Roller Bunk Compatibility with Aluminum Boats and Trailer Tongue Extension Options

Question

Question:

I was looking at your bunk rollers .. no where does it state if they are safe for aluminum boats?/ Also they said on your video that theres a tongue extension for your trailer so you dont need to get your truck so close to the water?

asked by: Tony B

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Expert Reply:

Our roller bunk manufacturers do not exclude aluminum boats, however, one issue that you could run into when using roller bunks on an aluminum boat is that the only support the boat's hull will have is the small surface of the rollers. If the boats hull is not strong enough to support it's weight on the small surface area of the rollers, then you could see dimpling on the hull from the rollers. A carpeted bunk provides more surface area for the boats hull to rest on.

I spoke with my roller bunk manufacturers and they said the compatibility between a roller bunk and an aluminum boat really depends on the construction of the hull. If you are not sure if your hull would be strong enough, I recommend contacting the boat manufacturer to see what they recommend.

All of the tongue extenders we carry were designed specifically for the Yakima Rack and Roll trailer or the Magneta SportsTrailers. We do not offer tongue extenders for standard boat trailers.

You could use a hitch extender to extend the boat away from your vehicle, but using a hitch extender will decrease the weight capacities of your trailer hitch and vehicle by half. For example, you could use a hitch extender like part # C45796. This extender has a maximum tongue weight capacity of 350 lbs and a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. If the reduced weight capacities of your vehicle/trailer hitch are less than the capacities of this extender, then you will need to abide by the lowest rated component in the setup.

expert reply by: John H

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Answer 1

What you describe isn't normal. Trailer axles are manufactured with a bow or crown in them, a slight arc with the high side on the top of the axle. When the trailer is loaded, the axle will straighten out so the tires make even contact with the…

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Answer 2

It might seem that the spindle being slightly bent isn't a big deal but it can definitely lead to another blowout so you'll want to replace that spindle with a new one. It looks like you have a straight spindle like the standard BT8 found as…

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Answer 3

While trailer axles do feature an upward bend like you are describing, there isn't a particular amount/measurement that is standard across the board. This bend in the axle is designed so that it will straighten under a trailer's loaded…

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Answer 4

Unfortunately, we do not sell spindle repair sleeves. However, the best way to repair a pitted spindle is to replace the whole spindle or axle. If you are interested in replacing your spindle, you can give me the spindle product number, or I will…

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Answer 5

If I am understanding you correctly it sounds like you are saying you have 2 12-foot bunks and 2 6-foot bunks. For the 12 foot bunks you would want to get 3 sets of 4 foot long bunks. So that would be 3 of the Dutton Lainson Bunks part #DL21754. For…

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Answer 6

The simplest solution may be to install roller bunks on the trailer to help you winch the boat in easier instead of using an electric winch for such a small boat. For a 4 foot long roller bunk we have the part #DL21754 which would be a great option.…

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Answer 7

We have some 40 inch cables from Dutton-Lainson #DL20119. These are the shortest safety cables that we have. We do have shorter safety chains; the shortest is #2118-605-04 at 27 inches. I have linked the safety chains and cables for you.

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Answer 8

If your bunks were 7 feet long you could still use a set of the Boat Trailer Standard Roller Bunk #dl21754 that you referenced butyou'd most likely want to cut off one of the rollers on one of the sets to allow it to fit properly. These are each…

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Answer 9

In order to achieve their 2500 lb weight capacity, the Dutton-Lainson #DL21754 roller bunks need to be installed to the narrow edge of a 2 x 4 piece of lumber. If the roller assemblies aren't mounted to boards, the weight capacity would be…

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Answer 10

You can install the 4' Long Boat Trailer Standard Roller Bunks #DL21754 directly on top of your carpeted wooden bunks (without removing the carpet first). These have a weight capacity of 2,500 lbs per set so 4 roller bunks would be very…

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Answer 11

For your application I recommend installing roller bunks as well as some guide-ons to help make loading your boat MUCH easier with your conditions. The Caliber Marine Teflon Slides look like they would help to make loading/unloading the boat easier,…

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Answer 12

For a set of 5 feet long roller bunks that you could attach directly to your wood bunks you would want the part #CE27710. These are even CE Smith roller bunks like the trailer you have. I attached a review video for you to check out as well.

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Roller Bunk Compatibility with Aluminum Boats and Trailer Tongue Extension Options

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