Trailer Guides

[JHornsby3]

Hey all,

I want to put guides on our trailer. The trailer is very hard to get lined up on. I will have to weld up something custom either way as the builder is no longer around. I'm torn between just the post guides and a bunk guide. The trailer has the mounts welded to the frame for a 2.5" square tube. So if I go with a bunk guide, I can make the parts to go into the trailer but will weld a smaller tube going up the side. I'm already pushing the width going down the road and there is a few that I can't travel no.

What are the thoughts on both.

Thanks,
John

 

[HawkX66]

The guides on my trailer are a really simple looking set up and all I need. Basically the same size boat you have. There's also a center bunk up towards the front that centers it.

 

[Seapig]

Hey all,

I want to put guides on our trailer. The trailer is very hard to get lined up on. I will have to weld up something custom either way as the builder is no longer around. I'm torn between just the post guides and a bunk guide. The trailer has the mounts welded to the frame for a 2.5" square tube. So if I go with a bunk guide, I can make the parts to go into the trailer but will weld a smaller tube going up the side. I'm already pushing the width going down the road and there is a few that I can't travel no.

What are the thoughts on both.
View attachment 105666

Thanks,
John

I had guide poles at the end of our 260DA trailer. I found them too flexible to do the job. I still had to walk aft and manually hold the boat centered while my driver pulled up the ramp. The trailer had a V bunk near the bow which did a nice job of centering up front.

We became seasonals in a marina after a couple of years of trailering so I didn’t bother making a modification but it would have been fabricating side bunks.

I found that making the initial approach with the trailer a bit “dry” (more shallow) and slowly letting the truck/trailer roll backwards while winching worked pretty well except on a steep ramp.

 

[wyrman]

My post guides are removable, and rigid.
They have 2" square tubing about halfway up with pvc pipe over that.

 

[Blueone]

I had guides on a bow rider and I thought they were basically useless. Too flexible and too short on a steep ramp. I could just look down at the fender and see if I was lined up or not

 

[HawkX66]

Mine are rigid like wyrman's. They aren't just pvc like on smaller boats.

 

[OllieC]

View attachment 105671
My post guides are removable, and rigid.
They have 2" square tubing about halfway up with pvc pipe over that.
View attachment 105672

Nice trailer.

 

[JimG]

I put'm on mine... helped allot!

 

[JHornsby3]

I had guides on a bow rider and I thought they were basically useless. Too flexible and too short on a steep ramp. I could just look down at the fender and see if I was lined up or not

Not the same. You look over the side on these and you can't see anything. Unless your leaning so far over the side, you fall in. Then you can see it.

My post guides are removable, and rigid.
They have 2" square tubing about halfway up with pvc pipe over that.

I like this idea. I think I will try this first. Looks like a simple design and can be put into place before launching. Then after loading, just move back to the front and under the trailer. This will keep the width down by 4" and keep me in that sweet spot for a couple of portions of 101 between me and Tillamook.

John

 

[wyrman]

Not the same. You look over the side on these and you can't see anything. Unless your leaning so far over the side, you fall in. Then you can see it.
I like this idea. I think I will try this first. Looks like a simple design and can be put into place before launching. Then after loading, just move back to the front and under the trailer. This will keep the width down by 4" and keep me in that sweet spot for a couple of portions of 101 between me and Tillamook.

John

I can take more pics if you want. Closer, like the how it's all put together.

 

[wyrman]

Nice trailer.

Thanks, I couldn't be happier with the quality of Loadmaster's trailer, plus it's custom for my boat.

 

[JHornsby3]

I can take more pics if you want. Closer, like the how it's all put together.

That would be awesome. Thanks. BTW, I have been getting an error for the last few days, and that is why I haven't responded. I have missed this addiction called the forums.

John

 

[wyrman]

I think they speak for themselves, but if you have any questions, or need more pics just let me know.
Now to get some stuff done so I can the boat in the water.

 

[JHornsby3]

Perfect! Thanks! Now to buy some steel. I'm shocked to see there is nothing holding that PVC to the upright. I might try to fabricate the holding bracket so I'm not welding on the frame. Something more of a bolt on.

Edit: I see the hardware to hold the PVC on now. Had to blow the photos up so I can see them.
John

 

[wyrman]

I took it apart. It has 5' of schedule 40 black pipe, and 8' of pvc.

 

[JHornsby3]

Thanks. I was going to ask about the inner piece. I will have to revise my materials list. My mounts are 2.5" and I was going to go 6' tall with the steel to reach the rub rail. Just in case the PVC breaks. But was thinking of replacing every year or two as preventitave maint

 

[JHornsby3]

So I found that all of the steel dealers around me would only sell tube and pipe in 20' lengths. And with steel being at a premium right now, that idea was nix'd. I found a fab shop that would sell just the lengths needed if I had them weld it up. So for $145 I get the steel and the pipe welded with something other than my lil 110 welder. Sounded like a good deal to me.

Photos when I get them back and finished.

John

 

[hughespat57]

I've gotten a lot of flack about my trailering process but I never have to worry about guides or not loading straight.

 

[JHornsby3]

Yeah up here in the land of the "Hurry up or I will crash your chit", anything to get off the ramp quicker is a plus. I really wish folks would just slow down and smell the salt air or the flowers more. There is a lot of fishing guides that feel they are the only ones that should use the ramps. We all pay the same amount. And they are the ones that costs us more because they are careless as all get out.

 

[wyrman]

I wanted guides because the wind blows sideways to the boat ramp.
It's almost always blowing around here, so it just makes it easier for me.
When I do launch, or pull it, I go early on a Friday and there's usually noone around, so I don't have to worry about anyone else.