Roller trailer vs Bunk

['91 Starliner]

I currently have a load rite roller trailer for my 91 21 ft. starliner. Very nice trailer, doesn't leave marks or anything, but I have a he!! of a time getting her on straight. The rollers don't like to stay where they should. I'd like to convert it over to a bunk, any one ever do this? How hard is it? Can I sell the rollers?

[bdusted440]

If the roller brackets are bolted on its easy as unbolting them and mounting bunk brackets and bunks on it.

[TCAT]

Most trailer companies sell a kit to convert from one to the other.

[jwh445]

I have a bunk trailer and it grabs the boat like the rails of a roller coaster guiding me to a perfect fit everytime. I love it, it makes launch and retrieval so easy.

[wickedrister]

I have an EZ-Loader roller type. They tell me they are hard on the boat if so I don't like that. It loads and unloads super easy and that I do like.

[Rob'Z]

Is there any issues with hooking when using a roller trailer compared to a bunk setup? If so I will be looking to convert mine as well.

[jgreen]

I like my shorelander roller trailer it loads and unloads sooooooo easy!

[Seamate]

I had a 1987 Starliner on an EZ loader roller trailer. Never had any problems except for routine mtce, and the boat was easy to load onto the trailer on most any boat ramp.

This year I sold the Starliner and purchased a 2100 Pulsare on a C-Hawk bunk trailer. Can someone explain the proper technique for loading on a bunk trailer?

Should the bunks be submerged? Can I use a power winch to drag the boat up onto the bunks? Should I drive the boat onto the trailer?

Thanks.

Joe:sssh:

[Chris E]

Joe:

I usually back a bunk in enough to completley submerge the bunks then pull out till the top of the fender is just out of the water, then just drive it on gently. You can usaully get it to about 6-12" from the bow stop, then winch it tight. A C-hawk designed for the boat should load itself very easily.

[Seamate]

Chris,

Thanks for the update. Sounds easy!!!!

[claupie]

yes but it also depends how steep the ramp is.....

[83PREDICTOR]

I back my trailer down till the bunks are under but my engine gets shut down as soon as I get tied off. No power loading for me. One can damage thier boat, trailer, and boat ramp we all depend on to have a great time.

[F150GT]

I feel bunk trailers are much better for the boat, but can be a little more paticular to load, it takes some practice and you must pay attention to how deep you put the trailer in the water and how steep the launch is. Once you find the sweet spot at your local ramp you use the most its no problem, new and steep launch's can be trickey but thats boating. I back mine in untill the fenders are just submerged and then I can walk the boat on till about 2 - 3' back and winch the rest. I use a dirt launch most of the time so I hate it when people power load, A good concrete ramp and I dont care. One last hint, try to make sure the back of the trailer is level, if one side is lower than the other it is difficult to get straight. (Dirt ramp, oh what fun)
F150GT

[83PREDICTOR]

Even at a good concrete ramp when power loading the ground under the concrete is sucked out and the concrete falls which makes the trailer un-level when trying to load.

[Big Dave]

I have heard that roller trailers can leave divots in the hull at the pressure points. One of our boats had one when we were kids, Dad hit the brakes real hard to avoid an accident and the boat tried to join us in the back of the truck. we rigged a chain stop for the bow eye after that.
On our 4 bunk trailers, I usually put the outer boards just out of the water, boat should self center, and easily power up just inches from the bowstop

[merc245]

The inside bunks should be apx. 12- 15 inches out of the water. Then just drive her on and she'll straighten herself everytime. about 6 inches from the crank.:banana:

[Big Red]

I never drive my boats on I like to hand crank every time to get a feel what the boat is doing. I had a EZ loader with the old style rollars and if you tried to drive it on the rollars would flip every time and half the time while hand cranking. I think it was that type of EZ loader because I have seen other people at the ramps with EZ loaders and they did not have this problem. When I sold that boat to my friend all I could think about was never having to deal with that trailer again.

[jonnyspeed]

I have had 6 different boats that I've trailered. Some were mine some were family boats. 5 of them had rolers, 1 had bunks. We never had any problems with rollers distorting the hulls. I drove the boats onto the trailers everytime. Unless there is some crazy shallow ramp or something I don't think I would ever not drive the boat on. I never had any problems with rollers flipping up or anything like that. Must be lucky I guess because I've been boating on and off for 30 years without those problems.

[F150GT]

Must have bean tuff to reach the controls at 3 Years old. Just kidding.

[jonnyspeed]

Must have bean tuff to reach the controls at 3 Years old. Just kidding.

LOL. I guess I should have explained that better... My family has been boating that long but I've only been loading the boat on the trailer since I was about 12, so 21 years. Started driving solo when I was 8. Can't wait to get my son into it... he's only 2.5 months though so it will be a while still.

[F150GT]

I hear ya, I have a picture of myself on a boat ride at 2 weeks old on the StLawrence river, bean boating ever since. I have no dought my kids will fallow, they love going boating. Only anouther month or two now.
F150GT

[Big Dave]

When Li'l Dave was a week old, we stayed a week on the wooden cruiser we had. all three have been out since they were newborns