[Rhodes22-list] Bunk Boards & Axles

[Ware, Joseph W.]

Great on the deck, but make sure you have no more that the 12" centers.  I'd
go down to 10" for the couple of additional boards it will take.  Also, they
used stainless screws.  The ones my contractor used mushroomed the board
around the head.  I've seen, advertised, screws that are shaped differently
that don't cause that to happen.  I had to sand down the mushroom.

It cuts just like wood.  It is 1" thick, which might be part of the problem.
If it was 1-1/2" like 2 bys, who knows.  The railings are all vinyl covered.
No maintenance.  Gotta love it.

I want to hear if anyone used if for bunks.  I have heard from a trailer
manufacturer that is slides well, and you don't need to cover it.  But I
don't know any one that actually used it.  When my time comes to replace
them, I had thought of the same thing.

Joe
S/V Whisper

-----Original Message-----
From: Wally Buck [mailto:tnrhodey@hotmail.com]
Sent: Monday, November 11, 2002 11:49 AM
To: rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org
Subject: RE: [Rhodes22-list] Bunk Boards & Axles


Joe,

That is what I was wondering, are you happy with it for your deck? I have 
some new decking planned as well.

Wally

>From: "Ware, Joseph W." <joseph_ware@merck.com>
>Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org>
>To: "'The Rhodes 22 mail list'" <rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org>
>Subject: RE: [Rhodes22-list] Bunk Boards & Axles
>Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2002 11:34:16 -0500
>
>Wally I had a deck built with the stuff.  They had to put the joists on 12"
>centers instead of the normal 16".  If I look close, I can see slight
>deflection in-between the 12" supports.  I'm not sure how this will relate
>to bunks for the boat, but it will deflect easily.
>
>Joe
>S/V Whisper
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Wally Buck [mailto:tnrhodey@hotmail.com]
>Sent: Monday, November 11, 2002 11:26 AM
>To: rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org
>Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Bunk Boards & Axles
>
>
>Rik,
>
>Hey man, I did practice in parking lots, that is how I got to the point 
>that
>
>I now can make the tight turn into my driveway, miss my stone mailbox, come
>up the driveway around my little pickup, swing around to the left and park
>the trailer in my two car garage between my wife's car on one side,
>lawnmower and yard tools on the other, with only a foot or two to spare. 
>:-)
>
>I used to have to park my Blazer on the street, then move my pickup and our
>Mazda out of the driveway, then back trailer in, then move trailer (it is
>light and well balanced) by hand to get closer to wall, then move vehicles
>back in place. Now I can thread the needle with everything in place. 
>Because
>
>of the added length of the R22 I like to use a guide when backing in tight
>spaces, just in case.
>
>I have almost 2500 miles towing in the last year and a half, no problems so
>far. :-) (You can't see it but I knocked on wood). At that rate I will 
>catch
>
>up to you in another thousand or so years ...
>
>I like your suggestions for the trailer. I have never really figured out 
>who
>
>made my trailer, the title says "Custom" under manufacturer. From
>descriptions it sounds similar to the Triad, mine has the same type of keel
>guide. I would like to add some kind of motor mount to the trailer as well.
>
>Trex (I am not sure of spelling) is a synthetic wood product that a lot of
>people around here use for decking. It is more expensive than wood but
>supposedly last a couple of times longer. I am not sure how strong it is
>compared too wood. I have a friend who used a bunch of it on his decking 
>and
>
>he loves it. No splinters, no mildew, no rot, and no termites. He had some
>left over so I used it for bunks when I redid the Bantam's trailer and it
>worked fine. That boat is only 325 pounds though.
>
>As always thanks!
>
>Wally
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >From: Rik Sandberg <racerrik@rea-alp.com>
> >Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org>
> >To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org>
> >Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Bunk Boards & Axles Date: Mon, 11 Nov 2002
> >09:10:13 -0600
> >
> >Wally,
> >
> >I would hope there aren't very many drivers out there that are making
> >200.000 miles a year. This would be tough. I wouldn't be real surprised 
>to
> >see 150,000 to 170,000 though.
> >
> >Some tractors actually do have a separate light switch for the trailer's
> >clearance/marker lights for use when passing. Almost all trucker are made
> >so that the marker lights and the head lights are on separate circuits 
>and
> >can be operated independently. If you see the brake lights flash, that
> >driver probably just pushed/pulled the 4-way flasher button for a couple
> >seconds. That does mean "thanks, appreciate the help".
> >
> >You need to go down to the mall parking lot some evening and practice
> >backing between the lines in the parking lot. Backing is really pretty
> >simple, once you understand the concepts. You will also be far better off
> >if you learn to back using your mirrors only and not twisting around to
> >look over your shoulder or hanging out the window. 'Course, you need 
>decent
>
> >mirrors for this. Remember this, if you believe it will be difficult, it
> >will be.
> >
> >On my trailer, I changed up to a six thousand lb. Dexter axle with easy
> >lube spindles, six bolt hubs and electric brakes. If you check out 
>Elton's
> >trailer at a show, you will see that the new single axle triads are done
> >like this now. I don't know if I would try the electric brakes for
> >saltwater dunking, but I have had excellent luck so far in fresh only. I
> >also went to 16 inch (obviously six hole, also) heavy duty wheels and 
>tires
>
> >and I added a pair of 5 leaf 5900 lb springs. All of these things bolted
> >right on to the existing spring hangers, frame, etc., it was a very 
>simple
> >change over. I did have to move the fenders a little, but I had to take
> >them off cause their hangers were shot anyway, so moving them was no big
> >deal. I know most will tell you that this should make it tougher to
> >launch/retrieve. I found that, I believe it actually makes it easier. The
> >added height raises the back end of the trailer a little and gets it 
>closer
>
> >to level when you are on the ramp. This helps you get and more 
>importantly
> >keep your boat further ahead on the trailer when you load as it doesn't
> >have as far to "rock back" when you pull it up the ramp.
> >
> >Can't help on the "trex" for bunk boards. I have never seen the stuff 
>that
> >I know of.
> >
> >Rik
> >
> >
> >At 09:15 AM 11/11/2002 -0500, you wrote:
> >>Rik,
> >>
> >>Thanks, that is a lot of miles. I have some trucker questions: What do
> >>long distance drivers consider high milage, 200K a year, more??? I
> >>understand when one trucker passes another the guy being passed flashes
> >>his brights to signal to the passing truck he is clear. I notice the
> >>passing truck will go back into the right lane and his rear lights 
>(brake
> >>lights perhaps?)will blink on and off, I guess to signal thanks. Do you
> >>guys have a seperate switch for this, tap the brakes?
> >
> >
> >>Just curious. Now back to towing ....
> >>
> >>My comfort level is ok towing but I try to stay on alert and stop often 
>to
>
> >>check things out. I had always towed very small boats and in the case of
> >>my sunfish we hauled around on top of the car. It was a big day when I
> >>finally could back the Bantam into the garage with my wife's car inside.
> >>She wouldn't let me do this but I swear I can! I can see over the Bantam
> >>but when I back up with the R22 I always have a helper outside.
> >>
> >>I was leaning towards adding a second axle, but I have been trying to 
>cost
>
> >>justify. I don't plan on towing but maybe once or twice a year and it
> >>would typically be long distance. I would like to make KY Lake at least
> >>once and I also want to get to the Northern Gulf coast. I plan on 
>keeping
> >>my boat in the water pretty much year round. I would think the tandem
> >>would be a safer in a blow out but it costs more ....decisions, 
>decisions.
> >>
> >>My current single axle trailer really did fine on the tow down from WI 
>and
>
> >>locally here for launch. The frugal part of me says to just rebuild what

>I
>
> >>have and add a decent axle. I also saved recent posts regarding brake
> >>options for trailer. I am still on the fence here as well.
> >>
> >>Can the fake wood like Trex be used for bunks?
> >>
> >>Wally
> >>
> >>>From: Rik Sandberg <racerrik@rea-alp.com>
> >>>Reply-To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org>
> >>>To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org>
> >>>Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Bunk Boards
> >>>Date: Sun, 10 Nov 2002 22:46:21 -0600
> >>>
> >>>Wally,
> >>>
> >>>I would agree with Rummy on his points about the tandem vs single axle
> >>>maintenance. I would add that the wheels on a tandem trailer get a 
>great
> >>>deal more twisting force applied to them when you turn and therefore 
>are
> >>>more prone to breaking or cracking wheels. This is not common, but I 
>have
>
> >>>replaced several wheels on tandem and tridem axle trailers over the 
>years
>
> >>>for this reason.
> >>>
> >>>However, I would disagree with Rummy that the turning radius of a 
>tandem
> >>>trailer is substantially different than that of a single axle trailer.
> >>>This is determined pretty strictly by the distance from the hitch 
>coupler
>
> >>>to the center of the axle on a single, or the center between the axles 
>on
>
> >>>a tandem and will not tend to vary a noticeable amount on two trailers
> >>>where this distance is equal. I can back a tandem trailer into a
> >>>jack-knifed position just as easily as a single axle given the same
> >>>length from axle(s) to coupler.
> >>>
> >>>Just as a cautionary note I will add this. If one is letting himself 
>get
> >>>so comfortable with the turning radius of a given trailer or trailers,
> >>>that he feels he doesn't need to watch that trailer in the mirror 
>anymore
>
> >>>as he turns. He IS, sooner or later, going to hit something with that
> >>>trailer. After 2,000,000 (yes that's million) miles of towing, I still
> >>>have to watch my trailers as I turn with them to be sure that my
> >>>judgement is correct in a situation that might be close. Good judgement
> >>>of distances is a wonderful talent to be blessed with, but as Ronald
> >>>Reagan once said about a completely different subject, trust, but 
>verify.
>
> >>>Then there's always the old standby, pride cometh before a fall. Hey,
> >>>been there done that, eh?
> >>>
> >>>Rik
> >>>
> >>>At 12:30 PM 11/10/2002 -0500, you wrote:
> >>>>Wally,
> >>>>A second axle gives you an obvious safety factor, but it is also two
> >>>>more
> >>>>tires and bearing sets to take care of. Also, the turning radius which
> >>>>you
> >>>>have been accustomed to with the single axle trailer goes out the
> >>>>window.
> >>>>Learning to back up with two axles will take a little getting used to.
> >>>>The
> >>>>single axle trailer turns on a dime where the dual axle takes a larger
> >>>>radius
> >>>>turn.
> >>>>
> >>>>Rummy
> >>>>_________________________________________________
> >>>>Use Rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> >>>
> >>>_________________________________________________
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> >>
> >>
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