what ever you do, consider a tandem axle for safety - blow a tire w/ a single and you might be in big doo-doo, especially on a narrow no-exit road w/ no shoulders, that deep doo-doo may be the ditch!
yes, channel is better from an integrity, my favorite although pricey ( I have one under my big inshore boat) is Magic-tilt, you can't get much better than them. quality all aluminum and stainless, will literally last a lifetime