Rollers VS Bunk

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BoatCrazy

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The time has come and I am in the market for a new trailer for the little boat. I cant see putting anymore money into the trailer I have.

Question is, do I go rollers or do I go bunk trailer? The current trailer is roller.

Ive gotten a few prices thus far, and the bunk are better priced (obviously). I have no experience with a bunk trailer, all my trailers have been rollers.

I kind of like the idea of the bunk, as more of the boat is supported and it will sit lower on the trailer.

Any advice?

Thanks in advance
 
If it's a small boat, bunks are fine. Advantage of rollers is a heavy boat will be easier to 'center' and to crank up; neither would be much of a problem with a small boat. Also, with a bottom painted boat, bunks may rub off some expensive paint.
 
BUNK definitely. Better support, easier loading(IMO). Ever seen pictures of a boat off the trailer laying on the ramp. That's what happens on roller trailers when the winch rope breaks. Won't happen on a bunk trailer. Most of the time we never hook the winch strap on bunk trailers until up in the parking lot.
 
Its a small 17ft center console with a 140hp motor.

I am definitely going to go new, as I am planning a few road trips with the boat and trailer this winter and next summer, so Id like something that is a bit more road worthy..

Here is a dumb question. How do I set the proper height of the bunks for the boat? With rollers I never had to worry about it. All I had to do was watch the bow, and make sure the rollers upfront were not too high..
 
Not sure what you mean by setting the height of the bunks. All of the quality bunk trailers I have seen were custom made for the Make,Model and size of the boat in question. All the bunks were welded in place and non adjustable. If you talking about how deep to put the trailer in the water when pulling a good starting point is to just put the trailer fenders under water. You don't want the trailer to deep as you can power the boat on the bunks up to the winch stand and it will stay there.

Like I said before we would rarely hook the winch strap. one person driving the boat, one with the trailer. When the boat hit the stop on winch stand the trailer driver would pull out. boat driver would keep power on in gear while starting up ramp. one hand on the Ign key and the other on the trim. Trim up as you come up the ramp and turn it off when clearing water. Average time on the ramp 2 minutes. IN 20 years never had one slide back on the trailer more than a few inches. Strap in down in the parking lot.
 
My boat has a deep v, deeper then a mako. I dont want the bottom of the boat sitting on the aluminum trailer while the sides of the bottom are on the bunks....
 
For a 17 foot boat I would go with bunks all the way. I've had both. I think it's easier to load, especially by yourself. I think it also provides better and more even support to the hull. Easier to power load.
 
Rollers. Can launch and recover at just about any ramp angle regardless of tide. If I can get the bow on the bottom rollers, I can winch it the rest
of the way up by hand if I have to. Try that with bunks!
 
If the trailer is designed correctly the boat will NEVER touch metal.

quote:
Originally posted by BoatCrazy

My boat has a deep v, deeper then a mako. I dont want the bottom of the boat sitting on the aluminum trailer while the sides of the bottom are on the bunks....

Click to expand...
 
A properly designed roller trailer will provide perfectly fine support for a boat, so a bunk trailer provides no real benefit in this area. However, a roller trailer will allow you to lauch and recover your boat from a much wider range of ramps. And you can more often do this without having to back your tow vehicle into the water. As Philyteach says if you can get you bow onto the first roller you can winch the boat onto the trailer.

The concern about dropping the boat on the ramp when using a roller trailer should also not be a problem if you always leave your safety chain hooked up until the boat is in the water.

I have had both and would never go back to a bunk trailer.

Mike
 
Seems a lot of y'all power your boat on the trailer. I'm not sure if you're not aware of or don't care, But, powering a boat on a trailer causes the end of the ramp to get blown away and the ramp undermined.

I also have had both types of trailers and would never go back to all roller trailer. One of the reasons is the height the boat sits on the trailer making some ramps unable to launch from.

The last EZ loader trailer I had collapsed under the boat. Replacing the trailer, I built a bunk for the stern and roller for the bow. Rollers in the bow help align and cradle it while the bunks help prevent boat movement on the trailer.
 
when buying a trailer go at least 1000 lbs extra then the boat weighs. trailers are made cheaper than the old days. This will allow for the extra gear and fuel you carry
 
On the ramp I most often use, if I had to use a bunk trailer I'd be limited to 1 hr before, and 1 hr after high tide. The depth swing from high to low is 7 feet. As it is I put an extra long tongue on the trailer to keep the rear tires out of salt water. Roller trailer, properly set up, side guides, extra safety turnbuckle, and 9' long tongue is what works for me. Bunks are nice and simple but unless I go to the better town ramp, not really useful. I have 24 rollers for a 20' boat, I could add more if felt that they were needed. I just replaced a couple of them because of cracks. The trailer is a 1994 Load Rite so that's going on 20 years.
 
I have a bunk trailer for my 18' center console. I think it gives better support and is easier to use than a roller trailer. One time I borrowed a roller and it was a PITA to keep the boat from rolling off the trailer. If you are going to be launching with no one else helping you, definitely go with bunks.
 
Thanks for the input guys.

Ive never owned a trailer where I put the boat on and it was a perfect fit, I always had to make adjustments, whether the height of certain rollers, or the bow support..

There is only a $200 difference in bunk and rollers. Price doesnt really matter, its more about whats best. When Ive traveled with the boat ive always been nervous with the rollers if the cable and support chain broke, the boat would go flying off the back of the trailer...
 
quote:
Originally posted by BoatCrazy

Thanks for the input guys.

When Ive traveled with the boat ive always been nervous with the rollers if the cable and support chain broke, the boat would go flying off the back of the trailer...

Click to expand...


What if the bunk rotted through and you didn't see it because its covered in carpet? Preposterous you say? Its about as realistic as both the winch cable and the safety cable breaking at the same time.
 
I really don't know what has happened in ramp design over time, but when I was a lad, the ramps were angled and long enough that you never had to get the wheel hubs wet. The gentleman who taught me to launch, never got anything more than the tires and an inch of the wheel wet. He had a roller trailer that was split in the middle. He had a power winch and launched and retrieved alone all the time. It was all done without the aid of powerering on. He never had a bearing fail despite the fact the launches were all salt water.
 
This is not about which trailer style is better it's which is better for you.

If you launch and retrieve buy your self, or have limited help, and don't want to get your feet wet hooking winch strap a Bunk trailer is for you.

If you have challenging conditions(tides), want or need to remove boat from trailer and like getting you feet wet hooking strap and cranking the winch get a roller trailer.
 
I launch and retrieve by myself all the time now with my roller trailer. I drive the boat right up the winch no problem.

I am starting to like the idea of a bunk trailer as it will evenly support the hull where the rollers are here there and over there...
 
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