Last updated on March 11th, 2023 at 02:10 am
If you have a boat, then you know one of the most challenging aspects of boating is getting your boat properly aligned while trying to land it onto the trailer. This is especially true in low-light conditions. Having the best boat trailer guide posts with lights can make this task exceptionally easier. They are the perfect complement to your wireless backup camera for your boat trailer.
Boat trailer post guide-ons with lights allow the operator to see the location of their trailer when it’s underwater. If you are operating at a steeper or deeper boat ramp, this can be a lifesaver when landing your boat.
These lighted boat trailer guides are also very handy in windy conditions. They make lining up your boat more simple when there are heavy crosswinds. They can help to prevent costly damage due to attempting to load the boat onto the trailer at a bad angle.
Table of Contents
Top 5 Best Boat Trailer Guide Posts With Lights For Sale
The best boat trailer guide posts with lights are made by CE Smith. SeaSense also makes a nice set of guide on’s, but they are unlighted. Other than these you will be hard-pressed to find a set with lights. Luckily, there is a great LED light set made by LIBRA, should you have boat trailer PVC guides without built-in lights. Let’s take a look at our reviews for each of them.
- CE Smith Trailer Post Guide-On with LED Lighted Posts
- SeaSense Trailer Post Guide
- CE Smith Trailer Post Guide-On with Unlighted Posts
- Tie Down Heavy-Duty PVC Post Guide-On's
- LIBRA Boat Trailer Guide on Post Pipe Guide Light Set
Best Boat Trailer Guide Posts With Lights Reviews
*Our Top Choice*
1. CE Smith Trailer Post Guide-On with LED Lighted Posts
![]() | CE Smith Trailer Post Guide-On with LED Lighted Posts Review Pros: – LED Lights – 40″ or 60″ – PVC Cons: – Included hardware could be a bit sturdier |
The CE Smith Trailer Post Guide-On with LED Lighted Posts are without a doubt the best boat trailer guide posts with lights. They are affordable, come in both 40″ and 60″ heights, and consistently get good reviews.
These CE Smith Trailer Post Guide-On with LED Lighted Posts feature shockproof and waterproof, long-lasting, one-piece amber and red LED lights. Thanks to the LED lamps, you can more easily see your boat trailer’s position as you are backing it down the boat launch. They also dramatically increase the boat trailer’s visibility while on the road at night time. The red light faces the rear, while the amber light faces the front.
We found the PVC material to be very durable and the LED lights to be adequately bright. All wiring and mounting hardware were included. We also love the fact that these lighted boat trailer guides are made in the USA.
2. SeaSense Trailer Post Guide
![]() | SeaSense Trailer Post Guide Review Pros: – High-quality – 3 Lengths Available – PVC Cons: – Included nuts are sub-par |
The SeaSense Trailer Post Guide are a nice set of boat trailer PVC guides, however, they are unlighted. We do like that they come in 3 available sizes: 40″, 48″, and 60″.
Unlike the CE Smith posts reviewed above, these SeaSense Trailer Post Guides do not include LED lights. They do, however, come with bright orange end caps which work well enough during the day. They won’t provide much assistance during nighttime, however. They also come with all the necessary mounting hardware.
One pro-tip that we can share is to drill a couple of small holes at the top of the poles near the end caps. This will allow for air to escape when submerging your trailer. Failure to do this will result in the end caps being shot off and potentially lost, due to the forced air pressure in the tubes as the water enters from below.
One last thing to consider is that the nuts that come with these boat trailer PVC guides are not the best quality. You likely want to invest in some more heavy-duty ones.
3. CE Smith Trailer Post Guide-On with Unlighted Posts
![]() | CE Smith Trailer Post Guide-On with Unlighted Posts Review Pros: – PVC – 40″ or 60″ – Made In USA Cons: – Unlighted |
The CE Smith Trailer Post Guide-On with Unlighted Posts are made in the USA and are a decent choice for boat trailer guide on posts. They also come in 40″ and 60″ lengths.
CE Smith makes quality products, but these boat guide posts are not lighted, nor are the end caps brightly colored. This can be easily remedied by spray painting the end caps, but we do wish that they came that way from the factory. Regardless of this shortfall, these trailer guide-ons recieve great reviews on a consistent basis.
4. Tie Down Heavy-Duty PVC Post Guide-On’s
![]() | Tie Down Heavy-Duty PVC Post Guide-On's Review Pros: – PVC – Bright orange end caps Cons: – Unlighted – Only One Length (48″) |
The Tie Down Heavy-Duty PVC Post Guide-On's are yet one final good choice when looking for a set of PVC trailer posts. This set is also unlighted, but it does come with bright orange-colored end caps. If you don’t plan to trailer your boat at night, they may be an ideal choice for you.
They are 48″ in length and have a 13-degree slant. We like the added slant offered by these posts, as they give you a wider target area when trying to load the boat onto the trailer.
Just like the others on our list, these trailer posts come with all the necessary mounting hardware.
Light Set
5. LIBRA Boat Trailer Guide on Post Pipe Guide Light Set
![]() | LIBRA Boat Trailer Guide on Post Pipe Guide Light Set Review Pros: – LED – Submersible! marine grade – DOT/SAE/STI approved Cons: – Wires may be too short for some trailers |
The LIBRA Boat Trailer Guide on Post Pipe Guide Light Set makes it possible for you to add lights to any guide on posts. They are 100% submersible and marine-grade, so there is no need to worry about water damaging them.
They are very easy to install and DOT/SAE/STI approved. All installation and mounting hardware, including 10′ wires are included. They are even saltwater safe.
Being that they are LED lights, they use very little electricity and should have a very long life. They are designed for use on any 2″ PVC pipe guide post.
Best Boat Trailer Guide Posts With Lights Buyer’s Guide
When comparing lighted boat trailer guides, there are two main things that you should consider. First, determine the proper length of the posts that you need for your trailer. Second, consider whether PVC or aluminum boat trailer guide posts are best suited for your trailer.
Length
Buying trailer guide posts that are long enough for your trailer is essential. You want to be sure that you are able to see them both when you are backing up the trailer to the boat launch and when the trailer is submerged in the water. If the posts are not long enough, you won’t be able to see them.
Start by sitting in your vehicle and looking back at your trailer to get a rough idea of how long the posts should be. Then determine how steep your boat launch is and how deep the water is where you launch. The steeper and deeper it is, the longer the guide posts should be.
Of course, you could just go ahead and order the longest posts, which are 60″. That should give you adequate length for just about any boat and trailer combo.
PVC vs Aluminum
Another important factor that you need to consider is whether you want PVC or aluminum boat trailer guide posts. Each has its advantages, of course.
If you want the longest-lasting, then the combo of aluminum posts against your aluminum trailer frame with stainless steel hardware would be your ideal choice. This type of setup will be more expensive, naturally. The big disadvantage of aluminum boat trailer guide posts is that they can scratch up your boat, if the boat comes into contact with them.
On the other hand, PVC posts won’t scratch your boat. They also tend to be the more budget-friendly option. And while they won’t last as long as aluminum, as long as you don’t make a habit of hitting them with your boat, the PVC guide posts should last you more than a few years.
Conclusion
If you often struggle with lining up your boat when trying to land it on the trailer, then a set of the bests boat trailer guide posts with lights could be just the solution for you. Launching and landing your boat doesn’t need to be extremely challenging.
Make your days out on the water more relaxing and enjoyable by taking the stress out of trailering your boat. Pick up a pair of the CE Smith Trailer Post Guide-On with LED Lighted Posts, or any of the other ones that we reviewed. We’re already done the research, so you don’t have to.
Last update on 2025-02-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
I used the SeaSense trailer guide on my boat because I couldn’t see my trailer when backing up without the boat on it. I was concerned that the metal would be flimsy and not strong enough to hit the boat while loading, but it wasn’t. The metalwork is heavy duty and the installation is easy.