Easier time putting on the trailer

[JimS123]

Weight of the Boat is spread over a larger Area. Not really issue if there are many rollers, but in most cases there aren't enough in my opinion.
Cost is another factor, a couple of Slats of Wood and Carpet are a lot cheaper than all the Hardware needed for Rollers.
Boats tend to sit lower on Bunks than Rollers, which help lower wind resistance when being towed, and supposedly makes it easier to load.

My current 2 Karavans were available either way. The height on the trailer was EXACTLY the same. Of course, the price difference was hard to take. But the results made it worth it.

 

[JimS123]

Is there any advantage to bunks over rollers? My trailer has rollers and loading is very simple. I don't see why anyone would choose bunks over rollers.

cheaper and less maintenance. launching is of no concern when price matters. or, set in their ways. or, lives with lousy ramps.

 

[airshot]

Maybe. My last tinny had dozens of rollers on the bunks, plus 4 self-centering keel rollers. No dents and the best solo launching boat I ever owned.

Same here, my 1983 Islander has spent its entire life on a roller trailer, no dents that I can see !! Sure is easy to winch it up...

 

[airshot]

There are many hundreds of ramps across the country, that were built 75+ years ago, when the typical boat was 12’ to 15’ in length.

Place a modern 20’ to 24’ boat on one of these ramps, and the prop is 8’ off the end of the ramp where power loading will wash it out, and deposit a mud barrier behind the ramp.

Once again, way to many folks do not know how to power load. Motor should be trimmed up to prevent wash out. Only enough power to push the boat up, no more !! If your ramps haven't been rebuilt in 75 years, you should petition the state to rebuild them !! In my area, the oldest ramp might be 15 yrs old at best. Ohio does invest the boaters money in keeping up the state ramps. Some are not designed very well, but most have good upkeep. The more popular ones have all been redone in the past 7-8 years or less. Our previous liberal govenors did not spend money on boating improvements but the conservative ones have done well.

 

[Renken2000Classic]

I've only launched at one ramp, not too steep. I have what I'd call a roller trailer with some side guides (the boards with carpet thing) - a couple of larger center rubber rollers, and some smaller ribbed ones out to the sides.
I tried the first advice I got which was to leave the tops of the fenders out and if I didn't get the recovery just right the hull would get scraped on the sharp-cornered mounts for one of the center rollers.

Eventually I started putting it deeper, where I can still see part of the side guides, but the fenders are covered. Suburban tires are always in the water a bit at least. I float it on like that with momentum only if possible, and usually someone waiting to hook the eye.

I prefer it to barely be able to float off the trailer too instead of having to use some power. It's not perfect, but works Ok. Wouldn't do in cold weather to get wet though, and my legs always get wet.

There's a newly repaired ramp at the lake I want to try soon. Might be different there.

 

[airshot]

If your in salt water, then rolker trailer maintenence could very well be an issue !! I am in fresh water only and just upgraded a few rollers that age had destroyed the old rubber. Those old rubber rollers were over 20 years old, upgraded to the newer poly material which is supposed to last much longer...they certainly roll much free'er, the boat almost loads itself !!

 

[roscoe]

Once again, way to many folks do not know how to power load. Motor should be trimmed up to prevent wash out. Only enough power to push the boat up, no more !! If your ramps haven't been rebuilt in 75 years, you should petition the state to rebuild them !! In my area, the oldest ramp might be 15 yrs old at best. Ohio does invest the boaters money in keeping up the state ramps. Some are not designed very well, but most have good upkeep. The more popular ones have all been redone in the past 7-8 years or less. Our previous liberal govenors did not spend money on boating improvements but the conservative ones have done well.

But Ohio doesn’t have 15,000 lakes like here. Many of our ramps are on national forest land, or National park land.

And if they rebuilt the ramps, more people with go~fast boats would be on the smaller pristine lakes.

You don’t need a go-fast boat on a 1000 acre lake.

 

[roscoe]

My current 2 Karavans were available either way. The height on the trailer was EXACTLY the same. Of course, the price difference was hard to take. But the results made it worth it.

I was able to lower my bunk brackets for the front mounts, about 2 inches.
Then bought 2 different brackets for the rear mounts, which allowed me to lower them by 4".

 

[roscoe]

Ok, photos of the skid plates.
Neighbor kid cut them out of some 1/4" stock while learning to use his dad's plasma.
First photo shows how they were originally, but I wanted them lower.
So placed a 2 x between the plate and the trailer frame rail.

They extend behind the tire, and under the spring, protecting the spring and mount, and fender mount, and preventing them from getting caught on the concrete ramp.

Axle and center of wheel are 12" off the ground.
Plate is 7" off the ground, but could be lower, maybe as little as 4" of clearance.

 

[KJM]

If your in salt water, then rolker trailer maintenence could very well be an issue !! I am in fresh water only and just upgraded a few rollers that age had destroyed the old rubber. Those old rubber rollers were over 20 years old, upgraded to the newer poly material which is supposed to last much longer...they certainly roll much free'er, the boat almost loads itself !!

Mine is always in salt water. It's a galvanized roller trailer. I've never even so much as washed it off and have had zero issues with it.

 

[dingbat]

Is there any advantage to bunks over rollers? My trailer has rollers and loading is very simple. I don't see why anyone would choose bunks over rollers.

Ever tried getting a #5,200 boat on or off a trailer by yourself?

No comparison between the two if you have weight to deal with.

My previous trailer had 32 rollers ($$$), 12 articulations to maintain (pain) and a #4,200 electric winch to get the boat on the trailer.

Had to use the winch to let the boat off the trailer otherwise it was a #5,000 runaway freight train. Ended up with 15' of cable out.

To get it back on the trailer, you walk down the tongue then walk the frame back to connect the winch cable. Then wonder back up to engage the winch, hoping the stainless steel cable didn't let go and cut me in half or take the back window out of the truck.

New bunk trailer has 2 sets of bunks and a hand winch. Trailer is 2.5 ft. longer by design and lower to the ground.

To launch, disconnect winch cable and have my partner back trailer until the back of the boat is floating and pull off.

Can either drive to the winch or back trailer in deeper and pull the boat to within a foot or so of the winch by hand.

 

[KJM]

Ever tried getting a #5,200 boat on or off a trailer by yourself?

No comparison between the two if you have weight to deal with.

My previous trailer had 32 rollers ($$$), 12 articulations to maintain (pain) and a #4,200 electric winch to get the boat on the trailer.

Had to use the winch to let the boat off the trailer otherwise it was a #5,000 runaway freight train. Ended up with 15' of cable out.

To get it back on the trailer, you walk down the tongue then walk the frame back to connect the winch cable. Then wonder back up to engage the winch, hoping the stainless steel cable didn't let go and cut me in half or take the back window out of the truck.

New bunk trailer has 2 sets of bunks and a hand winch. Trailer is 2.5 ft. longer by design and lower to the ground.

To launch, disconnect winch cable and have my partner back trailer until the back of the boat is floating and pull off.

Can either drive to the winch or back trailer in deeper and pull the boat to within a foot or so of the winch by hand.

Ok, I'm convinced! My boat is 20 ft FG with f90 outboard. I have no idea what it all weighs but my roller trailer is a breeze both on and off by myself. Obviously there are situations where either type is the best setup.....

 

[airshot]

Mine is always in salt water. It's a galvanized roller trailer. I've never even so much as washed it off and have had zero issues with it.

You found one with a good galvanizing job on it. You are lucky !!

 

[airshot]

Ok, photos of the skid plates.
Neighbor kid cut them out of some 1/4" stock while learning to use his dad's plasma.
First photo shows how they were originally, but I wanted them lower.
So placed a 2 x between the plate and the trailer frame rail.

They extend behind the tire, and under the spring, protecting the spring and mount, and fender mount, and preventing them from getting caught on the concrete ramp.

Axle and center of wheel are 12" off the ground.
Plate is 7" off the ground, but could be lower, maybe as little as 4" of clearance.

View attachment 385839


View attachment 385840

I like your idea !!

 

[roscoe]

Not my idea, but thanks. They have proved helpful at least 6 times. Maybe more, hard to say.
I believe there was a company selling them about 8-10 years ago.
But they were very light duty in my opinion. And appeared to be a one size fits all approach, that didn't fit well.

 

[jimmbo]

Not my idea, but thanks. They have proved helpful at least 6 times. Maybe more, hard to say.
I believe there was a company selling them about 8-10 years ago.
But they were very light duty in my opinion. And appeared to be a one size fits all approach, that didn't fit well.

They might not work on my trailer as it has a Torsion Axle, with a Drop in the Center, and that Drop will certainly snag the end of a Ramp

 

[roscoe]

They might not work on my trailer as it has a Torsion Axle, with a Drop in the Center, and that Drop will certainly snag the end of a

They might not work on my trailer as it has a Torsion Axle, with a Drop in the Center, and that Drop will certainly snag the end of a RampView attachment 385946

Actually not.
The skid would lift the trailer up and the tire would be rolling up onto the ramp before the drop axle would hit the ramp.

All would be good, unless you had a flat tire, but you likely you could still pull it out.