Boat Show Trailers, Road Runner

Lead Chucker · Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 2:46 am Post subject:

I have a road runner trailer with bunks and guides on the side.
Trailer seems well built. Just made a 350 mile trip with a CD-22 on it. I just got the boat so haven't had a lot of experience launching and retrieving but so far its been easy to use.

Jack in Alaska · Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 11:14 am Post subject:

I purchased a Road Runner trailer for my 22' CD.
It was made for launching/retrieving set net skiffs in the surf.
It has bunks and side bunks. The axle is a single but 6000# rated.
Works excellent on the beach and does well on the road. The trailer is well built and was 2/3 the price of the "other" brands.
I would buy another if needed.

ghone · Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 7:13 pm Post subject:

As I recall my model is 4500 tandem, it's not stressed with our 22 anywhere we've gone, couple of interesting Colorado River bank launches above Yuma showed the low bunk position was helpful

cgypsy · Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2017 9:01 pm Post subject:

C Val

MikeR · Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2017 10:31 pm Post subject:

Sandra glad you found a new trailer! Is yours the bunk or roller version? Is the bow roller arm already positioned up as far as possible on the post? When I first got my 2016 Roadrunner (roller) the bow roller / winch extension arm was placed as high as possible on the post, and the bow eye came right under the bow roller. The dealer did some additional adjustments and now the bow roller arm is positioned about half way up the post and yet the bow eye is still just under it. Maybe the roller trailers sit lower for some reason, although I always thought the opposite was true. Here's a link to a pic of the current configuration...
http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?full=1&set_albumName=album2639&id=Truck_For_Sale_3&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

cgypsy · Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2017 10:48 pm Post subject:

hardee · Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2017 10:36 am Post subject:

As Bob mentioned, the Transom should be supported by the bunks. AS you move the bow post and roller up and down, know that that will affect the for and aft positioning of the boat on the trailer. That will change where the transom is located in relation to the end of the bunks. Be careful that the transom is not being suspended past (aft) of the bunk ends.

Another thought on the trailers. The wheel covers (fenders) can make a good step to get up into the boat, but be careful if they are not steel. My Pacific trailer has good sturdy fenders I use all the time for boarding from the trailer. (I saw a bad accident one time where a fellow climbed onto his fender (a plastic or fiberglass one) and it gave way, causing him to fall through and break his leg in the marina parking lot.

I just finished a project where I lowered my bunks about 2.5 inches. It was a pretty big project, but I think a very good investment into easier launch and retrieve. Some other advantages: lower Center of Gravity when towing (cornering) and stopping, less windage when towing, easier access to the boat from the trailer, and now it just looks faster. A single con: I think it makes the boat look smaller.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

pix of the old single axle Pacific

cgypsy · Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2017 12:33 pm Post subject:

hardee · Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2017 2:05 pm Post subject:

Sandra, you are right in that moving the boat on the trailer will have an effect on the tongue weight. If you are over the rear of the bunk boards by 6" you sure don't want to move the boat aft, and at 12% tongue weight, you are on the heavy side there.

Possibilities: 1. Move the bunks back some once you get the boat bow and winch post settled. or 2. Move the axles forward. (You might be able to move just one but I doubt it. 3. Leave where it is, and load the tanks and cockpit of the boat when towing to rebalance it slightly.

I would probably do #3, as it makes the easiest sense.

And YES to the non skid tape. Liberally applied is good.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

Marco Flamingo · Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2017 2:05 pm Post subject:

My winch was too low and the bow eye wasn't in the right place. It was right level with the front roller. Instead of raising the winch, I lowered the front of the bunks one position. If you look at the difference between how Sleepy C sits compared to the picture of SeaDuced, the bow of SeaDuced sits higher. Lowering the front of SeaDuced bunks 1.5" would probably lower the eye 3 inches. The bow would sit lower into the Y of the frame where there usually isn't a cross member to interfere.

My boot strip doesn't sit level now, in fact it probably tips forward even more than Sleepy C. But I don't care that it doesn't look perfectly "level" once on the trailer. I want the bow low for better eye position, easier loading, and lowered weight when trailering. Lowering the winch might be easiest when the boat is on the trailer, but adjusting the front of the bunks might be a better long term solution.

Mark

C-Val · Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2017 2:43 pm Post subject:

Getting all these adjustments just right I found quite tricky.
You right that lowering the bunks at the front will lower the bow eye.
The other side of that equation is on my trailer to lower the front bunks you have to slide them down (closer to the center) of the "U" shaped cross-member

Mine were slid so much so that I thought I was beginning to loose lateral stability. That is why I put them back and adjusted the winch instead

My life would have been easier if the winch post had of been 6" longer.

cgypsy · Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2017 3:01 pm Post subject:

A Fishin C · Guest

I say shame on Roadrunner for using such a low winch post for a trailer that carries a 22 foot boat. This should have been corrected by now.

If your (C-Gypsy) winch post is the same as C-Val's the it should be replaced in my opinion. See my winch post on my trailer photo.

hardee · Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2017 9:58 am Post subject:

localboy · Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2017 4:32 pm Post subject: