View Full Version : Trailer Rollers
Hey guys i want to adjust my trailer and install self centering rollers.
The Question i wanted to ask was do i put the 3 self centering rollers at the back of the trailer or all the way through.
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q110/mickg76/IMGP0213.jpg
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q110/mickg76/IMGP0214.jpg
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q110/mickg76/IMGP0215.jpg
Dog Catcher
17-02-08, 01:00 PM
Personally I would not waste my time with rollers.
If anything just add skids to top of existing supports skids are much much better than rollers & dont have any maintenance
hey Dc im am going to replace the skids but my rollers are shot. So i got some self centering ones just need to know where the best spot to put them.
You mean these 1's Mick, or the spring loaded roller 1's
Mr Potato Head
17-02-08, 06:25 PM
DC, post a pic of your setup....
It is really amazing... Even his big boat is a breeze to launch and retreive...
storms72
17-02-08, 06:53 PM
Greg he's got the self centering rollers you can get from Bias, just a straight replacement for standard centre rollers!
They are ok as long as they are the rubber or nolathane 1's, aluminium 1's are great but only for alloy hulls.
Like DC said the skids are far more important when it comes to centering the hull on the trailer.
Dog Catcher
17-02-08, 10:04 PM
Spud my setup is irrellevant to HSV's trailer & he'd have to have the trailer rebuilt to ressemble either of mine
Mick just replace the rear roller with one of those thingamajig rotating ones you're on about, they're prob as usefull as tits are on a bull but some peeps think they work.
If you're taking the boat of the trailer I would repace the whole lot or the ones that show any sign of not rolling freely, I'm not a fan of rollers & much prefer skids all the way but like I said you'd have to virtually rebuild the trailer.
Another thing when you're adjusting the roller hight let all the weight be taken up on the rollers those side thingy's are only there to balance the boat & should not have a great deal of load on them.
storms72
19-02-08, 07:55 PM
Mick, you go for it buddy and as you're boat is fibreglass I would disagree with others and say rollers are the preferred method as far as the majority of trailer manufacturers go-can't argue with the experts who make them day in and day out! Skids are fine for alloy or plate hulls though!
Have almost got mine ready for rear bar and have fitted a pair of wobble rollers forward of the rear bar to help keep everything stable and in-line, will catch up soon mate!
Mick, you go for it buddy and as you're boat is fibreglass I would disagree with others and say rollers are the preferred method as far as the majority of trailer manufacturers go-can't argue with the experts who make them day in and day out! Skids are fine for alloy or plate hulls though!
Have almost got mine ready for rear bar and have fitted a pair of wobble rollers forward of the rear bar to help keep everything stable and in-line, will catch up soon mate!
Thanks jason mate put some pics up!!!:ohhh yeah:
You mean these 1's Mick, or the spring loaded roller 1's
Hey mate, like these ones
storms72
20-02-08, 05:34 AM
You'll see it soon enough Mick!:warp:
Should add to my previous post, was commenting on skid only trailers as opposed to a combination of skids and rollers!
Dog Catcher
20-02-08, 09:53 AM
I would disagree with others and say rollers are the preferred method as far as the majority of trailer manufacturers go-can't argue with the experts who make them day in and day out! Skids are fine for alloy or plate hulls though!
I'll just point out a few things for you's & see if I can change your mind.
Irrelevant whether the boat is glass, plate or a light gauge alloy skids are far supirior than rollers.
* rollers sag & create flat spots
* rollers need maitenace whereas skids dont
* rollers only make contact @ a certain point of their circumferance whereas skids offer a far greater point of support
* rollers can get very jerky whereas with skids the boat gluides on/off with the greatest of ease.
I think the only reason rollers are used by trailer manufacturer's is because they can build a standard trailer to suit all boats & the rollers give them leeway to adjust hights to suit the boat.
Whereas with skids you really need to build the trailer to suit the boat which is going to make that trailer it's home.
Skids are far superior in all aspects just probally not a viable choice from the commercial point of view thats all.
On my wittle boat there are not even any keel rollers I went skids all the way & that boat ig a gem to launch /re-trailer in fact I can virtually pull the boat all the way without the use of the winch.
OK For what my opinion is worth if anything.
I have been building and repairing/modifying boat trailers for about 30 odd years.
What DC is saying is pretty well spot on, trailer manufacturers build their trailers to trends, the modern day trend is to have multiple wobble rollers all over the trailer. It looks good and in most cases the boat sits comfortably in the cradle created by the wobbles.
This is true when there are heaps of wobbles and they are properly adjusted.
However when, and in most cases they are NOT adjusted correctly they can't do their job correctly.
In a couple of years time you will see the trend go towards using the skid system more and more, especially with plate alloy boats.
Mick. My suggestion for your boat at this stage would be to get double rollers for all your centre/keel rollers, and get some Stainless Steel axles for the rollers.
If you want to make your trailer a drive on, you will need to do some modifications to the rear x member.
Those self centreing rollers ( I think ) are too narrow in the gullys for your hull/keel, it will do nothing for you.
And could possibly do damage to your hull.
Frank
i have to agree with D.C. on this one my poly came with a skid trailer and it is just so easy it load and unload and i do not think i could go back to using a roller trailer :ohhh yeah::ohhh yeah::ohhh yeah:
Hamuwaja
20-02-08, 03:48 PM
Maybe a dumb question, but whats a skid ???
hehehe,
My trailer has rollwrs in the middle etc, but the 2 sides are juls like 2x4's with rubber on top... the boat sits mainly on these and the middle set of rollers.
Hamuwaja
20-02-08, 03:50 PM
here is a pic of what i mean...
storms72
20-02-08, 05:02 PM
Humu, the things at the back are skids mate.
Yeah few all skid trailers around, had a couple of customers up the coast order custom trailers for plate boats they were buying and they were extremely expensive compared to the multi roller-off the shelf equivelant, was looking at my local yard at engines today and 90% of trailers there were multi wobble roller types which yes I would agree are the easiest not only for the manufacturers to make suit multiple brands of hull but also easier for the yards to set-up for the boat that ends up going on it.
Custom or home made is the only real option with skid only trailers for god knows how long, can you really expect manufacturers to have an off the shelf all skid trailer to cover the range of hulls that the current multi roller types do! Maybe a possible thing that could happen in the forseeable future would be the bare bones trailer that you can order with skids or rollers.
Hairy, obviously Polycraft either manufacture themselves or have the trailers to suit their hulls built under contract by one of the manufacturers.....Kinda similar to Hydrofield-a brand specific trailer that was built under contract for their hull shape only!
Dog Catcher
20-02-08, 06:25 PM
Maybe a dumb question, but whats a skid ???
hehehe,
My trailer has rollwrs in the middle etc, but the 2 sides are juls like 2x4's with rubber on top... the boat sits mainly on these and the middle set of rollers.
Skids is the term refered to as the sliding surface your boat travels on when being lauched/retrieved.
You've prob seen them on many a boat I'm nor a big fan of those corrogated blue ones, really think proper teflon is the ants pants as far as skids go, a bit more expensive than your white nylon though.
Talking about low centre of gravity.
This is my new Bass/Bream boat.
I built a full alloy trailer for it and I wanted to get it as low as possible, for when launching into shallow water and off a muddy river or dam bank.
http://www.fishnet.com.au/content/fishnet/images/gallery/4c6e416b-1e27-46e3-bc76-312599958e1b.jpg
The only thing wrong with it is I have to have the engine on full tilt when towing or it will bottom out.
Frank
Dog Catcher
20-02-08, 08:53 PM
Hey Frank !
Have you thought about moving the winch post forward & having a 2 stage rest for the boat ????
One for towing then a dropback when retrieving very easily done on skids
DC Not with you on this one ?
Could you do a Pauline .
Frank
It'l do
21-02-08, 09:22 AM
Hey Frank !
Have you thought about moving the winch post forward & having a 2 stage rest for the boat ????
One for towing then a dropback when retrieving very easily done on skids
DC Not with you on this one ?
Could you do a Pauline .
Frank
Got me on this one too DC, was not going to ask just lurk till the pictures went up.
Frank, I assume you prefer to trailer your boat with the motor fully down. May be all my trailers have been low but I always had to trailer with the motor/leg up.
Dog Catcher
21-02-08, 10:13 AM
Probally not worth the effort now but what I was refering to was a piveting internal craddle which rises say up to 10 inchs then drops back to current hight.
Another option much easier to do would've been a telescopic draw bar to give you an extra few feet.
It'l do
21-02-08, 11:00 AM
Got it.
Yes a bit of work so you would really want to have need to keep your motor down when trailering.
Actually when I said I built this trailer, I should have said converted this trailer.
It is true I did build it but originally it was for a 16 ft alloy boat, the guy sold his boat before I finished the trailer, so I was left with it.
I then decided to reenforce it so it could take the weight of the Lancer, and I have used it for the lancer for about 6 years, then when I got this Bass boat, I decided to use it for the bass boat and fix the lancers original trailer up as a drive on.
This trailer is now too strong for such a light boat, and I will probably make another trailer for the Bass boat, but this will do for now,
http://www.fishnet.com.au/content/fishnet/images/gallery/470e99ac-2c50-4577-ba63-d3c36c985cb0.jpg
When the motor is on the boat the skids are about the same distance rearward as what the motor is.
It launches very easily.
When I get around to fitting the Bass boat out I will make it a step by step instructional sheet so others can utilise my ideas.
Frank
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