Replacing my Bunks

LVChris · **Posted:** Tue Jun 18, 2013 2:15 pm

Read the posts I could find about doing this.

Going to use treated 2x6's from Home depot for bunks...and hopefully find some treated plywood for the fender panels. Also hoping to get the carpet for them from there as well (please jump in if you think I have made the wrong decision...but remember the facts; boat is on trailer most of the time, only in freshwater, in the desert with almost zero humidity)

Just have a question about the hardware.

What bolts should I use for the bunks, and what screws for the side panels? She is in storage and I forgot to look. I'd rather have everything ready when I bring it home so I can get back to the lake quickly.

(Yes I will clean it as well, open to suggestions on that too)

Thanks!

ric · **Posted:** Tue Jun 18, 2013 6:49 pm

Cadmium plated bolts. They are non reactive.

pickledboater · **Posted:** Tue Jun 18, 2013 8:52 pm

I used Home Depot treated lumber and carpet on my bunks and have had no problems at all. One other thing to consider is the staples that you use to attach the carpet. Try to find some stainless ones ($$$$), but they are worth it. The plain ones rust then fall out. I couldn't find treated plywood so I just painted the plywood with black paint before I covered it.

LVChris · **Posted:** Tue Jun 18, 2013 10:10 pm

pickledboater wrote:

I used Home Depot treated lumber and carpet on my bunks and have had no problems at all. One other thing to consider is the staples that you use to attach the carpet. Try to find some stainless ones ($$$$), but they are worth it. The plain ones rust then fall out. I couldn't find treated plywood so I just painted the plywood with black paint before I covered it.

Awesome Thanks everyone. I will post some pics when it's done!

230 Mike · **Posted:** Tue Jun 18, 2013 11:34 pm

Stainless. I think it's a good idea to put some plastic shim stock (even cut-up milk carton) between the wood and the steel stanchions so that the chemicals in the wood don't eat the steel. But nobody would do that.

LVChris · **Posted:** Sun Jun 23, 2013 3:25 am

Any idea where to find these?

Can't put trailer back together without them....

JohnnyMarlin · **Posted:** Sun Jun 23, 2013 5:16 am

Chris.....

Those are called torque washers or carriage bolt washers..... A real hardware store like a true value or a ace hardware store will have them..... Home Depot.... Probably not....

Are your bunks being held on with carriage bolts?

LVChris · **Posted:** Sun Jun 23, 2013 10:10 am

Yes torque washers, and yes my bunks are held on with carriage bolts. Home Depot nor lowes carry them...going to check ace...thanks.

JeffLW · **Posted:** Sun Jun 23, 2013 12:19 pm

Any pics of the process? Mine are holding up pretty well but I know this project is coming up on my todo list.
I was also thinking about putting some diamond plate on to cover the peeling grip tape. Anyone have a source for that?

JohnnyMarlin · **Posted:** Sun Jun 23, 2013 1:24 pm

Hey Chris.......

There is a better fastener for attaching bunks to their standoffs......it's called a plow bolt........it's got a flat top head and a tapered shaft with dog under the head.........it doesn't need a torque washer......and it will not cause a high spot under the carpet and when set properly it will not pool water around the head like a carriage bolt.......

When I ordered my new 2013 trailer I asked that stainless plow bolts be used.......and they did!

LVChris · **Posted:** Sun Jun 23, 2013 2:58 pm

Just to update...no one around vegas has torque washers...I like a dumb*** thought I could use t-nuts threaded all the way up to the top...you smart people already know where this is going....I put all the bolts in, carpeted all the bunks, then when I went to put the nuts on the bolt spun right out of the teenut...wow I feel really stupid right now. Got rushed and distracted and now I am screwed pretty hard.... No plow bolts anywhere in vegas, and I already countersunk my holes.

I am photographing everything so when this is done I can show everyone how NOT to do it.

JohnnyMarlin · **Posted:** Sun Jun 23, 2013 4:22 pm

LVChris wrote:

No plow bolts anywhere in vegas.

I hear ya Chris.........I'm to the point I don't even go to local stores much anymore......I just order everything off the net......Ebay and Amazon mostly.......otherwise I end up driving to 7 different places and use a tank of gas doing it.........

LVChris · **Posted:** Mon Jun 24, 2013 12:06 pm

Just a quick update,after 30 hours work on a 3 hour job...I managed to get it all back together and pulled my boat out. She sits on there perfectly and I am reallu glad I did it. I will post later with pics and mistakes to avoid spending as much time as I did.

Thanks for everyone's help.

rpengr · **Posted:** Mon Jun 24, 2013 2:15 pm

pickledboater wrote:

I used Home Depot treated lumber and carpet on my bunks and have had no problems at all. One other thing to consider is the staples that you use to attach the carpet. Try to find some stainless ones ($$$$), but they are worth it. The plain ones rust then fall out. I couldn't find treated plywood so I just painted the plywood with black paint before I covered it.

The Staples are available in Monel which is superior to Stainless Steel. About $25 a box. I used 1/2" staples and a cheap harbor freight electric stapler. Did all the stapling on the underside of the bunks. Where the electric stapler did not drive them all the way in, a quick hit with a hammer drove them the rest of the way.

My FW trailer had the carriage bolts and torque washers, but they did not create a bump under the carpet because the wood was counterbored to lower the heads below the surface. I only had to replace the carpet (home depot), but left the original wood and bolts.

rpengr · **Posted:** Mon Jun 24, 2013 2:19 pm

Oh, and the non-slip on the fenders... I hear your local skateboard shop is the place to go. Take a teenager with you to translate :lol:

www.iFourWinns.com

Replacing my Bunks

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