Trailer Guides

[pcryer]

Thinking about buying a pair of these. Any pros or cons that anyone could think of would be great.

Thanks!
http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product ... rchID=4005

[pcryer]

Sorry, forgot to include the link. I have now edited the original post to include the link.

Thanks!

[Bamby]

Though guides are very beneficial and useful, the vertical upright guide posts are in a since as useless as tits on a boar hog. Try to find a supplier of the style posted below and I guarantee you'll be a happier for the long run.

2010-03-13_213016_image2357.JPG (130.62 KiB) Viewed 5591 times

[lakerunner]

Bamby is right find you a welder and have him make some L brackets out of at least 1/4 steel. To these attach a carpeted 2X6 or 2X4 at least 10ft long. have them made to clamp on using U bolts. Fit them no more than 2 inches from logs. Those you show are not very good and have no bracing to keep from bending in high wind or wave conditions.

[pcryer]

We have the above type and my husband hated them and took them off. Anyone with a triple want to chime in? They seem harder to load than the doubles.

Thanks again for any help and/or suggestions.

Happy Pontooning

[stickman]

I'm with you on loading the triple. Two weekends ago, as we tried to load ours in a busy launch, I ended up with the tubes up on the bunks instead of nestled down between them. Had to back the trailer back in the water and while standing on the dock, push the stern of the boat over to try to line it up. Of course, I couldn't see the trailer in the dirty and churned up water, so I guessed how far to push. Out comes the trailer, and - you guessed it - now I'm too far the other way. Back in for another try. I'm sure I didn't endear myself to anyone else waiting, so I decided I need to get guides.

I planned to order some this week and have been debating on which ones to order. I have the 36" center PTX tube on my toon so may not be able to use something that is too wide. I'm trying to decide between a style of inside guides or the outside style. The outside (tall) ones would certainly make it easier to see when loading, but the inside guides would center the toon like my old v-bottom ski boat did.

I'll be watching/waiting for responses you get...

[curtiscapk]

I have a two log sometimes I get lucky and have no problem. Other times I am just a little off (resting on the top corner of the bunk), I did find out that two or three people can squat down and nudge it over with their back, so you don't have to refloat. Having said that yesterday in 20 mph straight cross winds, we were more than a little off and couldn't get the transducer bracket back over the bunk, so we did have to refloat and boat hook it back over. I do have some inside guides of course the back ones are missing, which I consider the most important. So I think with the two rows of inside guides and if I purchase outside back ones we will be good.
I just hope they can take a smack or two!

[margaritaman]

I have the tall guides on the outside and the low guides on the inside. Sometimes the inside ones are hard to see that is why the tall outside guides help. Once you get the tips of the pontoon between the four guides you are locked in and even in a cross wind the guides will hold the pontoon straight. I only have a couple of inches clearance between the pontoon and the guides so the boat cannot drift either way.

[dockholiday]

The old toon had the rollers on the outside of the toons. The one I have now has rollers on the inside. Just seemed easier with them being on the outside, although now I just line up or concentrate on the bunks. Far as a tritoon, if the port an starboard toons are dead on the middle one just takes care of it's self. Everyone seems to like the boards better, but I have never had any problems with the rollers.
doc

[woolznaz]

I have a triple tube. My guides are just like the ones Bamby showed in the picture. The guides run along the inside of each outside tube. There is plenty of room to get the center tube in between those guides as the guides are just about 2" inches away from where the outside toons need to rest. There is no guide for the middle tube. My guides do not come all the way back to the back of the trailer (it looks like Bamby's do), but probably just about 1/2 way back. I did not like that at first, but then I realized that if they came farther back they would be too deep to do any good (at least on the ramp I have been using -- it's kind of steep).

I have only loaded it a few times so far, and once in a decent cross wind. This system seems to work well for the triple tubes. Once you get against the guides, the boat has no choice but to load right.

I'm new at this, but so far I would definitely recommend guides like this (see Bamby's picture) even for a triple tube. Hope that helps.

[TarheelBorn]

curtiscapk, are those available to order, if so where. I just bought my first pontoon and we seem to always have crosswinds at the coast. I like the roller type you have there and wanted to see where I can get them. They look pretty sturdy. Thanks

[lakerunner]

curtiscapk, are those available to order, if so where. I just bought my first pontoon and we seem to always have crosswinds at the coast. I like the roller type you have there and wanted to see where I can get them. They look pretty sturdy. Thanks

Those are standard POS Tracker guides

[curtiscapk]

Damn LR

this boat is 17 years old and if the back ones had been on there I prob wouldn't have any problems!
Tarheal,
I wish I could point you where to get em, Although LR does have a point they get lose real easy and move back to the inside a couple of inches. I am going to brace em so they stay in one place. They were already on there and I don't buy anything I can rig. With that being said I will buy some rear outside braces as stated above.

[pcryer]

I'm wondering if you can use the roller guide ones like curtiscapk has on a triple with lifting strakes.

[TarheelBorn]

Do you think the roller guides will do better. For any of the guides, is it best to place them on the second or third crossmember from the back of the trailer? I was thinking, if using the roller guides. 4 would be better than 2. Any thoughts?