Roller Bunk Compatibility with Aluminum Boats and Trailer Tongue Extension Options  

Question:

Expert Reply:

Our roller bunk manufacturers do not exclude aluminum boats, however, one issue that you could run into when using roller bunks on an aluminum boat is that the only support the boat's hull will have is the small surface of the rollers. If the boats hull is not strong enough to support it's weight on the small surface area of the rollers, then you could see dimpling on the hull from the rollers. A carpeted bunk provides more surface area for the boats hull to rest on.

I spoke with my roller bunk manufacturers and they said the compatibility between a roller bunk and an aluminum boat really depends on the construction of the hull. If you are not sure if your hull would be strong enough, I recommend contacting the boat manufacturer to see what they recommend.

All of the tongue extenders we carry were designed specifically for the Yakima Rack and Roll trailer or the Magneta SportsTrailers. We do not offer tongue extenders for standard boat trailers.

You could use a hitch extender to extend the boat away from your vehicle, but using a hitch extender will decrease the weight capacities of your trailer hitch and vehicle by half. For example, you could use a hitch extender like part # C45796. This extender has a maximum tongue weight capacity of 350 lbs and a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. If the reduced weight capacities of your vehicle/trailer hitch are less than the capacities of this extender, then you will need to abide by the lowest rated component in the setup.

expert reply by: John H

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