Pontoon trailer guides are very important tools for protecting your pontoon boat when loading it on your pontoon or tritoon trailer in 2023. If you don’t have a good, directional pontoon loading guide for loading and unloading your pontoon boat, problems can persist. In this review, we cut through all of the options to simply recommend five pontoon trailer guides that we believe most pontoon boat owners will appreciate.
Why Are Pontoon Trailer Guide Ons So Important?
In general, pontoon trailer guides offer a fast, easy, safe, and correct way to center your pontoon boat while launching or loading at a crowded boat landing. They even help you guide your trailer to the correct spot and water depth. If you don’t have a good, directional pontoon loading guide for loading and unloading your pontoon boat, you can damage your boat and even your trailer.
Thank you for visiting us and for viewing our review of the best pontoon trailer guides. If you are interested in more information about maintaining your pontoon boat on the water and land, we invite you to view our post about some of the best boat bumpers, fenders, and accessories, portable toilets, and privacy enclosures, and pontoon boat snow covers for the winter.
Best 5 Pontoon Trailer Guides for Loading and Unloading Your Boat in 2023
| No. | Pontoon Trailer Guide | Summary | Rating |
| 1. | Extreme Max Trailer Guides | Very heavy-duty pontoon guide-ons for improved overall loading and stability. | [4.9/5.0] |
| 2. | Tie Down Engineering High-Impact Pontoon Trailer Guide-on | High-impact guides with nonmarking molded PVC covers. | [4.9/5.0] |
| 3. | VE-VE Pontoon Trailer Roller Guide-Ons | Zinc-plated, pontoon trailer roller guide-ons | [4.8/5.0] |
| 4. | CE Smith Roller Guide-on for Pontoons | Precision metal stampings create a strong and durable guide-on. | [4.7/5.0] |
| 5. | Tie Down Engineering PVC Pontoon Guide-on | PVC wrapped guide-ons for the budget-conscious. | [4.5/5.0] |
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1. Extreme Max Trailer Guides
- Set of two heavy-duty pontoon guide-ons for improved overall loading and stability
- 2.5" industrial-grade steel frame with non-marking PVC coating; 30" overall height
- Zinc-coated for freshwater use, not intended for use in saltwater or brackish water
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The Extreme Max Heavy-Duty Pontoon Trailer Guides do more than help you get your pontoon on your trailer; they help prevent a multitude of loading problems.
They’ll help you load faster and safer, keep you from loading too deep, keep your trailer position true, and are especially helpful at night. These guides are designed to work even in high impact conditions like rough water or with large pontoons, with a 30″ height that’s perfect for pontoons.
The 2. 5″ industrial-grade steel frame is covered in non-marking PVC to protect your pontoon’s finish and installs easily over 2″ wide x 3″ tall cross members. Each set includes two guides. The Extreme Max Guide-Ons are zinc-coated and intended for freshwater use only. Use in saltwater or brackish water will corrode and deteriorate the finish. Hardware kits are available for trailers up to 2″ wide x 6″ tall, order Extreme Max part number 3005. 3784.
I had done a lot of research on which guides to buy. I settle on these and even paid a little extra under prime to have them sent sooner. I have not been disappointed. They are very easy to install and work like a charm. They work better than I had anticipated and are very strong. It was a real PIA to load our 24 foot pontoon boat, so much so that I hated taking it out on the water. This is literally a dream. Love them and have taken boat out twice within a week for the first time since last summer.
Extreme Max User Via Amazon
2. Tie Down Engineering High-Impact Pontoon Trailer Guide-on
- Helps guide your pontoon boat safely onto the trailer in high winds and strong currents
- Hot dip galvanized steel square-tube posts are covered with non-marking molded PVC materials
- Designed to be mounted to the trailer frame between the pontoons
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You can guide your pontoon boat safely onto the trailer in high winds and strong currents with these high-impact guide-ons. The hot-dip galvanized steel 2.5-inch square-tube posts are covered with non-marking molded PVC materials and designed to be mounted between the pontoons.
These mount to trailer cross members that are two inches wide by 2-3 inches high. All mounting hardware is included with the guide-ons.
We have a large pontoon boat that was difficult to load onto the trailer if conditions were windy. We added these guides to the trailer and it has made it so much easier. They are sturdy and not too difficult to install.
My husband is very handy. He had them installed and we were headed to the lake in less than an hour. These guides have saved us a lot of time and frustration in loading onto the trailer after a fun day at the lake.
Tie-Down Engineering Guide User via Amazon
3. VE-VE Pontoon Trailer Roller Guide-Ons
- 1 Pair, Zinc Plated, Pontoon Trailer Roller Guide-Ons ( AMERICAN MADE )
- Our boat trailer guide on is 28” tall steel tube weldment gives the 13" Roller assembly a height adjustment up to 29-1/2"...
- Boat Roller Guides mount to trailer cross members ( on inside of pontoons ) for width adjustment.
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The VE-VE boat trailer guide-ons have numerous benefits and offer a fast, easy, safe, and correct way to center your pontoon boat while launching or loading at a crowded boat landing. The VE-VE guide-ons even help you guide your trailer to the correct spot and water depth.
The pontoon trailer roller guide-ons are mounted to the cross member of your trailer frame and are located to the inside of the boat pontoons. They may be adjusted in and out for proper width to accommodate the pontoon boat. The steel post weldments are made of 1-1/2″ square x 14-gauge x 28″ long tubes welded to 3/16″ thick x 4-1/2″ x 6″ plates with an added gusset for additional strength. The plates have slots in the 4 corners to allow it to be mounted to cross members that are 2″ to 3″ wide. The adjustable, 13″ overall roller assembly, has adjustment up to 29-1/2″ high.
The gold zinc plated finish for added protection against corrosion. Packaged in pairs with all mounting hardware for trailer cross members 2”-3” wide x up to 4” high. Standard metal finish is gold zinc plated ( for freshwater use ) or optional hot-dipped galvanized (for saltwater use ).
With over 40 years of manufacturing marine products, we have the reputation of top quality and durable AMERICAN MADE Marine products for complete customer satisfaction.
Ve-Ve Incorporated is one of the largest online suppliers of Boat Trailer Accessories, Post / Floating Dock Hardware, Boat Roller Ramps ( along with PWC & Pontoon Roller Ramps ). We also have Dock & Boat Accessories along w/ a selection of other Marine and Waterfront products.
When you make a purchase with Ve-Ve Inc. you can be sure that your order will be handled professionally with the most secure encryption methods available today.
VeVe Website
4. CE Smith Roller Guide-on for Pontoons
- Smooth Loading: This pontoon boat accessory allows for smooth and easy loading onto your boat trailer
- Secure Fit: This boat trailer roller guide-on frames up to 3" wide x 4-1/4" tall for a secure fit
- Easy Installation: The U-bolt mounting brackets and galvanized steel construction of the CE Smith Roller Guide-On makes for...
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The C.E. Smith Company has a lot of experience in the boating/trailer space. In general, the manufacture and sell replacement parts for small to mid-size boat trailers including trailer fenders, boat guides, galvanized bracketry, tire carriers, replacement wheel bearings, rubber rollers, roller shafts, u-bolts and other requirements for boat trailers.
Each year C.E. Smith introduces new and better products to give their customers a full-line source and the best value in trailer parts and accessories. A variety of parts are stocked and sold to marine distributors and retailers, while many others are custom made specifically to a trailer builder’s specifications. These guides rate well on Amazon and are worth considering.
About C.E. Smith
5. Tie Down Engineering PVC Pontoon Guide-on
- Bright orange end caps
- Posts are designed to be mounted between the pontoons
- Made of 1-1/2" square, 16-gauge steel galvanized tubing and covered by 2" x 20" non-marking white PVC pipe
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The bright orange end caps on these Tie Down Engineering PVC guides provide a bright, visible target when loading your pontoon boat. The guide posts are designed to be mounted between the pontoons and are made of 1-1/2″ square, 16-gauge steel galvanized tubing and covered by 2″ x 20″ non-marking white PVC pipe.
The guideposts extend fully into the PVC tubes for additional strength and they mount to trailer cross members up to 2″ wide and 2″ to 4″ high. All mounting hardware is included in the packaging.
I can’t believe that we went 30 years without bunk wrap covers and these guide on’s.
Tie Down Engineering User via Amazon
Best Tritoon Trailer Guides
In general, the trailer guides mentioned in this article can be used for tritoons as well as pontoons.
Best Pontoon Boat Guide Pole Covers for 2023
If you are only looking for pontoon boat guide pole covers, here a few options that to consider.
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Best Plastic Bunk Covers for 2023
Pontoon trailer plastic bunk covers are also important when protecting your pontoon boat on a trailer. If you don’t have a good, smooth surface for your pontoon boat, it can be difficult to load and unload your pontoon. Plastic bunk covers are typically easier to maneuver on and can last a long time compared to carpet and other products.
Gatobak is a leading manufacturer of plastic bunk covers for both pontoon and speedboat trailers. All you need is a dimension to the bunk you are going to cover. Below are the top-rated bunk covers and one guide for your pontoon trailer.
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Steps to Launching Your Pontoon Boat
1. Park and Prepare
Park your vehicle and boat in the launching ramp’s parking lot. Step to the rear of the pontoon boat and unplug the trailer lights from the connector on the car. Disconnect the trailer’s safety chain from your vehicle and remove the tie-down straps from the boat.
2. Load the Pontoon
Place everything that you want to take with you on the boat, inside the boat, and insert the ignition key into the boat’s key switch. Screw the drain plug into the bottom, rear of the pontoon boat.
3. Back the Boat Up to the Water
Return to your vehicle and back the boat up to the edge of the water. Unsnap the winch line that connects the front of the boat to the trailer. Tie a rope to the bow of the boat and hand the end to your first mate.
4. Slowly Enter the Water
Return to your vehicle once more and back the boat into the water until the boat floats free of the trailer — this will happen more quickly than with other types of boats, due to the boat’s twin-hull configuration. Tell your assistant to tie the boat off until you park the vehicle.
5. Return Your Vehicle and Enjoy the Day
Park and lock the vehicle, pocket your car keys, and have a great day on the water.
Steps to Loading Your Pontoon Boat
1. Safely Dock Your Pontoon
Either pull your pontoon boat up to the dock and park it or have someone captain the vessel while you go to your truck.
2. Back Up the Trailer
Go to the vehicle and move it to the ramp. Back the trailer into the water until 2/3 of the trailer is submerged.
3. Align Your Pontoon With the Trailer and Approch
Return to the boat and send your first mate to tend to the truck. Untie the boat and move it to the trailer, using the trailer guide-ons to align the boat with the trailer. Pull the boat onto the trailer. Move to the bow of the boat and snap the winch line onto the bow. Tell your assistant to crank the winch to pull the boat as far onto the trailer as possible.
4. Pull the Boat From the Water
Move to the truck and pull the boat from the water, away from the ramp, and into the parking lot, as quickly as possible.
5. Secure and You’re On Your Way
Rinse the outside of the boat to remove any marine life before you leave the parking area. Put the tie-downs on the boat, remove the drain plug, and plug the trailer light plug into the connection on your vehicle. Cross the trailer chains and clip them in place.
