Boat buckles

[Matt Garcia]

Has anyone ever installed these on their trailer? I bought some over the weekend and didn't realize they attach to a hole/bolts in your trailer. I don't have a pre-drilled hole in my trailer so before I did it I wanted to get some advice or tips.

Will drilling a hole in the trailer cause any premature rusting?

This is what they look like if you are curious. http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0001938011073a.shtml

Thanks...

[Timmy!]

My trailer came with those, they are awesome! Unfortunately all I can tell you is that it was a smart purchase and you will be very happy with them, no installation tips.

[dingleberry]

Maybe you could weld them to the trailer if you don't want to drill holes. Although, with ours, I think the attachment bolt allows them to rotate slightly so that you can angle them for a direct pull onto your transom tie-downs.

[sparky216]

Maybe you could weld them to the trailer if you don't want to drill holes. Although, with ours, I think the attachment bolt allows them to rotate slightly so that you can angle them for a direct pull onto your transom tie-downs.

Yea, that is the benefit of drilling the holes, you will want to angle the buckle now and then. We dont have a rust problem out here, but if you were concerned couldn't you spray a rust corrosion block or inhibitor?

[eks]

Just like Timmy, My trailer also came with them installed. They work perfectly, I would recommend. But I do not know how to install it either.

[mtnsmith]

You will have exposed metal at the attachment point. You might me able to repaint the metal after you have drilled and use a gromet to keep the paint on there for a little bit to help prevent instant rust, but I doubt there is a way to prevent corrosion entirely. Also putting a couple plastic fender washers between the boat buckle and the actual trailer frame might help as well, so as it pivots it is not directly on the frame.

[jake's02-22i]

I saw on a video on how to install them they just drilled a hole and put them on. Should work just fine, water gets into your trailer anyways through the lights anyways, and if you look on the underside of the trailer most of the time there are hole in it anyways too. So you shouldn’t have a problem.

[da.bell]

Matt, do you have closed tubing on your trailer? I dont' think that the trailer manufacturers spray the inside of the tubes.

As someone has mentioned, you can spray a rust inhibitor that will solve the issue you might have.

I, along with the others, have those on my trailer and they are definitely great. My friend put those exact one's on his trailer this year and said that they were the best investment of his winter projects so far.

[Matt Garcia]

Thanks for the replies. Anyone else?

I saw on a video on how to install them they just drilled a hole and put them on. Should work just fine, water gets into your trailer anyways through the lights anyways, and if you look on the underside of the trailer most of the time there are hole in it anyways too. So you shouldn’t have a problem.

Could you send me a link to the video?

[Matt Garcia]

Matt, do you have closed tubing on your trailer? I dont' think that the trailer manufacturers spray the inside of the tubes.

As someone has mentioned, you can spray a rust inhibitor that will solve the issue you might have.

I, along with the others, have those on my trailer and they are definitely great. My friend put those exact one's on his trailer this year and said that they were the best investment of his winter projects so far.

Im not sure. What is closed tubing? It's a Dorsey trailer if that helps at all.

[mtnsmith]

Box tubing versus c-channel. Dorsey does both, mine was box.

[da.bell]

Examples of Tube Trailers

Channel Trailers

[Jason B]

best $70 ever spent on the boat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'll never not have them again. Period.
I used the holes on the trailer that were already there from the transom straps attachment point. They are siedways but still work flawless.

[Jeffe]

My trailer came with those, they are awesome! Unfortunately all I can tell you is that it was a smart purchase and you will be very happy with them, no installation tips.

x2

[Matt Garcia]

Wow. Am I the only one attempting this? LOL. I called Dorsey and asked the same question but didn't get much help there either. They weld on a custom bracket that attaches to the boat buckles.

I may just install them anyway.