new to bunk style trailer

[weld1]

This will be my first boat to have a bunk trailer. I have launched the alum boat from the roller tailer many many times and im wondering what to watch for and for any helpful hints? the new boat is a skeeter mx1825. thanks!

[leech~~]

I have bunks and sometimes they can be a pain at shallow launches as you need to get them in a little deeper to "float" the boat off. Especially if the bunk carpet is dry. There's really no back up quick and hit the breaks launching with a heavy glass boat and dry bunk carpet. But they do go down the road pretty nice.

[honkerhunter64]

I have a skeeter zx190 and as a general rule the "sweet spot" for loading and unloading is when the top of the fenders are just even with the water surface. Once you get used to it you'll love it. Drive off, Drive on.

[Pat K]

Spraying the bunks with silicone lube makes them slipperier for loading and launching. After launching the boat just spray them down & let them dry while you fish.

[weld1]

thanks for all the ideas! with the silicone is there a certain brand?

[leech~~]

thanks for all the ideas! with the silicone is there a certain brand?

Some Bio type I hope!

[Cheers]

At the end of the day when you back your trailer into the water back it all the way in and get the whole bunk wet and then pull forward to your sweet spot . If the bunk is wet it will load much better and you wont need spray lube .

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

I don't like the spray lube because it makes my boat squirm around while trailering. I just make sure to get the bunks wet before loading as mentioned above. I say try it without the lube for a while and see how it goes.

I did add a couple plastic slip guides on the very end of the bunks, which was perfect. They also protect the carpet on the end of the bunk from wear.

[Pat K]

I use the Gunk brand because that's what's at Fleet Farm.

As far as being biodegradable, it is dry when the bunks go in the water and I've never seen an oil slick like you get from most petro products when the trailer is in the water. But it is something to check out.

[ClownColor]

I bought the e-z slide trailer bunks. Work great.

[JohnMickish]

If you Spray your bunks there well be a fair chance you will dump your boat off the trailer at the ramp. I've seen it twice and it's a major pain getting your boat back on the trailer. Practice and find your sweet spot and you'll love that bunk.

[Bobby Bass]

I put the ez slide pads on my trailer over 20 years ago and give them a big thumbs up. Many a time I have had to launch my boat in some skinny water and I can push the boat right off. Loading is a snap and once you learn your sweet spot they make it even easier.

[MN Shutterbug]

You can put pads on roller trailers?

[Bobby Bass]

You can put pads on roller trailers?

On bunks trailers, you can buy 10" Teflon pads that you screw onto the top of the bunks. The hull rests on the pads instead of resting on the carpet.

[weld1]

thanks for the ideas guys, I did a little research and it says if its a fiberglass boat over 1500lb the ezslides should not be used so I guess that rules that out or did I miss something?

[leech~~]

thanks for the ideas guys, I did a little research and it says if its a fiberglass boat over 1500lb the ezslides should not be used so I guess that rules that out or did I miss something?

Fiberglass needs to be supported the full length or it will over time imprint the small pressure areas into the hull. That's why most heavy glass boats are on a bunk trailer.

[Bobby Bass]

Yup I checked too, looks like the glides will mess up your jell coat if you are over 1500#, well back to the drawing board for ya.. Just have to get some practice in loading and unloading, seems to be that would be a good reason just to get out and fish more!

[Pat K]

If you Spray your bunks there well be a fair chance you will dump your boat off the trailer at the ramp. I've seen it twice and it's a major pain getting your boat back on the trailer. Practice and find your sweet spot and you'll love that bunk.

You just have to treat it like a roller trailer and not unhook the boat until it is over water on the ramp, and tighten up the winch strap before pulling out.

[Wirenut]

At the end of the day when you back your trailer into the water back it all the way in and get the whole bunk wet and then pull forward to your sweet spot . If the bunk is wet it will load much better and you wont need spray lube .

Exactly, you will never want another roller trailer again in my opinion.

[delmuts]

Clown. Just keep a close eye on those, as they do wear down. A buddy had them on his Ranger. Worked great till he realized they had worn down and the screw heads were tearing up the bottom of his boat!

[ClownColor]

Clown. Just keep a close eye on those, as they do wear down. A buddy had them on his Ranger. Worked great till he realized they had worn down and the screw heads were tearing up the bottom of his boat!

Great to know, thanks!

I only put them at the back of the trailer so I have quit a few spares from the kit.

[JohnMickish]

You just have to treat it like a roller trailer and not unhook the boat until it is over water on the ramp, and tighten up the winch strap before pulling out.

You are 100% correct, but sometimes people forget or someone else launches your boat. I'll never own another roller trailer, the bunk is just way to easy to put in and out of the water. With that being said, I don't launch from real skinny water ramps either.

[Pat K]

You are 100% correct, but sometimes people forget or someone else launches your boat. I'll never own another roller trailer, the bunk is just way to easy to put in and out of the water. With that being said, I don't launch from real skinny water ramps either.

I've owned 3 roller trailers and have had my present bunk trailer for 6 years and I agree completely. I will never own another roller trailer!

[Bobby Bass]

I have had my ez pads on for over twenty years and I don't see any wear on them. But you do have to keep an eye on the screws that secured them to the bunks. I did have one back out and scrape the bottom of my hull, it was an easy fix as I just screwed it back in. Just something else I make a visual check of when loading and unloading my boat. Another tip for bunk trailers is to get the carpet wet, if you don't want to back the boat into the lake and pull it back out to the sweet spot just splashing some water on the carpet of the bunks helps. Again not a problem for me as I load and unload in a lot of skinny water and end up putting the boots on to crank the boat up the last couple of feet so I am in the water already. A bucket of water does the same thing.