Trailer guides and bow guides

[ktmrider]

I have a 21 footer with a dual axle trailer. I installed an aftermarket trailer guides but in some situations it's not enough.

I have a hard time when loading the boat onto the trailer when there is a strong current. What tend to happen is that the bow would drift because the speed is not fast enough. but if I increase the speed, it would be dangerous to load the boat onto the trailer.

I'm thinking of this




I can't use this because my trailer step extends all the way to the trailer lights.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Trailer guides and bow guides

i suggest mounting 12" self centering keel rollers, i have them and only a 1 inch clearance on each side of the boat on the guide ons. centers itself every time.

suggest 2 of these, one at end of trailer one at 2 or 3 roller. depend on the boat and trailer.

http://www.iboats.com/Self_Centerin...d.238442--list_time.1190026256--view_id.56624

 

[new_boater]

Re: Trailer guides and bow guides

whats better Poly Vinyl or Polyurethane

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Trailer guides and bow guides

whats better Poly Vinyl or Polyurethane

The poly vinyl is not as hard.They both will work fine.Getting ready to replace all 9 of the keel rollers on my trailer.The old black ones really mark the hull up when i load.Kinda sucks i'll have 200 bucks in rollers...

 

[roozterdvx]

Re: Trailer guides and bow guides

Add 2 more bunks to your trailer.

I added 6' long bunks approx. 12" apart, starting from the front crossmember that the main bunks are mounted to and running forward. The boat comes into contact with these before the hull is touching the main bunks, they center the bow and the trailer guides keep the stern in place.

I adapted the idea from a Tahoe Q4s bowrider which I bought new. The Tahoe came with a factory matching trailer and it had 2 bunks mounted as such. My brother-in-law was having trouble loading his Wellcraft 23WA on his trailer if there was the slightest breeze or if the ramp was uneven, pothole, etc. He tried keel rollers in different positions, and even added a second set of trailer guides in front of the trailer fenders all without success. He got aggrivated watching me drive onto my trailer only minutes before or after his struggles with his boat and was ready to trade the trailer for a roller trailer. He broke down and bought bunks at Bass Pro, (I bet him if they didn't work, I would pay for them), we made some brackets and mounted them in about 2 hours. Never had a problem again.
I've since sold the Tahoe bowrider and bought a ProSports 2550CC. First thing I did was buy bunks and mount them in the center as described. I drive onto the trailer every time without drama reguardless of contitions.

By the way, yes I do remind him every chance I get, that my idea worked after his failed attempts, and I always point out other trailers at the ramps we use which are set up similarly. I should have bet him a case of beer, but it's all clean fun right!

A buddy of mine just bought a 24' Larson we're adding bunks to his trailer this weekend. I took him just once watching my boat load on the trailer to be convinced.

I cost me approx. $50 total for the bunks and hardware, and some scrap aluminum angle that I had lying around

Good luck.

 

[new_boater]

Re: Trailer guides and bow guides

could you post a picture of your setup

 

[ktmrider]

Re: Trailer guides and bow guides

Do you have pictures? It would help greatly.

Thanks!

Is this what you are talking about?

 

[roozterdvx]

Re: Trailer guides and bow guides

I will take some pics as soon as I get home from work and should have them posted tomorrow.

 

[roozterdvx]

Re: Trailer guides and bow guides

Do you have pictures? It would help greatly.

Thanks!

Is this what you are talking about?

No that's not it. I wiil take pics as soon as I get home and should heave them posted tomorrow.

 

[ktmrider]

Re: Trailer guides and bow guides

Thanks! If this works, it's going to save a lot of marriages. lol

 

[roozterdvx]

Re: Trailer guides and bow guides

Here are some pics....

This is on my trailer and there is a similar set-up on my brother-in-law's trailer.

 

[ktmrider]

Re: Trailer guides and bow guides

Are those just any 2x4's for the bunk?

I wonder if the boat store would have brackets for the bunk? Also, do I need a vertical or horizontal bunk brackets?

 

[roozterdvx]

Re: Trailer guides and bow guides

The bunks are 2x4's with bunk carpeting from Bass Pro. The bunks are mounted flat instead of vertically because:
1. they don't carry much weight when trailering,
2. I wanted them to flex a little when the boat comes into contact on approach, and
3. I wanted the bunks to provide a larger surface area contacting the hull
Also, the bunks are mounted slightly less than 12" apart from each other. Not seen in the pics is the main bunks. I mounted the rear brackets for the lower centering bunks on the crossmember which the front of the main bunks are mounted. The picture in a previous post shows double bunks in line with each other. Basically, take the inside set of bunks from that picture, move them forward toward the tongue and down to the center to be close to the keel.

I'm not sure if your local marinas will have bunk brackets, but you can try them or a trailer dealer. I made the brackets for mine and for my brother-in-law's from 3" aluminum angle and used stainless hardware for mounting.

 

[tommays]

Re: Trailer guides and bow guides

These are sold at most places like west and boaters world or one of the internet trailer places


They are a heavy galvanized square tube with a PVC pipe cover and can take a beating

Tommays

 

[Nova II 260]

Re: Trailer guides and bow guides

Front bunks help alot and guide my keel/bow on center. Guide-ons are a must for me, loading my 26' cuddy alone.

Spaced in a horizontal "V". They traps the keel since the trailer is at an angle.(on the ramp) Also, don't set your trailer too deep in the water while loading. Once set on center, you can always back down a little more if you need to move up a little more.

 

[ktmrider]

Re: Trailer guides and bow guides

Now, it's making more sense.

I'm going to need to install another cross member toward the front of the trailer then I would be able to install a pair of bunks at the front.

But why would this technique better than just installing a pair of front guides at the front?

 

[roozterdvx]

Re: Trailer guides and bow guides

On my trailer, I also had to install an additional cross-member toward the front, my brother-in-law's already had one so it was simpler.

My brother-in-law tried the front guides idea. There is one set at the back of the trailer as is usual, and he mounted a set in front of the fenders. Keep in mind that it's a tandem axle trailer so the distance between the two sets of guides is about 7'. The problem is the bow is narrower so the boat isn't guided on center until the midsection gets to the guides, and by that time, if the boat is just slightly off, the bunks are already making contact and the boat was sitting on a strake on one side keeping it tilted on the trailer. The situation was bad enough with wind and current, add an off-level ramp or a pothole, and the boat was everywhere but straight on the trailer.

You would be surprised at how much a 24' walk-around can bend the guides, and how far "off-kilter", (is that a word?), you can get a boat and still fit between the guides because of an off-level ramp.

Adding a set of "keel bunks" will probably cost you less than buying another set of guide posts, and I'm 100% convinced that they're a better solution than foward mounted guide posts.

This is just my opinion but, the more bunk area there is under the hull for weight distribution while trailering, the better.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Trailer guides and bow guides

Thats a great idea! It would help mine so much also.
I will be looking in to adding those to mine..

 

[roozterdvx]

Re: Trailer guides and bow guides

As I said before, I didn't invent this idea....I just adopted the idea from another trailer I used to own and have also seen this on other high-end trailers at the ramps.

 

[eedwards]

Re: Trailer guides and bow guides

i suggest mounting 12" self centering keel rollers, i have them and only a 1 inch clearance on each side of the boat on the guide ons. centers itself every time.

suggest 2 of these, one at end of trailer one at 2 or 3 roller. depend on the boat and trailer.

http://www.iboats.com/Self_Centerin...d.238442--list_time.1190026256--view_id.56624

It looks to me the boat would sit on the metal part of the roller.
Is that ok?