Minnesota Classic Glastron Forum
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: 75starflight on June 26, 2018, 01:40:53 PM
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I have quite a few air boats in my area using 3/8" thick poly sheets on the bunks on their trailers.
Since I am building a bunk trailer to put under Phoenix I was wondering if anyone has any experience with using poly instead of bunk carpet?
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Never been a fan of wrapping something that'll rot. With something that'll help it rot.
And as you know I'm a big fan of anything that says "poly", or "composite". Go for it!
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Just looking at some old pictures and happened to see my old V172 trailer had poly covered bunks. I don't remember having any issues with them. Carpeted bunks just look better IMO. The 32 year old bunks on the CV23 trailer were still so solid I just recovered them with new carpet.
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I believe the only reason they are not used more often is cost. The load carrying capacity is less than dimensional lumber, so to compensate, some manufacturers have added aluminum reinforcement underneath their poly bunk options. On pontoon trailers it is common to add poly "Slicks" on top of carpeted bunks, so the behemoths can unload in shallow ramps easier, but I've not seen them as solely being poly only. Never researched how long carpeted wood bunks last, I suspect about a decade possibly, dependent upon use. By all means give it a try, but shoot for structural support at least equivalent to standard bunks, or you may end up with trailer dimples similar to what can occur with roller trailers. Of the air boat trailers I've been around, the flat bottoms seem to require a different level of support, having more support side to side rather than a stringer based V-hull. Just my $0.02
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I believe the only reason they are not used more often is cost. The load carrying capacity is less than dimensional lumber, so to compensate, some manufacturers have added aluminum reinforcement underneath their poly bunk options. On pontoon trailers it is common to add poly "Slicks" on top of carpeted bunks, so the behemoths can unload in shallow ramps easier, but I've not seen them as solely being poly only. Never researched how long carpeted wood bunks last, I suspect about a decade possibly, dependent upon use. By all means give it a try, but shoot for structural support at least equivalent to standard bunks, or you may end up with trailer dimples similar to what can occur with roller trailers. Of the air boat trailers I've been around, the flat bottoms seem to require a different level of support, having more support side to side rather than a stringer based V-hull. Just my $0.02
Mike,
The poly would be added to the top of carpeted wood bunks a full 2x4 of poly would be very expensive.
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Seems the only advantage is easier load and unload. If the trailer sits pretty low and you pretty much float your boat off and on then the extra ease really isn't needed. I usually float the boat on then drag it maybe a foot which isn't a big deal even with the 23.
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Not certain what your looking to accomplish Brandon. I've added poly to pontoon bunks, but they are twice as long as v hull bunks. Keeping the wood and carpet is keeping the rot components. Go one way or the other, but not combined. Poly is slick, it will make your trailer operate more like a roller.