Prestige trailer bunk question

Hey folks, by all appearances, and paperwork, my '96 SN delivered with the Prestige trailer it's sitting on. For those on here with this trailer, you know that it has two curved bunks that are attached, and sit directly on the two steel rails. There are no other bunks on this single-axle trailer. My bunks have come loose and for the life of me, I cannot figure out how they were originally attached. The bunks have likely been re-carpeted, and my best best guess, from looking at some small holes in the top of the rails, is screws were lagged from the bunks into the top of the rails, before carpet? But no patches from screw holes from above.

From the picture it looks like the bunk is attached to a box steel rail.  If so you have a several options.

desertskier wrote: From the picture it looks like the bunk is attached to a box steel rail.  If so you have a several options. 1: Drill all the way through both sides of the rail and secure the bunk with a long bolt. 2: Use the existing holes on the top of the bunk and use a larger lag bolt. 3: Drill new holes through the top of the rail and secure with lag bolts. 4: Drill large holes in the side of the rails that allow you to access the bolt and secure a nut underneath the top rail. 5: Any combination of the above. There are more options but these are probably the easiest.  The problem with the box steel trailers is that they rust from the inside out.  The original holes are rusted and won't hold the same size bolt anymore.  Any holes that you drill will potentially weaken the rails over time.  If it was mine I would drill one very small hole all the way through on each end and secure with a bolt all the way through the rail and then use a few lag bolts between the ends either using the existing holes or drill new ones.

ultrarunner wrote: desertskier wrote: 1: Drill all the way through both sides of the rail and secure the bunk with a long bolt There are more options but these are probably the easiest.  The problem with the box steel trailers is that they rust from the inside out.  The original holes are rusted and won't hold the same size bolt anymore.  Any holes that you drill will potentially weaken the rails over time.  If it was mine I would drill one very small hole all the way through on each end and secure with a bolt all the way through the rail and then use a few lag bolts between the ends either using the existing holes or drill new ones. I think a couple of though-bolts on each end

ultrarunner wrote: Yeah, good point on additional holes. I think using the next size up self-tapping screws in a few of the existing holes, and counter sunk as discussed, will take care of it.

When mine failed like yours I tried using one size up screws and they only lasted a few years.  I ended up doing a complete box channel to c-channel conversion on my trailer but yours isn't there yet.  That's why I suggested the bolts on each end because I think they will secure the bunks better than the lags and help the lags last longer.  If you go with just the lags keep an eye on them and you can always add the bolts later.

desertskier wrote: When mine failed like yours I tried using one size up screws and they only lasted a few years.  I ended up doing a complete box channel to c-channel conversion on my trailer but yours isn't there yet.  That's why I suggested the bolts on each end because I think they will secure the bunks better than the lags and help the lags last longer.  If you go with just the lags keep an eye on them and you can always add the bolts later.

ultrarunner wrote: desertskier wrote: When mine failed like yours I tried using one size up screws and they only lasted a few years.  I ended up doing a complete box channel to c-channel conversion on my trailer but yours isn't there yet.  That's why I suggested the bolts on each end because I think they will secure the bunks better than the lags and help the lags last longer.  If you go with just the lags keep an eye on them and you can always add the bolts later. Interesting Sean. When I realized what I was dealing with, my first thought was to ditch this setup and attach teflon directly to the steel channel, OR, clamping elevated bunks to the box channel. Thoughts? Thanks, Mark

The reason I asked about attachment is the frame and lags usually rust out before the wood needs replaced. If you're going to screw the Teflon on to the frame you may end up with the same issue.