Question on adding a keel roller

[Proselect]

I have a 1995 Shoreland'r roller trailer that I am going to be sandblasting and painting in the next week or so. In the middle crossmember was a skid pad in the middle for the keel. I figured as long as I am re-doing the trailer I might as well make that roller as well. I bought the roller, pin, and bracket and installed it at the same height as the pad was and made sure the bow mount and such was all adjusted right. This roller does carry some weight. Should I put another one on the front of the cross beam, or is one of these enough? I did enclose pics, don't mind the rust, its going to get taken care of soon.

 

[82mustang]

Re: Question on adding a keel roller

I would think one is enough. With it carrying some weight, expect to replace it every couple of years. Is it possible to raise the bunks up a hair, just to lessen the weight on the roller. Best done with the boat off. One of my boats, theres allot of weight on the rollers, and I have to replace every couple of years, and another one I have basically no weight (just there to aid in launching shallow) and its going strong, not to much wear on it.

 

[Proselect]

Re: Question on adding a keel roller

It actually doesn't carry a lot of weight. I can adjust the bow mount a little to take more weight off, but if you take too much weight off the trailer flexes in the middle due to all the weight being on the back and front. My father in law has the same trailer but newer, and his has a pivot bracket with a series of 4 rollers(two in front of the cross member and two behind). He has had it for quite a few years and never had to replace a roller. If this one roller is enough to take it then maybe I will just run it and see how it goes. If it looks like it wants to wear then maybe I can add the front one. I just want to make sure one is enough from peoples experience.