Photos of roller trailers / Vipermax hulls

BogMonster · 21 October 2012, 11:36

Help: Can anybody with a Vipermax post a picture showing the roller setup at the rear, to show how and where and how well it touches the hull. I'm trying to get an idea of how many rollers can be in a roller group before the fore-aft curve of the hull starts to mean the front and rear roller sets aren't touching, or aren't doing anything useful. I suspect five pairs will be OK, maybe six, but not really sure.

I had been looking at the Roller Ramp type conversion kits, but I'm reasonably sure that these will suffer the same problem I have which is that the boat weight is only supported in the middle and the boat will see-saw on the trailer, like it does at the moment. So plan B is to look at ordering a modified spec of trailer, probably an SBS R2-1800 chassis fitted with the roller sets from one of their larger trailer models to give better hull support.

Ta

Erin · 21 October 2012, 15:20

Does this help?

Anchorhandler · 21 October 2012, 16:44

Hi S

Heres some pics of Gwenn sat on her trailer...

I built it using a type of roller ramp design which works pretty well however due to the pronounced depth of the bow compared to the stern, the keel only sits on the forward 5 rollers ( and i had to shim these to suit using nylon blocks.)

All in all she sits on 20 side rollers and 5 keel rollers and has always sat nice and tight when towed.

The rear keel rollers are there purely the guide her onto the trailer when recovering.

BTW, if anyone is reading this and needs a new trailer, this one will be going up for sale shortly. Only been in the water twice, 2000kg twin Alko waterproof axles with flushing kit. All fasteners and brake cables in SS etc... . PM me for details

Simon

Sent from my iPhone using Rib.net

Downhilldai · 21 October 2012, 21:58

Vm5.8

Downhilldai · 21 October 2012, 22:03

One more:

Silverfox · 21 October 2012, 22:49

Any good?

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Silverfox · 21 October 2012, 22:51

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One more for luck.

Hightower · 21 October 2012, 23:45

These pics were of the early days when I was using an Admiral trailer, my De Graaff trailer is set up exactly the same way.

BogMonster · 22 October 2012, 01:10

Thanks all, I was really looking for close ups along the lines of Anchorhandler's pics, to get an idea of how evenly the weight sits on the rollers.

A related question: who do we think makes the strongest trailer chassis? DHD's CLK looks pretty beefy compared to most makes, but of course you can't see wall thickness.

Nos4r2 · 22 October 2012, 01:30

My Rapide is pretty damn beefy, but then so is my Rollercoaster 10

Downhilldai · 22 October 2012, 01:49

While I can't recommend CLH trailers highly enough, there's a nw manufacturer on the scene you may wish to take a look at: Jeepster Fabrications.

BogMonster · 24 October 2012, 09:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

While I can't recommend CLH trailers highly enough, there's a nw manufacturer on the scene you may wish to take a look at: Jeepster Fabrications.

Hmm. Perhaps not

How do you find the CLH for ease of launch and recovery single-handed? I guess they are all much of a muchness and the ease (or otherwise) with a roller trailer is largely down to whether it is correctly set up.

Downhilldai · 24 October 2012, 12:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by BogMonster

How do you find the CLH for ease of launch and recovery single-handed?

It's a doddle.

gotchiguy · 24 October 2012, 14:01

Show us your vipermax? Don't mind if I do

Don't copy the second one though, it'll just fall over!

Erin · 24 October 2012, 19:01

Not sure that van has enough towing capacity for it either

gotchiguy · 26 October 2012, 09:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin

Not sure that van has enough towing capacity for it either

Looking online it would appear to be a 2 ton limit? Which is plenty.

Have now switched to a double cab Navara so no problems there

9D280 · 26 October 2012, 16:22

Bogmonster,

it sounds like the vipermax has a very pronounced vcersion of the subtle convcave that my hull has.

Someone does "fat squashy" rollers. (A quick internet search and they weren't in the shop I thought they were - will try again tonight) could you use a couple of them in the middle - if they are bigger dia than your other rollers they will fit the concave?

Alternatively, at risk of totally trashing the galv, do you have tools to put a slight bend in the roller beam to match the hull profile?

Downhilldai · 26 October 2012, 16:54

There's no 'hook' in the hull, but it has a 'warped vee' profile, which explains why bogmonster's boat doesn't sit too well on long bunks.

Ian M · 26 October 2012, 17:03

A bit late in the day, but here are some shots of my set up.

9D280 · 26 October 2012, 17:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

There's no 'hook' in the hull, but it has a 'warped vee' profile, which explains why bogmonster's boat doesn't sit too well on long bunks.

Ah, OK, I misunderstood.

The O- Pro has a subtle down curve that reaches forwards about 18" from the stern (gives a bit of lift) that means my middle two roller beams on the back assy are not maybe doing quite as big a share of the work as they might.