Bunks or Rollers

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Bunks or Rollers

Intresting thoughts here. Although i would have to agree with most.

I have had both styles and like both for different reasons. My choice depends greatly on where i will be boating. Right now i have a bunk trailer and it works great for the 20' bowrider i have. Easy launch and retrieval at a deep ramp. Did have to crank it on once and that was no fun at all.

I think your boat will do just fine on your bunk trailer. Have fun!

 

[skargo]

Re: Bunks or Rollers

Every body has been talking about ease at the ramps. What about driving down the road?
Is the boat on a bunk trailer more secure than a roller trailer? Put another way, driving down the road and the winch strap breaks which trailer is more likely to dump the boat on the road?

Shouldn't be an issue if you use a safety chain.

 

[jkust]

Re: Bunks or Rollers

IMO for my boat, the rollers are the winner. I get comments from the bunk guys at the ramps on how much simplier/user friendlier it is to launch and retrieve my heavy boat compared to their lighter boats with bunks. The trailer doesn't need to touch the water at all...only the tires which is where most guys start to notice. Plus the roller trailer just looks nicer to me like any other optional/upgraded piece of equipment. I also have a bunk trailer for my other bowrider and it is not nearly as user friendly though it only gets used to put it in in spring and remove in fall so it isn't an issue.

 

[STARCRAFT16SS]

Re: Bunks or Rollers

I have what I think is a 1971 spartan roller tilt trailer....came with a
1971 starcraft supersport...It has 16 rollers not counting the the two towards
the bow of the boat...the old black rubber style...boat gos on and off the trailer just fine with me doing everthing by myself....however....one problem
with the trailer design of that year?1971...8 of the 16 rollers...the roller
arms point downward and they are hollow rectangular cross-sectioned tubes
that are open at the top end and closed at the bottom...the water was
not draining out after trailer was in the water....caused them to rust out faster....had to replace a few of the arms and I drilled holes at the lower
end of the arms for water drainage

 

[fasassvalk]

Re: Bunks or Rollers

Every body has been talking about ease at the ramps. What about driving down the road?
Is the boat on a bunk trailer more secure than a roller trailer? Put another way, driving down the road and the winch strap breaks which trailer is more likely to dump the boat on the road?

My trailer has a short saftey chain to go along with the winch strap ! If strap breaks boat can only slide back a max of 2 inchs with chain connected.
I also use the chain for a quick connect when driving on the trailer and pulling out. Once out of the water I winch it down.

 

[fasassvalk]

Re: Bunks or Rollers

Rollers for me all the way. Easy to launch, easy to retieve. Deep water, shallow water- makes no difference. I don't need to bury the trailer to do either, and nobody needs to stay in the boat to drive it onto the trailer.

A single long line attached to both bow and stern cleats allows my wife to stand on the dock and jockey the boat into position, while a second long line attached to the bow cleat lets me pull the boat forward onto the trailer bed. I tie that off to a cleat I mounted on the winch upright, then walk down and clip the winch strap to the bow eye. Done.

A roller trailer properly set up with a sufficient number of rollers poses no danger at all to the hull structure.

I Agree, my trailer has roller load equalizer rails and is supported just fine.
If all ramps was created equal bunks are just fine ! But here in Florida if it is a busy ramp it is a good ramp, if it is a small lake (not used so much) ramps can be uneven and short which makes the rollers a nice touch.
Each has it's - & +

 

[salty87]

Re: Bunks or Rollers

Each has it's - & +

..and both can be set-up improperly.

even if the boat isn't touching the bunks it doesn't mean the bunks weren't touched at some point of the loading process.

too many factors to say 1 is better than the other.

 

[skargo]

Re: Bunks or Rollers

I have a bunk trailer, and the bunks support my Nova. I've been told by many this is the way to load my Nova.
However, my owner's manual says to support the keel.

I have 2 rollers mounted, but they don't touch the keel at all. The front one os a self centering one, I have some regular ones to put on my trailer. Hopefully it's OK sitting with the keel suspended right now

 

[cbavier]

Re: Bunks or Rollers

Rollers for me all the way. Easy to launch, easy to retieve. Deep water, shallow water- makes no difference. I don't need to bury the trailer to do either, and nobody needs to stay in the boat to drive it onto the trailer.

A single long line attached to both bow and stern cleats allows my wife to stand on the dock and jockey the boat into position, while a second long line attached to the bow cleat lets me pull the boat forward onto the trailer bed. I tie that off to a cleat I mounted on the winch upright, then walk down and clip the winch strap to the bow eye. Done.

A roller trailer properly set up with a sufficient number of rollers poses no danger at all to the hull structure.

I've had both bunk and roller trailers and currently have the rollers. I prefer the rollers. I count four Keel rollers and 32 hull rollers on three rockers on my current trailer. I can launch and retrieve in deep or fairly shallow water depending what you call shallow. I must float my boat on the trailer as far as possible because the draft is 32 inches. I usually wind up cranking the last foot. As someone previously stated there is very little weight on the hull rollers. Most weight is on the keel. The rollers center the boat every time. If I had the bunks and it worked ok I would just keep the bunk but if I had a choice I would choose a roller trailer.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Bunks or Rollers

There are instances where both bunks and rollers are superior but I tend to go with rollers when ever possible.
One issue I do have with rollers, especially on a steep ramp, I've been in the situation where after backing down the ramp, with the boat ready to launch, I find the boat hanging on the safety chain if the winch was released, meaning I need to reconnect the winch to unhook the chain, then I have to let the boat out with the winch strap the whole way, often only to find that I either can' reach the boat to unhook it, or that the current is pulling the boat harder than I can against the hook. Twice I've had to unhook the strap from the winch to free the boat.
With a bunk trailer, letting the boat go is much easier as it tends to stick to the ramp better, and the same for retrieval.

Rollers though are the only choice for shallow launching, and the fact that I don't have to submerge my wheels and the entire trailer makes for one less worry on the ride home since I don't have to be concerned about water in the wheel bearings.

Bunk trailers do tend to be lower, therefore easier to launch in super shallow ramps, but that depends on the set up.
I do like the better support of a bunk trailer for longer rides but most modern roller trailers do just fine.

 

[skargo]

Re: Bunks or Rollers

There are instances where both bunks and rollers are superior but I tend to go with rollers when ever possible.
One issue I do have with rollers, especially on a steep ramp, I've been in the situation where after backing down the ramp, with the boat ready to launch, I find the boat hanging on the safety chain if the winch was released, meaning I need to reconnect the winch to unhook the chain, then I have to let the boat out with the winch strap the whole way, often only to find that I either can' reach the boat to unhook it, or that the current is pulling the boat harder than I can against the hook. Twice I've had to unhook the strap from the winch to free the boat.
With a bunk trailer, letting the boat go is much easier as it tends to stick to the ramp better, and the same for retrieval.

Rollers though are the only choice for shallow launching, and the fact that I don't have to submerge my wheels and the entire trailer makes for one less worry on the ride home since I don't have to be concerned about water in the wheel bearings.

Bunk trailers do tend to be lower, therefore easier to launch in super shallow ramps, but that depends on the set up.
I do like the better support of a bunk trailer for longer rides but most modern roller trailers do just fine.

Ummmm, what?

 

[dingbat]

Re: Bunks or Rollers

There are instances where both bunks and rollers are superior but I tend to go with rollers when ever possible.
One issue I do have with rollers, especially on a steep ramp, I've been in the situation where after backing down the ramp, with the boat ready to launch, I find the boat hanging on the safety chain if the winch was released, meaning I need to reconnect the winch to unhook the chain, then I have to let the boat out with the winch strap the whole way, often only to find that I either can' reach the boat to unhook it, or that the current is pulling the boat harder than I can against the hook. Twice I've had to unhook the strap from the winch to free the boat.

The only time I?ve ever had that happen to me was when I was in a hurry and forgot to remove the safety chain before letting line off the winch.

This procedure will eliminate the need for a lot of line off the winch when launching:
? Remove safety chain from boat.
? Attach rope to bow cleat and wrap around winch post.
? Back trailer into water.
? Run winch (@ 24?) until the slack in the rope is taken out
? Remove winch cable.
? Rope is then unwound from winch post and boat is free to roll back into the water.

 

[TJDave]

Re: Bunks or Rollers

I have an Easyloader roller trailer because...............that is what my boat came with. I used to have a bunk trailer on my previous boat because...........that is also what it came with. If you are buying a brand new tub, and you have your choice, I guess it would depend on where you launch it most, as described in the above posts. My old boat has a Mercruiser outdrive that does not tilt as far out of the way as an OMC of the same vintage. So for me, the higher roller trailer works out just fine. I have seen people dump their boats on the road, and on ramps. That is operator error, not the fault of a roller trailer. Anyone who blames a trailer type for something as stupid as dumping their boat, should not be towing any type of trailer......or driving for that matter!

 

[danond]

Re: Bunks or Rollers

I've had both, and believe that rollers are superior. The ramps where I live are bunk/roller friendly, so launching isn't the big deal. When loading, I don't drive onto the trailer, and rollers make it so incredibly easy to pull it up to the bow stop, attach the safety chain, tighten the strap and drive out. No drama.

I see so many people who just HAVE to drive onto the trailer, like it's some testosterone-pumping right of passage thing. While they're taking their third shot at it and trying not to ram their vehicle or miss the bow stop and gouge their hull, I'm quietly driving away.

 

[cbavier]

Re: Bunks or Rollers

In Michigan it's illegal and a $500 fine if anyone is caught power loading. It (power loading) destroys the launch. Ruining it for everyone. Still every once in a while I see some idiot or brave or inconsiderate soul do it.

 

[SS Flasher]

Re: Bunks or Rollers

Agreed, I wouldn't either. But at very busy ramps we've all seen it done successfully countless times, haven't we? And whenever I watch someone do it, I always wonder if they have been at that particular ramp dozens of times before and just know they can get away with it, but that if they were at a ramp new to them they would probably secure the bow first just to be sure.

One of the more amazing ramp watching moments I had was when a fishing tournament was wrapping up and the boats were coming in. Those guys all had bunk trailers and their boats were out of the water faster than you could say "unsecured bow eye!"

I would never do it either. I have seen a boat slide off the bunks and block the entire ramp. No one was very happy with this person. Sometimes it doesn't pay to take short cuts.

 

[boat1010]

Re: Bunks or Rollers

I have bunks on my 24ft and have never had any problems. I also drive the boat on the trailer and hook the bow hook after I drive off the ramp. Been doing it for years and have never had any problems. Most of the ramps I use are not very steep.

 

[Tafflad]

Re: Bunks or Rollers

I have owned both types ... and always thought Rollers had the edge ... but now sold on bunk trailers.
The support is better, and IMHO is much better than small pressure points off rollers.

2 things that may be worth consideration ... my boat sits lower on the bunked trailer ... so is better in shallow water recovery.
My previous roller trailer had 32 rollers .. with them being set up as 8 rollers per 'swinging' cradle.

The issue can arise in rough water recovery is that I have seen the cradles flip, with risk of serious damage to the hull, and if you are struggling against waves & side current .. something you might not notice.

 

[Action]

Re: Bunks or Rollers

I have used both, i like bunks a lot better. I find the boat tends to line up more easily. Also, I find with the rollers the boat starts sliding off the trailer which sucks when you are putting it in the water by yourself.

 

[wajajaja02]

Re: Bunks or Rollers

my first 18ft cuddy had rollers, my current has bunk, makes not diff , except that its easier to level the boat on the rollers of course if I miss load. but guide ons took care of that, I wouldnt spend money for rollers as a premium. Slickers on bunks do the trick.