Calkins trailers

[spinnerbaits]

I have a 1979 Calkins trailer, Model DT22-7000, it has (2) 3500# axles for 22' boat. Hydraulic brakes. I plan to restore it for my Starcraft 22' V5 O/B. I presently have a Holsclaw single 2500# axle trailer that seem a bit weak and too short.

As time goes by I plan to post the restoration of the Calkins trailer. I am looking for suggestion on this topic. Look presently for best cleanng and painting methods.

 

[spinnerbaits]

Re: Calkins trailers

I want to convert the calkins to bunks from rollers has anyone seen it done?

 

[roscoe]

Re: Calkins trailers

I've converted a few to bunks.
Pretty straight forward.
Buy the brackets, bolt them on, add the bunks.
Trial and error to position them to the hull.

 

[spinnerbaits]

Re: Calkins trailers

Have you any experience with bunk covers that are slide with less friction and don't damage the hull paint? Thanks and happy July 4th.

 

[VE8EV]

Re: Calkins trailers

I've got the same trailer under my 21ft cruiser which weighs about 3500lbs. I'm not sure this would be a good candidate for conversion to bunks due to the way the keel rollers and hull rollers are mounted together on those load balancing bogies. You would have to mount the keel rollers on new cross-members before you installed the bunks. Seems like a lot of work just to downgrade from rollers to bunks?

Mine travelled the Dempster Highway twice which is a brutally rough 500 mile gravel road across the Arctic Circle. The weak spots on those trailers are the long bolts between the roller bogies and the frame and also the two bolts at each end of the carrier that the spring center pivots mount to (right behind the fenders). After the first trip most of the long bogie bolts had broken and I replaced them all with grade 12 hardware for the return trip. Once all those bolts are replaced with heavy-duty ones these are VERY strong trailers!

 

[spinnerbaits]

Just about finished with restoring my 1979 Calkins Model DT22-7000 tandem trailer. Just getting ready to paint fenders with antique white old school epoxy. Frame is powder coated red with new everything, mil spec rust proof bolts, stainless everywhere else, LED lighting even back up LED flood light.

 

[spinnerbaits]

Will follow up with photos soon

 

[oldjeep]

Wow - 2 years. Didn't need the trailer, or you were able to use it while you were restoring it?

 

[spinnerbaits]

Too many pokers in the fire running a small business. I have only used the boat a couple times and it's on a short trailer that it came with. The plan has been to restore the trailer and then the boat. But looking at the time I would invest to do the restoration the right way, I might have one foot in the ground. :fatigue: My plan is to list the trailer for sale and my StarCraft 22' V5 Super Sport with the 235 outboard and go pontoon-in & bass fishing

 

[spinnerbaits]

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Finally finished the trailer everything is new. Complete disassembly, sand blast, powder coated red, epoxy fenders, all stainless or Grade8 corrosion proof bolt, all rollers have new bushings. Set up for my StarCraft 22ft V5 Super Sport, but selling boat and trailer is going to be sold as an option. Moving on to other projects.

 

[spinnerbaits]

No Title

Just a few more that are before photos.