Trailer Keel Roller, Need Help

[alldodge]

Re: Trailer Keel Roller, Need Help

Pic of old junk rollers..... View attachment 220942

I don't see anything wrong with the rollers in the pics, couple nicks but nothing a straight rod wouldn't straighten up. You boat is too heavy for the trailer you have it on, this is way your bending the rollers. Your trailer is a one size make fit all sort of thing, adjustable. My cruiser came with a heavy but junk adjustable type and would not support the boat correctly. I redid it and am still fine tuning it. My Rinker trailer is a well made trailer with fixed 2x6 bunks and the keel rollers are about 2 inches away from the keel when loaded. Go look at any boat dealer and the trailers setup.

A bunk trailer uses keel rollers to protect the keel when loading and unloading. A keel roller trailer does use keel rollers to support most all the weight of the boat but also use many more rollers to accomplish this. They would use several keel rollers spaced close together or multiples which would resemble the one pic Frank has.Boston Whaler has a little bit of an explanation in the below link.

Boston Whaler | Choose the Correct Trailer

 

[mrmamiller]

Re: Trailer Keel Roller, Need Help

Yeah, I know it's not a good trailer for the boat. But, it's what came with the boat. It has a removable tongue, which in my parking situation, is what I need. If I get the right trailer (Continental aluminum I-beam), I can't get the boat and truck into my driveway, a must. If I ever leave my winter rental, I'll be putting it into summer storage (which will destroy everything) or trailer it back north (not wanting to). If my snowbird days in FL end, the boat will stay here, thus the reason for not spending big bucks on the right trailer. For now, my trailering trips are short. I'm just looking to get the boat on and off easily without things breaking.

 

[limitout]

Re: Trailer Keel Roller, Need Help

the boat sits way too close to the trailer for my liking, I think someone got lazy and let the roller brackets bottom out and just bolted them in place rather then lift them up some. you should raise it so there is at least a minimum of 2-3" gap from keel to trailer frame so if you ever do have a roller failure it wont bottom out. then you will have to also raise the bunk brackets to match.

as to the bunks, I see what you mean about bending to the hull but if I were you I would replace them with 2x6's for added strength. not sure what else you could do with it because you cant stand the bunks up or they would deform the hull trying to force it straight.

I think that boat should have had a wobble roller trailer under it so it can conform to the hull shape. might be worth considering talking to a dealer about trading yours in for one and see just how much yours is worth, it still looks new so you might be surprised how little extra it costs you to get a better trailer for it.

 

[Bayou Dave]

Re: Trailer Keel Roller, Need Help

Are you sure those are 2x4's? They look like 2x6's to me.

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: Trailer Keel Roller, Need Help

I think you need to raise your bunks a bit. You have too much weight resting on those rollers. As you drive down the road, boat bouncing a bit might be enough pounding over time to bend the roller support bar.

 

[limitout]

Re: Trailer Keel Roller, Need Help

Are you sure those are 2x4's? They look like 2x6's to me.

A little more background: The bunks are 2x4's, 9 ft long, supported only at both ends. .

he said they were

 

[Bayou Dave]

Re: Trailer Keel Roller, Need Help

he said they were

I did read that part. To me, in the photos, they look like 2x6,s instead of 2x4,s.

 

[limitout]

Re: Trailer Keel Roller, Need Help

I did read that part. To me, in the photos, they look like 2x6,s instead of 2x4,s.

yep, I had a hard time believing they used 2x4's too but that's what he has under there. if they were 2x6's then the brackets in that picture would need to be 5" wide and I have never seen any large ones like that.

I think they were 2x6 and someone must have changed then out at some point because a 2x4 at 9 ft spacing on the brackets would barel hold a persons weight much less a boat. if I stood on that bunk and jumped up and down I know it would crack under my weight (240 lbs) because it has no support. a 2x4 might work with "a lot" of supports under it every few feet but not with a 9ft span.

I also suspect the 2x6 may not have bent enough to fit the boat properly so they used 2x4's so it "looked" like it was better supported when it was all a mirage.

given a little time, the 2x6's or even 2x8's should form to the shape of the hull and support it much better

 

[mrmamiller]

Re: Trailer Keel Roller, Need Help

I measured the bunks with a tape measure. Including the carpet covering, pressed tightly against the wood, they are 3 3/4" wide.

Saw a similar trailer today, probably made by the same manufacturer (Performance). This one was made by somebody else in the same town, probably previous employee after Performance folded. This trailer was pretty identical except that it had a third crossmember. Bunks were the same size. Maybe what I need it a third crossmember, my trailer feels a bit "springy" going down the highway. Guess it's a work in progress.

Rollers: After much reading over darn near every roller spec, still have yet to find a spec that states that it is a steel insert in the roller. Even Stolz uses an aluminum tube according to their info. Seems none of these manufacturers want to provide detailed specs on the rollers. I guess it is buy and hope. (what I did last time). Still looking.....

 

[Bayou Dave]

Re: Trailer Keel Roller, Need Help

I measured the bunks with a tape measure. Including the carpet covering, pressed tightly against the wood, they are 3 3/4" wide.

Saw a similar trailer today, probably made by the same manufacturer (Performance). This one was made by somebody else in the same town, probably previous employee after Performance folded. This trailer was pretty identical except that it had a third crossmember. Bunks were the same size. Maybe what I need it a third crossmember, my trailer feels a bit "springy" going down the highway. Guess it's a work in progress.

Rollers: After much reading over darn near every roller spec, still have yet to find a spec that states that it is a steel insert in the roller. Even Stolz uses an aluminum tube according to their info. Seems none of these manufacturers want to provide detailed specs on the rollers. I guess it is buy and hope. (what I did last time). Still looking.....

A third cross member would really help.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Trailer Keel Roller, Need Help

A third cross member would really help.

Agree

 

[limitout]

Re: Trailer Keel Roller, Need Help

I measured the bunks with a tape measure. Including the carpet covering, pressed tightly against the wood, they are 3 3/4" wide.

Saw a similar trailer today, probably made by the same manufacturer (Performance). This one was made by somebody else in the same town, probably previous employee after Performance folded. This trailer was pretty identical except that it had a third crossmember. Bunks were the same size. Maybe what I need it a third crossmember, my trailer feels a bit "springy" going down the highway. Guess it's a work in progress.

Rollers: After much reading over darn near every roller spec, still have yet to find a spec that states that it is a steel insert in the roller. Even Stolz uses an aluminum tube according to their info. Seems none of these manufacturers want to provide detailed specs on the rollers. I guess it is buy and hope. (what I did last time). Still looking.....

you should think about reducing the size down to 8" rollers and it will solve any issues you may be having with strength so you can relax and use any of the solid type rollers without concern over inner tube types. an 8" or even a 5" will give you all the strength and support you need and the shorter the roller the less it will bend on you so im not saying go to 5" rollers but definitely go with 8" roller brackets and rollers to replace those 12" you have now. if you have side guide bunks that make it unlikely to miss the rollers then you might be fine with the 5" rollers but it all depends on how much room you need to allow to be off center when putting it on the trailer