Remove the engines oil filter. Ensure malfunctioning wheel bearings to start a grease fire. But this is a secondary benefit; you should never modify the trailers balance for this reason alone. A towing rig is a much bigger package than what you are probably accustomed to driving, requiring more concentration and attention to your surroundings, especially in the crowded conditions you are likely to find around the launch ramp. The builder will need to know the make and model of the vessel and its measurements, but neither of you should rely on measurements printed in the manufacturers sales literature, owners manual, or blueprints. Trailers with roller bunks are of special concern. Tires in poor or worn-out condition are a close second. Is there a dock or pier to which you can tie the boat as soon as it comes off the trailer? Additionally, you wont know if the boat is centered on the rollers or bunks until youve driven onto the trailer and stepped out of the cockpit. Step back from the rig and observe it carefully from the side. Tilt-Bed Trailers Tilt-bed trailers have a hinge in the middle that allows you to lower the back half of the trailer and get the boat deeper into the water without having to back the trailer farther in. Once the boat is within a foot or two Before floating or winching a sailboat onto its trailer, raise the centerof the bow stopand if the bow of board or lifting keel all the way. Wind the lower ends together in large-diameter loops and secure them so they do not flail in the wind or slap against anything.
This is where the true Class IV hitch comes into play. Dry the wiring harness connector, place a bit of petroleum jelly on the contacts, and place a plastic bag over the plug. This is where youll reveal your true level of towing prowesswhere other boaters watch everyone elses moves, good and bad. Even though a step bumper may have a hole drilled through it for a hitch ball, the bumper itself may not be strong enough to handle the load placed on it by a bouncing boat trailer. That equates to the typical SUV tire being underinflated by about 8 pounds per square inch (psi) or more. 142 T H E C O M P L E T E G U I D E T O T R A I L E R I N G YO U R B O AT Your owners manual is the best source of information on basic maintenance requirements and intervals. 4-Stroke Engines 28/13 35/16 38/17 51/23 57/26 69/31 99/45 102/46 113/51 137/62 148/67 170/77 218/99 232/105 277/126 293/133 362/164 371/168 439/199 485/220 460/209 487/221 497/226 548/247 563/256 578/262 580/263 25 26 T H E C O M P L E T E G U I D E T O T R A I L E R I N G YO U R B O AT Table 2.4 TYPICAL WEIGHTS OF BOAT GEAR & SUPPLIES (in pounds/kilograms) Gear and Supplies Typical Total Weights Capacity 10 gal. It is all too common to see tow vehicles and trailers running on dangerously underinflated tires. Boat positioning relative to bunk alignment is especially critical on trailers with roller-type bunks, because the force of each roller against the hull is concentrated in a small area of contact rather than spread over the length of long, flat, carpeted boards. Well start with winch straps or cables because securing your boat to its trailer begins at the bow: 1. Do not use hitch extenders for towing on the highwaythey are for boat-ramp use only. Tandem-axle trailers cut more to the inside of a turn than their single-axle counterparts. It may be difficult to see the trailer from the helm of the boat, although side guides on the trailer can ease this problem somewhat. When available, always select the limited-slip or locking differential option. Boats slide more easily on bunk carpets when the bunks are wet, so back in far enough to get them wet then pull forward until the top of the trailer fender is visible. Once youre proficient, you can go boating anytime you want, whether or not friends or family are available. Fuel economy benefit: 7 to 23 percent Equivalent gasoline savings: $0.17$0.67/gallon Breathe easy. L A U N C H I N G A N D R E T R I E V I N G YO U R B O AT 113 If the ramp is steep or slippery, you might need those brakes. In Louisiana, for example, You can easily and safely tow most boats up to about 17 feet on a single-axle trailer. If the new trailer you are buying doesnt include one, see if you can add it as an option or have one installed by the dealer. Most new tow vehicle packages come with a seven-pin round plug socket, while many boat trailers come with four- or five-pin connectors, so you may have to buy a flat-four-(or five-) to-round-seven pin adapter. Trailer Electrics The electrical system is almost certainly the biggest source of problems on boat trailers. Each sensor records tire pressure, and when that pressure drops to a preset level, a tiny transmitter sends a signal to a receiver in the tow vehicle, indicating which tire is low. Boat trailer manufacturers dont build trailers to meet every states towing laws. tightened to a specific torque for each Extending the hitch in this manner comes at a price, however. That leaves you a margin of safety and alleviates the stress on your tow vehicle. Seatbelt-type ratcheting tie-downs are fast and easy to use and give you an absolutely taut and secure lashing.
Ask your agent for advice, but read the policyit takes precedence over what anyone tells you. When your tow vehicles tires start spinning, forward momentum decreases or stops, and a lot of unneeded wear on the spinning tire or tires begins. In contrast, trailers for shallow-draft boats with lifting keels, swing keels, or centerboards support the boat in a manner similar to powerboat trailers, using conventional bunks or rollers. 5. %%EOF Regardless of whether your boat has a lightweight centerboard or a heavy lifting or swing keel, remember to raise it before attempting to launch or retrieve the boat, and make lowering it part of your checklist before driving away. Does the driving surface extend far enough into the water, or does it drop off abruptly? Even when no one else is around, make it a practice to choose one side of the ramp or the other. (PETER DUPRE/AUTOWORD, DRAWN BY CHRISTOPHER HOYT) 14 T H E C O M P L E T E G U I D E T O T R A I L E R I N G YO U R B O AT VEHICLE WEIGHT RATINGS There are various limits to how much load your vehicle can carry safely. Additionally, youve probably had a long day, youre tired, and you might be tempted to skip a few steps or ignore a safety item or two. For example, turn off propane at the tank, not just at the stove. The majority of single- and tandem-axle boat trailers, on the other hand, use hydraulic surge brakes rather than electric brakes, because the latter are commonly considered to be vulnerable to immersion. The effect of wind from passing trucks is magnified with a trailer in tow. When that happens, the tow vehicle must be stable enough to keep both itself and the loaded trailer under full control. Trailer Height (in feet) 13.6 13.6 13.6 13.6 14 Max. See also specific manufacturers pontoon boats, 7374, 124 pontoon boat trailer manufacturers, 156 pre-towing routine boat and trailer check, 8486 checklist for, 91 hitching the trailer, 8690 phases of, 83 tow vehicle check, 84 Q quick links, 89 R rear-view video cameras, 87 receiver-hitch extension kits, 49, 51, 133, 134, 13637 registration, 5 regulations, 62, 6566, 6768, 15859 retrieving the boat preparation, 121 procedures for, 120, 12225 sailboats, 125, 13536 solo procedure, 12526 in wind or current, 12627 rigging of sailboats, 112, 13740 roller bunks, 56 roller trailers, 5758 S SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers International), 19, 42 safe following distances, 99100 safety tire underinflation and, 14647 tow vehicle checklist, 148 trailer brakes and, 65 vehicle tow rating and, 78, 11, 20, 22 safety cables, 89, 90 safety chains, 89, 153 sailboats custom-made trailer measurements, 13133, 132 hitch extenders and, 133, 134, 13637 launching, 112, 135 positioning on trailer, 13435 retrieving, 125, 13536 rigging, 112, 13740 swing keel positioning, 112, 130 trailers for, 12933, 13031, 137 sailboat trailer manufacturers, 15556 shock absorbers, 64 side-view mirrors, 3839, 90 Society of Automotive Engineers International (SAE), 19, 42 solo launching, 11517 solo retrieval, 12526 spare parts, 153 spare tire mount, 78, 79 spars, transporting, 13740 spring bars, 14, 4649 state regulations, 62, 6566, 6768, 15859 stepping the mast, 112, 138, 140 stopping distance, 99100, 14647 suppliers, 15557 surge brakes description, 66, 6970 launch precautions, 113 weight-distributing hitches and, 1516, 20, 4748 suspension system, trailer, 6365 SUVs, selection of, 18, 2930. He was completely unaware of the situation and would probably have driven until it, too, went completely flat, putting his boat, trailer, and tow vehicle in jeopardy. Many stock fenders are not made for standing or stepping on. The same principle holds true for double- and triple-axle trailers. McGraw-Hill and its licensors do not warrant or guarantee that the functions contained in the work will meet your requirements or that its operation will be uninterrupted or error free. There are, however, several downsides inherent in hydraulic surge brake design. Full-size CUVs that work well as tow vehicles for trailers up to 4,500 pounds include the Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave. If the trailers wheels were chocked, remove the chocks and stow them securely in the boat. Thats a scary thought when you realize that many boatowners pay little to no attention to the weight of the boat on their hitch. Other easily movable weights may include gas cans and large ice chests. until its fully afloat. If someone accidentally unlocks the winch so its in a free-spool mode, and the boat suddenly slides off the trailer with the winch cable still attached, the handle will spin rapidly, with enough force to break a wrist. Find where the white wire is attached to the frame of the trailer and make sure there is a good metal-tometal connection there. Meanwhile the 1 Copyright 2008 by International Marine. Class I hitches, which are designed to handle a GTW up to 2,000 pounds and a TW up to 200 pounds, comprise three basic types: Receiver hitch: Uses a 11/4" receiver tube. Raising the mast can be difficult under the best of circumstances, and trying to do it while the boat is afloat, tipping this way and that, can be a recipe for frustration, if not disaster. Any sooner and you are essentially tailgating, regardless of how far you appear to be from the other vehicle. The boat floats until the dockline tightens and pulls the boat back toward the dock. Temperature Gauge A transmission temperature gauge is another useful piece of equipment, allowing you to monitor the temperature, and thus the health, of your automatic transmission. Another example: Say you own a full-size, four-door, four-wheel-drive Ford F-150 SuperCrew and see a beautiful 26-foot sport cruiser that would fit right in with the familys summer vacation plans. 2. (BEARING BUDDY, INC.) 76 T H E C O M P L E T E G U I D E T O T R A I L E R I N G YO U R B O AT Nonskid Walking Surface The fenders on this trailer are well designed for use as steps, with wide diamond-plated standing surfaces. How does it feel towing the boat? Calculating the real weight of your boat and trailer package is a critical first step in choosing a proper tow vehicle. 0 (Well, make that the second. Make sure theyre the same size as the stock items, and that the tires can handle the load. This pressurizes the hydraulic fluid in the cylinder and brake lines, pushing the brake shoes against the drums and slowing the trailer. Using a torque wrench, check the lug nuts against the trailer manufacturers specifications. Fairless Hills, PA 19030 800-562-3783 www.loadrite.com Magic Tilt Trailers 2161 Lions Club Rd. Too much TW will unweight the front wheels, reducing steering control (middle). Beyond getting used to how your rig handles on the road are the mechanics and logistics of driving a vehicle with a trailer in tow, rather than just the vehicle. Make sure you have the proper safety gear inside the boat, including U.S. Coast Guardapproved personal flotation devices (PFDs) for each person on board, a throwable flotation device or cushion, fire extinguishers, a whistle or handheld horn, distress signals or flares, and whatever else the Coast Guard and local boating regulations require. Crank the trailer tongue jack until the bottom of the coupler is 1 to 2 inches higher than the top of the tow ball on your tow vehicle. Your right to use the work may be terminated if you fail to comply with these terms. Place the trailer tongue on the scale and you get an instant weight measurement. 3. Others can accommodate two, three, or more boats simultaneously. Make big, wide ones at first, then tighter ones as time goes on. The brakes, for example, or even the engines cooling capacity, might be the limiting factor. (Indeed, Check the launch areas open hours. Note the lights mounted on top of the guides, which will help loading at night. 146 T H E C O M P L E T E G U I D E T O T R A I L E R I N G YO U R B O AT Put the transmission in park, set the brake, and let the vehicle idle for a bit, which allows the fluid to continue circulating through the transmission cooler. to the tow vehicles front Tongue Weight wheels.
Care must be taken to ensure that the vessel is properly positioned and supported. As soon as the tow vehicles backup lights come on, a solenoid in the coupler bypasses the flow of hydraulic fluid in the brake line away from the wheel cylinders, disengaging the braking system. 54 T H E C O M P L E T E G U I D E T O T R A I L E R I N G YO U R B O AT trailers vital statistics. This situation is what I call the slow death zone, in which the drivetrain will live long enough to survive the warranty period, but not as long as it really should. 110 T H E C O M P L E T E G U I D E T O T R A I L E R I N G YO U R B O AT Dont forget to insert the drain plug before launching! Instead, a boat trailer tires proper inflation pressure is noted right on the trailer tires sidewall. An added benefit of an air-actuated locker is that it gives you an onboard air supply with which to keep tow vehicle and trailer tires inflatednot to mention the air mattresses and other inflatable items commonly found on a boating outing. (TRAILER BOATS) on the trailer make securing the boat particularly easy. Others have a Custom matching wheels and tires on the tow vehicle and trailer are a nice touch. Models such as the Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave have 4,000-poundplus tow ratings. Make sure its in the raised position before you splash. Once youre in position at the tongue of the trailer, continue to pull the boat toward you, guiding it onto the bunks. 6. If you move the coupler 2 feet from the pencil, youll cut the weight in half, and a 500-pound load will register as 250 pounds. With less mass and fewer components to turn, FWD is also more fuel efficient than RWD. Extend-A-Hitch is one manufacturer that offers such extensions. Wrap it with waterproof tape, or place the connector in a plastic bag and twist-tie it closed. Although SAE has yet to make this classification official, it exists as a de facto standard. If the tires are underinflated, they can cause the trailer to bounce around, making matters even worse. If youre just 1 foot off center, it may be difficult or impossible to work on the tight side. The drawback of a unibody design for boatowners is that any looseness between the hitch drawbar and the receiver will result in an annoying booming sound inside the vehicle when the boat is in tow, making you think the trailer has 29 2007 Chevrolet Silverado crew cab dually. A weight-distributing system consists of a frame-mounted receiver and spring bars (also called equalizing bars) that attach to a special ball-mount assembly hitch receiver ball mount or drawbar spring bar assembly A weight-distributing hitch may not be used with a trailer equipped with surge brakes. If you exceed that limit, youll be placing too much weight on the rear of your vehicle, which will in turn lighten the front of the vehicle, which may adversely affect steering and control. DOI: 10.1036/0071471642 Professional Want to learn more? Look in the rearview mirror (or over your right shoulder) and position your tow vehicle so the bow of the boat is aligned with the middle of the rear windowor if youre in a pickup, with the center of the tailgate. A drive-on or float-on approach requires less physical effort (especially if you dont have an electric winch). To power load the boat solo: 1. Lay the 2 6 board on the pencils. This arrangement provides no shocks to control the leaf springs up-and-down flexing and frighteningly little travel to dampen the blows as the tires encounter rocks, ruts, speed bumps, and other assorted road irregularities. (in pounds) 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 1,500 (3,000 for boat trailers) 3,000 3,000 4,000 3,000 Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina 48 n/a 40 45 42 40 48 45 n/a 40 45 n/a 40 45 48 50 40 n/a 40 40 48 35 40 45 40 8.6 8 9 8.6 8 8.6 8.6 8.6 8 8 8.6 8.6 8.6 8 8 8.6 8 8.6 8.6 8.6 8 8 8.6 8.6 8.6 13.6 13.6 13.6 14 13.6 13.6 13.6 14 13.6 13.6 13.6 13.6 13.6 13.6 13.6 13.6 14 14 14.6 14 13.6 13.6 14 13.6 13.6 65 60 65 65 60 60 65 65 55 70 65 55 65 60 65 70 65 75 65 70 60 50 65 65 60 3,000 2,500 3,000 1,500 3,000 3,000 3,000 n/a n/a 3,000 3,000 3,000 n/a 3,000 3,000 2,000 n/a 3,000 3,000 1,500 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 4,000 STATE OR PROVINCE Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Max. The heavy-duty, higher-output alternator and battery system handles the additional loads required by the trailer lights (and possibly other accessories, such as an electric winch or tongue jack). If you have a big dually or a tow vehicle that partially obscures the view of your boat trailer when you back it down a ramp, getting the proper position on the ramp can be a problem.
2. In some cases, the ratings are as low as 1,000 pounds (or even less) for the GTW, and 100 pounds or less for the TW. Youd be surprised how many people drastically underestimate the weight of their boat/trailer packages. If they are too hot to keep your hand on, dont continue driving until you have resolved the problem. This is especially true in the compact and mid-size SUVs, pickups, and CUVs. This phenomenon is worse on some CUVs than others, and there is no correlation with the price of the vehicle. If the boat is being powered up to the trailer, someone on board throws the bow line to the helper. Manual or Automatic Transmission? Simple and fast. Make sure the locking pin is in good condition, and that the matching holes in the drawbar and the receiver are not ovalled. ), and whatever gear and provisions are stored inside lockers and coolers. When you approach any parking space or boat ramp from the side, always give yourself as much room as possible. Triple axles are the norm on trailers designed for boats more than 30 feet in length, with wet weights of more than 8,000 pounds. The torsion bar is cushioned and held in place in the axle housing by a block of solid rubber or individual rubber cords. Our members actively participate in the boating community through education, vessel safety checks, and a cooperative program with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to update navigation charts. Newer automatics also provide low enough ratios in first gear to provide excellent grunt for pulling a loaded trailer smoothly up a steep boat ramp. Sooner or later, most trailer boaters tire of trying to balance themselves on the narrow and sometimes slippery tongue of the trailer in order to connect the winch strap to the bow eye during the retrieval process. Back your vehicle down the ramp as far as practical in the usual manner.
Underinflated tires overheat and are the leading cause of blowouts. A halfdozen trips to the local boat ramp will hone your skills even further. If a trailer doesnt come with loading guides, you can get them from a local boat dealer, a marine supplier, or over the Internet. A close second is mechanical damage caused by running over curb edges or off the sides of the pavement.
Youll be amazed at how often you try to drive away with them still under the wheels. Front-Wheel Drive Front-wheel drive dramatically improves a vehicles handling and traction, thus improving safety when road and driving conditions deteriorate. Even if theres nothing of value in that you can unclip the hook from the them, the sight of bags on the seats may prove intriguing to bow eye. Its impossible to give simple rules about whether the wind or the current will affect the boat more if they are going in different directions. I know firsthand the misfortunes that can befall a boatowner when it comes to towing. If it has an outboard engine, pump the fuelline primer bulb until its firm to ensure the engine has a good source of fuel right away. SUSPENSIONS Spending most of my life in rural America has given me a great appreciation for a smooth, comfortable rideespecially with a trailer in tow. CHAPTER 5 The Art of Towing T owing a trailer for the first time is intimidating. Here we go: 1. Another device is a metal V-shaped guide that bolts to the hitch just ahead of the ball. Disc brakes provide better stopping power when subjected to water, dirt, or mud, and they are easier to maintain. (As covered in Chapter 3, the norm for TW is 5 to 10 percent of its gross total weight or GTW.) Conventional lockers lock and unlock automatically when they sense a threshold difference in rotation between the wheels on the drive axle. Where such designations appear in this book, they have been printed with initial caps. Its essential to inspect them regularly. Rather than pulling out in front of other drivers and then moving away so slowly that they have to stomp on the brakes, wait for a clear openingone thats a bit longer than you would need without a trailer on the hitch. A few of the newest pickups and SUVs have them as part of the towing packagebut most do not. Not muchmaybe 1 pound of pressure per month on averagebut that persistent air loss, coupled with changes in outside air temperatures, can lead to severely underinflated tires. Pull the tow vehicle off the scale so that only the jack stand is on the scale platform. Click here for terms of use.
(Thats the area where other vehicles tend to be just when you want to make a lane change.) Replacing a clogged air filter helps ensure the proper fuel-air mixture for optimum combustion efficiency and reduces the energy the engine must expend pumping air.
This involves using a systematic pre-towing routine every time you hook the trailer to the hitch. For instance, the typical boat trailer can weigh anywhere from a couple hundred to a couple thousand pounds, depending on the style and size. This will extend the life of the tow ball, and it may also prevent annoying squeaks between the coupler and the ball while towing. Many pontoon trailers are equipped with electric disc brakes on all axles, because the 7-inch-diameter drum brakes that would normally be on the small wheels may not provide adequate braking for some of the heavier rigs. Surge brakes rely upon the forward movement of the trailers tongue against the hitch ball to activate a hydraulic master cylinder inside the coupler. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. The weight of the boat is transferred to the padded bunks when the keel clears the rollers. Lightweight items such as clothing and boat cushions are almost certain to fly out of the boat while youre driving unless theyre stowed inside a locker or in the cabin. The drawback of diesel engines is that they usually require a lot of road miles to justify their higher initial cost. Finish raising the jack all the way. Needless to say, this can be a real annoyance. Add in the weight of the tandem-axle trailer and the towed weight is now over 9,000 pounds. 4. Dont rely on the salesmans word or the advertising literature regarding tow ratings. When you tow a trailer that weighs more than the upper limit established by either the vehicle or hitch manufacturer (whichever rating is lower), you assume all liability. If rusted, sand and repaint. ity, so make sure that you dont release Make sure your rig is parked entirely within a marked space the lock on the winch or safety chain and not obstructing the driving lanes, the ramp, or other parkbefore youre ready to launch at the ing spaces. After a good deal of fiddling around, they got the boat ready to launch. However, either you or the boat operator will be the one releasing the boat not your spotter. All rights reserved. Another load rating listed on every trailer is the gross axle weight rating (GAWR), which is the maximum weight each axle can support safely. (CHRISTOPHER HOYT) 100 T H E C O M P L E T E G U I D E T O T R A I L E R I N G YO U R B O AT Table 5.1 Speed (mph) 25 35 45 55 60 65 SAFE FOLLOWING DISTANCES WHEN TOWING Distance Traveled per Second (in feet) 37 52 66 81 88 96 Minimum Safe Following Distance (in feet) Dry Pavement Marginal Conditions 148 222 208 312 264 396 324 486 352 528 384 576 two, one-thousand three, one-thousand four. If your vehicle has not passed the landmark before the end of that count, you are following at what may be considered a safe distance. Be sure tires are inflated to the pressure indicated on the doorjamb or in the Check the tire pressure on the tow vehicle and the trailer before hitching up. Tie-downs: Replace worn or frayed straps. If you see any deflection of the hulls sides or bottom, the side supports are too high and must be adjusted. String Theory by George Musser Rest the trailer coupler on the 2 6 exactly 1 foot from the pencil on the block (i.e., 25 percent of the distance between the two pencils). Engines are cooled in two ways. Unfortunately, such devices are incompatible with most boat trailer brakes. Undo the straps, load the gear, remove the transom saver, put in the drain plug, etc. The full-size Ford Crown Victoria is limited to 1,500 pounds. Retrieval with a helper is as follows: 1. Buy it. Blind spots are the main cause of towing accidents involving other vehicles on the open road. Currently, they are sufficient for stopping the cars own weight and the load its carrying but not necessarily an extra ton or more of boat and trailer. This sound is caused by the way the hitch is attached to the body and how much or how little sound-deadening material the vehicle manufacturer has used to isolate the hitch noises from the passenger compartment. Inertia-activated controller: This controller utilizes a pendulum that senses how rapidly the tow vehicle is stopping and stops the trailer at the same rate.
If the boat is tilted slightly down toward the bow, gravity will help. 6. (VENTURE TRAILERS/RANGER BOATS) 80 T H E C O M P L E T E G U I D E T O T R A I L E R I N G YO U R B O AT to lift and lower the coupler onto and off of the hitch ball. Rarely will the hitch be a heavy-duty Class V, which has a weight-carrying capacity of up to 12,000 pounds. How quickly you master the art of towing a boat trailer depends on one very basic conceptlearning the nuances of how your tow vehicle interacts with your boat trailer, and especially how they react as a unit. During the launch, the winch cable will be all that holds the boat in place, unless youve left the bow tie-down strap in place. There are literally thousands of combinations when it comes to tow vehicle choices. Is the wind blowing? Replace the valve-stem cap. I also like to take this time to wipe down the boat to prevent water spots.
Therefore, its little wonder that clear-cut numbers are hard to ferret out. These provisions might be nothing more than a metal eye protruding from the transom, a well-placed trailer frame member, or a conveniently located hole in a trailer cross member, but you can always find appropriate places to lead, anchor, and secure a tie-down. Coil up the balance and place it in the bed of your pickup or the rear of your SUV (with the gate open). 85 86 T H E C O M P L E T E G U I D E T O T R A I L E R I N G YO U R B O AT Make sure the bow is up against the bow stop and the winch strap and bow safety chain or tie-down straps are tight. Its better to use docklines, not your arms, to control the boat as it floats off the trailer. Through our USPS University courses, books, guides, presentations, and seminars, weve been teaching safe boating since 1914.
Buy a bracket that allows you to lock the tire securely. In this description, well assume that the ramp is to the right of your vehicle: When backing, go slowly and try to make lots of 1. This can be even more of a problem on a boat with a tall bow, which can make it impossible to see even the winch stand at anything less than about 20 feet distance. Both conditions can result in hydroplaning, in which the tires plane over the surface of the water instead of staying in contact with the pavement, resulting in loss of traction. The best fuel economy for the typical truck or SUV is cruising right around 40 miles per hour, explains Roger Clark, senior manager for General Motors Energy Integration and Fuel Economy Learning Vehicles Program, which handles fuel economy development for all GM trucks and SUVs. Repeat the procedure on each tire. Trailer Ma terials and Protection Drum brakes (top) are most often installed as standard equipment. That doesnt mean, however, that flat-bottomed hulls are the only candidates to become flying boats. But even this may not be sufficient, since not all towing packages include all of these features.
This is where the true Class IV hitch comes into play. Dry the wiring harness connector, place a bit of petroleum jelly on the contacts, and place a plastic bag over the plug. This is where youll reveal your true level of towing prowesswhere other boaters watch everyone elses moves, good and bad. Even though a step bumper may have a hole drilled through it for a hitch ball, the bumper itself may not be strong enough to handle the load placed on it by a bouncing boat trailer. That equates to the typical SUV tire being underinflated by about 8 pounds per square inch (psi) or more. 142 T H E C O M P L E T E G U I D E T O T R A I L E R I N G YO U R B O AT Your owners manual is the best source of information on basic maintenance requirements and intervals. 4-Stroke Engines 28/13 35/16 38/17 51/23 57/26 69/31 99/45 102/46 113/51 137/62 148/67 170/77 218/99 232/105 277/126 293/133 362/164 371/168 439/199 485/220 460/209 487/221 497/226 548/247 563/256 578/262 580/263 25 26 T H E C O M P L E T E G U I D E T O T R A I L E R I N G YO U R B O AT Table 2.4 TYPICAL WEIGHTS OF BOAT GEAR & SUPPLIES (in pounds/kilograms) Gear and Supplies Typical Total Weights Capacity 10 gal. It is all too common to see tow vehicles and trailers running on dangerously underinflated tires. Boat positioning relative to bunk alignment is especially critical on trailers with roller-type bunks, because the force of each roller against the hull is concentrated in a small area of contact rather than spread over the length of long, flat, carpeted boards. Well start with winch straps or cables because securing your boat to its trailer begins at the bow: 1. Do not use hitch extenders for towing on the highwaythey are for boat-ramp use only. Tandem-axle trailers cut more to the inside of a turn than their single-axle counterparts. It may be difficult to see the trailer from the helm of the boat, although side guides on the trailer can ease this problem somewhat. When available, always select the limited-slip or locking differential option. Boats slide more easily on bunk carpets when the bunks are wet, so back in far enough to get them wet then pull forward until the top of the trailer fender is visible. Once youre proficient, you can go boating anytime you want, whether or not friends or family are available. Fuel economy benefit: 7 to 23 percent Equivalent gasoline savings: $0.17$0.67/gallon Breathe easy. L A U N C H I N G A N D R E T R I E V I N G YO U R B O AT 113 If the ramp is steep or slippery, you might need those brakes. In Louisiana, for example, You can easily and safely tow most boats up to about 17 feet on a single-axle trailer. If the new trailer you are buying doesnt include one, see if you can add it as an option or have one installed by the dealer. Most new tow vehicle packages come with a seven-pin round plug socket, while many boat trailers come with four- or five-pin connectors, so you may have to buy a flat-four-(or five-) to-round-seven pin adapter. Trailer Electrics The electrical system is almost certainly the biggest source of problems on boat trailers. Each sensor records tire pressure, and when that pressure drops to a preset level, a tiny transmitter sends a signal to a receiver in the tow vehicle, indicating which tire is low. Boat trailer manufacturers dont build trailers to meet every states towing laws. tightened to a specific torque for each Extending the hitch in this manner comes at a price, however. That leaves you a margin of safety and alleviates the stress on your tow vehicle. Seatbelt-type ratcheting tie-downs are fast and easy to use and give you an absolutely taut and secure lashing.
Ask your agent for advice, but read the policyit takes precedence over what anyone tells you. When your tow vehicles tires start spinning, forward momentum decreases or stops, and a lot of unneeded wear on the spinning tire or tires begins. In contrast, trailers for shallow-draft boats with lifting keels, swing keels, or centerboards support the boat in a manner similar to powerboat trailers, using conventional bunks or rollers. 5. %%EOF Regardless of whether your boat has a lightweight centerboard or a heavy lifting or swing keel, remember to raise it before attempting to launch or retrieve the boat, and make lowering it part of your checklist before driving away. Does the driving surface extend far enough into the water, or does it drop off abruptly? Even when no one else is around, make it a practice to choose one side of the ramp or the other. (PETER DUPRE/AUTOWORD, DRAWN BY CHRISTOPHER HOYT) 14 T H E C O M P L E T E G U I D E T O T R A I L E R I N G YO U R B O AT VEHICLE WEIGHT RATINGS There are various limits to how much load your vehicle can carry safely. Additionally, youve probably had a long day, youre tired, and you might be tempted to skip a few steps or ignore a safety item or two. For example, turn off propane at the tank, not just at the stove. The majority of single- and tandem-axle boat trailers, on the other hand, use hydraulic surge brakes rather than electric brakes, because the latter are commonly considered to be vulnerable to immersion. The effect of wind from passing trucks is magnified with a trailer in tow. When that happens, the tow vehicle must be stable enough to keep both itself and the loaded trailer under full control. Trailer Height (in feet) 13.6 13.6 13.6 13.6 14 Max. See also specific manufacturers pontoon boats, 7374, 124 pontoon boat trailer manufacturers, 156 pre-towing routine boat and trailer check, 8486 checklist for, 91 hitching the trailer, 8690 phases of, 83 tow vehicle check, 84 Q quick links, 89 R rear-view video cameras, 87 receiver-hitch extension kits, 49, 51, 133, 134, 13637 registration, 5 regulations, 62, 6566, 6768, 15859 retrieving the boat preparation, 121 procedures for, 120, 12225 sailboats, 125, 13536 solo procedure, 12526 in wind or current, 12627 rigging of sailboats, 112, 13740 roller bunks, 56 roller trailers, 5758 S SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers International), 19, 42 safe following distances, 99100 safety tire underinflation and, 14647 tow vehicle checklist, 148 trailer brakes and, 65 vehicle tow rating and, 78, 11, 20, 22 safety cables, 89, 90 safety chains, 89, 153 sailboats custom-made trailer measurements, 13133, 132 hitch extenders and, 133, 134, 13637 launching, 112, 135 positioning on trailer, 13435 retrieving, 125, 13536 rigging, 112, 13740 swing keel positioning, 112, 130 trailers for, 12933, 13031, 137 sailboat trailer manufacturers, 15556 shock absorbers, 64 side-view mirrors, 3839, 90 Society of Automotive Engineers International (SAE), 19, 42 solo launching, 11517 solo retrieval, 12526 spare parts, 153 spare tire mount, 78, 79 spars, transporting, 13740 spring bars, 14, 4649 state regulations, 62, 6566, 6768, 15859 stepping the mast, 112, 138, 140 stopping distance, 99100, 14647 suppliers, 15557 surge brakes description, 66, 6970 launch precautions, 113 weight-distributing hitches and, 1516, 20, 4748 suspension system, trailer, 6365 SUVs, selection of, 18, 2930. He was completely unaware of the situation and would probably have driven until it, too, went completely flat, putting his boat, trailer, and tow vehicle in jeopardy. Many stock fenders are not made for standing or stepping on. The same principle holds true for double- and triple-axle trailers. McGraw-Hill and its licensors do not warrant or guarantee that the functions contained in the work will meet your requirements or that its operation will be uninterrupted or error free. There are, however, several downsides inherent in hydraulic surge brake design. Full-size CUVs that work well as tow vehicles for trailers up to 4,500 pounds include the Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave. If the trailers wheels were chocked, remove the chocks and stow them securely in the boat. Thats a scary thought when you realize that many boatowners pay little to no attention to the weight of the boat on their hitch. Other easily movable weights may include gas cans and large ice chests. until its fully afloat. If someone accidentally unlocks the winch so its in a free-spool mode, and the boat suddenly slides off the trailer with the winch cable still attached, the handle will spin rapidly, with enough force to break a wrist. Find where the white wire is attached to the frame of the trailer and make sure there is a good metal-tometal connection there. Meanwhile the 1 Copyright 2008 by International Marine. Class I hitches, which are designed to handle a GTW up to 2,000 pounds and a TW up to 200 pounds, comprise three basic types: Receiver hitch: Uses a 11/4" receiver tube. Raising the mast can be difficult under the best of circumstances, and trying to do it while the boat is afloat, tipping this way and that, can be a recipe for frustration, if not disaster. Any sooner and you are essentially tailgating, regardless of how far you appear to be from the other vehicle. The boat floats until the dockline tightens and pulls the boat back toward the dock. Temperature Gauge A transmission temperature gauge is another useful piece of equipment, allowing you to monitor the temperature, and thus the health, of your automatic transmission. Another example: Say you own a full-size, four-door, four-wheel-drive Ford F-150 SuperCrew and see a beautiful 26-foot sport cruiser that would fit right in with the familys summer vacation plans. 2. (BEARING BUDDY, INC.) 76 T H E C O M P L E T E G U I D E T O T R A I L E R I N G YO U R B O AT Nonskid Walking Surface The fenders on this trailer are well designed for use as steps, with wide diamond-plated standing surfaces. How does it feel towing the boat? Calculating the real weight of your boat and trailer package is a critical first step in choosing a proper tow vehicle. 0 (Well, make that the second. Make sure theyre the same size as the stock items, and that the tires can handle the load. This pressurizes the hydraulic fluid in the cylinder and brake lines, pushing the brake shoes against the drums and slowing the trailer. Using a torque wrench, check the lug nuts against the trailer manufacturers specifications. Fairless Hills, PA 19030 800-562-3783 www.loadrite.com Magic Tilt Trailers 2161 Lions Club Rd. Too much TW will unweight the front wheels, reducing steering control (middle). Beyond getting used to how your rig handles on the road are the mechanics and logistics of driving a vehicle with a trailer in tow, rather than just the vehicle. Make sure you have the proper safety gear inside the boat, including U.S. Coast Guardapproved personal flotation devices (PFDs) for each person on board, a throwable flotation device or cushion, fire extinguishers, a whistle or handheld horn, distress signals or flares, and whatever else the Coast Guard and local boating regulations require. Crank the trailer tongue jack until the bottom of the coupler is 1 to 2 inches higher than the top of the tow ball on your tow vehicle. Your right to use the work may be terminated if you fail to comply with these terms. Place the trailer tongue on the scale and you get an instant weight measurement. 3. Others can accommodate two, three, or more boats simultaneously. Make big, wide ones at first, then tighter ones as time goes on. The brakes, for example, or even the engines cooling capacity, might be the limiting factor. (Indeed, Check the launch areas open hours. Note the lights mounted on top of the guides, which will help loading at night. 146 T H E C O M P L E T E G U I D E T O T R A I L E R I N G YO U R B O AT Put the transmission in park, set the brake, and let the vehicle idle for a bit, which allows the fluid to continue circulating through the transmission cooler. to the tow vehicles front Tongue Weight wheels.
Care must be taken to ensure that the vessel is properly positioned and supported. As soon as the tow vehicles backup lights come on, a solenoid in the coupler bypasses the flow of hydraulic fluid in the brake line away from the wheel cylinders, disengaging the braking system. 54 T H E C O M P L E T E G U I D E T O T R A I L E R I N G YO U R B O AT trailers vital statistics. This situation is what I call the slow death zone, in which the drivetrain will live long enough to survive the warranty period, but not as long as it really should. 110 T H E C O M P L E T E G U I D E T O T R A I L E R I N G YO U R B O AT Dont forget to insert the drain plug before launching! Instead, a boat trailer tires proper inflation pressure is noted right on the trailer tires sidewall. An added benefit of an air-actuated locker is that it gives you an onboard air supply with which to keep tow vehicle and trailer tires inflatednot to mention the air mattresses and other inflatable items commonly found on a boating outing. (TRAILER BOATS) on the trailer make securing the boat particularly easy. Others have a Custom matching wheels and tires on the tow vehicle and trailer are a nice touch. Models such as the Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave have 4,000-poundplus tow ratings. Make sure its in the raised position before you splash. Once youre in position at the tongue of the trailer, continue to pull the boat toward you, guiding it onto the bunks. 6. If you move the coupler 2 feet from the pencil, youll cut the weight in half, and a 500-pound load will register as 250 pounds. With less mass and fewer components to turn, FWD is also more fuel efficient than RWD. Extend-A-Hitch is one manufacturer that offers such extensions. Wrap it with waterproof tape, or place the connector in a plastic bag and twist-tie it closed. Although SAE has yet to make this classification official, it exists as a de facto standard. If the tires are underinflated, they can cause the trailer to bounce around, making matters even worse. If youre just 1 foot off center, it may be difficult or impossible to work on the tight side. The drawback of a unibody design for boatowners is that any looseness between the hitch drawbar and the receiver will result in an annoying booming sound inside the vehicle when the boat is in tow, making you think the trailer has 29 2007 Chevrolet Silverado crew cab dually. A weight-distributing system consists of a frame-mounted receiver and spring bars (also called equalizing bars) that attach to a special ball-mount assembly hitch receiver ball mount or drawbar spring bar assembly A weight-distributing hitch may not be used with a trailer equipped with surge brakes. If you exceed that limit, youll be placing too much weight on the rear of your vehicle, which will in turn lighten the front of the vehicle, which may adversely affect steering and control. DOI: 10.1036/0071471642 Professional Want to learn more? Look in the rearview mirror (or over your right shoulder) and position your tow vehicle so the bow of the boat is aligned with the middle of the rear windowor if youre in a pickup, with the center of the tailgate. A drive-on or float-on approach requires less physical effort (especially if you dont have an electric winch). To power load the boat solo: 1. Lay the 2 6 board on the pencils. This arrangement provides no shocks to control the leaf springs up-and-down flexing and frighteningly little travel to dampen the blows as the tires encounter rocks, ruts, speed bumps, and other assorted road irregularities. (in pounds) 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 1,500 (3,000 for boat trailers) 3,000 3,000 4,000 3,000 Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina 48 n/a 40 45 42 40 48 45 n/a 40 45 n/a 40 45 48 50 40 n/a 40 40 48 35 40 45 40 8.6 8 9 8.6 8 8.6 8.6 8.6 8 8 8.6 8.6 8.6 8 8 8.6 8 8.6 8.6 8.6 8 8 8.6 8.6 8.6 13.6 13.6 13.6 14 13.6 13.6 13.6 14 13.6 13.6 13.6 13.6 13.6 13.6 13.6 13.6 14 14 14.6 14 13.6 13.6 14 13.6 13.6 65 60 65 65 60 60 65 65 55 70 65 55 65 60 65 70 65 75 65 70 60 50 65 65 60 3,000 2,500 3,000 1,500 3,000 3,000 3,000 n/a n/a 3,000 3,000 3,000 n/a 3,000 3,000 2,000 n/a 3,000 3,000 1,500 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 4,000 STATE OR PROVINCE Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Max. The heavy-duty, higher-output alternator and battery system handles the additional loads required by the trailer lights (and possibly other accessories, such as an electric winch or tongue jack). If you have a big dually or a tow vehicle that partially obscures the view of your boat trailer when you back it down a ramp, getting the proper position on the ramp can be a problem.
2. In some cases, the ratings are as low as 1,000 pounds (or even less) for the GTW, and 100 pounds or less for the TW. Youd be surprised how many people drastically underestimate the weight of their boat/trailer packages. If they are too hot to keep your hand on, dont continue driving until you have resolved the problem. This is especially true in the compact and mid-size SUVs, pickups, and CUVs. This phenomenon is worse on some CUVs than others, and there is no correlation with the price of the vehicle. If the boat is being powered up to the trailer, someone on board throws the bow line to the helper. Manual or Automatic Transmission? Simple and fast. Make sure the locking pin is in good condition, and that the matching holes in the drawbar and the receiver are not ovalled. ), and whatever gear and provisions are stored inside lockers and coolers. When you approach any parking space or boat ramp from the side, always give yourself as much room as possible. Triple axles are the norm on trailers designed for boats more than 30 feet in length, with wet weights of more than 8,000 pounds. The torsion bar is cushioned and held in place in the axle housing by a block of solid rubber or individual rubber cords. Our members actively participate in the boating community through education, vessel safety checks, and a cooperative program with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to update navigation charts. Newer automatics also provide low enough ratios in first gear to provide excellent grunt for pulling a loaded trailer smoothly up a steep boat ramp. Sooner or later, most trailer boaters tire of trying to balance themselves on the narrow and sometimes slippery tongue of the trailer in order to connect the winch strap to the bow eye during the retrieval process. Back your vehicle down the ramp as far as practical in the usual manner.
Underinflated tires overheat and are the leading cause of blowouts. A halfdozen trips to the local boat ramp will hone your skills even further. If a trailer doesnt come with loading guides, you can get them from a local boat dealer, a marine supplier, or over the Internet. A close second is mechanical damage caused by running over curb edges or off the sides of the pavement.
Youll be amazed at how often you try to drive away with them still under the wheels. Front-Wheel Drive Front-wheel drive dramatically improves a vehicles handling and traction, thus improving safety when road and driving conditions deteriorate. Even if theres nothing of value in that you can unclip the hook from the them, the sight of bags on the seats may prove intriguing to bow eye. Its impossible to give simple rules about whether the wind or the current will affect the boat more if they are going in different directions. I know firsthand the misfortunes that can befall a boatowner when it comes to towing. If it has an outboard engine, pump the fuelline primer bulb until its firm to ensure the engine has a good source of fuel right away. SUSPENSIONS Spending most of my life in rural America has given me a great appreciation for a smooth, comfortable rideespecially with a trailer in tow. CHAPTER 5 The Art of Towing T owing a trailer for the first time is intimidating. Here we go: 1. Another device is a metal V-shaped guide that bolts to the hitch just ahead of the ball. Disc brakes provide better stopping power when subjected to water, dirt, or mud, and they are easier to maintain. (As covered in Chapter 3, the norm for TW is 5 to 10 percent of its gross total weight or GTW.) Conventional lockers lock and unlock automatically when they sense a threshold difference in rotation between the wheels on the drive axle. Where such designations appear in this book, they have been printed with initial caps. Its essential to inspect them regularly. Rather than pulling out in front of other drivers and then moving away so slowly that they have to stomp on the brakes, wait for a clear openingone thats a bit longer than you would need without a trailer on the hitch. A few of the newest pickups and SUVs have them as part of the towing packagebut most do not. Not muchmaybe 1 pound of pressure per month on averagebut that persistent air loss, coupled with changes in outside air temperatures, can lead to severely underinflated tires. Pull the tow vehicle off the scale so that only the jack stand is on the scale platform. Click here for terms of use.
(Thats the area where other vehicles tend to be just when you want to make a lane change.) Replacing a clogged air filter helps ensure the proper fuel-air mixture for optimum combustion efficiency and reduces the energy the engine must expend pumping air.
This involves using a systematic pre-towing routine every time you hook the trailer to the hitch. For instance, the typical boat trailer can weigh anywhere from a couple hundred to a couple thousand pounds, depending on the style and size. This will extend the life of the tow ball, and it may also prevent annoying squeaks between the coupler and the ball while towing. Many pontoon trailers are equipped with electric disc brakes on all axles, because the 7-inch-diameter drum brakes that would normally be on the small wheels may not provide adequate braking for some of the heavier rigs. Surge brakes rely upon the forward movement of the trailers tongue against the hitch ball to activate a hydraulic master cylinder inside the coupler. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. The weight of the boat is transferred to the padded bunks when the keel clears the rollers. Lightweight items such as clothing and boat cushions are almost certain to fly out of the boat while youre driving unless theyre stowed inside a locker or in the cabin. The drawback of diesel engines is that they usually require a lot of road miles to justify their higher initial cost. Finish raising the jack all the way. Needless to say, this can be a real annoyance. Add in the weight of the tandem-axle trailer and the towed weight is now over 9,000 pounds. 4. Dont rely on the salesmans word or the advertising literature regarding tow ratings. When you tow a trailer that weighs more than the upper limit established by either the vehicle or hitch manufacturer (whichever rating is lower), you assume all liability. If rusted, sand and repaint. ity, so make sure that you dont release Make sure your rig is parked entirely within a marked space the lock on the winch or safety chain and not obstructing the driving lanes, the ramp, or other parkbefore youre ready to launch at the ing spaces. After a good deal of fiddling around, they got the boat ready to launch. However, either you or the boat operator will be the one releasing the boat not your spotter. All rights reserved. Another load rating listed on every trailer is the gross axle weight rating (GAWR), which is the maximum weight each axle can support safely. (CHRISTOPHER HOYT) 100 T H E C O M P L E T E G U I D E T O T R A I L E R I N G YO U R B O AT Table 5.1 Speed (mph) 25 35 45 55 60 65 SAFE FOLLOWING DISTANCES WHEN TOWING Distance Traveled per Second (in feet) 37 52 66 81 88 96 Minimum Safe Following Distance (in feet) Dry Pavement Marginal Conditions 148 222 208 312 264 396 324 486 352 528 384 576 two, one-thousand three, one-thousand four. If your vehicle has not passed the landmark before the end of that count, you are following at what may be considered a safe distance. Be sure tires are inflated to the pressure indicated on the doorjamb or in the Check the tire pressure on the tow vehicle and the trailer before hitching up. Tie-downs: Replace worn or frayed straps. If you see any deflection of the hulls sides or bottom, the side supports are too high and must be adjusted. String Theory by George Musser Rest the trailer coupler on the 2 6 exactly 1 foot from the pencil on the block (i.e., 25 percent of the distance between the two pencils). Engines are cooled in two ways. Unfortunately, such devices are incompatible with most boat trailer brakes. Undo the straps, load the gear, remove the transom saver, put in the drain plug, etc. The full-size Ford Crown Victoria is limited to 1,500 pounds. Retrieval with a helper is as follows: 1. Buy it. Blind spots are the main cause of towing accidents involving other vehicles on the open road. Currently, they are sufficient for stopping the cars own weight and the load its carrying but not necessarily an extra ton or more of boat and trailer. This sound is caused by the way the hitch is attached to the body and how much or how little sound-deadening material the vehicle manufacturer has used to isolate the hitch noises from the passenger compartment. Inertia-activated controller: This controller utilizes a pendulum that senses how rapidly the tow vehicle is stopping and stops the trailer at the same rate.
If the boat is tilted slightly down toward the bow, gravity will help. 6. (VENTURE TRAILERS/RANGER BOATS) 80 T H E C O M P L E T E G U I D E T O T R A I L E R I N G YO U R B O AT to lift and lower the coupler onto and off of the hitch ball. Rarely will the hitch be a heavy-duty Class V, which has a weight-carrying capacity of up to 12,000 pounds. How quickly you master the art of towing a boat trailer depends on one very basic conceptlearning the nuances of how your tow vehicle interacts with your boat trailer, and especially how they react as a unit. During the launch, the winch cable will be all that holds the boat in place, unless youve left the bow tie-down strap in place. There are literally thousands of combinations when it comes to tow vehicle choices. Is the wind blowing? Replace the valve-stem cap. I also like to take this time to wipe down the boat to prevent water spots.
Therefore, its little wonder that clear-cut numbers are hard to ferret out. These provisions might be nothing more than a metal eye protruding from the transom, a well-placed trailer frame member, or a conveniently located hole in a trailer cross member, but you can always find appropriate places to lead, anchor, and secure a tie-down. Coil up the balance and place it in the bed of your pickup or the rear of your SUV (with the gate open). 85 86 T H E C O M P L E T E G U I D E T O T R A I L E R I N G YO U R B O AT Make sure the bow is up against the bow stop and the winch strap and bow safety chain or tie-down straps are tight. Its better to use docklines, not your arms, to control the boat as it floats off the trailer. Through our USPS University courses, books, guides, presentations, and seminars, weve been teaching safe boating since 1914.
Buy a bracket that allows you to lock the tire securely. In this description, well assume that the ramp is to the right of your vehicle: When backing, go slowly and try to make lots of 1. This can be even more of a problem on a boat with a tall bow, which can make it impossible to see even the winch stand at anything less than about 20 feet distance. Both conditions can result in hydroplaning, in which the tires plane over the surface of the water instead of staying in contact with the pavement, resulting in loss of traction. The best fuel economy for the typical truck or SUV is cruising right around 40 miles per hour, explains Roger Clark, senior manager for General Motors Energy Integration and Fuel Economy Learning Vehicles Program, which handles fuel economy development for all GM trucks and SUVs. Repeat the procedure on each tire. Trailer Ma terials and Protection Drum brakes (top) are most often installed as standard equipment. That doesnt mean, however, that flat-bottomed hulls are the only candidates to become flying boats. But even this may not be sufficient, since not all towing packages include all of these features.