FishinFool22 Posted March 13, 2015 Posted March 13, 2015 I am looking for some trailer guide post to go on my boat to help with loading. Do y'all have any recommendations on what brands to but or is there a good DIY tutorial out there to go by. It is an aluminum boat so its nothing really heavy just need some help loading when I'm by myself. Quote
Robeng Posted March 13, 2015 Posted March 13, 2015 I have a 16 foot aluminum. I bought the 5 foot bunk guides from tie down engineering (www.tiedown.com) from overtons. Make sure you have enough room to mount to trailer and keep clear of other stuff like trailer wheel etc. I've also seen 2 or 3 foot long bunk guides. I thought of using the vertical white PVC poles which you can make yourself just need mounting hardware- but have seen those get broken and I like the bunk guides. They are adjustable with mounting hardware to space out from sides of boat. I put mine to leave one inch gap from side of guide to side of boat. Hope that helps. 1 Quote
BassnChris Posted March 13, 2015 Posted March 13, 2015 I bought these for my last boat http://www.bullseyequickload.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage .........haven't had this boat long enough to know if I need them yet. Quote
Super User J Francho Posted March 13, 2015 Super User Posted March 13, 2015 Something for your boat? I just aim the bow at the bow crank on the trailer. The bunks guide the rest. Maybe your trailer is not a drive on or you are backing in too far? What kind of boat? Quote
FishinFool22 Posted March 13, 2015 Author Posted March 13, 2015 I have a 16 foot aluminum. I bought the 5 foot bunk guides from tie down engineering (www.tiedown.com) from overtons. Make sure you have enough room to mount to trailer and keep clear of other stuff like trailer wheel etc. I've also seen 2 or 3 foot long bunk guides. I thought of using the vertical white PVC poles which you can make yourself just need mounting hardware- but have seen those get broken and I like the bunk guides. They are adjustable with mounting hardware to space out from sides of boat. I put mine to leave one inch gap from side of guide to side of boat. Hope that helps. I thought about the PVC .How often have you seen breakage. I am just looking for something to help the back end line up. Something for your boat? I just aim the bow at the bow crank on the trailer. The bunks guide the rest. Maybe your trailer is not a drive on or you are backing in too far? What kind of boat? Yes. Its a 16ft flat bottom aluminum jon boat. There are two bunks on the trailer but they lay flat so they really do not do much guiding. Quote
Super User J Francho Posted March 13, 2015 Super User Posted March 13, 2015 Gotcha, I get it now. You want two bunk buddy style guides. They are adjustable and clamp on to your trailer. Cabelas has them on sale for $100. They call them mini bunks. They worked back when I had a little 15' boat. 1 Quote
EvanT123 Posted March 13, 2015 Posted March 13, 2015 I used PVC pipe, joints and u clamps. Get some PVC joints cut the pipe and use the U-clamps to attach. Heres a pic, I tried to take some better ones but there is 3 feet of snow in front of the shed. I also wrapped and epoxied cut up bike inner tubes on the the bottom part to keep the PVC from slipping in the clamp. Quote
FishinFool22 Posted March 15, 2015 Author Posted March 15, 2015 I used PVC pipe, joints and u clamps. Get some PVC joints cut the pipe and use the U-clamps to attach. Heres a pic, I tried to take some better ones but there is 3 feet of snow in front of the shed. I also wrapped and epoxied cut up bike inner tubes on the the bottom part to keep the PVC from slipping in the clamp. Do you have anything supporting the pvc? Quote
Super User Catt Posted March 15, 2015 Super User Posted March 15, 2015 Mine are 4' long treated 2 x 4s wrapped in carpet Quote
Super User J Francho Posted March 15, 2015 Super User Posted March 15, 2015 Those are perfect. I don't think mine were as long, but that's the idea. Quote
Super User Catt Posted March 15, 2015 Super User Posted March 15, 2015 Those are perfect. I don't think mine were as long, but that's the idea. The front of the bunk had 1/2" clearance per side while the back has 1" clearance per side. During inclement weather I don't worry if I'm centered...it will be! Quote
EvanT123 Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 Brady, The brackets support the PVC with a bracket on each side of the trailer frame. If you have the $$ I would probably recommend the bunk style like JFrancho and Catt have. The PVC is cheap and easy but there were times were a bunk style would be better. You guys with the bunks. I have seen 2 feet and 5 feet long bunks and low profile and regular height? Any recommendations which would be best for my boat above? Quote
200racing Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 i did mine diy. used galvanized metal conduit L's, a little scrap metal and schedule 40 1 1/2/ pvc pipe. just drilled holes through the conduit on either side of my trailer rail and used bolts and scrap metal to clamp to my trailer. Quote
Super User Catt Posted March 16, 2015 Super User Posted March 16, 2015 The whole idea of guide bunks is to keep the boat centered while driving the boat onto the trailer; a simple task until you try loading in inclement weather. If we have cross winds or currents the PVC guides do not hold the boat straight, they just give you some thing to aim at. With the 2x4 bunks cross winds or currents are non-factors; the boat will be centered on the trailer. Cost effective? You can build the bunks out of scrap 2x4s, treated or non-treated and covered with any carpet remnant. The bracket can be a simple piece of flat steet bent to the angle of the side of the boat, welded or bolted in place. I load & unload my Jon boat like I would my full grown bass boat; drive on...drive off. Quote
Super User WIGuide Posted March 17, 2015 Super User Posted March 17, 2015 Either style would work for your case. If you choose to make them yourself, I'd suggest using galvanized pipe for strength, and then use pvc pipe that fits over the top. The side bunks will most likely provide the most support along the boat and help to truly guide it on. Quote
unageo09 Posted March 26, 2015 Posted March 26, 2015 My problem at the ramp I use is the current. You are constantly trying to fight the current to keep keep the boat straight when loading. If they aren't running much current its usually not that big of a deal but some days its really a pain. Quote
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