Bunk trailer question
 

Sorry if this questions seems stupid but I have to ask. I just took delivery today of a Nextrail trailer for my '03 33 Outlaw. It is the standard bunk trailer. I was planning on having the local marina lift me onto the trailer. They use a travel lift w/ 2 straps. Can this be done on a bunk trailer w/o the strapg getting caught between the hull and the bunk? TIA

Maybe, maybe not. Gonna depend on where they have to put the straps and where the bunks are. Why not just have them put the boat in the water, then load it on the trailer???

NO!!! If the bunks are out of position just right it can damage the bottom of your boat. Must be done out of the water. They should be able to do it with the straps.

Griff, if I have no choice, that's what I'll do, however, I was trying to avoid that at least until the bunks are adjusted and set.

Madcow, I posted before reading your post. It certainly makes sense.

fatdaddy i too just took delivery of a nextrail bunk trailer and the marina used the big fork lift to set it on after adj. the bunks and it was fine. also how do you like your trailer ? mine has dual axel with brakes and mag wheels with spare tire nice trailer and a great price!!

Not disagreeing Madcow. Just don't know. My thought would have been if you put the boat on the trailer in the water and things aren't right when you pull out, you put back in with no damage.

I understand how you could see if the bunks are going to align with the hull or not, from the straps better then when at the ramp.

. Although if they didn't align at the ramp. Would that damage your bottom, as long as you didn't leave it that way and drive away ?

I have seen boats at the ramp, when you pull them out they are not just right. So you back in and get them straight and then pull them back out.

I would be more nervous with the straps if "strap" decals were not on the boat, and if the boat has never been on that trailer.

Again, I am speaking from opinion and or observation. I have no experience with straps. I just know they make me nervous.



Over & Out,
Dano

Been there done that with a Nextrail (actually Towmaster a few years ago. Don't make this more complicated than it is folks....if it's a conventional V, just take a tape and measure the center to center on the boat bottom where it's going to sit on the bunks (on the flat just "below" the second strake I'll bet). Move the bunks to this measurement apart, also equidistant from the side frame so you're "boat position" is in the "middle" of the trailer. Move the winch stand ahead (towards the truck) some and float on man! Throw the winch strap or a safety chain on it and pull it up the ramp slow and see where your at (damn close I'll bet). You want the bunks "pinching in" snug against the bottom. Geez...this is not rocket science...tape measure, ratchet, and some sense...setting up this trailer might take you 30-40 mins at the ramp with one other to assist. You'll end up moving the winch stand from you're first day position the boat seems right at (the first day will be a guess, as the bunks extend beyond the transom a bit on these trailers..so you can't go by that) fore or aft ...as you tow it a couple of times so that the tounge wieght is right over the next couple times you load it. They are an unbeatable trailer for the money!!!

Another tip: take a sledgehammer so you can "tap the bunks for incremental movement in or out without loosening the u-bolts completely that hold the bunks in position. Trust me! If you are close to perfect...and "loosen" U-bolt nuts "loose" to move the bunk you will loose you're position altogether, Just loosen the nuts enough after you get real "close" to budge the bunks sideways with light taps of the sledge. ;)

I also purchased a Nextrail Trailer. I have a step hull so it took a few times in and out at the launch ramp to get the bunks straight. This is a shot of the trailer before I set the bunks. I had my old marina put the boat on the trailer so I could go to the ramp to adjust the bunks. I made sure I did it during the week so I wouldn't be rushed or piss fellow boaters off at the ramps. I also took a few measurements and marked the trailer where I thought the bunks should go before taking the boat to the launch. Once I launched the boat I had a buddy watch the boat while I set the bunks.

I agree, but I bought a loadmaster trailer a few years ago and the bunks wher too far apart, and the keel hit the trailer while loadong ( Nice gouge in the bottom). Your probably right about the tape messure though.

Ahh, haa, Now I see.



Over & Out,
Dano

Madcow...understand. A tape, and even a straightedge to assure there is keel clearance is a good idea. These trailers are so "generic", measuremement before you approach with the boat is a must. The bunks are just tossed on there anywhere as it comes. Just trying to help him avoid lift costs. Although if the boat has to be launched anyway, there's probably little additional expense is sizing it up with the boat on the forks. Did you get yours from Brad S.?

Ive loaded mine from a sling many times. My trailer set up is almost identical to the picture Scheuer10 has posted above.
What we did was lower the boat down and set it were we wanted it on the trailer. The front strap cleared the front of the bunk and will pull right out. The rear strap will be pinched between the boat and the bunk so we used lift jacks (the same they use to get boats off the trailer and onto blocks) to raise the transom about 4 inches. Unhook the strap from the sling and slide it out.
Maybe Im missing something here but Ive seen dozens of different kinds (steps/no step V's) be lifted and placed this way.
What am I missing ?

We used Yard-Arms on the transom corners and a forklift tied to the bow eye to hover mine for a while, as we adjusted. We were damn close with measuring tapes first though. Many thanks to CheckmateF1 for his help a couple seasons back. Make sure the bunks meet the transom, or extend past it. The boat overhanding the rear bunks is BAD.

For safe measure if you are worried about the keel. and you have to load in the water...

Take a piece of scrap carpet and tie wrap it or duct tape it around your cross members and axles, or anything else that may bump the boat.

I have one question, I have a trailer with rollers witch I don`t like. My trailer is in good condition I was thinking of converting it to a bunk it does not seem to be to hard.Has any one tried this, Iwould like to know? I just don`t have the cash for a new one.

thanks
mark

A lot of trailers have a skid pad across the crossmember to prevent scuffing the hull. This can sometime be due to the angle of the boat ramp.

26sonic, no forkloft @ my marina. That would have made life simple. The trailer looks great. It is a 3x axle 32-34 w/ drum brakes on the 1 st axle. Does yours have the adjustable bunks for the front? Those are definitely not set. I think that they need to be raised and then turned in.