Trucks & Trailers - Need help with bunk trailer

Hi,
I recently bought a 16' skiff on a carpeted bunk trailer. I figured this would be easy to launch and retreive, boy was I wrong. I've tried all the different methods, it just doesn't go on and off easy. So my question is if anyone else has had this problem and suggestions. My thinking so far is to possibly rip of the old carpet and use some kind of plastic material or look into a possible conversion to rollers. Thanks.

Try some silicon spray first.

Look into glides,they are a plastic product that replace the carpet.

www.easternmarine.com

They sell them

Just be careful once installed,

Make shore the winch strap is on when pulling up the ramp.:grin::grin:

I found that using a liquid detergent on the bunks works just fine. After sitting several months seems like my skiff sticks to the bunks. After the first launch while the bunks are still wet I sprinkle the detergent down the bunks. Boat slides on as if it were slding on glass. ;cool;

Hi,
I recently bought a 16' skiff on a carpeted bunk trailer. I figured this would be easy to launch and retreive, boy was I wrong. I've tried all the different methods, it just doesn't go on and off easy. So my question is if anyone else has had this problem and suggestions. My thinking so far is to possibly rip of the old carpet and use some kind of plastic material or look into a possible conversion to rollers. Thanks.

I hear yeah, not all ramps are made equal. Several years ago I converted my roller trailer - what a huge waste of money on my part. In my part of the country I would say I have eliminated at least 50% or better of the boat ramps I can use because I have now a bunk trailer. Slippery carpet or plastic caps is one thing, but if you don't have the water I want a roller trailer to be able to winch my boat up.

thanx for the feedback guys, I'll try the detergent or silicone spray 1st.

I have the plastic caps on my bunks. I like them because they will last forever. The boat is a 1860 aluminum CC.

You're going to end up with the plastic bunk slides anyway. Save the chemicals for something else so the water doesn't get polluted.

Just remember if you do go with the plastic bunk slides or silicone you better use load rated straps to hold the transom down to your trailer or otherwise you might be wearing your boat on the hood of your truck. :o ;)

Agreed.

Bunks work a lot easier if you pretty much float it on and off.They aren't really designed to slide 3000 lbs of boat across carpet.That is what rollers are for.

Can someone tell me the why so many people have problems with bunk trailers in different parts of the country? Here in FL 95% of trailers have bunks. I have never had a problem with small boats, waverunners, 30 foot boats etc. I untie the boat, back up and let the boat float off. Is it that your ramps are not steep enough or deep enough?

Can someone tell me the why so many people have problems with bunk trailers
;? especially with a

16' skiff

I use these http://surfixinc.com/surfix_trailer_bunkslides.html they are as slippery as, Oh well you know.

Price is right, easy to install, pre-drilled, with stainless screws included.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h211/rayteagarden/RayCharicture.jpg

Can someone tell me the why so many people have problems with bunk trailers in different parts of the country? Here in FL 95% of trailers have bunks. I have never had a problem with small boats, waverunners, 30 foot boats etc. I untie the boat, back up and let the boat float off. Is it that your ramps are not steep enough or deep enough?

I know in the majority of my cases I can back my 2500 quad cab Ram w/ long box up to my driver door in the water and I'm still not able to float my 24' Grew Weekender off the trailer. A LOT of our inland lakes have very shallow shorelines that make it next to impossible to get a boat back out of the water if one were dumb enough to launch it in the first place! Cranking a 6,500 lb boat 20' on rollers is one thing, but when 3 - 4 guys are taking several hours trying to winch out a boat on bunks and everyone is scared as hell the cable is going to snap you quickly realize not to launch in those conditions a second time.

Quickly moving backwards and jamming on the brakes to remove the boat is one thing, but how the hell do yah get the boat back onto the trailer when there isn't enough water???

On more ramps I care to think of the rear tires of my truck are no longer on the concrete ramp when I'm launching so getting the boat back onto the trailer and getting the truck/ boat out of the water can be to risky to even try launching.

Oh and then there are the ramps that are so damn steep I can't even see my trailer, and I've got side bunks to guide the boat onto the trailer.

A vast majority of our ramps do not allow power loading because the water is so shallow. Power loading would just create sandbars and everyone would get stuck….so very few places allow it to happen.

We have shitty ramps and then compound those conditions with the wind pulling the water out or pushing the water in....condition might be good this minute but the next you are fluked in getting the boat back out. I've been burnt where I've had to winch my boat up onto the bunks and then winch the boat the full length up the trailer. The prospects of having to grab a room for an overnighter because you can’t pull your boat is not something I plan on – I’ve been very close a few times now.

And in my case, I have to get my boat higher up to start my boat onto my trailer than if I had rollers. With roller trailers, the first set of rollers tilt downwards to accept the prow of the boat. With bunks the prow needs to get up on top of the bunks before advancing.

Can someone tell me the why so many people have problems with bunk trailers in different parts of the country? Here in FL 95% of trailers have bunks. I have never had a problem with small boats, waverunners, 30 foot boats etc. I untie the boat, back up and let the boat float off. Is it that your ramps are not steep enough or deep enough?

That is what I was just gonna say... I ALWAYS float the boat off... we have many different ramps, from salt water to freash water lakes.. different water levels... i dunno.. I have NEVER had any trouble loading or unloading. 16 footer..??? hell, just throw it in the back of your truck.

I use these http://surfixinc.com/surfix_trailer_bunkslides.html they are as slippery as, Oh well you know.

Price is right, easy to install, pre-drilled, with stainless screws included.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h211/rayteagarden/RayCharicture.jpg

:thumbsup: Just installed mine yesterday

My trailer has a longer tongue which not only makes backing up easier, it keeps the truck well out of the water. The axels are positioned to that they keep enough weight on the tongue. The bunks are also positioned so that the boat sits relatively low on the trailer (easier to float off). My boat is around 24' and I've yet to find a launch that I couldn't use and someone with a roller trailer could. Set the trailer up right and you're good to go.

I know in the majority of my cases I can back my 2500 quad cab Ram w/ long box up to my driver door in the water and I'm still not able to float my 24' Grew Weekender off the trailer. A LOT of our inland lakes have very shallow shorelines that make it next to impossible to get a boat back out of the water if one were dumb enough to launch it in the first place! Cranking a 6,500 lb boat 20' on rollers is one thing, but when 3 - 4 guys are taking several hours trying to winch out a boat on bunks and everyone is scared as hell the cable is going to snap you quickly realize not to launch in those conditions a second time.

Quickly moving backwards and jamming on the brakes to remove the boat is one thing, but how the hell do yah get the boat back onto the trailer when there isn't enough water???

On more ramps I care to think of the rear tires of my truck are no longer on the concrete ramp when I'm launching so getting the boat back onto the trailer and getting the truck/ boat out of the water can be to risky to even try launching.

Oh and then there are the ramps that are so damn steep I can't even see my trailer, and I've got side bunks to guide the boat onto the trailer.

A vast majority of our ramps do not allow power loading because the water is so shallow. Power loading would just create sandbars and everyone would get stuck….so very few places allow it to happen.

We have shitty ramps and then compound those conditions with the wind pulling the water out or pushing the water in....condition might be good this minute but the next you are fluked in getting the boat back out. I've been burnt where I've had to winch my boat up onto the bunks and then winch the boat the full length up the trailer. The prospects of having to grab a room for an overnighter because you can’t pull your boat is not something I plan on – I’ve been very close a few times now.

And in my case, I have to get my boat higher up to start my boat onto my trailer than if I had rollers. With roller trailers, the first set of rollers tilt downwards to accept the prow of the boat. With bunks the prow needs to get up on top of the bunks before advancing.

Garett, get some tubing for your tongue the will except a tube inside it and make a sliding extension to be used at the boat ramp , you can add up to about 8' of length.

Garett, get some tubing for your tongue the will except a tube inside it and make a sliding extension to be used at the boat ramp , you can add up to about 8' of length.

Oh boy didn't you open up a whole nother world of thought! That would be cheaper than converting the trailer back to rollers. I'll have to look at the idea a lot closer Les...thanks.

Trailer tongue extensions work great.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h211/rayteagarden/IMG_0449.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h211/rayteagarden/xt8.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h211/rayteagarden/xweb10_small.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h211/rayteagarden/RayCharicture.jpg