Pontoon trailer guides...

[justrfb]

Hello All.
I just took delivery of new pontoon trailer guides from Pontoon Stuff. Great guides but my cross members on my Load Rite trailer are too big to accept the u-bolts provided with the guides. Also, the mounting plate is too narrow. I am guessing my cross member is 5" squared and the guides are built for 4" cross members. Do you think 2 steel banded hose clamps (4 on each guide) on each side of the guide mounting plate, strapped around the cross members would hold the guides well enough? Thank you for your answers...

Sincerely,
Rich

[redbeard]

NO you don't want to do that the first time you load the boat the guides are gone. Instead get larger u-bolts

[moregooder]

na ya dont want to do that, just get 5" u bolts and plats. go to your local fab/welding shop he can make them up for you, or you could try a motor home/ camper dealer they also use all manner of that kind of hardware.

[steveiam]

I know this is not what you were asking but I had trailer guides for a while but still had trouble loading my toon even with the guides.
I took the white pipe off of the guides and reinstalled them on the back of my trailer,
At first I had the upright rollers instead of boards to help guide the boat in, I had a lot of trouble and would hit the gaps more than I am proud of.
I replaced the upright rollers with boards and then connected 2x4's to those boards and then connected them to the top of my trailer guides.
What this has done is it lets me enter the trailer at any angle and the boards guide the toon on perfectly first time every time, even in high winds.
I know a lot of guys mastered loading up but this is what it took me to be able to load up with out dreading coming back to boat ramp.

[SoCalAngler]

nice idea Steve!

OP....Were measurements/dimensions/sizes of hardware provided by seller? If not, seems like an unexpected cost to incur to get them to fit. Perhaps seller can send you hardware for 5" cross members.

[SoCalAngler]

If this is what you purchased (see link below), it states up to a 2"x4" frame.

Questions: Are you sure you have a 5" square cross members? If you do then.....

As suggested, 5" U bolts and a plate will not help, as the plate attached to guide assembly is made for a 2" wide frame. You would either have to have the assembly re-fabed at 5" wide (new plate welded at base) and use 5" U bolts. OR, you could return and find a set that is built for 5" square frames.

Do not use the hose clamps. They will break at first jolt!

http://www.pontoonstuff.com/pontoon-trailer-guides.aspx

[justrfb]

Hello All.
Thank you very much for the suggestions and answers. Annemarie (my wife) is a "pretty smart cookie" and she said to not use the hose clamps... I said, "what does she know? I will ask the forum and show her..." Well I showed her and she laughed. SoCalAngler, you are correct. I read they could fit 2" or 4" inch cross members. I re-read and realized (after I took delivery of them...) that they will fit 2" "X" 4"! Another great move on my part. My cross member is 3" squared. best I can tell, there are no guides made for 3" cross members. I will have to keep looking and thinking about this one... Thanks again for all the help. This forum is a good thing.

Sincerely,
Rich

[redbeard]

All is not lost you can still drill holes though the cross member and use bolts and fender washer to mount them.

[redbeard]

Just another way to go is to have a metal shop bend you a few pieces of metal and add 2x4s for your bunks. If I get to get the boat out this weekend I will take some better pics of mine. Been using bunks like this for over 40 years it one way or another hard to beat.

[Bryden24shp]

My u-bolts were too short for my trailer. I bought 2, 1/4" thick 1 1/2" wide by 12" long bands of steel at Ace and cut and drilled them to be able to drop 8, 7" long 1/2" bolts through, instead of using u-bolts.

[MH Hawker]

Their many types of gides around I have found this type to be the best.

[bobalong]

Theirt many types of gides around I have found this type to be the best.

I like these the best that I have seen. Thinking about getting some like this made, just wondering if there is reason you dont have these mounted more to the back?

[MH Hawker]

That part is under water and normally to deep to be of any real use. And this drawing may be of some help and the dementions may varie due to different toon OD`s but its a example.

[Capt Sully]

How close to the tubes should the guides be ? I don't think they should be touching nor a foot away, so how do you have yours mounted ??? This question is for anyone who has guides. Thanks,

[steveiam]

How close to the tubes should the guides be ? I don't think they should be touching nor a foot away, so how do you have yours mounted ??? This question is for anyone who has guides. Thanks,

I have it where my tube's have about a 1/2 inch clearance.
My V shaped guides direct them to that spot everytime.