Trailer Runners

[skipper123]

I have to replace the runners on my trailer and cant use pressure treated I know, so what do we use. Have not found any marine grade 2x6s anywhere. My only thought is to buy pine 2x6s and prime/paint with rustoleum marine topside paint then carpet. What you guys think ?

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: Trailer Runners

I don't think there is a "marine grade" dimensional lumber. Why not the best looking (straight, few knots, good grain) fir or pine you can pull out of the rack at your local big box outlet? Then seal with paint/epoxy/epoxy & paint and add the carpet?

The original bunks on my trailer were common fir, with no sealing - they lasted 30 years.

 

[MinUph]

Re: Trailer Runners

Cedar is a good wood for wet locations. You can find it at a real lumber yard. There is another type I used for 26' stringers years ago but I forget the name. It was available in NY at the time. Ask at a lumber yard not a big box store.

 

[emilsr]

Re: Trailer Runners

Why can't you use pressure treated?

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Trailer Runners

Why can't you use pressure treated?

The chemicals used in PT lumber are known to "eat" aluminum. It will cause pitting . Covering with carpet can cause even more damage, as it retains the moisture and activates the chemicals, creating damage over a longer term. If you have PT as your runners, remove them or seal them well.

 

[emilsr]

Re: Trailer Runners

The chemicals used in PT lumber are known to "eat" aluminum. It will cause pitting . Covering with carpet can cause even more damage, as it retains the moisture and activates the chemicals, creating damage over a longer term.

Thanks. Learn something new every day.

 

[matt167]

Re: Trailer Runners

You can use Douglas Fir without issue. It's fairly inexpensive.

 

[bennyboy1]

Re: Trailer Runners

You can use pressure treated lumber, just wrap them with plastic bunk covers like these:



LOADRITE Plastic Bunk Cover for 2"x 6" Lumber (Silver) #1008.43

Just be sure to keep the safety cable/strap hooked until you are ready to launch, the pontoon will slide off very easily.

 

[The Rooster]

Re: Trailer Runners

You can use pressure treated lumber, just wrap them with plastic bunk covers like these:

View attachment 176360

LOADRITE Plastic Bunk Cover for 2"x 6" Lumber (Silver) #1008.43

Just be sure to keep the safety cable/strap hooked until you are ready to launch, the pontoon will slide off very easily.

+1 ^^^. We've had those on our last two pontoon trailers. Never worry about chemicals, & aluminum pitting again.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Trailer Runners

Just use plain old southern yellow pine from any lumberyard. Your boat is on top of the runners keeping them from getting wet most of the time. When they get rotten (in a few years), you can replace the wood for just a few bucks.

I use indoor outdoor carpet on my bunks, and it too can be bought off a big rack in the carpet dept. at Home Depot or Lowes. The minimum amount they'll cut is 2', which will do a trailer since it's 12' long. I attach the carpeting with 1 1/4" roofing nails to the yellow pine bunks.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Trailer Runners

I am just getting around to rebuilding my bunks. Just ordered a 100 ft roll of bunk carpet from here on Iboats and plan on using plain yellow pine and galvanized roofing nails, bunks are a lot cheaper to replace than pontoons. For me its that simple.
I had planned on rebuilding the trailer over the summer and I had some torn muscles and didn't get around to it but the bunks need fixing.

 

[gm280]

Re: Trailer Runners

I used PT 2 x 6 runners (or bunkers) on one of my past Glasstearm Hydro-Bass boats and I had that boat for well over ten years without one minute of problem from them. But I will admit it was garaged and cared for very well too...and I did use stainless steel hardware...

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Trailer Runners

I used PT 2 x 6 runners (or bunkers) on one of my past Glasstearm Hydro-Bass boats and I had that boat for well over ten years without one minute of problem from them. But I will admit it was garaged and cared for very well too...and I did use stainless steel hardware...

Uhh, wouldn't that be fiberglass, not metal???

 

[lakegeorge]

Re: Trailer Runners

I have to replace the runners on my trailer and cant use pressure treated I know, so what do we use. Have not found any marine grade 2x6s anywhere. My only thought is to buy pine 2x6s and prime/paint with rustoleum marine topside paint then carpet. What you guys think ?

What about using the fake wood that people use on their decks? I don't know what it's made of but it's supposed to last a long time.

 

[MinUph]

Re: Trailer Runners

What about using the fake wood that people use on their decks? I don't know what it's made of but it's supposed to last a long time.

That would be composite material. It will bend easily in the sun so it needs support every 10" for use on decks. I doubt you can give it the support it needs on a trailer.

 

[newcomlr]

Re: Trailer Runners

Definitely stay away from the composite decking material. I have it on my house deck. Doesnt appear to hold nails well...not sure its even available in ?x4 stock.

I replaced my bunks with regular untreated pine. Couldn't find any of the treated lumber locally that can be used for bunks (I forget what it's called, but YellaWood is one of the brands). Plus my bunks are 25'.

My only concern is most very long lengths of untreated pine are usually very knotty. I picked through quite a few 28 foot lengths and couldn't find any that were as clean as I would have liked.

My original bunks were held on with screws, so the carpet was probably attached before the boards were mounted on the trailer. I didn't like the idea of large screw points pointing up toward aluminum toons, so I instead countersunk stainless bolts from the top. The only downside with this approach is you have to mount the boards before you carpet them.

I originally purchased the bunk carpet kits, but took it back and opted for outdoor carpet from Lowes. The bunk carpet kits are pricey for what you get and the backing seemed like a weak point. Probably be okay for a non-toon or lighter toon, but my boat is nearly 2000 pounds.

Used stainless staples for 90% of the carpet fastening. And aluminum roofing nails in a few key areas on the sides of the boards.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Trailer Runners

One good way if you want to use a through type bolt is the use a SS T nut on the bunk side and counter sink it and glue it in place then add the carpet.

 

[newcomlr]

Re: Trailer Runners

One good way if you want to use a through type bolt is the use a SS T nut on the bunk side and counter sink it and glue it in place then add the carpet.

Definitely a better approach!

 

[sccatfish]

Re: Trailer Runners

My original bunks were held on with screws, so the carpet was probably attached before the boards were mounted on the trailer. I didn't like the idea of large screw points pointing up toward aluminum toons, so I instead countersunk stainless bolts from the top. The only downside with this approach is you have to mount the boards before you carpet them.

You could coutersink the heads of carriage bolts, wrap the carpet, then mount.

 

[skipper123]

Re: Trailer Runners

My trailer had 3/8 dia 1 1/4" long lag bolts not long enough to go thru 2x6 lumber to hit pontoons from bottom screwed in with battery drill Pretty easy. Im trying to find some SS lag bolts now as the old ones were rusted out. The big box stores only has 1/4 dia lag bolts in the 1 1/4" long version. 3/8 dia x 1 1/4 long work perfict to hold down the runners if they are 2x6 lumber. Every time I ask for something in the big box stores they say no. All I have found is pine and PT no fir.