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10 Handy Accessories for Your Pontoon Trailer
If you've got a pontoon boat, chances are you've already purchased your pontoon trailer. After all, a good trailer is an important item for getting around and storing your pontoon safely during the off season.
Having developed a close relationship with your pontoon and trailer, you've probably come to realize that good can get even better, and now you want to add some accessories to the trailer.
Back when my family was looking for a new boat and trailer, we did our own research to see what products we could add to improve our overall experience.
Here's a list of useful gadgets and extras that have come in handy while towing and storing our boat.
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Better Boat Trailer Jack and Wheel
1. Swivel Trailer Tongue Jack
With the average pontoon boat weight being around 2200 lbs, make sure you don't purchase a cheap jack that can't support the weight. The last thing you want is to return to a collapsed jack and your pontoon tipping forward.
One review mentions it gliding easily with a 5000 lb pontoon, so you know that this jack is beyond capable. With a patent-pending TruTurn 360 system, its casters handle like a breeze. Plus, it raises and lowers 35% faster than the competition with 20% more screw travel than conventional jacks.
It also has grease fittings in key locations for easy lubrication and patented inner and outer tube bushings, which provide a tight fit and lessen tube drag.
It has an aesthetically pleasing Premium Sharkskin finish that fights against corrosion. It features stylized handles with soft-touch grips and an 8-inch diameter spoked wheel. Unfortunately, it ships unassembled.
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2. Hitch Lock
This is the same lock I recommended in a previous post about trailers and hauling. It's easy to install, mount and lock onto any type of trailer hitch ball.
It has a socket of at least 1 " and a maximum of 2". A high-quality lock makes the trailer more theft-resistant.
Take a look at the manufacturer's case study photo demonstrating drill-outs. It's made of A36 steel with a chrome finish and safety lock pins made of powder-coated aluminum alloy base. The total of these finishes makes it corrosion-resistant and rust free.
To add, I find this a good investment if you travel a lot with your pontoon boat, especially if you do any overnight trips where you have to stop over in a hotel.
More than likely you'll need to unhitch to grab some dinner. And you'll sleep much better knowing someone can't make off and steal your precious 'toon.
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3. Wheel Dock
When your pontoon boat is set aside or winterized and stored away for the season, this inexpensive wheel dock is perfect for steadying the trailer tongue wheel. It's also pretty useful if you have soft ground and want to keep the wheel from sinking.
In the south, especially in Georgia, we have red clay that's very hard to handle until it rains. You'll find some wheel chocks and docks colored black.
I like this particular one for its bright yellow color because even though it calls attention to itself, you'll never ram your shins or knees into the trailer's tongue. It's a small detail, but it has saved me from bruises on numerous occasions.
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4. Winch
This Reese Towpower winch can pull up to 1500 lbs. It's easy to install, and although it's manual, it unreels smoothly and fast.
Thinking of purchasing an electric winch? If so, you should know they're much slower. Plus, you have to add a high-amp power lead and outlet to your vehicle.
No offense, but you're gonna be that person slowing everyone up at the ramp. And once you have the 'toon winched most of the way, then you still have to winch the remaining foot to reach the end.
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5. Winch Strap
This Shoreline Marine Winch Strap comes with a utility hook and is made of premium polyester webbing construction. The standard 2-width is just the right fit for the winch mentioned above.
Most winches call for a two-strap fit, but in reality, it's roughly one. Reviews claim that these two fit perfectly together without a problem. It also measures 20 feet in length.
6. Safety Chain
Making local trips, it's common to rely on the trailer hitch just as it comes. But on longer trips, you'll need to attach the ball to the hitch using chains for extra security.
You should check your state's regulations regarding safety chains; you could be required to have them at all times.
This chain is approximately 36 inches in length and contains two hooks, one on each end. The hooks also have a safety latch that keeps the wrap job from bouncing apart.
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7. Spare Tire Carrier
If you take trips and long hauls, always carry a spare. And what better way than to use this spare tire carrier?
This means you don't have to find room in your truck bed or elsewhere to store it. It's just there if you ever run into trouble. This spare tire carrier is universal as it's both angled and raised to mount to standard and boat trailers.
It easily mounts to your trailer's tongue, if it's no more than 3 width and 5 height. It can hold a spare weighing up to 100 lbs. and fits most 4-lug and 5-lug trailer wheels.
It has a durable powder-coated finish that resists corrosion and zinc-plated mounting hardware.
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8. Ratchet Straps
Deep potholes or simply uneven roads can create bucking. Bucking occurs on boats with heavy engines as you haul your boat around. A good practice to prevent this and protect your boat is to tie it down. Most well-built trailers will have front and stern tie downs. Invest in a pair of ratchet straps to help avoid this even further.
9. Guide-ons
Sometimes it can be a real struggle to load your pontoon. You're tired and just want to call it a day. That's when guide-ons come in handy.
Guide-ons assist you in many ways. They can keep you from loading too deep into the water, especially on steep or uneven landings.
With a 30" overall height, these guide-ons are great for large pontoons. In a crowded launch facility, they can help you load faster and safer before strapping down your pontoon boat.
This set of pontoon guide-ons is made of a heavy-duty 2-½ industrial-grade steel frame with a PVC coating. The coating protects your boat's finish during high winds or rough waves.
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Better Boat Trailer Bunk Carpet
10. Bunk Glides
Bunk trailers are mostly covered in carpet. But you can purchase extra trailer pads, sometimes called "caps."
Trailer pads assist in the loading process, making the 'toons slide much smoother than carpet. The moisture that carpet retains can, in time, cause some damage to your 'toons.
Instead, I suggest installing a set of bunk glides. I recommend this Surfix Trailer Bunk Glide kit. Unlike many pads, they offer full bunk support, which means they can't leave marks on the 'toons in between unevenly spaced pads.
It also means you don't have to worry about measuring and spacing the pads out an equal distance. These glides are constructed of .45 high-density polyethylene and screw into your bunks with low-profile stainless steel pan head screws.
Although you may think that white will appear dirtier faster, it has advantages. The white color is also highly visible under water. It makes dirt or sand easier to see, which means you can wipe it off before it scratches your toons while tied down.
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Better Boat Wheel Chocks and Dock
Check Price on Amazon - Better Boat's Wheel Chocks + Docks set-up helps prevent the trailer wheels and tongue from slipping and sliding. It holds wheels up to 26 inches and can also be used as leveling blocks for RVs.