Trailer talk: Bunks or rollers? Pros/cons....

M

MilesandMiles

New member
Hello everyone,

I'm replacing the overburdened EZ loader riding under my 22-cruiser soon. Roger (Sensei) believes bunks are a better idea (less chance of watching your boat bounce down the freeway in your rearview...among other reasons unknown to me perhaps?) based on my alum fishing boat days, rollers do make loading/launching easier. Would anyone care to give their opinion on this subject?

Thanks,
Brenton (still a newbie) :)
 
I think a lot depends on your usual launch ramp. I've had both and with a steep ramp that lets you float/drive the boat up to the winch or almost all the way up there, I'd prefer bunks. With the other kind, rollers make it easier to get in place.

Charlie
 
Bunks - pros: boat less likely to roll off should the straps come loose, boat generally won't slip off should some idiot friend remove the straps and safety chain at the boat launch prior to having the boat in the water.
Cons: carpet needs maintenance/replacement every now and then, may require you to get the trailer farther in the water to launch. Will probably need to create a cutout in the bunks should you plan on launching from a sling launch (also different sling launches may need different placement of cutouts).

Other than the issue of launching from a sling, I think bunks are generally a better choice. However, either will work just fine when the user knows what he or she is doing and has the boat properly strapped down.
 
I currently have bunks and prefer them. One advantage to the rollers, however, is the ability to move the boat to and fro when bottom painting. Of course, this assumes that you don't have access to any other means to paint the bottom.
 
I like bunks also, i think they give your boat better support overall and a softer ride than rollers. I have launched boats using launching ramps with docks, no launching ramps-no docks,sand-gravel beaches and even a few places where no boat trailer should go. Always been able to launch and retrieve the boat alone with a bunk trailer.There is one thing about bunks that i like: if your by yourself, in a current,no dock or landing ramp is that you can run the bow of your boat onto the bunks and the boat will stick to the bunks long enough to give you time to secure your boat to the trailer.Try doing that with a roller trailer when you are boating alone..it is much more difficult if it can be done at all.Tug
 
Brenton,

There seems to be quite a few brats that prefer bunks.

Here is what I wonder:
1. Have they ever had rollers?
2. Boat coming off the trailer???? Really!

Foremost holding the boat on the trailer is the winch strap, backed up by the safety chain, then the two rear tie downs.

I have always had roller trailers (about a dozen of em). Without any question, they provide to their owners additional levels of ability to launch and pull out. They increase the number of useable launch sites and therefore expand the boaters range and scope.

There seems to be an awful lot being given up by the bunk people for the sake of what to me is questionable logic.

My $.02

Dan
 
Well, I have owned both roller and bunk trailers and I much prefer roller. If for nothing else but for the ease of loading/unloading. I do know that bunk offer greater support to the boat while on the trailer, but my EZ Loader seems to have enough rollers spaced where I dont worry. But I have witnessed a boat skip down a ramp off of a roller trailer. Not mine. But that was operator head space.Gotta keep the bow strap connected till you are all the way backed up!!
Chuck
 
Brenton-

Dan's really got some good points! I've had / have both, and the roller trailer, properly used, has the advantages of 1) being able to launch and retrieve on more varied types of launch ramps, 2) doesn't require periodic bunk carpet replacement, and 3) allows one to paint the hull with bottom paint without removing the boat from the trailer (just shifting it back a bit to get the spots that were initially behind the rollers).

Any trailer or piece of boating equipment can be misused or have problems if something is forgotten. You can leave the plug out, and your boat sinks. Or if you forget to tie your boat down, the boat slips off the trailer down the road (with either trailer type). But that doesn't mean that the either the plug or the trailer is a bad idea and should be done away with, just because a forgetful act and lead to it's malfunctioning. Would you remove the brake pedal from your car because you didn't use it properly and had an accident?

The best arguments I can muster for the bunk trailer is that 1) it is easier to drive the boat up onto when you're retrieving yourself, as the boat will stick better than if you had rollers, and 2) that the bunks can distribute the weight of the boat over a larger area (but each of the 32 rollers on my C-Dory/E-Z Loader trailer carries about 100 pounds, and with the nearly bulletproof C-Dory hull, there's no chance of distortion there). (Roller trailers do have their own maintenance issues, but none as great as re-carpeting bunk trailers, IMHO.)

Still and all, you have to consider all these pros and cons vis'-a-vis' your own expected usage patterns to determine which one would be better in your situation.

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
I've only owned roller trailers and have had no problem with them. As to the "support concerns", I believe that as beefy as the C-Dory hulls are, there should be absolutely no support concerns. I always take the time to pay attention to detail when launching so that the winch strap and safety chain are not disconnected prematurely. Not having bottom paint, I have been able to move the boat on the trailer enough to wax the complete hull, which is something that would be difficult with bunks. With the exception of one time, I winch the boat onto the trailer, and the majority of the time, I am launching and retrieving by myself. When I had the 16' C-Dory, I did launch and retrieve a number of times where there was no dock next to the ramp, but since owning the 22' I always launch and retrieve where there is a dock next to the ramp. The times that I've used a "sling launch", I've obviously not had to worry about "cut outs" that apparently can be an issue with bunks. When trailering I utilize a large strap with industrial sized ratchets across the lazerettes to the trailer eyes and shifting has not been a problem. (Also have side guides on the trailer). Additionally, I have a chain that attaches from the bow eye down to the trailer.

Our 26' Fire/Rescue Boat (An ACB Aluminum Chambered Boat) has bunks and is always driven on and off the trailer, but it is most always a two person operation. (On one occasion, I did launch and retrieve our Fire/Rescue Boat at the Anacortes Sling and the sling operator had no problem "slinging" the vessel without "cutouts" in the bunks).

Probably the best advice should come from those that have extensive experience with both types. (I'm not one of those.... :wink ).
 
But a small point/question.
When I did have a trailer for my 18' Sea Ray I had a LOAD RITE roller trailer.

I quess this is just a minor "thingie" for most folks:
I extended the winch line length to the max drum capacity which gave me abt 55'. This allowed me to launch with the cable attached in a controlled fashion. Along with the bow and breast line(s) I had a means to pull the bow/boat into position for boarding, docking or whatever was needed. After I disconnected the winch cable from the bow eye I would drape it over the last roller arm before I parked the trailer. I could then pick it up during retrieval and secure it again to the bow eye.

I would find it interesting to know what kind of max cable/strap lengths could be used on todays setups. I found my electric winch had much more cable capacity than the stock manual winch with or without a pulley eye hook.

If I were to purchase a trailer for my CD25 I would again use rollers. They would meet the varied conditions for shallow launches that are in my area. I would have a tilt function as well as add as may extra rollers as practical to give additional support to the hull, much like Joe has for his CD22. With the extra rollers there is less loading and wear on any one group of rollers. Service, if advised, would be easier on the hull. I do realize this setup would add extra weight and cost to the trailer.

Joe, You dun sayeed it rite. :) :) :thup

Art
 
Just like boats, trailers nicely illustrate the trade-offs in this life. I've had rollers and bunks. I prefer bunks but sometimes I miss rollers.

The primary consideration for me is, as already suggested, the "stickiness" of bunks. I load/unload by myself a lot in congested launch areas so I like to drive onto the trailer and then hop off and finish the business up front. I prefer that the boat does not slide back off.

It's not hard to float a 22 CD enough to push it off the bunks so the roller advantage for easy offloading is minor to me. If I regularly had really shallow launching conditions or needed to slide it onto the dry beach then rollers would be more helpful.

I also don't like having to get the rollers all in the right place. Also not really a big problem for a flat flat 22 CD but more a consideration for vees and maybe for newer CDs than mine (?)
 
Art-

Thanks for the comment!

Another thought:

How about adding an extendable tongue to a trailer as an additional aid to getting the boat launched in shallow ramp situations? I know its sometimes done with small keelboats.

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Overall was well satisfied with the roller set up over the first 40,000 miles we trailered the Hunkydory until I discovered two broken roller support arms before heading home from Skagway, Alaska from a cruise in 2007. Ended up doing a jury rig to make it home. Was going to go Joe's extra roller route, but then decided with more future planned northern trips that I wanted a two axle trailer and with the boat always on a trailer thought the bunks might be a better choice. After another 10, 000 miles can say I much prefer the bunks to rollers and even more so the two axle to the single. Think the boat might actually sit lower on the bunks due to going from larger tires on the single axle trailer, so the ease of launching seems to be about the same. Know I can launch and retrieve now anywhere I have in the past.

Joe, think it would take to long of an extension to make it worth while in most cases. With the camper on we have an additional two feet and I have another extension that can be added, but have never been in a situation where it would have made a difference. Also with an extension one has to be very careful to not go over the rated working limits of the hitch with the side torque being even more of a problem then the weight.

Jay
 
I agree with all of the observations already mentioned. The one negative to rollers that I have seen on trailers of others is when a roller comes off while retrieving your boat. Then all you have is a roller axle jabbing up into the hull bottom. If then traveling for a long distance some serious damage could incure w/o seeing it.
Overall I much prefer bunks. Cover the top surface with teflon strips and lose the carpeting.
 
I went with bunks to reduce the number of moving parts and failure points on the trailer. The EZ Loader two axle trailer is now almost five years old and has probably 150 launches and recoveries plus 5000-6000 miles on it. There is a little wear on one corner of one bunk carpet, I have replaced the brake lines and will replace the brake rotors this winter. I plan to stay with a bunk trailer.
 
I would never own anything but bunks. They hold vessels more secure (more friction) and they distribute the weight better on the hull. Vessels left on rollers can sometimes develop indentations in the hull. The ramp accidents I have seen always involve roller trailers (improper use by owners of course).
 
What we obviously need to invent here is a convertible trailer that has both bunks and rollers, with the bunks and rollers designed in such a way that either the bunks or rollers can be raised up higher than the other and carry the boat for launching or trailing as needed.

Hydraulic slave cylinders would be needed with an electric powered hydraulic pump and appropriate switches. All stainless or all aluminum construction would be desirable.

A good aircraft manufacturer or military marine manufacturer could do the job, or NASA, for that matter. One could use screw jacks instead of hydraulics, but they're more susceptible to salt water intrusion and corrosion than hydraulics, like the trim tab issue (Bennett vs. Lenco, etc.), but the aren't enough days left in the year to raise that one up from the dead and bury it properly!

We could also add a whole bunch of goodies once we had the hydraulics, like adjustable guide-ons, an extendable tongue, an elevator for getting on and off the boat's bow at launch, etc, but I think I'll just let it be at this point.

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
I think a set of those wheel covers that spin when you stop would also be helpful. Maybe a boombox playing "Micheal row your boat ashore" could be installed and power it off of the battery that will power Joe's hyraulics. How about white sidewall tires?? Just an idea.
 
Jack in Alaska":2ec8zex1 said:
I think a set of those wheel covers that spin when you stop would also be helpful. Maybe a boombox playing "Micheal row your boat ashore" could be installed and power it off of the battery that will power Joe's hyraulics. How about white sidewall tires?? Just an idea.
Click to expand...

Good additions! We could finish this off at the SBSCBGT, or just have at it now!

Any more ideas?

Joe. :lol: :thup
 
Jack in Alaska":2lmk1lpf said:
Maybe a boombox playing "Micheal row your boat ashore"
Click to expand...

For those prone to forgetting to put the plug in, the boombox could play " :note We All Live In A Yellow Submarine :note ".
 
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