Rollers or Bunks?

[Smokin'Mo]

I am looking for opinions on replacing rollers on a trailer or installing bunks. What are the favorables/drawbacks of each type? I am currently rebuilding a 21ft fishing boat/cuddy and since I need to replace a lot of the rollers before I set her back down I though I could replace them with bunks instead. What I like about them is that it seems the load that the boat exerts on the supports is more evenly distributed along the hull vs. point loads at every roller.

Any Comments?

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Rollers or Bunks?

Smokin'Mo, you will get plenty of different answers on this question.
Myself, I like bunks for the reason you state.
The weight of my Gambler is spread out over the trailer.
If you have good center keel rollers, they will center the boat pretty good once you get use to them.
I can idle my boat upon the trailer now after getting use to how far back I needed to be etc.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Rollers or Bunks?

i've had both, have gone to all bunks, use guide ons, set close, and on or 2 self centering rollers. http://www.iboats.com/Self_Centerin...d.238442--list_time.1201172109--view_id.56624

 

[MikDee]

Re: Rollers or Bunks?

I'm with SBN, & tashasdaddy, on this one, after having my first experience with a roller trailer, I eventually want to set mine up like tashasdaddy.

 

[cbavier]

Re: Rollers or Bunks?

Well just my two cents. I have had both. Bunk and Roller. The roller trailer is easier to load and unload the boat. The rollers center it every time perfectly and it's easy to float the boat on the trailer by hand. The Bunks would be a different story with a heavy boat.However I think if I had to replace most of the rollers and I think my trailer has about 36. From an economical standpoint because rollers are expensive. I too would replace the rollers with Bunks. The only real expense then would be to buy the bunk brackets. In Michigan Power Loading is prohibited by law and anyone caught doing so will pay a hefty fine plus it's very destructive to the boat launch and inconsiderate to other boaters.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Rollers or Bunks?

I've had numerous bunk and roller trailers and each time I ended up with a bunk style I couldn't wait to get rid of it. On steep ramps you simply can't beat a roller trailer. Get the bow into the rollers and it will center itself every time. The wheels on a roller trailer never have to be in the water deeper than the rear edge of the fender. If you have a glass boat however, I would favor the bunk style simply to protect the rather delicate gel coat. As for point contact problems on a roller trailer, that's a myth. A properly set up roller trailer has the rollers adjusted so they ride on or near longitudinal stringers.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Rollers or Bunks?

i say with either one, if the trailer is properly set up. they both will center with no problems. a long tongue is helpful with a bunk trailer and a large boat, so the trailer can get deeper. i have no problems loading my 23 footer. or my 14 footer.