Converting bunk trailer to rollers?

[strokeoluck]

We have a Karavan bunk trailer (other boat details below). The bunks work ok, but I keep hearing from others that rollers are the way to go. This weekend I finally found out why. We went boating at a local lake with some friends (they have their own boat; roller trailer). The ramp area was pretty shallow. We backed in and the bottom of the back tires were covered with about 3" of water, and our tailpipes were under water (yes, I know...not good; this area was VERY shallow. The tops of our wheel wells were still well out of the water. The only way I could get the boat off the trailer was for my friend to help me push it off...with a lot of groaning. Of course it's a holiday weekend so there were about five or six cars in line waiting for us.

I don't think we'll encounter many ramps like this but I am starting to wonder how easy it is to convert from a bunk trailer to a roller trailer. Also, can anyone tell me how much it would likely cost? I'm "sort of" handy but not overly handy. Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[rockyrude]

Re: Converting bunk trailer to rollers?

If you go to any of the trailer parts sites, you will quickly find that the price of all the parts you need will far exceed the cost of replacing your current trailer with a good used roller trailer.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Converting bunk trailer to rollers?

If you go to any of the trailer parts sites, you will quickly find that the price of all the parts you need will far exceed the cost of replacing your current trailer with a good used roller trailer.

I cannot agree with this statement more. I just redid a trailer for my boat. I bought a really cheap used one that was set up for a flat bottomed boat and I have a V-hull. After buying all the new brackets, rollers, and other hardware I needed to get it set up correctly I easily could have just bought a nicer trailer set up more closely to my boat. Live and learn I guess.

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: Converting bunk trailer to rollers?

If you go to any of the trailer parts sites, you will quickly find that the price of all the parts you need will far exceed the cost of replacing your current trailer with a good used roller trailer.

Thanks guys, I appreciate it. It's not really pressing so I suppose we'll pass on it. But just out of curiosity, how much is a standard roller trailer for a 18' boat?

 

[MikDee]

Re: Converting bunk trailer to rollers?

Don't do it! My boat came with a roller trailer, IMO it's a nightmare! I never had one before, always a bunk trailer.

When launching, As soon as you remove the winch hook, the boat is on it's way off the trailer, look out!

Then when coming out, & putting it back on the trailer, it's usually a one shot deal, and unless you have a "catcher" to hook the winch on, it'll roll onto the trailer, and back off the trailer in a Flash!

This has become a point of contention with the Bride, she hates the boat for this reason, and I can no longer take the boat out alone without a "pitcher", or "catcher"

Hey, By the way are you that little funny looking little guy from TV?

 

[MudSkunk]

Re: Converting bunk trailer to rollers?

i pretty much agree with the above. rollers sound like a great idea but once you use em... different story. used to load and recover a roller style trailer and 23' boat. just learn to like the crank. become one with the crank. the crank is your life. it does take a while to crank that tow strap up when launch is done and cranking that boat back up is a beast by yourself.

my current boat came with bunk trailer and i can solo launch and recover much easier with bunks as i only have to crank maybe a foot or so either way. i can glide the boat most of the way up the trailer run up front hook the winch strap and hop out and have the boat up the ramp in about 5 minutes by myself without all that cranking. roller trailer you gotta wade out attach the strap or attach the strap to a rope and haul it in to attach and then get out and crank it on in. with help its alittle easier but solo... forget it.

if i had a roller trailer i would seriously consider some sort of electric winch.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Converting bunk trailer to rollers?

if i had a roller trailer i would seriously consider some sort of electric winch.

My cousin just did that with his 21ft Seaswirl Cuddy, a Big Mistake! That electric winch took forever trying to get his boat up as I was trying to keep it centered on the trailer, with waves wind, & wake! I finally told him to power it in, and just hooked it up with his old manual winch, which was still mounted nearby there I don't know if the speed is adjustable on these? but man was it slow!

 

[cooter2506]

Re: Converting bunk trailer to rollers?

DOnt put rollers on it. Just spray the bunks with liquid rollers you will be surprised how well the stuff works. Boat SLIDES off and on very easily even on shallow ramps

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: Converting bunk trailer to rollers?

This topic has been addressed numerous times on this board, almost to ad nausea. Both trailer styles have their merits.

In this case, the OP said the ramp was very shallow. Many believe that's an appropriate use of rollers. (One thing he forgot to mention was how long, and how much effort, it took to load the boat back onto their bunk trailer).

The comment that as soon as the wench strap is disconnected from the bow eye the boat is on its way off the trailer is true on a steep ramp, but not necessarily on a shallow one. That's why one has a line attached to the bow eye at one end and wrapped around the winch tower on the trailer at the other. And if you back the boat in far enough, the stern will be floating, so the boat doesn't truly shoot out of your hands uncontrollably. It's really just a training issue that when practiced a few times becomes a non issue.

Nevertheless, the OP did say that he rarely uses that ramp, so I'm not sure it's worth throwing the baby out with the bath water in this particular example.

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: Converting bunk trailer to rollers?

This topic has been addressed numerous times on this board, almost to ad nausea.

Sorry guys. I'm doing my best to do a search for topics before I post but I need to get better at searching for POSTS that reference these topics, instead of just THREADS. And sometimes it seems like the threads/posts are slightly different from what I'm after. But I'll get better!

In this case, the OP said the ramp was very shallow. Many believe that's an appropriate use of rollers. (One thing he forgot to mention was how long, and how much effort, it took to load the boat back onto their bunk trailer).

Well, there's good news and bad news there. The good news is that the loading process went fairly smooth. I parked the boat at the courtesy side of the dock, and then got the trailer in the water and we pulled the boat over to the loading side. We guided the boat onto the trailer by hand (no power loading for me) and I took the winch strap out to the hook - about 3' to 4'; hooked 'er up and winched it in (yes, a bit of a workout but not bad). Bad news? When I pulled it out of the water it was on the trailer crooked. Whoops! So we took it over to the other/deeper ramp at the same lake (Minnewashta; this deeper ramp was packed when we first arrived at the lake; no room to park) and fixed the crookedness.

Nevertheless, the OP did say that he rarely uses that ramp, so I'm not sure it's worth throwing the baby out with the bath water in this particular example.

I agree Navy Jr. After reading the back and forth on this thread I think I'll stick w/the bunks. Had I not had the buddy w/me I would have had to count on a good samaritan at the dock to help me get it off the trailer; but not a huge deal. Overall though I don't think we're going to encounter too many ramps like this. And the good news is my wife and I talked about a plan to get around it next time if we visit the same lake (which we really enjoyed). Next time if the deep ramp is packed/full we'll just launch there, she'll park the Pilot at the bigger (shallow) ramp w/ample parking and I'll drive the boat the couple hundred yards and go pick her up at that dock. On return, she can pull the Pilot down to the deep ramp, park the truck (somewhere!; temporarily!), while I dock the boat and then back the trailer in. A little cumbersome, but we'll have the peace of mind launching from a nice little - and DEEP! - protected bay area; and with a LOT less traffic too.

Sticking w/bunks for now. Thanks guys!

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: Converting bunk trailer to rollers?

Oh, Lake Minnewashta. Yes, the main access there is probably the most shallow of any in the area. And it isn't just the launch area. Some use their trolling motor instead of their main engine to navigate the 150 yards or so away from the ramp just to get to deeper water in the lake proper. If I'm not mistaken, there was a sign at the entrance to the larger ramp parking area warning of the shallow access and that owners are responsible for any damage to their boats (or something to that affect).

So, yep, that smaller but deeper access is the ticket. There shouldn't be any problems there with your bunk trailer. The plan with your wife parking and retrieving the Pilot at/from the larger parking area is a good one (but, again, trim appropriately when approaching the dock there to pick her up and drop her off).

And, finally, yes, Minnewashta is a nice lake. My son caught a nice northern there last year.

 

[Ramdave]

I'm just the opposite, had a roller and loved it, drive up every time and boat would center itself, leave it in gear to keep it up on the bow roller and hook the strap. I now have a bunk trailer and its harder to get the boat off and harder to get on centered when putting it on. Maybe I'll get better with practice.