Trailer with PVC bunk Glides

[kawirider]

Does anyone know anything about replacing your carpet trailer bunks with PVC tubing?? I've only vaguely heard of it. The carpet on my bunks is warn down and it has put a few scratches on the bottom of my ski. I am planning on replacing it and I was just curious about using some PVC conduit as new slides.

[dsolie]

Re: Trailer with PVC bunk Glides

It would slide great... The problem is going to be deflection.. those tubes will crack when your trailering around and your ski is bouncing. PVC cannot withstand that much squish load... If you want a carpet alternative, get BunkApps... sales@harleycorp.com for info.

[kawirider]

Re: Trailer with PVC bunk Glides

What if you get something like schedule 30 electrical conduit its no where near as brittle as regular plumbing PVC??

[dsolie]

Re: Trailer with PVC bunk Glides

You could try it... Wood bunks allow for shock. You don't want a totally rigid member to be holding up your ski. You want it to flex, bend and absorb the weight when you load, unload, go over bumps etc. Something will have to give when you hit a bump.. I would rather it be the bunks and shocks rather than the boat...

Look at it this way... You have a 600lb ski on a peice of wood, pvc, whatever... Those load points (where the bunks connect to the trailer) are...say... 4' apart. So, you have 150lbs+/- going to each point with most of the load hitting the middle first, then deflecting to the load points... 300lbs per side is not that much, but when you take into account a squish impact (bumps etc) you could easily tripple the size of that load for a 1/2 second while gravity and weight is working it's magic... So, imagine now 900lbs on that one peice of plastic....

EESH.

[dowkk]

Re: Trailer with PVC bunk Glides

I left the wooden bunks in place. Cut the PVC lengthwise so it would spread open. Put the PVC over the wooden bunks. Works fine with my 95 Waveventure on it. I have travelled on local roads and the parkway with no problem. The wood bunks provide the strength and the PVC provides the no scratch surface. Only thing surprising is it does not slide on and off as easily as I expected. I guess that's a good thing though. I would be a little afraid of the super slippery stuff. I've seen a couple of stories of people who forgot how slippery the glides are and have dropped their ski's on the ground.

Never thought to take a picture and can't get any at the moment due to a couple foot of snow.

[dowkk]

Re: Trailer with PVC bunk Glides

And now I see I do have a couple of pics. The ski is usually about 2 foot forward when I trailer. In these pics it is pushed back to take the weight off the tongue. That way I can tilt it up when it's parked, helps the rain and snow run off.

[kawirider]

Re: Trailer with PVC bunk Glides

Thanks for all of your posts on the subject. Those pics are great. I have the exact same trailer. We'll see what I can come up with. I'll be sure to post whatever it is...Thanks again.

[Technical Support]

Re: Trailer with PVC bunk Glides

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