bunk or roller

[Home Cookin']

Re: bunk or roller

bunk

Is that your preference, or your opinion about other posts?

 

[Thalasso]

Re: bunk or roller

For the old guys. think back to the 50's, 60's and 70's. Then tell us how many trailers you remember that didn't have any rollers on them.
I can't remember any! Unless it was a flatbed trailer that had a cradle and an inboard boat on it. Not until the 80's and the intro of Bass boats do I recall seeing a trailer w/o any rollers.

And along comes technology and science and improves on things. (bunks)

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: bunk or roller

And along comes technology and science and improves on things. (bunks)

YEAH...................... technology science and better built products... THAT'S what the 80's brought...... Definitely not cheap mass production, flimsy vehicles, and poorly built boats that rotted in record time....

 

[bonz_d]

Re: bunk or roller

And along comes technology and science and improves on things. (bunks)

Where is the tech and science behind carpeted wood? Those bunks have been around being used along with rollers for as long as I can remember. I have used pure bunk trailers and I myself find them a hassle and no improvement. All it has done is reduce manufacturing costs.

I do have an all roller trailer that was built in 1998 and it still has the original rollers on it. It is also much more versitle than an all bunk as I've launched it in water that was as little as knee deep or as much as waist deep.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: bunk or roller

my 1964 has all original rollers and short stabilizing bunks made out of unpainted untreated wood. Also never been dunked. 100% salt water use, although I must confess, not all that often.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: bunk or roller

ok fine I will chime in...

I have never had anything but carpet covered bunks and I love them, if its windy and the wife needs to come in a little hotter I can keep the trailer out a little bit more, if its a calm day I can dunk it to the top of the fenders and the wife will bring the boat to the winch, it just seems to be the perfect setup and I can't ask for anything more.

HOWEVER, I have seen roller trailers used in the exact same way with the exact same results.


WHO CARES!! get a trailer, get a boat, get an adult beverage and meet us on the water!!!

 

[River_Lizard]

Re: bunk or roller

IMO......I dislike rollers but I know they have a purpose and it's like someone mentioned, shallow water launching. I have bunks on my pontoon but there's one ramp during super low tide that I have a problem getting my toon launched because I have bunks. When I built my pontoon trailer I was really considering building a hinged roller system between the bunk boards so I could crank the rollers up during launching and let the pontoon roll off the trailer regardless of water depth around the ramp but mapping out the design was making my head hurt! So I didn't do it but now I wish I had but I'd only use them during launching, any other time I have no problem with bunks.
I'd think if you have rollers setup correctly, you should have a problem loading your boat onto the trailer but as someone mentioned, rollers put pressure in certain spots only, which doesn't spread the load out like bunks do.

Also, if you fish/boat during winter months be aware that bunks can and will freeze to your boat. I had that happen during a Bass tournament, pre-fished on Friday and tried launching at 5:30 am on Saturday morning with air temps at 27 degrees. I told my partener something just isn't right and I looked over the edge and saw trailer side marker lights at the bottom of the boat and the boat was in 4 ft of water. It took about 5 minutes for the ice to melt for the trailer to release from the boat. We sat at the ramp watching it and saw the trailer lights slowly disappear from sight under the boat.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: bunk or roller

I can grab any roller on my trailer and pull it away from the boat enough to slide my hand in.... Each roller has about 80 lbs on it.... If the roller doesn't hurt my hand it's not gonna hurt the hull in less than about 200 yrs or so

 

[JimS123]

Re: bunk or roller

I can grab any roller on my trailer and pull it away from the boat enough to slide my hand in.... Each roller has about 80 lbs on it.... If the roller doesn't hurt my hand it's not gonna hurt the hull in less than about 200 yrs or so

But your trailer doesn't count in the discussion. Obviously something out of the ordinary there.

Obviously, you spent a lot of money to buy a properly designed trailer (not a cheepie, but one designed with a sufficient number of rollers to carry the load), and then you obviously had a dealer (or yourself) that knew how to properly set it up in the first place.

Must have been one of those old guys talked about in a previous post.

Please excuse my TIC comments, and oh yes, did you see the word "properly" used several times?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: bunk or roller

LOL bought a boat, totally different than mine with the trailer on C/L for $100.... dumped the boat off at the landfill...(pushed it off by hand till the transom touched and drove out from under it) and then dumped my boat off of the borrowed bunk trailer in the front yard (had to anchor the boat to my skid loader and drag the trailer out).. Then I backed the roller up to it, left my jeep in neutral, hooked up the strap, and started cranking the trailer and jeep under the still anchored boat.... Pretty high tech procedure.
ps I DID have to move and adjust the winch stand

 

[dan t.]

Re: bunk or roller

Old trailers have rollers? Actually the oldest trailer I know of is one my dad built around 1965, it has bunks, one of my brothers is still using it for a 14 ft tinny. Personaly I prefer bunks but I sure was glad I had rollers when the tide went out on me one time, had an old Roadrunner with rollers and a tilting cradle at the back. We winched that 16 ft Sangster with a 80 HP Merc on to the trailer from dry land.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: bunk or roller

Old trailers have rollers? Actually the oldest trailer I know of is one my dad built around 1965, it has bunks, one of my brothers is still using it for a 14 ft tinny. Personaly I prefer bunks but I sure was glad I had rollers when the tide went out on me one time, had an old Roadrunner with rollers and a tilting cradle at the back. We winched that 16 ft Sangster with a 80 HP Merc on to the trailer from dry land.

and it's even better with a power winch!

 

[bonz_d]

Re: bunk or roller

But your trailer doesn't count in the discussion. Obviously something out of the ordinary there.

Obviously, you spent a lot of money to buy a properly designed trailer (not a cheepie, but one designed with a sufficient number of rollers to carry the load), and then you obviously had a dealer (or yourself) that knew how to properly set it up in the first place.

Must have been one of those old guys talked about in a previous post.

Please excuse my TIC comments, and oh yes, did you see the word "properly" used several times?

So why doesn't smokes trailer count? And no I didn't set it up for him, but I'll bet I'm not the only "old guy" on this forum! As a matter of fact though, I can turn every roller under my boat by hand and it has no bunks either.
Whats TIC? Remember I;m old.

I do love this subject though. It's so nice to hear everyones opinion and explainations as to why each is best.

I am of the opinion and have stated it many times that it makes no difference to me which kind of trailer anyone uses as long as it will support and move the load safely. All the rest is subjective personal choice as far as I'm concerned. I've seen sloppy ill fitting trailers of all kinds being used. Some shouldn't be allowed on the hi-ways and some even brand new are cheap junk to begin with.

When's it going to ice-out? I'm getting restless.

 

[JimS123]

Re: bunk or roller

So why doesn't smokes trailer count? And no I didn't set it up for him, but I'll bet I'm not the only "old guy" on this forum! As a matter of fact though, I can turn every roller under my boat by hand and it has no bunks either.
Whats TIC? Remember I;m old.

I do love this subject though. It's so nice to hear everyones opinion and explainations as to why each is best.

I am of the opinion and have stated it many times that it makes no difference to me which kind of trailer anyone uses as long as it will support and move the load safely. All the rest is subjective personal choice as far as I'm concerned. I've seen sloppy ill fitting trailers of all kinds being used. Some shouldn't be allowed on the hi-ways and some even brand new are cheap junk to begin with.

When's it going to ice-out? I'm getting restless.

TIC means tonge-in-cheek which means that I was funnin' around. I said his didn't count because it works right....because the other gazillion people that that complain about rollers is because they don't work right, which is because they aren't set up right.

More sarchasm on my part...or is it devil's advocate, or maybe just more funnin around.

Anywhoot, all this funnin is making me need another beer, and all this splaining is making me tired. Well you know what, I'm probably older than you. I'd guess my boat is older than you too.

Ice out. Bunk! Must be global warming. Come to Buffalo. Y'all hear about our weather? Well, no snow this year yet. And no ice either. They cancelled the Winterfest hockey because the water was still wet! No ice out this year.

The battery is in the boat and ready to go. Supposed to be 50 this week. (yes, Buffalo). When it hits 60 I'm gone.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: bunk or roller

I knew you were being funny but I have to admit tic was cornfusing me just a bit lol


All I can say for absolutely certain..... no matter what kind of trailer I have, I'm ready to get the boat OFF of it!

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: bunk or roller

Right now I will take a trailer the snow ski's on it thank you very much.....

 

[sphelps]

Re: bunk or roller

I,m kinda fond of ford,s

 

[jkust]

Re: bunk or roller

Rollers are easy to load and launch, bunks much more difficult.

Bunks are cheaper, roller trailers cost more.

Roller trailers can be used anywhere, bunks require a certain water depth and ramp angle (steep) to get them to work.

Bunks require minimal maintenance, rollers need PM all the time.

With Bunks you get your feet wet, rollers you don't even get the car wet.

With Rollers the boat self centers on the trailer (unless you're in too deep). Bunks you have to launch and reload several times to get it in the middle (unless you have side guides)

With rollers you use the winch to get the boat on the trailer, with bunks the winch is useless until the last 3 feet or so.

Rollers are fun, bunks are a pita.

With bunks you'll look like most others at the ramp. With rollers the other people will look at you with mouth open wondering how you did that so fast.

With rollers the boat will fall off the trailer as you back down the ramp (unless you follow the directions), with bunks you can be sloppy and not cause chaos.

Wow you read my mind here. Rollers make my time at the launch so much simpler. I generally see 10 bunk trailers to 1 roller trailer. Roller trailers are more expensive and to me simple scarcity explains this. A bunk trailer to me is a cut corner. I can agree that the set up and hull do have a bit to do with which you choose. At least at the ramps we frequent it reminds me of the 6 cylinder vs always better v8 argument in their trucks at least for naturally aspirated engines. We need some youtube videos side by side bunk vs roller witht the same boat. Rollers to me are simply different technology offering several advantages to bunks but some possible disadvantages as well.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: bunk or roller

TIC means tonge-in-cheek which means that I was funnin' around.

Well you know what, I'm probably older than you. I'd guess my boat is older than you too.

The battery is in the boat and ready to go. Supposed to be 50 this week. (yes, Buffalo). When it hits 60 I'm gone.

Serious, didn't know TIC, don't text. Now I'll give ya that you may be older than me but I doubt your boats are. Except the Lyman has a year or two on me.

Well we had 54deg. this past week but the water is still hard!

 

[cyclops2]

Re: bunk or roller

Correctly setup.

Both do a great job.

How many places do, or even care about setting ALL the rollers up correctly. Dam few.

How many places do, or even care about setting up ALL the boards on a bunk. Dam few.

Every season spring time is reset new & used trailers correctly.