My 2 cents . . . like others mentioned above, unless you plan on fishing smaller lakes and/or not so great accesses, go bunk. Also, don’t skimp on the trailer. Some 18′ and anything 19′ or more need a tandem axle trailer. Make sure to get a trailer with the right max load and a good bearing system.
With the Z launch cord I can launch in very shallow water with my bunk trailer, have always loved poor accesses, keeps people off.
1775 Impact XS with roller trailer.
Wish I had tandem axels. 1775 impact clocks in at 17 ft 11 inches in length. I my opinion tandem axles and brakes would make this boat much more pleasurable to tow. Not that it’s difficult, but more road control would be nice when I have my wife drive after a long weekend (need my beauty sleep lol). Anything larger and tandems would be a must in my opinion.
Love my roller trailer though but I fish some sketchy launches from time to time. Never owned a bunk. I have owned a roller trailer that was not properly matched to/ set up correctly for a previous boat and I will say that it was a nightmare loading it.
I also saw a post of a guy who had corrosion all the way through his hull where it sat on bunks. It scared me something fierce, even though I don’t do saltwater.
I’ve had both and I would never go back to a roller.
Same here,Less chance of something going wrong and dumping your boat on the ground,and less parts to fail.
I’ve had a galvanized bunk trailer for 10 years and where I fish, I’d never go back to a painted trailer or a roller trailer.
If it’s illegal to power load and you follow the rules…..a roller a day. So much easier to crank up a boat that last foot.
If you fish shallow landings without a dock, a roller with a Drotto.
If you don’t care what the sign says, get a bunk trailer and hammer down lol…
My favorite trailer to date is a roller trailer with a couple small bunks. Sort of a hybrid. Love it for launching and loading the Grady. They help to square the boat up.
There is zero damage from the rollers to the gel coat. There’s 30 of them, and they’re made of a soft rubber.
My bunk trailer for the little boat (1660 Lund Pro-V ) works fine, but the wear on the carpet makes it easy to see where most of the weight sits (a much smaller area compared to the pivoting rollers).
IMG_20200916_180019.jpg
I’ve also had both types under two similar boats. Currently have bunks but wish I had rollers again. I liked the ease of just pushing the boat into the water with a rope tied on when I’m alone. I also liked that on most ramps I didn’t need to back in very far. I would just go in until the water was at the bottom of the hubs, that way I didn’t have to worry about water getting past the seals. I also don’t like that you have to power load all the time. Some accesses I use are better suited for a roller trailer.
Bunk all day long. Will straighten out your boat on the trailer even if you come in off center (in most cases). Won’t roll off the trailer when backing down ramp unstrapped (in most cases), which I’ve seen a few times. Not good. More stable when on the road (my personal opinion, not based on any facts).
FYI I never power load where there is a sign posted. You just back in a little farther and you barely have to crank your boat up.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>supercat wrote:</div>
I’ve had both and I would never go back to a roller.Same here,Less chance of something going wrong and dumping your boat on the ground,and less parts to fail.
21 yrs with current roller trailer never had a part or roller fail . I also had a fiberglass tuffy with bunks , one of the bolts holding the bunks on ended up puncturing s hole in the bottom of the boat .
Trailers in general,take the 3 min to check your bunks and rollers, look for worn or loose parts while the boat is off. If bunks are wearing on one edge or the other, then adjust your bunks accordingly. when loading on bunks get it on as close to center as you can, stop and let the boat settle it’s self between the bunks, a light amount of power should slide you up the rest of the way to the bow roller.
I have a roller for an 18.5 tin boat. Two young kids so I feel it saves time, I just crank it on when they’re with. I fish a tournament every year on private lake with crappy access. All the ranger boats wreck their props every year, mines fine
How do they wreck there props??
Guessing it has nothing to do with the trailer more so the operator.
Lake was down and they had to power load. 5 rangers 620 with SS props
Like I said operator error. You don’t have to power load a bunk trailer. Just easier when you can.
Would have been fun to watch however.
How do they wreck there props??
Guessing it has nothing to do with the trailer more so the operator.
Bingo, I ran a bass boat for about 40 years, had 1 prop stolen, 1 prop stressed cracked, and 1 sand scuffed. I use to fish club tourney’s and local small tourney’s just about every weekend on different local lakes and never bent up a prop. The one’s that I have seen bend up props were in the most part idiots.
I’ve seen roller trailers beat holes in the bottoms of boats over time. A properly adjusted bunk trailer is far better.
Joe-winter, I have a year old Eagle trailer and the thing I like most about their bunks is that they are angled in from Back to front. Seems to do a better job of positioning your boat.
Had both and wouldnt go back to bunks
Me too – but is because of the way and places I fish. I am normally fishing very small waters (no motors) and it is either by myself or with wife (basically by myself) and have found because of the ease the boat goes off and on, it is easier for my lonesome self. Now with that being said, IF I was actually driving my boat on and off, I might go with the bunkers.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>joe-winter wrote:</div>
I assume the only reason folks choose rollers is for questionable/shallow boat launches.Does a drotto make sense for bunks though? doesnt’t the boat sit on bunks well enough to latch it without a drotto?
Yes the Drotto still makes sense if you are loading and unloading by yourself a lot.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>joe-winter wrote:</div>
I assume the only reason folks choose rollers is for questionable/shallow boat launches.Does a drotto make sense for bunks though? doesnt’t the boat sit on bunks well enough to latch it without a drotto?
Yes the Drotto still makes sense if you are loading and unloading by yourself a lot.
I assume the only reason folks choose rollers is for questionable/shallow boat launches.
Does a drotto make sense for bunks though? doesnt’t the boat sit on bunks well enough to latch it without a drotto?
Drotto with bunks makes loading and unloading a breeze. the old lady and i can get the boat on and off the trailer easy without getting out of the pickup / off the boat at the landing. nice to have dry feet and clean shoes when getting in the pickup to drive home
I am in my late 50s and looking at buying my first real boat for next summer. I know zero about trailers. But looking around this summer this is what I learned.
-The high end boats all come with bunk trailers.
-I have seen a few boats roll off the trailer at the landing. Operator error I know. But I do make mistakes.
-Boats on roller trailers have a dent/bow/bend where the rollers are. Both aluminum & fiberglass boats.
-Bunk trailers are easy to get centered loading.
Correct me if I’m wrong. I can take it. I have been wrong before.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>b-curtis wrote:</div>
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>joe-winter wrote:</div>
I assume the only reason folks choose rollers is for questionable/shallow boat launches.Does a drotto make sense for bunks though? doesnt’t the boat sit on bunks well enough to latch it without a drotto?
Yes the Drotto still makes sense if you are loading and unloading by yourself a lot.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>b-curtis wrote:</div>
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>joe-winter wrote:</div>
I assume the only reason folks choose rollers is for questionable/shallow boat launches.Does a drotto make sense for bunks though? doesnt’t the boat sit on bunks well enough to latch it without a drotto?
Yes the Drotto still makes sense if you are loading and unloading by yourself a lot.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>joe-winter wrote:</div>
I assume the only reason folks choose rollers is for questionable/shallow boat launches.Does a drotto make sense for bunks though? doesnt’t the boat sit on bunks well enough to latch it without a drotto?
Drotto with bunks makes loading and unloading a breeze. the old lady and i can get the boat on and off the trailer easy without getting out of the pickup / off the boat at the landing. nice to have dry feet and clean shoes when getting in the pickup to drive home
The very same thing can be done without the Drotto.
So many people have complicated the process of loading and unloading a boat that has made a perfect niche market for the Drotto. It would not make me any faster, safer, or more efficient with my current bunk setup, but to each their own.
We get it bucky, you don’t want a drotto. Don’t buy one.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Austin M wrote:</div>
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>b-curtis wrote:</div>
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>joe-winter wrote:</div>
I assume the only reason folks choose rollers is for questionable/shallow boat launches.Does a drotto make sense for bunks though? doesnt’t the boat sit on bunks well enough to latch it without a drotto?
Yes the Drotto still makes sense if you are loading and unloading by yourself a lot.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>b-curtis wrote:</div>
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>joe-winter wrote:</div>
I assume the only reason folks choose rollers is for questionable/shallow boat launches.Does a drotto make sense for bunks though? doesnt’t the boat sit on bunks well enough to latch it without a drotto?
Yes the Drotto still makes sense if you are loading and unloading by yourself a lot.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>joe-winter wrote:</div>
I assume the only reason folks choose rollers is for questionable/shallow boat launches.Does a drotto make sense for bunks though? doesnt’t the boat sit on bunks well enough to latch it without a drotto?
Drotto with bunks makes loading and unloading a breeze. the old lady and i can get the boat on and off the trailer easy without getting out of the pickup / off the boat at the landing. nice to have dry feet and clean shoes when getting in the pickup to drive home
The very same thing can be done without the Drotto.
So many people have complicated the process of loading and unloading a boat that has made a perfect niche market for the Drotto. It would not make me any faster, safer, or more efficient with my current bunk setup, but to each their own.
I had bunks on my old boat that rotted out and had to be replaced, but I’d still prefer bunks on my next boat. Fit seems better, and all the previous reasons. Curious what your boat shopping has found? Finally going to pull the trigger in the next year, and looking at all those same boat options in the 18-19′ range.
-I have seen a few boats roll off the trailer at the landing. Operator error I know. But I do make mistakes.
I’ve had roller trailers on my bigger boats. During the first year of ownership on my first boat I dry launched it on the ramp. Had it repaired by Lund and have never done it again in 20+ years.
I will always have rollers due to shallow ramps. A few years ago I had to muscle it off to launch since the wheels were only about half under water. Cranking it all the way on wasn’t an issue, other than time. Bunk trailers with 18+ foot boats would have had a problem.
I had bunks on my old boat that rotted out and had to be replaced, but I’d still prefer bunks on my next boat. Fit seems better, and all the previous reasons. Curious what your boat shopping has found? Finally going to pull the trigger in the next year, and looking at all those same boat options in the 18-19′ range.
BigWerm, Truth be told I have been looking for 15 years. If money wasn’t considered I would go get he new Skeeter WX 1910. I like all the boats I listed, and have ridden in most of them. My wife is also involved in the decision. FYI. If it was just about fishing for my family of 4 I would choose between the T-PRO and the Pro-V. My wife really liked the Trophy (so do I). My in-laws are getting older and will likely be fishing with us in the future (instead of their own 18 ft boat). My son’s friends and our neighbors tend to come along too. SO the jump seats make the most sense for us. I also don’t do much musky casting, so the higher gunnels don’t come into play on the Trophy. My wife likes the higher gunnels when netting and feels safer. All options had good storage for me. I also like the dash on the Trophy to have a helix-9 flush mount and a 10 or 12 on the dash and leaves plenty of room to see out. All these things are pointing to the Trophy 195 for us with a Vmax SHO 200HP. (we also live in St Peter and it feels right to support the town.)
I have owned a Crestliner and my FIL has too for 20 years. I had zero problems. I think the Pro-V and Alumacrafts ride nicer and dryer. My wife would prefer the look of the Crestliner but I don’t really care about that much. If the wife gives the final green light there is a couple in inventory with some manufacturer rebates on the 2020. Vmax 200 HP inventory might become the issue though as well as the electronics. Gonna be a bunch of foot rubs for a bit to drive this sale home. 
-Boats on roller trailers have a dent/bow/bend where the rollers are. Both aluminum & fiberglass boats.
-Bunk trailers are easy to get centered loading.Correct me if I’m wrong. I can take it. I have been wrong before.
?????
I’ve never seen a fiberglass boat with a dent/bow/bend??
Gonna be a bunch of foot rubs for a bit to drive this sale home.
Can relate!!! 
The jump seats are a must for me/us. The Lund Impact is another option, but I’d prefer the IPS 2 hull which I don’t believe they make in the 1875 model.
we also live in St Peter and it feels right to support the town.
I have nothing but love for St. Peter too, and I think the Flame and Patrick’s are still swimming in my $1 beer tabs from back in the day 
Bunk all day long. Will straighten out your boat on the trailer even if you come in off center (in most cases). Won’t roll off the trailer when backing down ramp unstrapped (in most cases), which I’ve seen a few times. Not good. More stable when on the road (my personal opinion, not based on any facts).
FYI I never power load where there is a sign posted. You just back in a little farther and you barely have to crank your boat up.
X2
Is spot on expect I never needed to power load.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
