Has any one ever converted a roller style trailer over to a

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anonymous
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Sorry, Ron is no longer a member here.

However, I went the opposite direction - converting an EZ-Loader bunk to rollers. It was incredibly simple; less than an hour, just a few different brackets.

My advice - contact SportCraft Marine in OR. They're an EZ-Loader dealer and site sponsor, and can source the necessary parts for you. I provided them with my trailer VIN, they shipped all parts and an exploded view diagram...nothing to it.
 
Da Nag,
Thanks for your response. Why did you go to rollers? I like the rollers for launching, but retrieving the boat by myself in windy conditions or in current presents a real challenge. My thoughts are that with bunks, one can simply power the boat on the trailer, go forward reaching over the bow and hooking up the safety chain and winch strap. With the rollers I am forced to crank up the boat the length of the trailer with hit or miss results on centering (another point that may be rectified with properly placed bunks).

Grazer
 
Grazer":oicnkjrv said:
Da Nag,
Thanks for your response. Why did you go to rollers? I like the rollers for launching, but retrieving the boat by myself in windy conditions or in current presents a real challenge. My thoughts are that with bunks, one can simply power the boat on the trailer, go forward reaching over the bow and hooking up the safety chain and winch strap. With the rollers I am forced to crank up the boat the length of the trailer with hit or miss results on centering (another point that may be rectified with properly placed bunks).

Grazer
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I can't answer for Bill but I had a roller trailer for my 22. I powered on until I was up against the bow roller, left it in gear, went to the bow and attached the strap and tightened it up, then went back, took it out of gear, shut down and raised the engines. Never had to crank it up a full boat length. Maybe you just need to install or adjust the centering boards on the side of the trailer? As for why rollers over bunks, for me, the main reason is that it makes it easier to launch at sling launches. But like anything else, there are pluses and minuses to both types of trailers.
 
Hey Grazer,

To clarify - I prefer rollers on my 16, but bunks on my 22. The 16 is the trailer I converted.

On the 22, I agree with all your points - I far prefer bunks on that model for all the reasons you state.

On the 16 - rollers allow you to launch and retrieve easily in crazy places you would never think of launching a 22. I can drop the 16 into about 10" of water - engines up, of course. I then just walk the boat out in waders to deeper water, belly up to the gunnel and roll myself in. Great for launching from the beach.

Likewise, given it's smaller size - you can easily retrieve a 16 on rollers from the same shallow depths. A 16 can be hand cranked all the way up the rollers without a ton of effort, especially if equipped with a 2-speed winch. I've not done it as I've always got a little water under Taco, but I'd not be surprised if a 16 could be retrieved on a roller trailer when completely beached.
 
I prefer rollers because I don't always have the flexibility to wait for the tide to come back in to launch or retrieve. I can launch on very shallow ramps with the engines up, and let the winch slide it off the trailer. You need a little more water to retrieve and a strong arm, but having that flexibilty is priceless for us when the tide is out for half of the day.

In every other aspect, reliabilty, maintanence, simplicity etc. the bunks win hands down.

On our previous boat, we had a roller pop off on the highway, gouging the hull with the metal prong, and could have caused an accident if there was traffic behind us.
 
Another idea:

Build a custom trailer with both bunks and rollers.

The rollers are fixed in their normal position, and the bunks swing up slightly above the rollers or swing down out of the way.

Would require some use of hydraulic jacks or cables powered by the appropriate pump or winch. Also, a system of locking levers and clevis pins would be required to lock the bunks in place under the loads expected.

Also would provide a nice project for some of you ingenious guys with time to spare and who love to obsess over possibilities and details! :lol:

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
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