Roller or Bunk trailer

[Fishn1]

Looking at getting a new 18ft aluminum boat, it has a roller trailer, would a bunk trailer be better as far as support of the boat and ease of loading? Also woulsd you get a galvanized or painted trailer? Thanks.

[MarkG]

Bunks generally offer better support and are a bit more forgiving if the boat is on a little crooked. But support and ease of loading all still is dependent on the design and quality of the trailer itself.

A high quality 4 bunk setup such as a Trailmaster custom ,or an Eagle custom will likely be superior to most any roller . Don't skimp on capacity. Make sure you have reserve.

Never had any problems with a painted Trailmaster. Mine is 9 years old,only has a few paint nicks,but other painted brands I have owned looked pretty bad after just a few years.

[rebs]

I have a roller trailer and at one point changed it to a bunk. I have since went back to rollers for ease of launching and loading. I found out with bunks that I had to back in the water further to load and unload and at quite a few ramps it was not easy. At one ramp I almost dropped the trailer wheels off the concrete to get in far enough to float the boat off the trailer.

[yarcraft91]

Originally Posted by rebs

I found out with bunks that I had to back in the water further to load and unload and at quite a few ramps it was not easy. At one ramp I almost dropped the trailer wheels off the concrete to get in far enough to float the boat off the trailer.

That's a very important consideration here in Michigan. The Upper Great Lakes are near historic low water levels and have been for years. In Saginaw Bay, wind-driven lake level changes make it even worse. There are some public launches on the big lakes where I was able to launch and people with similar-size boats on bunk trailers just went back home. You can launch and retrieve with a roller trailer without wetting the rollers. Not many boat/bunk- trailer combinations will allow that.

[Hot Runr Guy]

I took the all-roller EZ Loader under my 17' Lund and converted the rear carriage to bunks, so that when I load by myself there's no issue with the boat rolling back off. Plus, it probably offers more support where most of the weight is.
HRG

[ffishman]

Boats spend the majority of their life, sitting on the trailer. Ergo, the more support, the better. Bunks do the best job of that.

[MarkG]

Originally Posted by Hot Runr Guy

I took the all-roller EZ Loader under my 17' Lund and converted the rear carriage to bunks, so that when I load by myself there's no issue with the boat rolling back off. Plus, it probably offers more support where most of the weight is.
HRG

Thats a great idea ! Bunks on the rear give good support for the heaviest part of the boat. You can always get the rear to float enough,even in a shallow ramp.Then roll the rest of the way off the rollers. Nice job !

[stinkycat]

Originally Posted by Hot Runr Guy

I took the all-roller EZ Loader under my 17' Lund and converted the rear carriage to bunks, so that when I load by myself there's no issue with the boat rolling back off. Plus, it probably offers more support where most of the weight is.
HRG

Great Idea!

[Hawker]

Originally Posted by Hot Runr Guy

I took the all-roller EZ Loader under my 17' Lund and converted the rear carriage to bunks, so that when I load by myself there's no issue with the boat rolling back off. Plus, it probably offers more support where most of the weight is.
HRG

Good looking conversion on that trailer HRG! Have not seen one done like that before, but great idea!!

In response to OP, very few roller trailers seen here in Oklahoma actually! Luckily most all of the boat ramps here on our lakes are concrete or "paved" ramps that extend way out into the water allowing power loading, the seemingly preferred method here. If, in the area you live and fish, power loading is not an option, a roller trailer would be your best bet. While a bunk trailer affords much better overall support of the boat sitting on the trailer, it also means you have to get the trailer deeper, or further into the water than with a roller style, so take into consideration where you'll be doing the majority of your loading/unloading and base your trailer type choice on that!

[Hot Runr Guy]

Originally Posted by Hawker

Good looking conversion on that trailer HRG! Have not seen one done like that before, but great idea!!

Thanks for the comments guys. Actually, I can't take credit for the idea, my first boat, a 70's Starcraft 16' SuperSport had that style trailer under it when I bought it. Over the years, did the same conversion under my 18' & 21'ers, as well as my current rig.
HRG