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Random Quote: The fish are smaller here but . . . there's less of 'em
You've about got it covered. One brand you may want to check out is Road King made in Asheville, NC. I've recently had two dealers that sell Loadmaster recommend the Road King, saying is was just as good, and in a few small respects ( such as how they do their fenders) better than the LM.
I have a dual axle aluminum Performance Trailer that I really like. Here are the specs from their site. They are available in single, dual, and tri axle versions.
Standard Equipment
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Aluminum I-Beam Construction
Aluminum "V" Cross Members
Galvanized Axle & Wheels
Stainless Steel Frame Fasteners
Galvanized U-Bolts & Hardware
12" Front Keel Rollers
Adjustable Heavy Duty Cypress Bunks
Blue Clear Keel Pads & Bow Roller
Tongue Jack & Wheel
Heavy Duty Upright Guides
Lexan Submersible Lighting
With Heat Sealed Wire Connections
Optional Equipment
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Disc Brakes On 13", 14"& 15" Tires
Surge Brakes
Brake Flush System
Torsion Axles
Stainless Steel Bolt & U-Bolt Upgrade
Diamond Plate Fenders
Spare Tire & Mount
Poly Rollers & V Block
Fender Protection Boards
Radial Tires
I have the following options on mine
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Disc Brakes On 15" Tires
Surge Brakes
Torsion Axles
Diamond Plate Fenders
Spare Tire & Mount
It has one of the newer lube systems that pumps the grease in from behind which allows me to replace the old grease with very little effort. On a long road trip the other day my son timed lubing all 4 wheels at 6 minuts total and that includes pumping out the old grease and cleaning it up.
Hey SileverG, from what I've seen, Owens and Sons makes the nicest trailer out there. They pattern the bunks specifically to your hull. If they don't have the specs, they get them from the mfr. Only problem is they only sell factory direct. I'm checking with them on some sort of delivery. Let's see, if we both ordered one, delivery for two trailers may be cheaper...
Check the size of the I beam. I have a friend with a 4" aluminum I beam under a Triton 22 Bay Flight. He did a lot of towing and eventually had to have extra bracing welded in due to trailer flexing and buckling. The guy doing the repair said that the 4" was OK for folks towing short distance or infrequently but he would not recommend it.
TXBOB--The Owens and Sons uses 3 1/2" x 5 1/2" for their 6,000 lb trailer and 4" x 6 1/2" for their 7,000 lb trailer, which is what I'm looking at. The 7,000 lb with 15" wheels and disc brakes on front axles runs around $3,200. That puts it on par or a little more than a comperable loadmaster, but then I have to get it here...
I agree that the Road King is a little better trailer than a Loadmaster and quite a bit better than a Performance. The Road King folks were formerly Performance employees before they broke away. Other fine trailer brands are Float On and Rolls Axle.
Road Kings are made in Asheville, NC but they are about to open a manufacturing facility in central Florida to serve that market better.
Capt. Dan, I've had both and they are both very good. I prefer Loadmaster and I know they deliver just about anywhere. Look into the oil bath hubs, I really like mine.
Capt Dan, I have a 1997 Load Master for my Grady. When I got the boat the trailer hadnt been used for 2 years, The brakes were shot and it needed some work. so I called Load Master they put new Kodiak brakes and fixed a bunch of other stuff for 600$ nice people too.
got an owens and sons for my intrepid-- it really is the nicest trailer I havve ever seen. Unbelieveable how well it was customized for my hull. Perfect fit..ie. the boat can't go on crooked. I am real impressed.
Be sure you get enough weight capacity. I took my rig to the certified scales this spring and was a little surprised. 7,400# = boat, motor, trailer, ~100 gal fuel, normal gear (safety equip., anchor, etc.) but no fishing gear.
If that 7,000# trailer you are looking at is 7,000 GVW, I'd say it's not enough. Even if it's 7,000 # capacity, it's still a little shy.
Capt. Dan,
I bought an Owens & Sons in December & fits my 23' bay boat like a glove - love the four bunks & no rollers. I have tandem axle, 6000 lb, stainless hdrwre, spare tire, torsion axles, LED lights, Kodiak stainless on front axle. Probably used it 25 times & it trailers great. Jeff Owens was a pleasure to deal with - nice family run biz. Probably saved $300 versus a comparable Float-On. Two friends are west coast (FL) guides & have probably owned six of their trailers over the years. Neither Owens nor Float-On sells the oil bath hubs - both seemed to have reservations. Maybe that's changed since I bought in December. I like the Accu-lube hubs.
Sounds like you guys have some nice picken's for trailers out there. All of the big name trailers out on the west coast are galvanized. i have only found two aluminum trailer producers out here and nobody has ever heard of them. If shipping wasn;t so $$$, i get one of your Fl. trailers in a heartbeat.
Slim Picken's d
Best Aluminum Trailers 
