Trailer guide on

Since I got current boat it’s had just the right side roller guide on left. Not sure where the left one went but it hasn’t been too big of an issue though I’ve been thinking it’s time to replace it with a new full set. So from a loading function standpoint is there any benefit to either roller or bunk guide on? Trailer is a galvanized Karavan roller trailer so from an aesthetics standpoint rollers would look better, but less concerned about look if bunks would do a better job of guiding the the boat when I’m not lined up quite right.

I love my vertical posts. Sst tube with PVC tube over the sst.

They are about 13″ above the boat when boat is on trailer.

I can dunk the trailer deep or shallow, waves or not, and drive right on!

Mine don’t extend all the way to the gunnels which makes them a bit useless. Mine are also soft aluminum which means they flex in heavy current if you use them as guide and hit them coming in.

What I like are they have a rubber roller which helps with beating up the boat.

I’d get tall ones like FBRM, in galvanized steel, with a rubber roller.

Here’s mine. I have since lengthened the guide ons as described in first reply.

They sure are nice for loading and very visible when backing up empty trailer.

Mine are set to pinch the boat pretty good.

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Ok, that was going to be my next question was if it’s better to set them right to the rub rail or give yourself an inch of room either way. The one guide still on the trailer is about am inch from touching if I’m lined up perfect right now.

I prefer positive contact. It’ll squeeze it into the correct position everytime.

I’ll bet I’m -1″ on each side.

Any of the shorter models will never be set perfect because depending on the depth in water, it will contact a different section or width of hull. My guiding off the top of the boat there guides are set to the correct width for any depth in the water.

I really like the idea of seeing an empty trailer.

Think something like this would work like FBRM describes? I like the idea of it being adjustable, longer trips I like the travel cover in as it pulls a lot smoother so I could tuck them down and away to put the cover on and them have them up and tight to the rub rail for loading. Or something like this, being adjustable, probably not strong enough to do very much ‘guiding’ aside from a visual aid standpoint? (40″ should put my rub rail just about centered on the roller, maybe just above center).

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Bunk guide ons have more surface area with the potential to keep the boat from twisting. That being said I’ve always thought they were meant 1rst for visual assistance and 2nd for contact and control in high wind and current conditions. If you want a really tight fit you will have scuffs and rash as a result. It’s your choice how to adjust them but be aware many will bend if hit with much force. I bought my fishing buddie’s rig last year and told him it was hard getting past the sight of him ramming the guide bunk time after time.I then set his trailer up correct for the boat, moved the guide bunks out and never hit them again. Good luck with your decision.

Boat already has enough dock rash for 4-5 boats combined (was a DNR boat when new, guessing that part of its life is where it all came from). I don’t like coming in ‘hot’ to the trailer so any impact wouldn’t be very hard, more of a gentle nudge.

I’m probably being overly picky about having it centered just right, I can get it consistently within 2 to 3″ of perfect center now but when it’s cocked to one side or the other it just bothers me the whole way as I can see it everytime I look in the mirror. I really like this roller trailer, but was the one nice part of my previous boat/bunk trailer, the strakes pretty much self centered the boat on the bunks for me, and that one was light enough if they didn’t that I could push it myself, not so much with this one.

I’ve rammed mine pretty hard on many occasions…I mean I only launch nearly 200x a year.

I’ll ram one side it’ll bounce me to the other side all while moving forward it centers and perfect loading every time.

Bent them….NEVER
Do they flex… Yessir.

Id be careful not having them tall
Enough, waves and boat rocking may have your boat sitting on top the guide. That is why I increased my height.

My last boat had the bunk guide ons. They are worse that my current ones in every way.

Not only do they sit low so your boat can jump on top of them in waves, but your hull isn’t straight up and down so there is no way to set them so they guide your boat on in any condition… They’re more like bumpers in bowling, will prevent a gutter ball but won’t make a strike.

Gotcha, I’ll have to re-measure again and see just how much clearance I will need minimum. Then hoping I can drop a few fathers day hints.

https://www.extrememax.com/mobile/Product.aspx?id=37569