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Tips for driving with a boat trailer

November 19th, 2009 | Author: admin

Choosing the right trailer to pull your boat when traveling is more important than you might think.A boat hull can suffer more damage when trailered over rough roads than it does afloat in rough seas unless the trailer's rollers and bolsters are positioned so that they cushion the hull.The axles of the boat trailer should be positioned or the boat mounted so that around 5 to 10% of the boat's weight rests on the car's hitch.Place your gear and boat accessories so that the weight is distributed equally between the stern and bow halves.

Too much stern weight can make the rig fish-tail, or sway,which could be dangerous.Too much weight on the hitch can lift the car's front end,causing the headlight beams to shine too high and making steering difficult.Trailer wheels are small and rotate fast,they build up heat on a trip and,when they are submerged during launching,they pull water through the hubs and into the bearings,check unsealed bearings and if need be then repack them with grease.If you store your boat off-season on the trailer,block up the frame to take weight off the tires and springs.

Before your first launch of the season,examine tires and spare,bearings,winch,hitch,fra me,wiring,and tie-downs. A great resource to check out is Boating life magazine because they offer info ranging from boat and boat trailer accessories,safety tips covering topics like boat and trailer lights,waterproofing,boat trailer tires,and they offer use of their online boat buyer's guide and prices.Boatersworld.com is an online boating store where you can buy boating and boat trailer accessories at competitive prices,no sales tax,no shipping cost over $100 and ships within 24 hours Monday through Friday. Do you have insurance on your boat trailer? Metlife offers boat insurance that covers; boat trailers,boat motors,hull,and boating equipment. In summary,boat trailers are generally safe if they have been cared for.

A good idea is to make a checklist for yourself covering the items that need maintenance to be in top performance condition in order to travel safely with your boat trailer. Some to mention

are; the tow bar and coupler,make sure they are the same size and bolts and washers are tightly secured. your trailer is loaded evenly,front to rear as well as side to side. The lights on the trailer function properly.Check the brakes,Check tires,including spare.The side view mirrors,Tie-downs and lower unit supports have to be adjusted properly to prevent the boat from bouncing on the trailer.