If you're looking for functional convenience or need to change your trailer bunk carpets quickly on a budget, you can replace them right in your driveway, even with your boat still on the trailer.
During storage, loading, and unloading, your boat's hull is cushioned by bunks—usually wooden planks covered with carpet. While the carpet is resistant to mildew and mold, it will eventually wear out and need replacement. At some point, you'll need to change the bunk carpeting to ensure proper support for your boat.
Change Your Boat Trailer Bunk Carpets
Changing the bunk carpeting on your trailer can either be a simple task or more challenging, depending on how you approach it. With the right materials and tools, you can make this process affordable and manageable, even on your own.
What You Need to Change Trailer Bunk Carpets
Here's a list of components you'll need to replace your trailer bunk carpets at home:
- Trailer bunk carpet - SeaSense offers durable, high-quality material.
- Medium sandpaper
- Staple gun with half-inch marine-grade stainless steel staples
- Needle nose pliers
- Utility knife
- Tape measure
When You Can't Offload Your Boat
Ideally, you would take your boat to a marina or the nearest boat ramp, launch it, and replace the carpets with full access to the trailer. However, parking lots near boat ramps can be crowded, and there's always the risk of forgetting a tool or running out of supplies. If that's the case, replacing the carpets in your driveway is a practical alternative.
Change Trailer Bunk Carpets in Your Driveway
If you plan to replace the carpets with the boat still on the trailer, here's what to do. For medium-sized boats weighing less than 5,000 pounds, you should be able to lift the boat just enough to slide the new carpet over the bunks.
1. Use a jack positioned beneath a 2×4 (about 2 feet long) near the trailer wheels. This helps distribute the weight and allows you to lift the boat one side at a time, a few inches, so you can change the carpets.
2. Wrap the new carpet over the existing one for extra padding if the old carpet is thin. Make sure to clean and trim the old carpet first.
3. Once the new carpet is in place, slide underneath the trailer to secure it by stapling the edges under the bunk using your staple gun.
Overview
- You can change your trailer bunk carpets in your driveway while your boat is still on the trailer.
- This method is ideal for quick, budget-friendly carpet replacement when you can't access a marina or boat ramp.
- If your boat weighs less than 5,000 pounds, lifting it enough to change the carpets should be manageable.
- Ensure the trailer is parked on a stable, level surface before attempting to lift the boat or replace the carpets.
For all your trailer carpet replacement needs, you can explore boat trailer carpet options to get the right materials for the job.
