Trade trailers or rollers for bunks

[FishStretcher]

The 20' hull gives me fits trying to get it lined up on my trailer with rollers. Want to trade rollers for bunks or trade trailers. I have a galvanized dual axle with new (in April) surge brakes and new rollers. Only seen salt once, ad has been dipped in the fresh water river after that.

[Fr. Frank]

Are you driving on, or winching?

[FishStretcher]

generally, tie up at ramp, run for the pickup/trailer, back down a steep ramp and pull the boat on with the painter. The ramp is too steep to (hand) winch on, I think.

I have a problem with getting it centered on the rollers. Any suggestions?

[Bushwacker]

Most roller trailers work fine if you don't dunk 'em too deep and use a winch. I just barely get the tires wet with my EZ-Loader and I never dunk the axle or springs, which is why it's lasted 25+ years in salt water. Have you considered using a power winch? It greatly simplifies loading if you're by your self. You can also add a pulley to the snap hook and then run cable thru pulley and back to winch stand to double the pulling power of the winch if necessary.

[fdheld34]

I agree with Denny (Bushwacker)...I have a roller trailer as well...works good for me because I do not have to back in so far on the steep ramp near my house...makes a difference due to the fact that I now use a Kia Sedona minivan for towing my 20 GW Overnighter..I can pull it out of ramp with ease because I do not have to dunk the trailer..also used a roller trailer on my 20' Seacraft as well with optimum results...I currently have a 2 speed winch which is ok for now...Also the tides really do not affect the roller trailer usage..
Denny has some good pics of proper utilization of a roller trailer that he posted on here..that might change your mind about a swap...I cant find them though
-Fred

[Bushwacker]

..
Denny has some good pics of proper utilization of a roller trailer that he posted on here..that might change your mind about a swap...I cant find them though
-Fred

I've used the same trailer for over 26 years and have gradually refined and improved it's adjustment and usage. I normally load and unload all by myself, no other help required. Here's a slide show of the results at local village ramp I normally use.

One note of caution: When using a trailer of this type, ALWAYS put a chock behind all 4 wheels when loading! (OK to only chock rear wheels when unloading unless it's a really steep ramp.) Reason is that it's not a tilt trailer, and there is a point during loading that ALL the weight of the boat is on the rear X-member, which will lift the rear tires up onto the chocks! They will SLIDE if front tires are not also chocked! (Ask me how I know this! )

[Fr. Frank]

...ALWAYS put a chock behind all 4 wheels when loading!... They will SLIDE if front tires are not also chocked! (Ask me how I know this!

Ah yes! The voice of embarrassed remembrance! Don't we all know that as if it came from our own mouths!

As I recall, Denny, about 30 years ago, when I failed to do just as you mention here, my pickup, trailer and boat all slid backwards until my boat was floating once more, and my exhaust was making bubbling noises.

(BTW, that was at the ramp in Lake Park, with an appreciative audience looking on))

[castalot]

Post a picture of the trailer maybe we can see what's wrong or needs changing I personally love roller trailers here in the northeast where the ramps aren't as nice as down south

[Bushwacker]

[. . . my pickup, trailer and boat all slid backwards until my boat was floating once more, and my exhaust was making bubbling noises.

Frank, I was lucky that mine only slid enough to dunk the trailer axle, but it sure got my attention! This was one of those days where everything went wrong . . . I was launching by my self, had backed down the ramp, set the rear chocks, but when I released the winch clutch the boat only rolled back 2-3' and I couldn't push it back any further. I discovered that the 20' stern line, which I had uncoiled and run up fwd along gunnel so I could grab it after launching, had fallen off the boat as I was backing down the ramp and was under the trailer tire! [img]/forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] So I jump back in truck, pull up enough to free the line, and then then let it roll back against the chocks. There was probably a lot more truck weight up on the chocks than normal, so even though the boat slid off the trailer quickly as I launched it, that brief uplift on the hitch as all the weight shifted to the aft rollers evidently unloaded the rear tires enough to cause it to slide! Lesson learned: 2 chocks aren't always enough if you get careless!

I've used that ramp in Lake Park . . . it's quite a bit steeper than the NPB village ramp, except at low tide, so it's not hard to get in trouble there! Denny

[FishStretcher]

Post a picture of the trailer maybe we can see what's wrong or needs changing I personally love roller trailers here in the northeast where the ramps aren't as nice as down south

Looks like I need a keel roller!