Need some trailer set up help.

[Tnstratofam]

I have a 16 foot Starcraft SS on a Shorelander bunk trailer. I think it is set up incorrectly.

First I think the bunks may be to short, and set up to high.




The weight of the bow is resting on the front roller which I know needs replacing.



When I load her she doesn't want to stay centered. Also you can see that the keel has taken some scrapes from dragging on the rollers.



My question is what would be the best type of rollers for the center of the trailer, and how long should the bunks be?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Need some trailer set up help.

the bunks look fine.... you need a couple of self centering keel rollers (best thing since sliced bread) and raise em up so there is a little weight on each of them

Self Centering Roller - Seasense 50080992

 

[Tnstratofam]

Re: Need some trailer set up help.

That sounds like a good plan. What style should the front roller be? Ive seen flat, and vee shaped.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Need some trailer set up help.

the style in the link i posted works very well....

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Need some trailer set up help.

I would like to add that this is very well written and photographed post. One of, if not the best thread on here.

It looks like you could stand to bump out the bunks just a bit until they slightly touches the inside of the strakes. That will also help keep it centered.

Then remember to not put the trailer in to deep when loading. That can also make it hard to keep centered.

 

[gm280]

Re: Need some trailer set up help.

Your trailer looks very much like one I just rebuilt myself (Bringing a trailer back to life).

The bunks could be lowered a little so that the center rollers just barely touch the boat. And if you want a little more support, lengthen the bunks as well. It does offer more support to the boat. I try to keep the boat as low on any trailer when I can. It helps when launching and retrieving your boat. You don't have to back in the water as far then too. So I would lower all the center rollers as low as they can go first, and then lower the bunks until the boat just touches the rollers if possible. If when you have the bunks as low as they can go and the boat still doesn't touch the center rollers, then move the center rollers up until they touch the boat. That will be the lowest you can get the boat on your trailer... The center rollers are there to help with centering and loading the boat. But you don't want the boat to be applying any weight to the rollers after is in loaded. The bunks take that load.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Need some trailer set up help.

Disagree... The keel is the strongest part of that boat and the more points you can evenly distribute weight the better.... Let the bunks AND the rollers support the boat.

Good point about lowering the boat on the trailer.... Just watch that you don't get it set to where the keel can hit the rear crossmember if you miss the roller...... Wider rollers and roller end caps help with that.

 

[Tnstratofam]

Re: Need some trailer set up help.

Thanks for all the quick responses. I raised the bunks last fall after I replaced the wood, and carpet. Before I raised them the keel was resting on all the rollers. I'm going to replace my rollers with the self centering ones. I will have to order or make some new brackets as the rollers on my trailer are all 5 inch, and as far as I can tell the self centering ones are all 12 inch. I will probably split the difference in lowering the bunks, and raising the rollers to put the boat a little lower on the trailer. I will also see about changing the angle of the bunks to get them spread out closer to the strakes. I will post pics, and relay how it all goes.

 

[airshot]

Re: Need some trailer set up help.

I would suggest you get yourself some side guides and attatch them to the trailer frame. Most boating places have them as well as the I-boats store on this site. If you are handy and have access to materials you can even make your own. I made mine and covered them with a piece of pvc pipe so they don't mark the hull. If you are loading in a harsh cross wind the side guides will really help keep the boat centered. Those self centering rollers are quite interesting, never saw them before......

 

[Tnstratofam]

Re: Need some trailer set up help.

I had considered adding guide posts to the trailer. The Starcraft is pretty light so I would imagine loading in windy or rough water could get interesting. I've seen some for sale locally, and I've seen a couple of different types people have made themselves here on the forum. Once I get the rollers, and bunks straitened out I may look at guide posts.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Need some trailer set up help.

I am no why an expert on trailers but from what I see in the second photo is a latch that would tell me that this is a tilt bed trailer roller bunk trailer, or at one time was one. It this is so then all the rollers whould be level and in a flat line, the keel should be in contact with these rollers and the bunks lowered enough to provide contact with the rollers. Keep in mind that all needs to be high enough that contact is not going to be made with the frame or wheel well covers.

I adjust mine that with a little force I am still able to rotate the follers, there is also no reson to ad side bunks because these trailers were made to be winched on and not driven on, When using the winch it will pull up straight every time as long as the winch post is also straight.. Also adding the wide roller on the back adds very little to help keeping it straight and on track.

Also using these roller will deffinetny help wroth keeping the roller for deformorimg. 5 inp. Heavy Duty Keel Roller - Black Rubber, 5/8 in. I.D. #5244-105EC

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Need some trailer set up help.

I used to have 2 of the same boat on the same trailer. You have accidentally turned a roller trailer--the best rig--to a bunk trailer. But easy to convert back!

The strategy is for all the weight to be on the rollers, and the side bunks are just for stability--barely mash down the carpet. No need for guides that way and better, no need to dunk the trailer --keep the axle dry. Put the bow on the back roller and crank 'er up!

Even better with the tilt feature. You can also launch with the axle dry. However, don't have a ton of extra weight in the stern when you launch, or hold it back to slow it, as you can get water over the stern easily on a tilt.

 

[Tnstratofam]

Re: Need some trailer set up help.

I just wanted to post a quick update. I lowered the bunks down so the keel was resting on the rollers. I also adjusted the rollers so they were all more level and in line with the keel. I also leveled the bunks so the boat when it is loaded would be level from port to starboard.

Here are some pics. By the way I did all this with the outboard off. I've been replacing the transom and this was on my to do list before hanging the outboard back on.



If you look at the picture above it looks like the rear roller is too low. However it's an optical illusion. The keel on this boat stops about 2 feet from the stern. That area of the hull is flat.

 

[Tnstratofam]

Re: Need some trailer set up help.

I did a quick repair on my front roller. The cap nut came off the last time I took the boat to the lake. This is only a temporary repair. I will be ordering new rollers in a few weeks. Again this is only temporary...

This picture is blurry. Sorry. I drilled the shaft so I could install a cotter pin.. The weight of the boat kept the shaft from spinning while I drilled.



I used the c-clamp to hold the bracket together. The bracket had gotten stretched just a bit because the keel of the boat had hit it when the roller moved.









On this roller repair. This boat is a 16 foot aluminum boat with a 75 hp outboard. I would not do this repair to the rollers on our 20 foot fiberglass ski boat's trailer. Way to much weight for a cotter pin repair to be trusted I think.. Again this is only a TEMPORARY fix, and I live 10 minutes from the ramp, and have lots of tools in my truck in case the pin comes out...

I took the boat to the lake yesterday and it was much easier to launch and retrieve her. I think once I get some self centering rollers everything will be great. I really appreciate all the help and answers to all my questions. When I get my new rollers I will let you all know how everything turns out..

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Need some trailer set up help.

Looking very well done.

If this is in effect a tilt trailer I do strongly suggest looking at those reinforced rollers for the keel. All other spool keel rollers that I've tried deformed after just a short period of time. And this was only on a 400lb Lund. Even though it is a good theory those extra wide V rollers add nothing when winching a boat up onto a tilted trailer. I know this from a few years of experience. Neither do the side guild posts.

Sorry everyone but a tilt trailer is like none other and used one for years! It is not a roller trailer and it is not a bunk trailer.

You did well by algning all the rollers in a flat plane, Straight edge helps too. The last roller that is not making contact is just fine. That should be supported by the bunk boards yet all the rollers allow the boat to smoothly roll and slide off. Then remember the more weight that is placed on the bunks the harder it is to launch and retrieve.

I believe Sea Sense also makes roller axles that are drilled and have grease fittings in them. thought of going with those until I moved to a full roller Shoreland'r trailer.

Now all I need is an electric winch with the wireless remote and all my troubles will be over, and to those that want to be in and out of the water in a minute and a half I say too dam bad. My bad back is worth more than your impatience!

 

[Tnstratofam]

Re: Need some trailer set up help.

I don't power load this boat. It winches up real easy. I to don't get in any big hurry trying to load or unload. To many mistakes get made when your in a hurry. I've never used a tilt trailer before. Our ramps are not very steep, and usually I don't get the back tires to my truck wet loading or unloading.

Yesterday when I loaded the boat came up pretty straight all by itself. Maybe just some new reinforced rollers would be good enough. The one thing is I'm having trouble getting the bunks adjusted out enough to have the strakes sit on them without some side to side movement. I can shift the boat as I am winching her up to pretty well get her centered.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Need some trailer set up help.

Well you do not want the boat sitting on the strakes. I had that problem with a Lund and couldn't adjust the brackets out either way w/o the bunk falling right in the center of the strake.

The bunk boards were in need of replacement anyways so I set up the table saw and cut a 30* bevel about 1/4" from the edge. Applied carpet and the problem was solved. Boat loaded straight ever sense and fit right between the strakes.

 

[Tnstratofam]

Re: Need some trailer set up help.

Bonz_d I miss spoke in my last post. I meant I was trying to adjust the bunks out enough so that they would touch the insides of the strakes. Kind of like a guide that would center the boat as it was loaded. Anyway there is about 4 inches from the bunks to the strakes. I like your idea of putting an angle on the bunks. That sounds like a good way to help the boat self center.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Need some trailer set up help.

That trailer had the mounts for the bunks in a spot that no matter which way I moved them they were ither too wide or to narrow and still fell on the strakes. Was the only option I could quickly come up with. That 1/2" on both bunks made all the difference.