When choosing the perfect boat trailer, many boat owners are faced with the decision of which style will serve them best. Both roller boat trailers and bunk boat trailers have advantages. Here are some factors to consider when making your boat trailer purchase.
Bunk trailers cost less, and are both simple and effective.
Pricing
First, let’s discuss the price. Bunk boat trailers have fewer parts, are simpler, and therefore cost less than roller trailers. Fewer parts and simpler is already an advantage of bunk trailers. Roller boat trailers have more moving parts and are more complex, so they cost more money.
How often do you use your boat?
A simple question to ask yourself is how often do you use your boat trailer? If you drop your boat in the water in the springtime and don’t take it out until fall, a bunk boat trailer may be a simple and cost-effective solution. A company like Trailers and Transport has a huge selection of bunk trailers for sale and you can easily inquire online.
Also, if the trailer bakes in the sun and sits out in the elements all summer long, any future maintenance on a bunk boat trailer is going to be a relatively lower cost.
With some types of boats, a bunk trailer is the only option, and with a nice system of bumpers and pads, they are a pleasure to use.
If you take your boat in and out of the water a lot, a roller trailer maybe your best option. For one, it is a very controlled launch and also easy to pull your boat out, because the winch is very slow and sure, and the boat naturally settles into the sweet spot.
A roller trailer is definitely the best choice if you are working solo, and is an especially good choice in a low tide or shallow boat ramp situation. Trailers and Transport sells roller trailers to fit any size of boat, and they are in stock and ready for delivery.
By comparison, a bunk trailer works best when pulling the boat out if you have a boat driver on board, so the driver can position the boat, and then stabilize it in the sweet spot as the vehicle pulls forward.
Maintenance
When it comes to [boat trailer maintenance **link], the bunk trailer uses carpet to pad the boat on the bottom and on the bumpers and bow placement. So it’s relatively inexpensive to do a repair in the future when the carpet gets worn.
Greasing trailer wheel bearings and inspecting tires are essential to both safety and performance.
Roller trailers have rollers to lubricate, inspect, and adjust so the rollers contact the bottom of the boat just perfectly to distribute the weight correctly. Also, if the rollers bake in the sun sitting out all summer long, they will eventually degrade and the replacement of the rollers is a little more costly and involved compared with a bunk boat trailer.
- As a reminder, boat trailer maintenance for any type of boat trailer requires keeping the wheel bearings greased. This is very important and easy to overlook since it’s out of sight.
- Secondly, make sure your lights are 100% operational with brake lights, turn signals, and taillights. This is for everyone’s safety and for your peace of mind when driving down the road. Trailers and Transport offers mobile boat trailer service as well as boat trailer repairs and upgrades at their shop.
- Third, inspect your boat trailer tires closely, especially the sidewalls. Since trailers are often in full sun, the UV rays take their toll on the sidewalls and they crack and get weak, so look beyond the tread.
Greasing trailer wheel bearings and inspecting tires are essential to both safety and performance.
- Lastly lube your winch, jack, and the coupler that clamps to the hitch of your vehicle. For any type of boat trailer parts, or for mobile boat trailer repair contact Trailers and Transport. They are the boat trailer experts in north Georgia.
So now you’ve got some pros and cons to think about when choosing whether a roller boat trailer or a bunk trailer is the perfect trailer for you. If you are shopping for a boat trailer in north Georgia, Trailers and Transport is an excellent choice because we have more boat trailers in stock than anyone in the area, and because of our sales volume, we offer boat trailers at a great price. Inquire online, and drive away with your new boat trailer the same day.
Trailers and Transport has the largest inventory of boat trailers for sale in North Georgia. Trust your investment to the boat trailer pros.
I’m using CE Smith’s Carpets for Boat Trailer Bunks to cover the bunks of a three-wheeled pontoon trailer. I cut the 18″ width to 2 – 9″ covering the top, sides, and partially covering the bottom of the #1 painted 2″ x 4″ pine board. Not covering the entire bottom, it allows the water to drain out of the wood much faster. This mat forms very well around the board and is secured with a 1/2 stainless stapler.
You may find this option more expensive compared to other brands. But, of course, you can trust this product to give you your money’s worth and offer you a better boating experience.
I have a bunk board replacement this summer to do. I also have to do some repairs on the outside of the hull up in the keel trunk area so I need to take the whole boat off the trailer to drop the keel so I can gain access up inside. While doing that I was going to investigate the keel lifting mechanism and confirm the pivot point. Probably will just replace it all since I don’t know when the last time it was done and I don’t want to do this project again.
I use a bunk trailer for a 20′ O’Day Mariner Sailing day boat that I have and it works great…. a similar deal for a 13′ Whaler we use down here in South Florida during the summertime. Not quite as easy as rollers, but for smaller boats they are proven…plus as you related much easier to maintain over the long-run. Thanks for the write-up.