Is a Bunk Trailer Better Than a Roller Trailer

[@boatinglessons]

Which type of trailer do you prefer? Years ago, rollers were all the rage, and now you barely see them in dealerships.

[@bostonbeanman6173]

I am converting to a bunk right now. I trailer my boat and use it 20-30x per year. I have learned how to use my roller but every few years I have to sink $ into parts. I’d much rather be changing a $9 bunk board which can be purchased at my local lumberyard than chasing parts that I can only get through my trailer manufacturer. . AFA needing the roller at shallower ramps, consider that most rollers have to sit higher on the trailer so it may be a wash. Also, shallow ramps have been what damages my trailer. Mostly bending arms. My rollers are premium rollers and pushing 18 years old with no issues or marking in on my hull.

[@wouterke9871]

Appreciate the no BS no time wasting info

[@boatinglessons]

Those are kind words, thank you!

[@Nick_G7IZR]

You can have the advantages of the roller trailer from a bunk trailer by spraying the carpet with silicone spray lube. The boat slides off much more easily than even a roller trailer (unless its a brand new one). In fact it was so good, I stopped doing it as I had to drive my boat on and leave it in gear running whilst I attached the winch, otherwise it would slide back in to the water! :)

[@boatinglessons]

Great advice Nick, thank you!

[@tommaddox1028]

Am changing from a roller to bunk I hope I can find a good instruction Movie showing how to

[@ross7684]

I'd love to have a bunk trailer but most of the public boat landings around here are shallow landings so the majority of new boats at dealers are sitting on roller trailers even though the default, no cost adder trailer from the factory is bunk. My current boat, a 16.5 ft single side console Alumacraft, has been on the same roller trailer for 33 years, including winter storage, with no issues or damage to either the trailer or the boat.

[@TNAROHfan]

I'm glad to hear a similar story. My family honestly never seemed to have problems with the roller bunks damaging my boats either when I was young. We generally always had them on the boats we used from glass to aluminum. When I bought an old old Jon boat to refurbish several years ago, one of the things is did was to redo the trailer with roller bunks because I have the same issues with shallow ramps for how I use it to fish in backwater and very shallow flats. It's too heavy to want to rely on manually dragging that thing on and off of bunks and I didn't want to spend half my fishing day driving to and from better ramps just to get where I want to go. I got a new expensive aluminum fishing boat a couple of years ago with carpeted bunks and I was even thinking about switching it over when the bunks start to wear out. The wear and tear is something I will have to think about, because it's something I honestly never considered.

[@user-gk2rl1sc4c]

This debate is as old as trailers themselves. Most modern boats will be fine with either. The key to support with a roller trailer is the number of rollers. Weight distribution on my sterndrive with a roller trailer so light I could spin the rollers with the boat on them. The key disadvantage of roller trailers not mentioned in the video is they corrode fast in salt water. Bunk trailers look supportive but a 2x6 running flat is only supported where the bunk is attached to the trailer. Think of walking on a plank verse walking on a joist. A bunk running on end, provides far more support but this is less common because the flat bunk conforms to the shape of the hull. But you often can run a credit card between the bunk and the boat hull between the bunk supports. You cannot on a roller trailer. But the worries of old are as obsolete as the argument. Most boats are built so well today the worry of a boat developing hooks or dents is minimal. If it happens there is likely something structurally wrong with the hull.

[@UNITED2009100]

Rollers only touch a few points of the hull. When going down the road, which is not always smooth, your boat can bounce to some degree. That changing pressure on the rollers can damage the hull fiberglass or aluminum. I had a problem one time getting our trailer in deep enough and had to adjust the boat position at home using bottle jacks, boards and other lifting stuff to get the boat back in the proper place. Proper place means proper balance of the weight. I made a tongue extender for our trailer. At the ramp, I would disconnect the hitch, slide in the tongue extender into a special slide type box on the trailer which put the hitch about 6 feet farther back so we could get the trailer in deeper. After unloading the boat, I could take the extender out and put it in a slide under the trailer where it could be pinned in place till we needed to load the boat. It really worked great and it allowed us to use the bunk type trailer.

[@whitecapmadness7181]

#1 - Bunk trailers are cbeaper, Carpet over 2x4 or 2x6? #2- Roller trailers actually have more support than bunks You must buy a trailer with the correct # of rollers and set them up properly to sit under stringers, not on chines. #3 - the roller trailer in this video, not adequate number of rollers, and the dealer never took the time to set the trailer up correctly. My boat, 22 foot cuddy cabin EZ Loader roller trailer 64 rollers Set up 100% perfect 10 X better than a cheap bunk trailer and far easier to load than the cheap carpet bunks that used to be under it. You get what you pay for.

[@JohnSmith-bq7gz]

Incredible video. No bs just good information. Well done

[@boatinglessons]

Wow, such a great compliment- thank you!!😊

[@steveravely6708]

At 1:37 it seems to me that the trailer roller assembly is not adjusted properly for that boat or the boat is not on straight. The front roller is on one of the strakes.

[@boatinglessons]

I don't Steve; but perhaps I am blind! What I do see is a very worn roller 😂

[@Roger-gm9tl]

If you not careful w/rollers, your boat could be flying off that trailer at the ramp before or after trying to get it on, off before hitting the water, plus I believe puts undo uneven stress on hull while driving where they make contact w/the hull ? I'll stick w/full length bunks for even support, when retrieving just wet bunks all the way that should make it easier to crank up !

[@marzsit9833]

bunks are better for the boat if the hull is lightweight and easily deformed, but if the hull is heavy rollers make for much easier launching and retrieving. my boat is a 16' workskiff, a welded aluminum hull with 1/4" plate bottom and 3/16" plate topsides and it weighs about 1500 pounds without the motor and accessories. i have it on an ez-loader galvanized single axle trailer with roller bunks and surge brakes and the combo works very well.

[@boatinglessons]

Sounds like you have it dialled in your usage perfectly! The roller bunks have more contact area than traditional rollers too :)

[@dazknight9326]

My Load Rite has rollers on trucks. One roller has cracked needs replace.

[@tylersingleton9284]

My trailer has rollers in the back, bunks in the middle, and then a keel roller in the front. It's from the 70's, so maybe I should upgrade to full bunks. 17' Century Raven.

[@trevorturkin9411]

I mean bottom painting is a bit easier with a roller trailer if you have to do that. Bunks mean you have to crib your boat to paint it, which makes it a much harder DIY.

[@boatinglessons]

Yes, assuming you have a steady hand you can get more of the bottom cleaned or painted on a bunk trailer. It can be hard of the trailer (cleaning chemicals)

[@jimnora1705]

My boat doesn't come off of my bunk trailer untill I want it to.

[@ashleywynn4923]

Rollers would be a PIA for use in any saltwater. Much like leaf springs, I can’t afford to swap to torsion axles so every 5-8 years i have to replace leaf springs and such.

[@boatinglessons]

Great point Ashley!

[@richarddavis8931]

Could you use a combination of the two? Rollers up front and bunks to the back.

[@ntj030885]

I have an aluminum tracker bass boat on bunks. Is it ok if the bunks are treated. The company told me that they come with treated bunks from the factory. Other people have told me that treated bunks are bad for the aluminum.

[@Cerus98]

Perhaps you should trust the people who built the trailer and not random internet “experts.”

[@boatinglessons]

I have never heard that before. Certainly the treated bunks will last much longer. I would tend to think about leaving them as original.

[@ntj030885]

@@boatinglessons ok thanks. Yeah I think the idea was that the chemicals, maybe copper in the treated wood would cause the aluminum to corrode. If people with pontoons haven’t had this problem then it’s probably not true. Lol

[@SeanHorsfall]

@@ntj030885 bear in mind we are not in salt water here

[@ntj030885]

@@SeanHorsfall same here. Fresh water only. I think it should be ok considering that. I haven’t noticed any problems so far and mine is a 2012 model.

[@dodgysquirel]

In nz you never see a bunk trailer only roller ones think bunks would suit alot of people better.

[@Itsme-vo4fx]

What about those Teflon sliders that can be installed on bunks? Are they worth it?

[@toffee1889]

Short answer: No

[@wgreenjr81]

Bunk trailers are the devil's work.

[@AB-bg1or]

I just switched from a roller to a bunk and I'll never go back.

[@boatinglessons]

Likely a wise choice! What boat is it under?

[@AB-bg1or]

@@boatinglessons 22’ Sea Pro CC

[@mannyruiz9011]

Bunks is the best one.

[@boatinglessons]

Most of the time, you are absolutely correct!

[@francus7227]

Not watch. I know already. BUNKS WIN.

[@boatinglessons]

FOr most people, you are correct Francus :-)