I was in the auto hauling business for 12 years with 28 semi's. I have been thinking of a way to move the more expensive boats without dragging them on the road. If you are in the towing business and need to move a large motorhome you use a trailer known as a Landoll. This is a 53ft flat deck that lowers down to a 4percent load angle at the rear. You could back up to a large boat and tow the trailer and boat up the trailer and secure it. Your would then not have to worry about trailer bearings and trailer regitration. The boat would still be sitting on its own trailer only it would be 36" higher off of the ground. less chance of a rock or anything else hitting the boat or trailer. These trailers are not cheap to buy, plus you need a full size tractor to pull it. I think that a 25cent surcharge for the trailer over the normal miliage charge would be fair to the boat owner.

Please give me your opion on this. I will be buying one of these at the end of this week. thanks

Re: boat transportation question
 

Jeff,
That is a tough question. Most people think that it's too expensive to have a boat transported now. There are probably only a handful of people on OSO (I am one of the handful :D) that know what it's like to haul boats for a living, day in and out. It's not as easy as people think. The customer just knows his boat went from point A to point B.

I would think that the more expensive boats would be trailered on the landoll. Too be honest with you, I don't think .25 per mile would benefit you. Figure now you have to buy a larger truck and the trailer. Then, the semi truck you buy gets no where near the fuel economy of your 1 ton truck.

Re: boat transportation question
 

If ya got that big of a boat, then $0.25 shouldn't be too big a deal.
Plus no wear and tear on the trailer.
But if it's 36" higher, how about clearance issues?

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on any offshore boat height will not be a problem, on the plus side no worry about tires or bearings. and no need for a trailer plate.

Re: boat transportation question
 

the whole boat and trailer sit up 36" above the ground so less chance of a rock hitting either one. Also the semi trailer is air ride so your boat will get a more gentle ride.

Re: boat transportation question
 

I was thinking of getting into some hauling. I did have second thoughts when the fuel Gouging hit the fan. However ... there are boats and freight that need to be moved ... I agree with Semper .... dont know if .25 would really cover your cost. Only you know that . If I owned a 4-500,000 boat I think I would want the extra security and protection ....

By the way ... Exxon made 30 Billion profit last year ...more than ANY company in recorded history ...and just announced today Shell Oil 5+ Billion ..... :rolleyes:

Re: boat transportation question
 

Jeff,
given the choice between putting miles on my trailer or having the trailer loaded onto a larger one I would definitely pay for the larger trailer.

Re: boat transportation question
 

Hi Jeff,

Great idea but don't know if the market is there to support that service.

I have seen that done before.

Re: boat transportation question
 

Thats why I am posting it. I think that the market is there and the price difference is not that great.

How is the skater working for you.? Will you be at the Miami Poker Run? I will be there on a 46 skater

Re: boat transportation question
 

We tested the trailer yesterday. The load angle is only 4 degree's going up so that should not be a problem. We are going to mount a regular trailer ball at the front so that the trailer thinks that it is hitched to a vehicle. Then along the sides and back of the boat trailer we will soft tie it to the lower trailer. As for an overwide boat the size will be the same but because you are now on a full size truck you have no choice but to buy your wide load permits in what ever states you are in. As for a tow vehicle we are useing a 2002 Kenworth W900 with a 70" studio sleeper, For pulling power the truck has a 600hp cummins motor with a 18 speed transmission. besides the 1 million liability insurance, this truck will carry cargo insurance based on the boat up to 1.5 million

Re: boat transportation question
 

even if you get a few less runs with it back hauls will be alot easier to get.

Re: boat transportation question
 

this is the type of trailer that you use to haul a large prevost, metro bus or any other motorhome

Re: boat transportation question
 

Jeff, while I agree with your theory,,, your cost estimations are way out of line ,,, The 80K lb tractor requires IP plates then comes axle tax, then comes Fed tax on the tractor ,,, but the biggest pain will be running a log book and not running the over-dimension loads / permitted loads except during daylight hrs and in some cases not on the weekend .. all of those things will cost ya time ,,,, and thats money!!! Study it well before ya spend 40K on a slide back! :D

RHC

Re: boat transportation question
 

it gives you a wider range of customer base as well (more than just boats).... i think that might be the biggest gain...

Re: boat transportation question
 

I will still use the current truck I have to tow with. I already own the Kenworth and its paid for. The trailer is $60,000. Yes with it you will have to do log books and be legal but when you get to the other end of the country and there is no boat to come back this trailer can load anything on it. Hence a backhaul. I am just trying to do something better than the average boat hauler. Give the customer the option. Or he can still get towed behind a pickup truck on the ground.

Re: boat transportation question
 

How does that work out ? if you have the big rig does that mean you could usually find a return load ?

Re: boat transportation question
 

It all comes down to your personal network of contacts. I was in the Auto Hauling business for a long time so I have contacts all over the country. As for running it legal with log books and all of the other crap you need to do. I had 28 trucks to take care of with log books and drug tests and everything else, so this one truck will be a breeze.

Re: boat transportation question
 

As for my cost estimates being out of line, If you can't run a truck down the freeway at $2.25 a mile and make a profit then something is wrong. My 2005 Ford one ton truck gets 9.6mpg towing so a big truck with a light load will get close. This KW has a very large motor that does not have to be reved up to make power. It already gets close to 7mpg with a normal dry box.As we all know the trick is not to run empty.

Re: boat transportation question
 

Jeff
You do bring up some good points, so do some other people. I guess you have the potential to haul alot more than boats with this trailer. Whatever you decide, good luck :D

Re: boat transportation question
 

Thanks Gerard, I make a good living moving boats with a pickup truck where you still have costs involved besides the truck payment. It will just up the level of service for the boat owner that wants the best for his baby. When you already carry high cargo insurance and run the right authority adding a full size truck is pretty easy. Yes log books are a ***** but rolling in someones new offshore boat on the back of a large semi looks more profestional. About the only problem I see is that when you offload your boat and want to go and get some chinese food with your friends. The KW will be harder to park.

Re: boat transportation question
 

this is the truck and trailer

Re: boat transportation question
 

Jeff, Don't stop there, have a Roll-Tite kit installed if you really want to make your boaters happy. It is legal in the 48 states to now mount the kit on the outside of the rub rail so you could have a 104" on the inside. The boats would never see RAIN, SNOW, ROAD SALT, ROCKS ECT... I like your idea, but to me one of your biggest selling points would be, that you can tell your people that if a car runs into you that there boat won't be touched. (The cars driver might not have a head left after he runs under your trailer, but there boat won't be hurt, come to think about it if a car runs into my boat he wouldn't have a head left when I got done with him anyways.) If you do get one make sure you get one that the tarp system will fold up into the headboard incase you want to haul wide loads. Plus with a Roll-Tite you can haul some van freight. Also don't forget about the LTL freight you can set on the back for another $1.00 per mile. Click on the photo and see how easy they work. Good Luck, JB

Re: boat transportation question
 

I like that but I don't think that this trailer has the side rails to hook up to it. Yes also I never thought of the fact that if someones hits my trailer the boat is 3 feet up and out of harms way, at least most of the time. do you have a web site for this company

Re: boat transportation question
 

Jeff,we sent a 353 to CA last year and the buyer went nuts when we told him it would be hauled on his own new trailer. I think it will work. Also,what about someone who is not buying a trailer? Can you load just the boat?

Re: boat transportation question
 

No, the boat has to be on its own trailer or cradle that has wheels

Re: boat transportation question
 

Jeff here is there website www.role-tite.com they can mount them to anything, they could mount them to a regular boat trailer if you wanted to pay the price. You could also have 3"X3"s welded thru your floor and into the beams and then have cradles made pretty cheap and haul multiple boats without there trailers if you wanted. If you had that tarp lettered up with your name and what you do you could become the worlds premier boat hauler :D I can see it all coming together now :drink:

Re: boat transportation question
 

My bad Jeff,, I thought you were using your cost factor based on your Pickup... If you have been the business with 28 trucks then you know about all the things I mentioned ... Yes ,, the Landol will work ,, Yes,, the boats will be better protected, and Yes, the extra cost to the owner should be justifyed. Good luck with your venture ,, which ever way you go!! Just park the KW and call a cab for the Pizza run!! or ,,,,, get a scooter ,, You will always be in nice weather :D :D

RHC

Re: boat transportation question
 

You will have to park the KW & have chinese delivered to it.

We will meet you at the truck stop for chow in the sleeper.

LS

Re: boat transportation question
 

I like it ! :cool:

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The Skater is running great. You tow it over and back and I will go if my schedule allows.

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Opps, just checked the web site, I beleive it is sold out already. :(

Re: boat transportation question
 

How can a poker run be sold out? But anyway I will be there with another boat so I could not bring your boat there. Thanks anyway.

Re: boat transportation question
 

Get certified to do Repo's with that thing and you'll make a killing (B.Y.O.V) Bring your own vest.
Jeff, overall I think its a good idea. For all the boats I have sold and shipped all over this country, $.25 per mile should not be the make it or break it. I have shipped boats that have lost Wheels, blown tires, been pulled over for no plates, been pulled over for bad wires (Tell me all your lights REALLY work all the time). You name the bad luck story... and I own it! Needless to say, I think you will get your hauls from dealers and builders. And dont rule out contracting to Repo companies.

Re: boat transportation question
 

Yes I think that for the extra expense, most dealers that I already haul for like the idea. The last trailer I towed was a myco and I never before have I had so much problems. 3 bearing failures at different times on one trip. And I put grease in before I left. But that is not normal, we all know Myco trailers have the smallest percentage of breakdowns. But if this boat and trailer was on the big trailer I would have not lost close to 8 hours of trip time. As for plates I keep a spare California trailer plate with me so that I am not going down the freeway bare and invite mr law.

Re: boat transportation question
 

Jeff,
give me a shout. I have a question about the fishing boat you hauled for me.

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call my cell again, was in the other room and did not hear it

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Jeff...I like the idea :drink:

Re: boat transportation question
 

Hey Jeff I'm sitting in the office and wanted to reply to the one post that one of the guys stated. The Curtain van or roll rite is great but you(the Boat Owner) are know with additional cost of a crane or heavy lift with straps to both off load and load. A heavy lift tow truck will run $125.00 per hour plus $85.00 for a call out. The Trail eze can be loaded at the owners residence and off loaded at ? The curtain van you also lose 3.5ft in the front of the trailer when pushed forward and 3.5 ft if pushed all the way to the back.
Yes running a semi is more expensive than a one ton dually and you have logs and scales and D.O.T. to deal with but would a customer feel more at ease knowing his investment is safe from road hazards and protected in case of a accident. A unregistered trailer will get that boat impounded for 30days and will not be able to roll until it has plates.How do you explain that. A non certified ICC carrier can also have that load seized at a port on entry if stopped. This idea of transporting a boat is a win win for all parties. Safe boating.
TonyP( the new guy) nobody knows me YET hahaha

Re: boat transportation question
 

Tony, you can mount the Roll-Tite kit to a Trail eze or in Jeffs case a Landoll and he doesn't need any type of lift unless he is putting boats on without trailers. Also the Roll-Tite isn't a curtain van and the tarp system only goes forward and doesn't restrict loading, you can pull the tarp around the front of the bulkhead and have a full 53' of loading area and I don't think he will have many boats over that, if he does he can leave the rear open so the back of the boat hangs out. Look close at the photos.

Re: boat transportation question
 

Hey JB, Thanks for the response. The roll- tite is the samething as a curtain van ,rolling Tarp system by minute man,Conestoga van they all are the same thing . They roll a heavy vinyl forward or back on the rub rail of a flat bed or step-deck trailer. There is no way to mount a rolling curtain on a trail-eze or landoll because there is no railing on those trailers.The Roll-Tite will have a bulk head front and back of the trailer with either drop down vinyl door or swing doors at the rear. A flat bed trailer is approx 49" off the deck and a step deck is approx 38"of the deck. There is no winch system on either of those trailer and the ramps you would need to get a trailer up on those trailers would have to be almost 32ft to achieve a load angle of less than 5 degrees.The only way to load that flat or step deck trailer is a crane or heavy lift. I run a 53ft dry van that is 48" off the deck and 44" off the deck with air bags dumped and use a 18ft ramp to load motorcycles and still have to uses additional ramps to get the long choppers in the trailer because the load angle.. I don't see how you can load that roll-tite safely. I was able to get 4.18 degree load angle on that trail-eze. . That trail-eze or landoll can be loaded at the customers house or place of business as long has the address is tractor trailer accessible.
Thanks for the discussion JB talk with you again soon.

TonyP(the new guy)