bunk replacement options

[love2fish]

Hey team, so I got a newer trailer for my boat a few weekends ago: tandem axle Magic Trail. Have a few questions about the bunk setup/layout and would like to hear some options/opinions.
- currently it has 2- 2x8 bunks that are supported by swivel top brackets. a total of 3 per bunk @ 5' gaps.
- the cross members on the trailer are the C-channel cross-members (I know the square tubes are much better)...
-I would ultimately like to have a beefier bunk of either 2x8 or 2x10 on their edge similar to what gman did on his conversion.

does anyone have a picture of their trailer with my style cross members and the Vertical bunk brackets?  or have any suggestions. My concern is that I've only seen the brackets with the 3" gap and my cross members are 2"

Or should I stick with what I have and just rebuild the bunks and make sure they are directly under the stringers?

What I'd like to have a set up similar too:


What I'm working with now:


(no thats not my boat)

Thanks!

[kraw2]

I didn't see what size boat you have. Are the last pictures of a trailer just like yours?

The 2x6 bunks shown in the pictures are not strong enough unless it's a small boat. You could glue and screw (2) 2x6 boards together with new carpet and that would work fine with the aluminum channel frame you have.  Most of the weight is supposed to be on the bunks. Not the rollers. The boat ahould rest on the bunks and the rollers adjusted up to the hull.

[gman 82 aquasport]

Looking at your pics, a couple of options come to mind...you could make some brackets for mounting a set of double 2x8 or 2x10 bunks by getting some 4" x 6" ,1/4 inch angle and make your own, you would have to find someone who could dip them or get them really well painted so they would not rust as easy..
Or you could buy some brackets that are high enough to hold your bunks and just redrill the holes to fit your crossmembers using 1/2 inch u-bolts....you could position them where you need them...
Just remember to take some good measurements of how high it is now off the axles and crossmembers, from the looks of the pics you don't want to be any closer to the axles..Of course all of this is dependant on how much the boat weighs. You want to be sure that whatever you do will hold the boat well..
As far as mine went, I don't even worry about it holding the hull up, but I will this fall add a little bit to the front of the bunks to match up with the hull a little bit more, where the hull curves up to the bow on mine the last 18 inches of bunk is not touching the hull, it's only about a 1 1/4 inch gap at the end of the bunk, but I am going to put a fill piece in there anyway(my bunks are 10 ft long)...Just early Sat. morning thinking

[gman 82 aquasport]

I would also be a little concerned that one of the hull chines is setting on the bunk( if thats your boat with the flat bunks) Just me and I tend to have a "unique view of things" as my wife says.. :pirat:

[GoneFission]

I would also be a little concerned that one of the hull chines is setting on the bunk( if thats your boat with the flat bunks) Just me and I tend to have a "unique view of things" as my wife says.. :pirat:

Gman - you are right.    The bunks should be slightly inboard of those chines - and that would put the bunks under the stringers where they should be.  

[love2fish]

Appriciate the heads-up and feedback... the boat in the pictures is from the previous owner who had a boat temporarily stored on the trailer before I got it (not my boat, not an aquasport).

[wingtime]

Roadasprin put new bunks on his trailer.  He had some HUGE ones cut for him out of cypress at a lumber yard in Dade city or something.  I think he paid $60 bucks for them or some really low price.  Them picked up the hardware to mount.  PM him for more info