Help: Proper bunk trailer setup

[85Predictor]

What is the correct way to set up a trailer?
My boat is too high on the center rollers and not in contact with the bunks. (rocks back and forth) Are the bunks and center rollers supposed to share the weight load? It is a Load-Rite trailer.

Thanks

[gchildre]

In my experience with a "bunk" style trailer, the center rollers should not be in contact with the keel when the boat is stored. With a all "roller" style trailer without any bunk planks the center rollers share the load. I understand that the center rollers on a bunk style trailer are there to protect the keel and guide the boat during launch and load.

Your situation with the boat rocking is both dangerous and likely damaging to the boat hull. If I was in your situation I would have an expert (boat dealer) setup your trailer, there are quite a few safety factors to consider: bunk height, center roller height, lateral center, tongue weight and overall weight. Your boat may have been moved to a different trailer in it's past. Any rocking in the boat on the trailer is going to cause instability to the trailer during towing that could lead to a loss of control and damage to the hull of the boat.

[slpcamaross97]

look at your bunk brackets mine were all bent and broke and my boat was setting one the center rollers.

[85Predictor]

I took another look and this is what I think is happening.
With the rollers adjusted all the way down and the bunks adjusted all the way up, the bunks are still too low. In order to have the bunks come in contact with the hull, I would have to slide them toward the center of the boat. They would end up only 6"-8" inches off from center.
If the bunk brackets were longer (more upward adjustment) I could even things out.

Does this make more sense?
I do not think that this trailer ever properly fit.
I have owned it for 3 years.

[Chris E]

you want the boat to sit on the bunks near one of the chines which will make it easier to load as it will guide itself into postion. make sure about 2-3" of bunk extends past the transom so the full transom weight is carried by the bunk.

[85Predictor]

With my current configuration, the only way I can get the bunks to come in contact with the hull is to move them even closer to the centerline.
What is the rule of thumb for roller/bunk spacing left to right?
I could end up with the bunks within 2 ft of each other (or less).
Would a picture help?
My trailer seems to favor a boat with less of a "V" in the hull.
Smaller rollers would allow the boat to drop closer to the bunks.
Remember: Bunks are all the way up and rollers are all the way down.

[Chris E]

lets see a few pics so we can figure this out.

[85Predictor]

Here goes:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v362/checkmate04/bunk1a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v362/checkmate04/bunk2a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v362/checkmate04/bunk3a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v362/checkmate04/bunk4a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v362/checkmate04/bunk5a.jpg

[Chris E]

Problem 1 - lose those crap brackets for the bunks - they are the worst design ever used - you can never get them tight enough to stay put and evenetually they vibrate down causeing the whole load to become less stable. find or fabricate a bracket that has bolt holes in it so they can't move - check out a shorelander trailer for an example (lighter duty ones)

Problem 2 - flat cross memebers and a deep v hull will require you get brackets that are tall enough to support the boat at the second lifting strake

Problem 3 - bunks aren't evenly spaced to start with - check out photo 1 and 5. is the boat even centered on the trailer? set the bunks up so that the inside edge of the bunk is against the outside edge of the 2nd lifting strake.


hope this helps.

[85Predictor]

Problem 1: Can you buy them or is fabricating the only answer?
Problem 3: No the boat is not perfectly centered. It is about 1"-2" skewed to the right. I tried to fix it when I pulled it out. Too heavy. Only had a 15 min ride home.

Excuse my ignorance but the 2nd Strake is which one in the next picture?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v362/checkmate04/bunk1b.jpg

So, once the correct bunk brackets are in place, will the center bottom of the transom be in contact with the rear roller? I'm still not clear as to how the weight should be distributed on all of the contact points.
ie Rear Roller; Center Roller; Front Roller; Bunks.
Thanks for taking time out of your weekend to help me out!

[daren34]

move those bunks in to the first strake then get a second set to go at the second strake
the outside bunks only need to be 6 to 7 feet

daren

[daren34]

i had a magnum custom under the starlet and both bunks were turned upright
instead of laying flat

then they were shaped to the hull

the boat would allways sit in the exact same place on the trailer

daren

[Chris E]

Problem 1: Can you buy them or is fabricating the only answer?
Problem 3: No the boat is not perfectly centered. It is about 1"-2" skewed to the right. I tried to fix it when I pulled it out. Too heavy. Only had a 15 min ride home.

Excuse my ignorance but the 2nd Strake is which one in the next picture?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v362/checkmate04/bunk1b.jpg

So, once the correct bunk brackets are in place, will the center bottom of the transom be in contact with the rear roller? I'm still not clear as to how the weight should be distributed on all of the contact points.
ie Rear Roller; Center Roller; Front Roller; Bunks.
Thanks for taking time out of your weekend to help me out!

check out a couple of west marine or land and sea, they may have something that will work. i didn't see anything i liked in my parts books. you may have to fabricate them to make the trailer work for you. i thing for the size of boat you have, one set of bunks is enough.

what you have circled as number 2 is the second stake. that's where i would set it up.

i would let the bunks support the weight of the boat, and let the rollers help in loading. my trailer doesn't even have center rollers, just rub pads. the entire weight of the trailer is carried by the bunks.