Setting up a trailer

[ezmobee]

The trailer for my boat needs some work. It's pretty rusty and needs to be sanded down and painted. It has old roller bunks on it. I just emailed a guy on craigslist who has a similar trailer for sale cheap in similar looking condition. It would make my life easier to be able fix up that trailer, switch my boat over and then sell my current one. His looks like it's set up with bunks for a jon boat. Should I stick with the roller bunks (replace mine with these type http://www.iboats.com/Roller_Bunks/dm/*******.815278709--**********.026275814--view_id.40434) or convert to regular bunk boards? Also, do you have any suggestions on how to get everything positioned correctly? Even if I don't get this other trailer I'm going to be pretty well dismantling mine to clean it up and paint it so either way I'd have to figure out how to line everything up. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Setting up a trailer

i have used those rollers. they are OK, but i did not like them. i totally prefer bunks. what i do is set my bunksand keel rollers, where i think they need to be, and snug them up. then when i have boat back on trailer i use a floor jack under the bunk to fine tune them. also using a 2x4 as a lever under the bottom of the bunk, and on top the trailer frame works well for adjusting bunks.

 

[KurtG]

Re: Setting up a trailer

I just rebuilt mine. It wasn't that bad effort wise. I put new keel rollers and bunks/with slides. I'm sure it will require some fine tuning, but not there yet. I got stainless pins, non marking rollers online. I also built a 8' extendable tongue for shallow ramp launching (my neighborhood ramp gave me problems).

I'd stick with keel rollers and regular bunks. Sometimes the keel rollers sure help when you can't float all the way off. Before I replaced the rollers, I'd often get hung on the bunks due to the water depth.

I think it be more hassle registering/titling a new trailer than rebuilding your existing one.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Setting up a trailer

Thanks for a quick response TD. That's kinda why I asked. My current roller bunks don't seem to be doing anything for me. Thanks for the tips. I really hope I can get this other trailer to make things easier. I probably could keep searching and find a galvanized one but this guy only wants $75 and I figure I can put a little sweat equity in it to save money.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Setting up a trailer

Title isn't a problem. I have a title and a little metal plate that matches the title. The actual trailer that plate came from rusted into the ground many years ago.

Yeah I imagine new keel rollers will be helpful for me as well. I have some crusty spool type rollers now. I'm thinking some new V rollers will make a big improvement.

 

[idrownworms]

Re: Setting up a trailer

You have about the same boat I do if the one in the picture is the one your talking about.

I have the wooden bunks on mine well actually four bunks. Being a flat bottom boat there is nothing to really keep it centered while loading except the keel strip. The center bunks are placed right at the edge of the keel rollers to center the boat on the trailer. The center bunks don't do anything except center the boat while loading
jamie

 

[KurtG]

Re: Setting up a trailer

I just meant if you had one trailer in your name, why go through it again for the other so you can sell the first (unless you sell without a title-less money).

My trailer required two trips to the MVA and one to an inspector (all easy, just consumed as much time as fixing the trailer). No way, I'd want a second trailer involved in the titling.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Setting up a trailer

I have a little bit more of a V in the back than you do but not much. It does currently sit at least a little bit on the rear keel roller.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Setting up a trailer

I got it! The $75 Craiglist trailer..... and what a bargain it turned out to be. I would say it's pretty much the same size as my current one but is has a fully boxed frame, it came with a nice spare tire and mount. All 3 tires are in great shape. I needed a spare for my other trailer so I figure that was worth the $75 right there. It's currently set up for a flat bottom so I'll have some rigging to do. The only thing I don't like is the fenders are welded on and they are in kinda rough shape. I'll probably cut them off and replace them. The axle and springs are pretty rusty so I'll still replace them with one of those complete assemblies like TD did on one of his last year. I'll need to research how to measure for that and order it. All I was really after was the frame and it's in great shape. The tires being in great shape is just a bonus. The seller said he got tons of emails so I'll have no problem selling my old trailer once I switch over to this one.