re bunking my trailer stationary vs swivel bunks

[saginawbayboater]

Re: re bunking my trailer stationary vs swivel bunks

It sounds as if this is personal preference kind of thing?

 

[bonz_d]

Re: re bunking my trailer stationary vs swivel bunks

Pretty much! This debate has been going on here long before I ever joined in. At times it gets pretty nasty too. Yet each time there is a discussion of this it ends with never having a consensus.

I was up front and even stated that I am not a bunk trailer expert. I have used them and I do not like them for the way that I have to use a trailer. Heck even the trailer makers can't tell you which is better other than to give examples of why one should buy their trailer over thier competitors. Some trailer manufacturers even build both types.

The one thing I can agree on is the more support one can have in the trailer the better. Be it bunks, rollers or a combination of both.

 

[81_chapparel194]

Re: re bunking my trailer stationary vs swivel bunks

Pretty much! This debate has been going on here long before I ever joined in. At times it gets pretty nasty too. Yet each time there is a discussion of this it ends with never having a consensus.

I was up front and even stated that I am not a bunk trailer expert. I have used them and I do not like them for the way that I have to use a trailer. Heck even the trailer makers can't tell you which is better other than to give examples of why one should buy their trailer over thier competitors. Some trailer manufacturers even build both types.

The one thing I can agree on is the more support one can have in the trailer the better. Be it bunks, rollers or a combination of both.

i think trailer questions are simular to oil threads ...everyone thinks their oil is best but cant prove "why" its best.. i have my preference on oil/grease/lubes and such but i am a major green horn when comes to boats so i think 99.9% of boat related is personal preference. but we can all agree that as long as your having fun thats what matters... in motorcycles my motto is it dont matter what you ride as long as your riding and having fun and riding responsible.... i guess same as boats and trailers.. but i tend to lean toward bunk trailers because in MY OPINION bunks if properly bunked give better support.. rollers have too much pressure per square inch IMO and my opinion only.. then again i dont own a roller trailer so my opinion may would vary if i had a roller trailer...i wouldnt mind trying a tilt trailer because its just an option i may or may not like. they both have pro's and cons.. i do like the idea of not having to submerge the traier to launch or retrieve on a tilt. however my trailer is designed to take submesion (galvanized) but hot hubs tend to let water suck in even with good seals...i let my hubs cool a few min before dunking them if they are warm... but thats another thread lol i appreciate all the info from here and wil take it into consideration when i rebunk my trailer... i will post pics upon completion since the end result is the main thing.. just waiting on my carpet and new "L" brackets to get here so i can begin the transformation

 

[Maclin]

Re: re bunking my trailer stationary vs swivel bunks

81_chap,

Regarding "lag bolts from underneath", personally I don't like to have pointy things that I know about aiming up at the hull even if they have some wood in between them and the hull, but that's me

About the green bunks, it looks like to me that trailer saw some double duty and was used for something else maybe at times when the boat was not on it.

 

[Maclin]

Re: re bunking my trailer stationary vs swivel bunks

It sounds as if this is personal preference kind of thing?

Yes. Some have a preference, some just take it personal

 

[bonz_d]

Re: re bunking my trailer stationary vs swivel bunks

Yup! This one gets as heated as the to powerload or not to powerload debate.

I have no skin in the game as to which kind of trailer someone should use. All I can say for certain is what works for me and why I choose to use it.

roscoe stated that bunks that don't touch anything are worthless and I agree. And will add the same to rollers. If they don't touch anything they are not doing any work, so why have them. If they are there then put them to use, make them work. A true bunk trailer does not need rollers and if set up properly the hull would never hit any crossmember. I see many large bunk trailers all the time with mulitple bunks and not a single roller on them. I also see many bunk trailers with rubber bump pads on the crossmembers which to me is a sign of a cheap or poorly designed trailer. Again if it is a true bunk trailer then the hull should never hit anything but the bunks!

Now in the case of this trailer. Why would the manufacturer put adjustable rollers on it if they were not intended to be used to support the hull? Could very well have put stationary rollers on it and saved some money or even those rubber bump pads.

So if what you have works for you then who am I to argue with you?

 

[81_chapparel194]

Re: re bunking my trailer stationary vs swivel bunks

So if what you have works for you then who am I to argue with you?

well the ONE thing that i DO know is that i know NOTHING about boats, setting up boat trailers nor working on outboards but as time goes on unless i win the lottery i will know how NOT to do stuff lol trial and error is not my friend as its more error than trial but what can a guy do? i usually say if it has it theres a reason its there. except for those bottom useless bunks unless as mentioned earlier maybe it was a dual purpose trailer at one point. idk

 

[bonz_d]

Re: re bunking my trailer stationary vs swivel bunks

Well that's why folks come to the forums, to reduce errors and gain knowledge. In your case here you've recieved 2 valid differing points of view. Who knows we might both be wrong.

I do agree about those bolts though.

 

[81_chapparel194]

Re: re bunking my trailer stationary vs swivel bunks

I do agree about those bolts though.

well im not too concerned about lag bolts although with your valid point about pointy things pointed towards yor hull if you use the correct length lags you have 3/4 inch of wood between boat and lag tip so technically the only way for them to contact is bunk board failure and if this is the case that little lag screw is least of your worries as the metal upright bunk bracket is right behind that little lag screw making that little hole much bigger... so a bunk failure is gonna mess you up with lag screws or bolts just sayin...