Any advise on thru bolting and redoing carpet on bunks

[ditchsnake]

I've got an 08 supra 22ssv and am redoing my bunks. New 24oz carpet coming off of ebay and stainless carriage bolts and staples, nuts and washers from fastenal. I also got a free shim kit (not a big deal) from boatmate which consists of two 3/4 plastic spacers and four 3/8 plastic spacers. I've got one long bunk off and am countersinking the heads to make them flush. I thought about filling the countersinks with something to make them perfectly flat. Maybe epoxy or silicone. Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks Gene

[rdlangston13]

I used silicone when I through bolted my bunks.


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[zabooda]

Not a fan of thru bolting and I rather use lag bolts. I put epoxy in the hole and cinch it tight. Every couple of years I check the tightness.

[rdlangston13]

Most my original lag bolts rusted and fell out. That's why I went through bolt. Even if the nut falls off the bottom the bolt it still locked into the bolt hole on the trailer to keep the bunk in placed


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[ditchsnake]

I'll use silicone. My trailer has only been in the water for 4 seasons. The threads on the lag bolts are so rusted off they about fall out. I can see where the silicone or epoxy on new lags would help.

[ditchsnake]

I forgot to ask, do any of you guys glue the carpet along with staples. I didn't have any problems with the carpet coming loose so I'll just staple the crap out of it.

[kaneboats]

I advise going with the stainless staples.

[ditchsnake]

It seems to be way better to epoxt the heads of the carriage bolts. Silicone lets them turn. JB weld locks them in tight. I just epoxied the heads and pulled them in with a washer and nut on the back side. Worked really good.