Trailer Bunk screws

[Macgomes]

Hello everyone,,
Im changing bunks on my boat trailer and i noticed that the old bunks have the bolts with tying nuts holding them to the trailer frame. I did not take these bunks of the trailer yet, but I wonder as to what is the benefit of using through bolts (or possibly one side bolts, the other side screws instead of the regular screws I always used on my other trailers. Also I wonder if galvanized screws would be ok or I should go an extra step and get stainless steel screws? Thank you

 

[gm280]

There are a few ways to install bunks on a boat trailer. Some use lag bolts that come in from the bottom through the bracket into the wood. Some use carriage bolts that come in through the top of the bunk wood through the brackets. If you go that way, it is a good idea to counter sink those carriage bolts so the boat doesn't hit them when loading and unloading.

Each way has it's pros and cons. Lag bolts are easy and you simply screw them in from the bottom. That is the pro side. The con side is that they can loosen up and fall out without you realizing it over time. And you have to make sure the bolt doesn't come though the wood and allow an exposed point to scratch the boat.

The carriage bolts come in from the top. The con side of them are the fact that you have to align them up with the holes in the brackets ahead of time. Because most boater usually carpet their bunks and the carriage bolts usually are already installed before the carpet is installed. That is the con side. The pro side is, carriage bolts have a nut and even a lock washer that securely holds the bunks on the trailer and little chance of them ever falling out. They hold tighter and work pretty well.

So you have to pick how you want to install them. There really is no one-way-only answer... JMHO

 

[tramsdell]

How big is the boat, what kind of hardware (brackets) are on the trailer?

 

[Macgomes]

Hello everyone,,
Im changing bunks on my boat trailer and i noticed that the old bunks have the bolts with tying nuts holding them to the trailer frame. I did not take showbox.bio/ tutuapp.uno/ vidmate.vet/ these bunks of the trailer yet, but I wonder as to what is the benefit of using through bolts (or possibly one side bolts, the other side screws instead of the regular screws I always used on my other trailers. Also I wonder if galvanized screws would be ok or I should go an extra step and get stainless steel screws? Thank you

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Thank you my issue has been solved,...

 

[gm280]

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Thank you my issue has been solved,...

Curious, what did you finally decide to do. We all would like to know...

 

[rothfm]

Yes, Update so the rest can learn a bit.

my 2cents...I had a fellow boater (unknowingly to me) hit the back of my trailer. When I came in, and dunked the trailer to retrieve my boat...2 bunks went afloat and I swam after them! Great sight at the ramp.

Mine were small lag screws from under. THUS, I have now upgraded to stainless thru bolts, countersunk and nutted. Never want to worry about that again.

By the way, they guy did leave a note (I didnt notice the small paper under passenger wiper) with his number of which I called later, and he sent me a check for my repairs and trouble. Nice man.

 

[kpg7121]

When I replaced my bunk boards I used galvanized lag bolts. Like someone said just make sure they don't point thru the top of the bunk. A couple times a season i would climb under the trailer & snug down the bolts if needed. Easy peazey.