boat loading issue

i’m running a 16′ v bottom (pretty wide, fairly flat bottom toward back) on a single axle karavan trailer with composite fenders. i’ve tried loading it everyway i can think of but can never get it on straight. i only have about an 1-1/2″ – 2″ on each side between the fenders. it tends to go to one fender or the other everytime. i hate to re-dip the thing till it sits straight and block the ramp, but don’t like driving home with it rubbing the whole way. should i add a keel roller? if so where. thinking the middle cross member. hope some of you guys have run into this and found the trick.

Is it a Lund? If it is I dont think it possible, I ended converting my roller to bunks and never had a problem after that

i have a karavan trailor and a 17 1/2 foot alum. boat with a single counsil and i very rarely get the boat on perfectly straight but the boat does ride above the fenders so i don’t know if you can adjust the hieght of the rollers, also some times when i load in a good curant on the river it can get real off center but i’ve found that i can get the boat to slide over by rocking the high corner up and down (not easy with a boat this size but can be done) as for insalling keel roller i would not do it because if when loading if you don’t hit that keel roller right on you are screwed.i hope this helps and good luck

it’s auctually an ’06 lowe, trailer = very low pivoting bunk and sits between fenders.

My Mr. Pike does the same thing on my karavan trailer. But it sits up high enough not to hit the plastic fenders. You can shoulder it over in the parking lot to get straighter. I just live with it.

you should be able to get or make some sort of guide posts. i had the same problem with my combo. i found using some flat stock and pvc piping to be very effective.

If I back my trailer too far in the water I have the same problem. If I back in with 1/4 to 1/3 of my bunk in the water it makes all the difference in the world.

Get bumpers installed on your trailer. I got the ones that are made of PVC, and stick up about 3-4 feet from the trailer. They don’t cost that much and are easy to install. Putting my boat on my Karavan trailer (with rollers) is a piece of cake now. And a bonus to having them is when you are backing up an empty trailer, they make the trailer location MUCH easier to see behind your boat.

There tends to be a sweet spot on the trailer for the proper depth to put the boat in the water I found it’s between the back of the fender being in the water and the further back roller being in the water, but not so much that the next set of rollers closer to the car/truck is under water. Took me three years to figure this out, works almost everytime then, of course the launch can be the biggest problem, sometimes there are just funky and they aren’t going to allow you to put your boat on straight, mostly the really deep or steep launches.

Number 1 problem for me with my Karavan trailer was putting it in too deep, let the rollers do the work and they should center the boat pretty darn good, most of the time. (I was running a Lund Rebel 1650 SS)

In fact I think most people probably put their trailers in too deep and it causes problems. I now have a Ranger Bunk trailer for my boat (Ranger) and it’s hands down the best loading trailer I’ve used, goes on perfect and straight, everytime no fussing as long ans I’m not too deep.

Sure I like my trailer now, but there are many of days I miss a roller trailer. I’d much rather deal with misalignment issues then having to power my boat up on the bunks in shallow water. Some of the launches I use are pretty poor and really shallow and they plain suck for heavier boats with bunk trailers.

The number one mistake to loading a boat is backing too far into the water, especially with a roller bed trailer. If you haven’t given that a try mess with that and perhaps you’ll find the “sweet spot.” Kurt

i cant get my boat straight on the trailer, it may take me up to 45 minutes sometimes getting the boat bk on. very frusterating. anyone know a complete trailer buff that knows it all on trailers that may be willing to take a look and see if they can fix my trailer. obviously i would want to pay them well. thanks.

Kurt is absoultly correct–if the trailer is to far in the water the centering rollers donot work–bunk or roller the fenders should be a fourth out of the water give or take a little–good luck –snagged

I have to agree with whats been said earlier. Go to the ramp and try different water depths, trailer wise, and find that sweet spot. Each ramp will be slightly different but once you get that right depth established for one ramp, it gets easier to “read” other ramps you encounter.

BTW, When you go to practice your loading procedure, Please do it on a slow day at the ramp.

I have a Lund Angler SS 17. with a Shorelander roller trailer…FRUSTRATION was all I could say…until someone said pull your trailer 3 more feet out of the water. Basically the back rollers are just out of the water.

Now my bow might be off an inch or so…but the back is always right on. I do have the guides on the trailer too.

I would agree that you have it to far in the water.Same thing with my old Lund if you had it to deep in the water the center rib wont hit and follow the rollers up.Also if you have a kicker or the boat leans to one side can be a problem.When loading try to shift your weight to level the boat so it goes on the trailer level and catches the rollers.

believe me guys i’ve tried it all. deep, shallow, everything. the best so far is to throw it in deep to wet the bunks then pull it out as far possible then fight it after that. i was thinking a keel roller would let me pull a little farther out to help center. every one keeps refering to their roller trailers but this is just a carpeted bunk with some short side centering bunks. i’ve even moved those as close as possible. i can move the fenders out a little but then my tire clearance on the back would be pretty small.

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the best so far is to throw it in deep to wet the bunks then pull it out as far possible then fight it after that.

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When you have a bunk trailer, it is best to wet the entire bunk first, then choose how far the trailer is out of the water. You’re getting the hang of it.

I have a bunk trailer, and it seems more difficult for me with a steep landing, but then someone else maybe likes steep landings.

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but this is just a carpeted bunk with some short side centering bunks.

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Now that info would have been helpful in your first post

You might look to see if there would be any advantage to changing the width spacing on your support bunks. Depending on the exact configuration of the hull, relocating the support bunks may help the boat to center.