Bunks vs Rollers

[81 beachcomber]

Just picked up and "new" old trailer for my boat. My current one is completely rusted so i found a decent painted ez-loader trailer for cheap. My current set up is roller as is the new trailer. I am stripping the new trailer to bare steel, painting, changing all the lights, jack, winch, and fenders, and either have to add additional rollers or convert to bunk. Just wondering the benefits of each type. Thanks for the opinions

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Bunks vs Rollers

Just picked up and "new" old trailer for my boat. My current one is completely rusted so i found a decent painted ez-loader trailer for cheap. My current set up is roller as is the new trailer. I am stripping the new trailer to bare steel, painting, changing all the lights, jack, winch, and fenders, and either have to add additional rollers or convert to bunk. Just wondering the benefits of each type. Thanks for the opinions

It is dependant on what type of boat and how big and type of launches you will be using. Boats in the 10000lb range=bunks. Shallow waters or with tides=rollers. I think it is more what you are used to and prefer. I am sure you will get alot of different reasons.

 

[mrdancer]

Re: Bunks vs Rollers

Poorly-built roller trailers are horrible, but well-built roller trailers are nice! Key is to have lotsa rollers ==> better support. Rollers also require good tie-down straps between the boat/trailer, although bunks should have them, also. Bunk trailers provide better overall support and are harder to screw up, but they require you to back the trailer further into the water - can be problematic at shallow ramps.

There are two alternate solutions:
1) Bunk slides - these are slick "plastic" strips that go on the bunks to help the boat launch/load easier. Same concerns with safety straps with these as with rollers...

2) Use both rollers and bunks! Bunks at the back help keep boat in place and secure, while supporting extra weight of engine. Rollers at front allow boat to easily roll back on the trailer once the transom floats up off the trailer when backing into the water. See pic...

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Bunks vs Rollers

you said steel so you must not be in salt water. For salties, rollers are the way to go. For others, you may learn this one day when you can't float or worse, drive, on or off. somethimes, motors don't work or ramps are short or shallow. It happens.

 

[jkust]

Re: Bunks vs Rollers

Tell us about your boat and access conditions. Rollers get my vote at the MN accesses I use. Shallow, deep, steep, windy, calm, sand, muck, unmaintained, wrong tow vehicle, cold water, or just to amaze the line of bunk trailer users while they cope, I prefer rollers.

 

[81 beachcomber]

Re: Bunks vs Rollers

Ya im thinking stay with the roller set up. I havent had any problems before,. Was just curious of the pros and cons of each, seems bunk is just for support. I will add extra rollers to the new set up. My boat is an 18' closed bow Campion with a 100 hp outboard on the back. Launch is fairly deep but my previous trailer made the boat sit very high on it, so it had to be pushed off not floated. This trailer i think it will sit lower. Anyhow thank you all for the responses.

 

[jkust]

Re: Bunks vs Rollers

Ya im thinking stay with the roller set up. I havent had any problems before,. Was just curious of the pros and cons of each, seems bunk is just for support. I will add extra rollers to the new set up. My boat is an 18' closed bow Campion with a 100 hp outboard on the back. Launch is fairly deep but my previous trailer made the boat sit very high on it, so it had to be pushed off not floated. This trailer i think it will sit lower. Anyhow thank you all for the responses.

It's common to have a short set of bunks next to/below the line or rollers, strategically placed on an otherwise all bunks trailer. I've had bunk and roller trailers and to me it is like asking if you'd prefer to swim to Hawaii for vacation or fly on a jet meaning the question need not be asked of me. My current shorlandr trailer was an expensive option in my sig boat package and i'd have paid double the option price it makes life at the ramp that much more convenient, easy, and quick. A bit of time spent watching at a not so easy ramp and things come into focus. Because roller trailers are not nearly as common as bunks here where we all have sub 20 foot boats, where the roller option was more $ than many wished to spend, I am frankly suprised by how many comments I get about the ease of the roller trailer. Like so many people haven't seen one in action. I get a lot of 'you're not far enough in the water' and 'wow i've got to get one of those' comments. The downside of rollers is the marks they can make on your hull, the need to maintain/replace the rollers and the issues you can have if you are shall we say forgetful and don't put the bow chain on and also forget both of the stern tie downs as well as the winch hook. Good luck to you and I've even had a trailer with rollers built into the bunks.

 

[81 beachcomber]

Re: Bunks vs Rollers

Thanks for the reply, ya my old trailer was roller, marking the hull was not a real issue. And ease of unloading, i know what you mean, I am going to stay with roller. Thank you to everyone for the responses. I will be starting work on the new trailer this week.