Proper adjustment of bunks and rollers

[natemoore]

I need to adjust the trailer's bunks and rollers. I can never get the boat completely on the trailer while it is in the water because the the bow stop/wench is so much higher than bow eye. So, I pull the trailer out a foot or two, the jump out and wench it up some more, jump in, pull up, jump out, wench up....but to get it the last three or four inches, I have to drive down a paved road the hit the brakes a little to bump it up the rest of the way.

It seems like I should be able to overcome any friction of the bunks and wench it all the way, but I'm worried about pulling out the eye or breaking the strap.

Here are my questions. How much weight (percentage wise) should the rollers carry versus the bunks?

How much tongue weight for a 17' boat? Is there a rule of thumb based on boat/trailer weight?

Do I really need four bunks (two on each side) for a boat this small? That seems to double the friction, adding to my problems getting the boat on the trailer.

Thanks

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Proper adjustment of bunks and rollers

Have you tried lubricating the bunks? Is lowering the winch a possibility?

 

[pinecrestwoods]

Re: Proper adjustment of bunks and rollers

I can't say much about the setup of your winch, etc, but last year, I did spray my carpeted bunks with a cheap cooking spray, and it made a world of difference with loading my boat. Like you, I felt like I was putting way too much pressure on my hook, and didn't want to approach the trailer with much steam or dig a hole with my prop. Now, I just coast in slowly, and winch her up with very little strain.

 

[natemoore]

Re: Proper adjustment of bunks and rollers

I can't say much about the setup of your winch, etc, but last year, I did spray my carpeted bunks with a cheap cooking spray, and it made a world of difference with loading my boat. Like you, I felt like I was putting way too much pressure on my hook, and didn't want to approach the trailer with much steam or dig a hole with my prop. Now, I just coast in slowly, and winch her up with very little strain.

I was wondering how you'd lubricate carpet. Of course, you've got to be careful because if the men in white uniforms see you spraying Pam on your trailer, they'll cart you away.

I'll try that next time.

 

[natemoore]

Re: Proper adjustment of bunks and rollers

Have you tried lubricating the bunks? Is lowering the winch a possibility?

Not sure if I can lower it, but maybe I should use my trailer's tilt mechanism. Haven't tried that yet. That would make the bow eye higher in relationship to the wench/bow stop.

I'll try the carpet lube trick next time too.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Proper adjustment of bunks and rollers

If as you say this is a tilt trailer then the wieght should be distributed evenly between the rollers and the bunks. Don't understand why there would be 4 bunks on a tilt trailer. The design of a tilt trailer is such that the boat should roll up/down the rollers when the bed is tilted up and not just dragging on the bunks.

Check to make sure all the rollers are turning freely while the boat is off the trailer.

 

[natemoore]

Re: Proper adjustment of bunks and rollers

If as you say this is a tilt trailer then the wieght should be distributed evenly between the rollers and the bunks. Don't understand why there would be 4 bunks on a tilt trailer. The design of a tilt trailer is such that the boat should roll up/down the rollers when the bed is tilted up and not just dragging on the bunks.

Check to make sure all the rollers are turning freely while the boat is off the trailer.

Maybe it's not a pure "tilt trailer" per se. It just has a hinge forward of the forward-most roller with a spring-loaded latch and a chain to limit the amount of tilt. The bunks and rollers tilt together, which sounds different from what you described.

I think the additional bunks were an add-on by the previous owner.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Proper adjustment of bunks and rollers

From your last description what you have is a true tilt trailer. Yes the bunks and rollers should both raise with the bed. Wieght should be evenly distributed with maybe just a slight more pressure on the rollers if you are really going to use the tilt. All the rollers should turn freely when unloaded.

When the bed is tilted up the boat should just roll off the trailer w/o much effort. If it doesn't then something is definately wrong. Why the added bunks, I have no clue.