Boat Trailering
Fishing is good in the Keys right now…..finally!!! I promise to post some pics in the next day or two. In the mean time, here is a good article for those of you trailering boats this summer…..
Trailering Your Boat This Summer? Here’s What
You Need To Do To Keep It On The Road.
Each year thousands of boating enthusiasts, fishing guru’s and
summer vacationers trailer their boat to a nearby lake or head
to their weekend get away cottage and each year accidents by
the dozens occur from a variety of failures or malfunctions.
You see them on the side of the highways every year; a blown
out tire, a boat and trailer separated from the tow vehicle and
in a ditch next to the highway or sometimes flipped over on the
side of the road. Sometimes it’s a multi-vehicle accident with
cars, trucks and a boat all mixed up together. Someone usually
gets hurt and sometimes there’s fatalities.
Well, if you’re planning to trailer your boat and it doesn’t
matter whether it’s a pontoon boat, power boat, cruiser, a
sailboat or even a small fishing boat, here’s what you need to
check and fix before you hit the road.
Tires- Tires are probably the most common things to fail and
cause someone to get stuck on the side of the road. The reason
is because a lot of people store their boats and trailers
outside and they sit in storage a good deal of time. The rubber
gets old, loses pressure, cracks and so on. So check your tires
for wear and cracks. If you don’t have at least an eighth of an
inch of tread depth or if you see cracks in the tires and they
should be replaced. Also, check the tire pressure. When your
trailer sits in storage for long periods of time and the
temperature rises and falls this causes the tire to lose
pressure slowly over time. There should be inflation
specifications on the side of the tire or check your boat and
trailer owners manual. Make sure to inflate your tires to the
proper tire pressure. Under inflated tires or over inflated
tires can fail and keep you stuck on the side of the road for a
long time.
Lights, wiring and connections - These can cause serious
accidents if not working correctly. When they’re not working
properly the people behind you don’t know when you’re stopping
or turning. On highways, this can cause fatal accidents.
Check to make sure the lamps are not burned out and make sure
both filaments are in tact. Check the lamp housings to ensure
the seals are not broken or deteriorated. Check the lamp
sockets for corrosion. Apply a light coat of electrical grease
around the base of the lamp and socket to keep out moisture and
reinstall the lamps. Check the wiring to insure the ground
connections are not corroded or broken. Also, check the wiring
along the frame. Make sure that it’s in good condition and
properly fixed to the trailer. Check the fittings and
connections between the trailer and vehicle to make sure the
male / female plugs are not corroded. If they are, they should
be cleaned and reconnected. Have someone stand behind the
trailer each time you hook up and make sure your running
lights, brake lights and turn signals are working correctly.
Note: you should disconnect the trailer lights harness from the
vehicle before backing the boat into the water. This will
prevent the trailer lamps from shorting and blowing out.
Brakes – if your trailer is equipped with brakes, check the
brake fluid. If it’s low, fill to the appropriate level with
approved brake fluid. Check the brake pads or shoes to make
sure that they are not worn and replace them if they are. Check
the brake wire connections between the trailer and vehicle are
in properly connected. They control the braking mechanism to
apply or release the brakes as needed. Always check that the
brakes are working properly before on a short test drive before
towing at your boat at high speeds. Have a friend or family
member stand behind and to the side of the trailer. Confirm
that the brake and turn signal lights are working. If you’re
not familiar with repairing brakes and replacing brake pads and
shoes, take your trailer to your local boating center or trailer
dealership.
Bearings - Bearings should be checked at least once per year to
ensure they are properly greased. A frozen bearing can cause the
wheel to lockup and the tire to blow out. Most trailer spindles
have a dust cover that covers the bearing. Just remove the
cover and inspect. Some have a zerk or grease fitting at the
end of the spindle. You can add grease easily without
disassembling the bearing assembly. If you don’t have a zerk
fitting, the bearings need to be removed and repacked the old
fashion way. If you’re not sure what I’m talking about then you
need to take your trailer to your local boating center or a
trailer sales and service company. The bearings should be
checked and grease at least once per year. Always use a manual
grease gun and replace the tang washer. They should not be
reused. If you frequently use your boat and trailer, you should
check them twice per year.
Coupler - Couplers get worn and more frequently become
misadjusted so that the fit between the coupler and the hitch
ball becomes loose. If you’re towing your boat and the coupler
is loose it could bounce off the hitch ball and cause a serious
accident. It’s happened. I’ve seen it. To avoid this kind of
catastrophe, make sure the under side of the coupler is free
from dirt and debris. Spray lubricant on the lever and clasp
mechanism and also on the hitch ball. Check to make sure you
are using the correct size ball for the coupler. They should be
stamped the size. Make sure they are the same. Attach the
coupler to the hitch. Close the lever and insert the safety
pin. Confirm that the fit is tight and the tongue of the
trailer cannot move up or down at all. If you have a wheel type
coupler you can adjust it to tighten the fit. If you have a
lever type, some have a nut on the underside of the coupler
that can be adjusted to tighten the fit. If not, you should
take your trailer to a boating center or trailer dealership for
repair. Note: the pin is very important on the lever type of
couplers and needs to be inserted. If the pin is missing, it
needs to be replaced.
Winch - Make sure the winch is working properly and spay
lubricating oil on the gears. This will keep the winch working
freely for the entire boating season.
Tongue jack – grease the jack through the zerk fitting or pop
the top cap and insert grease. This should be done at least
once per year. Make sure that the jack operates freely all the
way up and down.
Safety Chains - These are extremely important, especially if
the coupler fails. I’ve seen a lot of trailers without them,
but they are very important to have. They should be securely
attached to the trailer, one on each side of the tongue and
attached to side of the hitch. They need to long enough to
allow the trailer to turn, but short enough to prevent the
tongue of the trailer from hitting the ground if the coupler
comes off the hitch.
Rollers - If your trailer is equipped with rollers, spray a
little lubricating oil on the spindles. This will keep them
rolling freely.
Frame - Check the frame of the trailer for cracks, especially
at the weld joints. There should be no signs of cracks or
fatigue. Frame or weld crack are generally not a problem, but
when towing a heavy boat they can be. If you see any signs of
cracks in the frame, take your trailer to your nearest boating
center or trailer dealer for service.
General - your trailer should be hosed off after each use to
prolong it’s appearance and to keep it in good working order.
This is especially important if you using your boat and trailer
in salt water. When storing or parking your trailer, you should
never let the tongue rest directly on the ground. Use a cement
block or wooden block to rest the tongue on. This will keep
dirt and debris from accumulating in the underside of the
coupler.
If you are unsure about any of the maintenance items or how to
do them, take your trailer to your local boating center or your
local trailer dealership. They will be able to assist you in
servicing your trailer properly.
For more information on boat and trailer maintenance - check
out www.boatfisher.com/boatMaintenance.cfm.
Always remember, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Don’t be
one of those guys or families on the side of the road wondering
what went wrong. Do the required maintenance and checks on your
trailer before you hit the road and you’ll be on the water in no
time.
About The Author: For more information on boat trailer
maintenance visit
www.boatfisher.com/boatMaintenance.cfm. Also, check out
our new and used boats, boating supplies and resources or to
find a new or used boat or list your boat for sale, just go to
www.BoatFisher.com - Enjoy Life … Go Boating!
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