Can CE Smith Bolster and Swivel Brackets be Modified for Mounting Vertical Bunk Boards

Question:

Hello, First off - you guys are truly the best online retailer and information source on the web for trailers! Now on to business... My goal here is to use these to create some vertical mounted side bunks and I will try to explain this the best I can. If I take 2 of these on each side, and mount them to the trailer frame on the outside, perpendicular to the way they are designed to mount, and rotate the swivel bracket 180 degrees and place a 2x4 inside the L shape after rotating the bolt and nut to have the nut away from the 2x4. This will not take a lot of load, but will guide the boat to the center of the trailer while submersed. I understand that you sell parts designed to do this already, but they are expensive and do not quite meet me specific needs. Also, I can carpet my own boards. The question is, will there be enough room for the screw to bite into the 2x4 in the L shape or will the bend/bolt head push the 2x4 out too far. Also, what part numbers would I need for mounting hardware? Not u-bolt, regular bolts and star ? washers and wood screws? Thank you in advance and happy trailering!

asked by: Nicholas V

Expert Reply:

Thank you for the kind words!

I do not think there will be enough of the L bracket to properly support the boards because of the bolt head. You might be able to use alternate, lower profile hardware though obtained from a local auto parts store. The bracket is only 1-3/8 inches wide with the mounting holes centered putting them approximately 11/16 inches in from the edge on center. Subtract how far the bolt head sticks out and you are left with maybe 3/8 of an inch. Seems too close for me.

What I recommend is to replace the included swivel brackets with different L-shaped brackets obtained locally and using those. They attach to the bolster brackets with 1/2 inch hardware. And to secure the bolter brackets to the trailer frame with regular hardware and not u-bolts you would need 1/2 inch hardware, preferably galvanized to match the bracket material.

To prevent the brackets from sliding down, either from time or from weight, you would need to make sure the hardware is at the top most parts of the mounting slots on the brackets.

expert reply by: Michael H