Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Well, I bit the bullet and ordered the bunk glides for my trailer. The carpet will need to be replaced sometime this season, so, I decided to go with the slides. Here is what I ordered. I hope to get them installed in the next couple of weeks. I'll let you know how it works out.

DWill3332 wrote:Well, I bit the bullet and ordered the bunk glides for my trailer. The carpet will need to be replaced sometime this season, so, I decided to go with the slides.
I hope to get them installed in the next couple of weeks. I'll let you know how it works out.

Please do let us know... I took the cheap route this year... bought a can of liquid rollers.. I know, I know... don't unhook the winch strap until your ready to launch...

I replaced the carpet/wood bunks on my trailer with composite decking. Similar idea to the bunk glides. One day I was moving the boat from home to work, and forgot to double check the winch position. It was set in freewheel, I didn't notice until I got to my shop, but the boat had slid back 3 feet!!

I joined the toon party late last summer and was wondering why toons do not come with a safety chain at the bow eye. Well, at least mine did not and I am thinking of adding one. I do use the strap tiedowns in the rear on each tube. Do any manufacturers add them as a stock item on a toon trailer? Are they even needed? My go-faster boat has one from the factory and rear tie-downs.

Looseties
(still learning)

here is an idea. it is stock on a tracker

Is on my trailer too, except it's a chain not a cable.

My trailer came from the factory with a safety chain up front, welded to the trailer, and eyelets out back above each taillight, for straps to go from the eyelet on the pontoon log, to the trailer. I NEVER dleave the boat ramp until ALL are hooked up, and double checked, and my boat sticks on the trailer pretty bad.

I don't want to have to buy a new boat, and somone else a new car that was driving behind me.

Mine came from the factory with the chain as well....

Had a great day on the water. It was a bit windy, even had white caps in the main channel of Lake Oliver. My son Michael and two of his buddies went tubing even though the water was only about 74 degrees. They took me back to the marina and I put the slides on the bunks of the trailer while the guys took the boat out for one more round of tubing. IT took me about 45 minuttes to an hour to get it done and put everything away. The slides seem to work great. Michael put the boat on the trailer first time even with a cross wind. Once we got it out of the water, I was able to crank it up a couple of inches to snug it against the front stops without much strain on my winch strap. I am anxious to see how they work the next time I launch.

I was concerned that the slides were only 3 inches wide, but when I took a close look at the wear pattern on the carpet, it was only about 2.5 inches wide. Once I got the boat loaded, the toons are sitting on the slides and look fine.

Here are a few pictures of the slides. I have also posted a picture of the safety cable I added to my trailer. I just went to Lowe's and bought the cable, two cable clamps, and one hook. 20 minutes and it was done.

I've been thinking about this same thing due to needing to replace my bunk carpet. Does anyone think there is a chance of the glides denting or creasing a pontoon? That's been my hold back doing this. I also like the idea of just replacing the bunks with Trex or something similar with no carpet.

layne4 wrote:I've been thinking about this same thing due to needing to replace my bunk carpet. Does anyone think there is a chance of the glides denting or creasing a pontoon? That's been my hold back doing this. I also like the idea of just replacing the bunks with Trex or something similar with no carpet.

That was my concern too, but once I looked at it closer, the toons only hit 2.5 to 3 inches of the bunk anyway. They make a wider slide, but this is what the guy at the dealer sais most pontoons used.

I am not sure Trex can span that far without sagging. It is made to go on 16" center supports. Maybe someone else has experience with it.

Trex won't hold the weight. It has no structure value at all.

My trailer came with a safety chain in front and tie down eye's and straps for the back. All ways use them when moving boat. I saw a trailer with a toon loaded that had been redone with Trex, did not like the look of it, it saggy between supports which meant the cantact points on the toons was concentrated over the supports. Owner stated he wasn't happy with it and was going to re- do it treated wood.

I used to have a heck of a time loading my Baja sport boat until I installed bunk glides on top of the carpet. After that it slid on and off like a charm. I can't imagine towing any boat on a trailer without fore and aft tiedowns, NOT including the winch cable/strap. I strap my barge down just moving across the marina parking lot!

Save on the Liquid Rollers and just use cooking spray; works just as well(maybe better) and a LOT cheaper!

jimrs wrote:Trex won't hold the weight. It has no structure value at all.

X100.

The Trex is very weak.