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Posts: 512
| Was thinking of buying some of these to help load the boat.
Have a hard time getting the back end centered sometimes and wonder
if these would help.
any thoughts?
Dave |
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Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
They can help, but in most cases if the rear of the boat is not lining up properly, it is usually a sign that the trailer is in too deep. Before spending the cash on the guide-ons, I would say try having the trailer a little further out of the water.
If it is a roller trailer, many times the rear rollers should just be submerged. Then, when you load, the boat should center up much easier.
Steve |
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Posts: 512
| Thanks for the reply Steve, helpful as always!
I will try that before i drop a hundred on em.
Dave |
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Posts: 797
Location: North Central IL USA | VMS - 5/6/2013 9:46 PM
in most cases if the rear of the boat is not lining up properly, it is usually a sign that the trailer is in too deep.
So that's what I'm doing wrong. I thought I wasn't going deep enough??? |
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Posts: 357
Location: Duluth, MN | gregk9 - 5/8/2013 11:24 AM
VMS - 5/6/2013 9:46 PM
in most cases if the rear of the boat is not lining up properly, it is usually a sign that the trailer is in too deep.
So that's what I'm doing wrong. I thought I wasn't going deep enough???
Most of the male population can't go deep enough! Dont feel bad... |
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Location: Blaine, MN | Dave T. - 5/7/2013 8:23 AM
Thanks for the reply Steve, helpful as always!
I will try that before i drop a hundred on em.
Dave
I also had problems keeping the back end aligned with the trailer properly on my aluminum single console boat... Finally had the thought to stand in the middle of the boat when loading instead of allowing my chubby butt to cause a bit of a list to the starboard side. seemed to help me a bit... |
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Posts: 512
| Never thought of that, could help.
I think if i put the rollers on it would make it even harder to squeeze into
my garage, so may just stay the course.
Its usually close, but isnt in the gap of the 2nd front guide on. Bugs me to
see it like that..
thanks guys
Dave |
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Posts: 422
| I 2nd not putting trailer in so far....I back my trailer in to the point where the step on the fender just touches water. Also, I stopped trying to drive on to the trailer...Made life much easer and quicker at the launch. |
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Location: Oconto Falls, WI | This is interesting as in the past I had bunks, and on my new boat this year I was talked into rollers. So far I hate them. Out of the three times I loaded the boat only once did it load straight. Other two times were way to one side. I went as far as trying to have half the back roller out of the water and crank it all the way on, and it still loaded to one side. It appears if the trailer isn't perfectly level I will have problems. That isn't always an option.
I miss my bunks already.  I hope I figure it out. Farther out of the water hasn't fixed my problem.
For conversation sake those thar are having problems like me what boat are you running? I am in a Lund this year, and know a few other Lund owners that have similar issues. Curious to know if for whatever reason it is something particular to a Lund loading. |
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Posts: 470
Location: Blaine, MN | Crestliner 1750 on this side... sometimes I was so crooked it was almost embarrassing... seem to have gotten better at it, but not always perfect like I want it...definitley doesn't help when the launch has some irregularities... next trailer will without a doubt have bunks. |
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Location: Elk River, Minnesota | I have a 2005 alumacraft and it doesn't always load straight (sometimes it's me, sometimes its the launch, sometimes both). My boat is small enough that if it is off, I can go to a back corner and push it (get the boat rocking back and forth) and center it too. Pain in the butt to do, but sometimes it needs it.
I have found on irregular landings to load a little to the high side of the trailer. As the boat goes up, it centers a little better.
Another trick I use (and this is really nice if you have an offset spare toward the front) is if you are loading by yourself with a roller trailer, run the boat up on the trailer. Once you cannot easily move the boat further toward the winch post, Keep the motor in gear, but at a high enough RPM to hold the boat in place,. Quickly hop out and hook up. then, winch it up the last couple of cranks, hop back in and turn the motor off, tilt up and go..
No doubt to load straight every time, a bunk trailer is the way to go. My next boat will have bunks under it as well...
Steve |
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Posts: 1168
| CiscoKid - 5/9/2013 1:26 PM
For conversation sake those thar are having problems like me what boat are you running? I am in a Lund this year, and know a few other Lund owners that have similar issues. Curious to know if for whatever reason it is something particular to a Lund loading.
Single console Lund on a roller trailer... No issues but when I first got it, it did take a few times to get used to the quirks. After those were out of the way it's a snap.
I'll load up differently depending on the launch but the key is to get the thing as level as possible. On launches you use frequently get to know where those sweet spots are and if you have to angle your trailer in one way or the other. Bunks are more forgiving if your trailer is not in the water even.
Most of the time I can run the boat up a good distance on the trailer with the big motor...just get some momentum going and put it in neutral and let the momentum run you up on the trailer. From there hop out, hook the strap on and crank away. If the launch is steeper this isn't as effective and you might have to crank it farther up but big deal.
Unless I went to a glass boat I don't think I would switch away from rollers. |
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Posts: 512
| yes my last two boats had rollers, and there are pros and cons.
i fish in the spring in Florida, and their lakes are really low, so if i didnt
have rollers i wouldnt have been able to fish a few of em'.
So i think in my case at least, rollers are a must.
But i agree alot depends on the ramp itself..
Dave |
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Posts: 373
Location: Maine Township, MN | Alumacraft Classic 165 CS Side counsel. I back the trailer until the rear of the wheel well is wet, then power up to the bow eye with the engine still engaged, clip in, then cut power and trim up and done. That's the best way I've found. If I crank it up, it gets crooked. I'm going bunks next time. I've seen 20' Skeeters and Rangers load and unload in some pretty skinny water... |
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Posts: 1906
Location: Oconto Falls, WI | So what I have noticed since I last posted on this thread. I finally am figuring out how to load and wanted to tell others my findings in case they were still having issues like I was. Many here said to not put the trailer in as far as you would a bunk, and I was told the sae thing from my dealer. However after thinking about it a bit, and not knowing what else to try, I have found I need to put the trailer in as deep, or deeper, than I did with my bunk trailer. Reason being is the keel of the boat was hitting the plastic covering on the back cross member of the trailer. That in turn was causing the boat to ride up the trailer wherever it hit. So if it didn't hit perfectly centered the boat would load to one side. By putting the trailer deeper it no longer hits that plastic covering, and this has greatly helped in centering the boat.
It still loads a bit to one side but I can live with it. |
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roller guide on for trailers