Great Lakes Bass Fishing Forum
About Fishing Products including Make Your Own => Boats, Outboard Motors, Prop & Trailer Talk => Topic started by: ranger1 on March 20, 2015, 08:34:48 PM
I Know there has been many discussions on bunk and carpet replacement on this site I am replacing my brackets, carpet and bunks on my 2003 . My trailer has through bolts, I called ranger to order the brackets and bolts necessary to do this job .I was however surprised to find out from ranger that they use lag bolts to install the carpeted bunks to there trailers . It would be much easier to use lags to install my bunks but I worry about them becoming lose and falling out . My question is to those of you running newer ranger trailers with the lag bolt installation having any problems . A few of my friends say that ranger would not have gone to this set up with such expensive boats on top , However I fell that this may just be a labour and cost saving step at the factory .
Any help would be much appreciated.
They use lag bolts for the reason
The bolts (threads won't rust in wood) and you can take them off
And you never use treated wood for bunks, It will rust the bolt
Thru bolting would work,
1.) But you would need to counter drill it for the head and you'll have a smaller cross sect.
2.) there's a chance to damage the hull if the bolt came loose and the head popped up
3.) The nut will rust to the bolt so you'll need to cut them off at replacement time
4.) it cost more for the hardware and labor to install them with bolts
All in all
Lag screws in the wood works, If they become loose it's time to replace the bunks
But if you find peace in knowing the bunks are thru bolted. Go for it
I replaced the brackets on my 2002 Ranger trailer a couple years ago. Mine rusted out and separated from the trailer. The carpet on the bunks was fine. They were through bolted and a lot of the bolts spun around. I cut small slits in the carpet to get a socket on them. Then glued the carpet down when done. The bolts are countersunk. You may want to check BBC in the Ranger section. There are a couple threads there about it. A lot of guys use composite board now.
I used stove bolts threads down lock washers and nuts,covered with carpet. Treated wood works fine. Use stainless steel hardware . My bunks have lasted 7 years now.