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Changing trailer from all rollers to bunks
fatboy1972	#1  Posted on 02/25/12 - 6:26 PM
Member Posts: 18 Comments: 0 Joined: 08/07/10	I bought a used whaler last year and the trailer has all rollers. I would prefer to install bunks and remove the rollers. Has anyone had any experierience with this and have a recommendation on where to get parts info? Thanks, Allen
bosnsm8	#2  Posted on 02/25/12 - 6:30 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 10 Comments: 0 Joined: 08/19/11	I though whalers were supposed to have bunk trailers. Aim new to whalers so correct me if i am wrong. Cory
thegage	#3  Posted on 02/25/12 - 7:11 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 341 Comments: 1 Joined: 06/25/09	Whaler generally recommends that keel rollers carry the main weight of the hull, with bunks to help stabilize the hull. What year is the boat? John K. Edited by thegage on 02/25/12 - 7:12 PM John Kittredge 1991 16 SL - 2013 E-TEC 90
Joe Kriz	#4  Posted on 02/25/12 - 7:35 PM
Site Owner Personal Page Personal Album Photo Albums Project Albums Posts: 11447 Comments: 452 Joined: 03/18/05	We need a little more clarification here... Roller Bunks or Wobble Roller bunks are not good for Whalers.... Keel Rollers are good. Bunks are good. Also known as a "Float On Trailer".... The best trailer setup for Whalers is Keel rollers and bunks... I prefer 4 bunks, 2 long and 2 short and keel rollers at all cross members. Here is the way many of us have our trailers setup. http://www.trailrite.com/galv_-2999_s...9_sing.htm There are a few reasons why you want 4 bunks. 1. Traveling a long distance on rougher roads helps stabilize the boat more than just 2 bunks. 2. If you need to repair or replace parts or carpeting on one bunk, you just take it off. You can't do that if you only have 2 bunks without propping up the side of the boat with a jack or something similar... 3. If you only have 2 bunks and one bunk breaks or comes loose on the road, you are out of luck... Damage could occur. 4 bunks gives you redundancy and piece of mind. At least for me....
kamie	#5  Posted on 02/25/12 - 7:40 PM
Member Personal Page Project Albums Posts: 2975 Comments: 3 Joined: 11/04/05	Try Champion Trailer http://www.championtrailers.com/ilers.com/ Depending on the trailer frame you should try for keel rollers and bunks to stabilize. If not, bunks alone will do fine.
fatboy1972	#6  Posted on 02/26/12 - 5:52 AM
Member Posts: 18 Comments: 0 Joined: 08/07/10	Thanks for the responses. For clarification, its has the wobble rollers and I hate them. The hull is a mid 1970's hull in very good shape. I would prefer to change to the 4 bunk setup, along with keel rollersl. I guess that I need to get the boat off of the trailer and get some measurements. any guesses on bunk lengths needed? Edited by fatboy1972 on 02/26/12 - 5:53 AM
Mike-Conover	#7  Posted on 02/26/12 - 7:09 AM
Member Posts: 116 Comments: 0 Joined: 07/17/07	My Whaler came to me on a trailer with rollers. I called the manufacturer and they ASSURED me that the rollers wouldn't effect the Whaler hull. Long story short.... the rollers are me prime suspect in a crack that developed on the underside of the hull. Bunks are the only way to go!
Bake	#8  Posted on 02/26/12 - 8:32 AM
Member Personal Page Project Albums Posts: 902 Comments: 8 Joined: 01/30/06	Trailer parts can get expensive pretty fast. Consider going with a set up like aluminum trailers have. All you have to do is buy the L brackets and two bunks. Of course you would want to install a keel roller at the back. You might come out cheaper than buying all those parts to mount flat bunks.
rusty hook	#9  Posted on 03/14/12 - 4:54 PM
Member Posts: 52 Comments: 0 Joined: 01/01/10	I have bought 2 Whalers now and both only a bunk on each side. So I bought the proper amounts of the two piece bracket, added approx 5' treated 2 X 4's and some carpet and put these down the middle for more support and turned the two bunks towards the middle so they form a cradle for my boat. Works perfect for drive on. I also added side bunks to help guide the boat on properly. I have now added pole lights to keep my lights out of the water. The 2 piece brackets are approx $14.00 for the pair and I used 4 pair and used a 10 treated 2 X 4 and some carpet. Edited by rusty hook on 03/14/12 - 4:56 PM MY favorite two days of the week for fishing are TODAY & TOMORROW.
Silentpardner	#10  Posted on 03/18/12 - 10:08 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 593 Comments: 1 Joined: 06/12/11	I have been on the road the last 6 weeks, just now gettin' around to catchin' up around here, but I have a question regarding trailers. My current trailer has 2 bunks and three keel rollers, but when the boat is fully on the trailer, most of the weight of the boat is actually on the bunks, not the keel rollers. I would also like to modify my trailer to a 4 bunk system like the one Joe linked to here in this thread. My question is this: has anyone had trouble with the port side bunk interfering with the clamshell opening for the sump drain on the 80's to 90's 18 ft outrages? When I bought my boat it was on the trailer I have been using and the bunk was cut out to allow the clamshell to have an opening. I have noticed the carpet at the rear of this bunk pulling back from being caught on the clamshell when I unload the boat at the ramp. The trailer is a Performance brand trailer and I am pretty sure it did not come with the boat, and it seems to me that it is really not as long as it should be. I am really interested in opinions of members of the board here regarding whether or not I can successfully modify this trailer to a good 4 bunk system, or if it would be more practical to just buy another trailer more fitting for the boat. Please use the pics posted on my personal page to look at the situation. If I can do it with my phone, I will try to get a pic of the trailer without the boat on it later this week when I have the boat off it for fishing. Thanks all in advance
Bake	#11  Posted on 03/18/12 - 5:31 PM
Member Personal Page Project Albums Posts: 902 Comments: 8 Joined: 01/30/06	What a beautiful boat you have. It looks to have been very well taken care of. I see your concerns on the trailer. The first thing I notice is that the boat is hanging off the back of the bunks. That is not good. If the weight rating on the trailer is rated for the weight of the boat you need to move the winch forward to allow the boat to sit completely on the bunks. If the trailer is actually long enough to accomplish that then consider moving the bunks out a few inches to get it off the clamshell. If you can do both of those things I think you will be much happier with the trailer. I also think it is fine for the boat to be on a solid bunk like you have. It is just not good to have the bunks end under the boat like that.