Carpeting the Trailer Bunks

[KVH]

I need to re-carpet the bunks.

The last time I did this I used some kind of recommended carpet glue.

Should I remove the old carpet or go right over it?

What kind of carpet glue is best?

Should I use a staple gun?

Do I need to run the carpet groove pattern lengthwise with the bunks, or does that make any difference (with friction)?

Thanks for the help.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Carpeting the Trailer Bunks

1) Never used glue before
2) Remove the old carpet
3) Glue?
4) Yes, use a staple gun (on the non boat side)
5) Bunk carpet comes in narrow rolls, kind of hard to install it wrong - don't use leftover shag from your living room

 

[wa_ssv197]

Re: Carpeting the Trailer Bunks

1) Staples
2&5)Remove Carpet and use bunk carpet
3)No Glue
4) Yes, and staple on the trailer side of the bunk ONLY

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Carpeting the Trailer Bunks

I would not bother with glue.
I would use monel staples where the boat does not touch.
Or use hot-dipped roofing nails, the big head ones.
The bunk carpet around here is in rolls too but looks like a mat of jumbled up fibers pressed to 1/8" thick.
No grooves or rows, etc. just flat.

 

[snowman48047]

Re: Carpeting the Trailer Bunks

I just replaced and carpeted my bunks. 2x6x10 good pine boards nice and straight. Used a water based deck stain just to seal the boards a bit. Ordered a boat carpet glue online and used stainless staples. Bought the indoor-outdoor carpet from a biggie box store off the roll for maybe $12. Turned out better than I thought it would. Real easy job too. Carpet is grey and matches the grey on the trailer. Looks way better than the original black.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Carpeting the Trailer Bunks

I just get indoor/outdoor carpet @ Lowes or Home Depot flooring department. It comes in 12' widths. I think I bought 3' the other day. Ready cut carpet for boat trailers is just highly overpriced, as carpet is easily cut with a razor knife.

If you must replace the wood, buy conventional yellow pine. Pressure treated pine is too wet, warps easily, and the chemicals will react with anything aluminum. Yellow pine is also cheap to purchase and readily available everywhere lumber is sold.

You can use staples if they're stainless steel (Monel). Otherwise, you'll be replacing them in a year or two. I too prefer to just use the big head galvanized roofing nails in 1 1/4" length.

 

[jpwilly]

Re: Carpeting the Trailer Bunks

I'll be redoing the bunks on my trailer soon...so how do you get the boat off of the bunks? Do you launch it and then recover the bunks at the lake?

 

[jeepnsam]

Re: Carpeting the Trailer Bunks

I followed this thread, then launched the boat to change out the bunks.
http://www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/1868088/D_I_Y_Building_New_Bunks_For_Y

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Carpeting the Trailer Bunks

remove boat from trailer
indoor outdoor carpet--even scraps
roofing nails, on the side
don't forget to lap over the end where the boat hits for winching up
a few teflon skid plates, or dish soap on the carpet (with teflon you don't have to sink the trailer--works like rollers)
reinstall boat