1995 Spartan Supreme roller trailer

[wvmedic]

I just bought a 1995 Crestliner sportfish 1750. It is setting on a 1995 Spartan Supreme roller trailer.
The rollers are really loose, they move around a bit. I'm not sure that these are wobble rollers, but they sure do wobble. With the boat on the trailer, the rollers do move around and you can hear them rattling when towing.

I see that I can move the pivot arms up about two inches, that should make solid contact with the hull. Though my bow eye is already at the bow winch. I can't raise it anymore.

So are these rollers supposed to wobble if so. Any suggestions on what to do about adjusting?

Thank you, Jeff

 

[dingbat]

I just bought a 1995 Crestliner sportfish 1750. It is setting on a 1995 Spartan Supreme roller trailer.
The rollers are really loose, they move around a bit. I'm not sure that these are wobble rollers, but they sure do wobble. With the boat on the trailer, the rollers do move around and you can hear them rattling when towing.

I see that I can move the pivot arms up about two inches, that should make solid contact with the hull. Though my bow eye is already at the bow winch. I can't raise it anymore.

So are these rollers supposed to wobble if so. Any suggestions on what to do about adjusting?

Thank you, Jeff
View attachment 402515

If all articulation is operable, and the trailer is properly adjusted, the weight of the boat should prevent any movement of the rollers.

Having said that, if those rubber rollers are OEM 1995 they’re more than likely shot and the root of your problem.

Replace with PVC rollers

 

[wvmedic]

@dingbat, thank you for your response. They seem to be in good shape. The guy that previously had this boat and trailer took meticulous care of it. So I am thinking that they have been replaced. However, I'm not sure they were replaced with the correct diameter rollers.

Jeff

 

[dingbat]

@dingbat, thank you for your response. They seem to be in good shape. The guy that previously had this boat and trailer took meticulous care of it. So I am thinking that they have been replaced. However, I'm not sure they were replaced with the correct diameter rollers.

Jeff

There is no right or wrong diameter, per say.
Diameter would only affect how high the boat sits off the trailer.

What happens with rubber roller is that they distort and flatten over time.

Have seen where the (metal) washers embedded in the bore break loose and allow the rollers to "rock" or fall "off plane" with the other rollers on the bunk.

 

[wvmedic]

@dingbat, understood. Though with a slightly larger diameter roller, my thinking at least. Would give a smidgen more hight to the rollers making better contact with the hull.

I will check the rollers over, checking the washers and such.

I like the thought of the rollers for shallow launch. However, I only fish one very remote lake that would benefit from being able to shallow launch. It's 60km out a haul road in Quebec Canada. Everywhere else I could use bunks and float it off.

Jeff

 

[airshot]

Are the rear most rollers right at the back of the boat ? Support in this area is critical, make sure roller is right under transom edge. Bow eye should be under bow stop, adjust rollers or winch stand to get the position correct. Be sure you have a safety chain the hold the bow eye down in case of a sudden stop or impact. If the rollers have any cracks in them they need replaced. All rollers should be in contact with the hull when boat is sitting on the trailer, if not adjustments are needed.

 

[dingbat]

Are the rear most rollers right at the back of the boat ? Support in this area is critical, make sure roller is right under transom edge.

I don't buy that on anything but maybe a tin boat.

My boat hung off the back roller of the previous trailer by 12"-16" for 25 years and is none the worst for wear.

 

[airshot]

I don't buy that on anything but maybe a tin boat.

My boat hung off the back roller of the previous trailer by 12"-16" for 25 years and is none the worst for wear.

Ask any boat mfgr, they all recommend support at the very back of the boat.
Not my idea, but that is what boat makers recomend !!

 

[wvmedic]

I know this is picture heavy, I am sorry about that.

The rollers are in great shape.
The rear of the boat is solid on the 8 aft rollers. The front 8 are just touching the hull and I can wiggle them by hand.

The only option I see is lowering the keel roller at the bow to lower the the hull onto those rollers more solid.

Jeff

 

[airshot]

I do see some cracks in the rubber so in the near future they will need replaced.
By all means move to the yellow type rollers and you will never replace them again. Your safety chain should drop straight down with only enough slack to clip it on. This lrevents the bow from lifting on a hard stop or impact. If it were my boat, I would move the boat forward so the rear rollers were even with the transom.....highly recomended by all boat mfgrs, especially aluminum hulls.

 

[wvmedic]

@airshot, I see the crack now. No idea how I missed that. I'll absolutely look at moving the boat forward. I want a different tie down system for the stern than is on there now. It's secure, but I want the ratchet system I've seen that stays attached to the trailer. I also want to use a transom saver for transport. I at least once a year tow a boat over 2,000 miles and on some haul roads at that, up to 100 miles. So the transom can take a beating.

Jeff

 

[dingbat]

I'll absolutely look at moving the boat forward. I want a different tie down

Bear in mind that moving the boat forward will increase your tongue weight. You may need to move the axles to compensate.

 

[wvmedic]

@dingbat, understood and thank you for that.

Jeff

 

[airshot]

Keep in mind that being tongue heavy is far better than being light on the tongue weight.

 

[wvmedic]

@airshot, the rear rollers are only about two inches in board from the transom edge. Where should the transom be sitting on the rear rollers?

Jeff

 

[airshot]

@airshot, the rear rollers are only about two inches in board from the transom edge. Where should the transom be sitting on the rear rollers?

Jeff

Appeared to be further in the pic. On aluminum boats, the strongest part of the transom is right where it is riveted to the bottom. I adjust my boat so the roller OD is right at the transom edge, never had a dented hull that way. Many years back I worked at a marina and we always set up roller trailers that way from the mfgr specifications... My 1983 alum Islander sits on a full roller trailer all these years and no dents in the hull !

 

[wvmedic]

@airshot, I agree the picture is deceiving. I might slide the winch post forward an inch or two.

I'm going to lower the bow keel roller about an inch as well. I think that might fix the issue of the hull not sitting on the front rollers solid enough.

Jeff

 

[airshot]

Or raise the front set of rollers ....everything is adjustable, we can't really see, so you need to make the call. Under ideal conditions all rollers should carry equal weight, but in reality, hard to do...

 

[wvmedic]

@airshot, gotcha and thank you.

 

[JimS123]

One cracked roller. Other than that it just about the best setup I have seen in years. Lower the bow keel roller just a tad to stop the movement. Whoever set that trailer up knew what he was doing. Possible the rollers simply aged. I second the poly roller suggestion.