...Has anyone tried using no bunks at all on the trailer, by instead using a sling, trampoline- or net- material?
Here is web site that is dedicated to just that, and they even use a harbor freight trailer. Also of note is that harbor Freight sells a boat trailer, but with 8" wheels for 320. I have heard that it does not require any mods to carry a sunfish.
http://www.sunfishclass.org/frequent/SchwobelsCradle.htm
Here is a link to that trailer.
Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977
Here is web site that is dedicated to just that, and they even use a harbor freight trailer. Also of note is that harbor Freight sells a boat trailer, but with 8" wheels for 320. I have heard that it does not require any mods to carry a sunfish.
http://www.sunfishclass.org/frequent/SchwobelsCradle.htm
Here is a link to that trailer.
Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977
At least one tire company has recommended storing tires off the ground. Tire tread seldom has a chance to "wear-through". Trailer tires fail in the sidewall: most often, the side that gets the sun.
Since most of our trailers rarely see the daily use--which is good for the rubber in ALL tires--when the sailing season ends, put two supports under the axle.
Here are some pics of my multi use harbor freight trailer.I have a harbor trailer with many thousands of miles on it. I have used it for hauling many different things over the years. It has motorcycle racks on it and a storage box in the front from tractor supply. I recently needed a spare trailer for my boats so I built a set of bunks from 1x6s and 2x4s. These attach to the stake bed slots. It now carries my laser upside down. This trailer has served me well. It's been to both coasts several times. It's gone so far it now needs new tires (12 inch). It sits outside in the weather year around. Every now and then I slap some more rustolem paint on it.
good point. The tires are shot as they are nearly bald but also they are 10 years old so it is time to replace them. It's easy to overlook things like trailer tires. Also the Sun has destroyed the rubber on the spare so it also needs to be replaced. Gonna have to put that on my to do list.Nice trailer. Check the WWYY (Week Year) manufacture date code on the side of the tires, time to replace them around 6 years regardless of how they look.
I would like to know what has been said about this. Can I put rollers on the trailers and not use bunks? Does this cause damage to the boat?Along that line, has anyone used the Right On trailer that holds the Sunfish on its dolly? I've been thinking that might be a nice way to go.
Northern Tool has a small aluminum trailer--$399.so I had planned on getting a Harbor Freight trailer. While researching the matter, I discovered that PennDot considers kit trailers to be homemade, and therefore require expensive inspections and up to 6 months to be approved. Not really a viable option for me. Unfortunately, as their boat trailer looks like it would fit my needs quite well.
Massachusetts RMV has been in the news A LOT in the past 16 months!I live in Massachusetts and I've got a homemade trailer. It's registered with a license plate and everything. I've been pulling my 2 Sunfishes with it for the last 10 years. I even pay excise tax on it!
Next spring I was thinking about buying a Harbor Freight utility trailer frame and using it for a Sunfish trailer. I was at the Syracuse, NY HF store yesterday and saw one assembled, and was fairly impressed with how sturdy and well made they are. I also like the 12" wheels that come stock with the kits.
Question: I assume that you need to retrofit a longer trailer tongue to make a Sunfish sit on it properly. Has anybody out there done such a retrofit and if so, how did it work? Also, any general reviews on how the HF trailers hold up and ride?
Alan Glos
Cazenovia, NY
Agree. We forget Sunfish have large amounts of foam "glue" inside, which can absorb water, making them especially vulnerable to "shock" loads. Those "shock" loads couldn't exist when those dry blocks left the factory--even on factory-approved trailers.On another note. The harbor freight trailer has two leaf spring packs. It has a payload capacity of 900 pounds. That's way too stiff for carrying a lone sunfish. If I was to use this trailer for just the Sunfish I would remove the second leaf in the spring pack. I have done this to all my dedicated sunfish/laser boat trailers. It greatly improved the ride and reduces the wear on the boat. I also trailer with the boat upside down on 1x6 bunks. These flex just enough to give the boat a nice cushy ride.
It appears that you have solved all the problems I tried to, but I didn't think about PVC. The sound you may hear is me slapping my forehead! Could you send me pipe sizes and lengths, etc. if this info is in an easily sent file? I am particularly interested in the axle details. It looks like your SF may be a larger one like I have. Mine is 15' and heavier than I thought it would be.Here's my two cents that some might find helpful. My neighborhood has a HOA that restricts parking trailers outside so I got a folding trailer from Harbor Frieght and use a dolly I made from PVC pipe to launch my Sunfish. In the winter, the Sunfish is stored in the shed and the HF trailer folds up and stores in front of my car in the garage. In the summer, the Sunfish sits on the trailer in the garage.
Here's the dolly which is made of PVC pipe, pool noodle and some wheels from Harbor Freight. I use it to launch the Sunfish and load it on my trailer. It is easily disassembled and stores in the car while sailing...
View attachment 44288
Here's the Harbor Freight trailer with boat bunks I made from thick pool noodle and PVC pipes. The pool noodles make a softer ride for the Sunfish. The bunks and 2x4 frame work lift out easily for storage in the car when sailing. I highly recommend the flags on these trailers so that no one backs into your trailer - this happened to me 1 week after I built the trailer but has not happened since the addition of the flags. It also makes backing the trailer easier since you can see where the trailer is in the rear view mirror.
View attachment 44285
Loading and unloading the trailer with the dolly is a one person operation. Begin with the Sunfish on the dolly and resting the bow of the Sunfish on the end of the trailer...
View attachment 44286
Drag the bow of the Sunfish toward the front of the trailer until the daggerboard trunk is past the rear of the trailer. This is a good time to run your ratchet straps through the daggerboard trunk to get ready to secure the Sunfish to the trailer.
View attachment 44289
From the stern of the Sunfish, lift and shove the craft onto the trailer and secure with straps. I highly recommend tying a bright orange flag onto the stern of your Sunfish to alert drivers. Use ratchet straps to secure the Sunfish to the trailer - firm not tight as you don't want to crack the boat.
View attachment 44290
A cradle for your sail, mast and spars can be made from PVC pipe that fits in the mast step. I like to wrap my sail and spars in a large tarp to protect them from the wind while driving (but some people use a large drain pipe to store these which I think is a better idea).
Strap this down to the trailer also but be careful not to ratchet down too tight.
View attachment 44291
When you are ready to remove your Sunfish, just perform these steps in reverse and launch your Sunfish from the dolly. The dolly and bunks disassemble easily and are stored in the car while sailing.
I can't really take credit for any of this as these were all suggestions I got from various sources on the internet and compiled them here but I hope someone finds this info useful. I've learned plenty from helpful people on the internet and I hope this is a good way to pay you all back. Happy sailing!
Here's my two cents that some might find helpful. My neighborhood has a HOA that restricts parking trailers outside so I got a folding trailer from Harbor Frieght and use a dolly I made from PVC pipe to launch my Sunfish. In the winter, the Sunfish is stored in the shed and the HF trailer folds up and stores in front of my car in the garage. In the summer, the Sunfish sits on the trailer in the garage.
Here's the dolly which is made of PVC pipe, pool noodle and some wheels from Harbor Freight. I use it to launch the Sunfish and load it on my trailer. It is easily disassembled and stores in the car while sailing...
View attachment 44288
Here's the Harbor Freight trailer with boat bunks I made from thick pool noodle and PVC pipes. The pool noodles make a softer ride for the Sunfish. The bunks and 2x4 frame work lift out easily for storage in the car when sailing. I highly recommend the flags on these trailers so that no one backs into your trailer - this happened to me 1 week after I built the trailer but has not happened since the addition of the flags. It also makes backing the trailer easier since you can see where the trailer is in the rear view mirror.
View attachment 44285
Loading and unloading the trailer with the dolly is a one person operation. Begin with the Sunfish on the dolly and resting the bow of the Sunfish on the end of the trailer...
View attachment 44286
Drag the bow of the Sunfish toward the front of the trailer until the daggerboard trunk is past the rear of the trailer. This is a good time to run your ratchet straps through the daggerboard trunk to get ready to secure the Sunfish to the trailer.
View attachment 44289
From the stern of the Sunfish, lift and shove the craft onto the trailer and secure with straps. I highly recommend tying a bright orange flag onto the stern of your Sunfish to alert drivers. Use ratchet straps to secure the Sunfish to the trailer - firm not tight as you don't want to crack the boat.
View attachment 44290
A cradle for your sail, mast and spars can be made from PVC pipe that fits in the mast step. I like to wrap my sail and spars in a large tarp to protect them from the wind while driving (but some people use a large drain pipe to store these which I think is a better idea).
Strap this down to the trailer also but be careful not to ratchet down too tight.
View attachment 44291
When you are ready to remove your Sunfish, just perform these steps in reverse and launch your Sunfish from the dolly. The dolly and bunks disassemble easily and are stored in the car while sailing.
I can't really take credit for any of this as these were all suggestions I got from various sources on the internet and compiled them here but I hope someone finds this info useful. I've learned plenty from helpful people on the internet and I hope this is a good way to pay you all back. Happy sailing!