New Trailer - Weird Bunks

[LaqueRatt]

Picked this up off a neighbor. Curious about the bunks. Why the bevel cut at the end and how come they're not balanced? Is this on purpose or just shoddy work?

 

[airshot]

Someones after market home made add on. Didn't come from the factory like that. I have a bigger but similiar trailer. Where the wood is located should be a set of rollers that adjust to the hull as the boat is winched on. They should be balanced so that the rear is down low to help get the boat onto the trailer. Depending on what kind of boat your loading on, that trailer can be modified to work.

 

[Scott Danforth]

look like the bunks on my 1958 tilt trailer.

 

[guy48065]

Looks odd on dry land but when you back that into water the boards will try to float & will level out.

 

[briangcc]

My uncle's 16' Starcraft tiller had that setup for a trailer. It was stock by TeeNee back in the day. Ahh the memories...

**Pretty sure they were carpetted too. Might want to address that.

 

[JimS123]

They were a refurb done by a clueless person. The holes were drilled wrong and they didn't put carpet on them. They definitely should tilt, but backwards not forward.

 

[jimmbo]

Bunks that long imply the previous Owner, wanted to put a Boat too long for the trailer on it, so...

 

[LaqueRatt]

Thanks for the info. I intend to put some carpet, maybe vinyl downspout material on them, but going to just cut some new boards instead of drilling more holes in these things. So they tilt the wrong way. This is what I was thinking too. What about the bevel cut on the ends? Never saw bunks cut like that before. Sure would make it harder to cover with carpet.

 

[briangcc]

"Ramp" to bring the boat up on retrieval if needed. That way the bunk doesn't catch on a rivet/joint.

 

[JimS123]

Thanks for the info. I intend to put some carpet, maybe vinyl downspout material on them, but going to just cut some new boards instead of drilling more holes in these things. So they tilt the wrong way. This is what I was thinking too. What about the bevel cut on the ends? Never saw bunks cut like that before. Sure would make it harder to cover with carpet.

They should have the bevel. When stapling on carpet, cut a V on both sides and it will fit right over the end.

It looks to be good wood. No need to replace it. Just cut a few inches off the front end until the center of gravity makes it tilt backwards.

 

[guy48065]

Don't cut the boards.
* There's going to be a boat sitting on the trailer 99.9% of the time, unless you live on a lake.
* If the long board tilts backwards it may catch on the ramp when backing it EMPTY towards the water. At best it's embarrassing, at worst you'll break a board or bracket & not be able to load your boat.

 

[JimS123]

OK, I'll bite. When you tilt the bunks back manually if they hit the ground, then don't cut them off. Instead, drill new holes, move them forward and THEN cut them off so they tilt back.

If you back in and they float so that they are NOT tilting forward, change your launching procedure because you backed in too far.