Trailering your boat is essential for maintaining your boat over the long term- that wear and tear can become costly if not properly cared for. With a trailer, cleaning and repairing a boat becomes a much easier job than if you were to store it in the water during the off-season. It's also easier to secure a trailered boat, whether it be in your own garage or in protected storage.
Logistics aside, the greatest advantage of trailering a boat is that you can explore tons of new places. You can take a trailered boat just about anywhere. That being said, let's take a look at some useful tips and best practices for trailering your boat.
Towing Preparation
Picking the right truck to tow your boat is very important, and it all comes down to how much your boat weighs. The combined weight of the boat and trailer should be less than the maximum capacity of the tow vehicle.
Make sure you do your pre-trip preparation so that everything goes smoothly. You'll need to ensure that all safety chains are correctly attached. You can also use a padlock for more security/protection. you'll also need to make sure that your boat is properly balanced on the trailer. Using mid-point straps, you can secure the boat to the trailer to prevent it from bouncing.
One of the most important things to watch out for is a bearing failure. Improper maintenance of your trailer bearings not only endangers your boat, but also you and your passengers. To ensure everything goes smoothly, don't forget to keep all bearing caps greased.
If the trailer is equipped with brakes, make sure they are properly adjusted, and in proper working condition. At the same time, make sure to check the pressure in all trailer and vehicle tires. Make sure you have a spare tire as well, in case of an emergency.
You should also take into account whether you will be trailering during the day or at night. If you plan on driving at night, reflective tape should be applied to key areas of your trailer for higher visibility. Of course, this isn't an issue if you're only trailering in the daytime.
The last thing on your checklist is also the most important! Make sure to empty your boat's tank before heading out. Many people fill their tank before trailering, but the additional gasoline will definitely add more to the weight, which can affect your gas mileage and cost!
Trailer Kit
A trailer tool kit is a wise investment. This will come in handy if you face any issues on the road. Here's a list of some things you should keep in your trailer kit.
Brake cleaner
WD40
Jack
Plywood board
Electrical kit
Safety triangles
Tire gauge
Wrench
Air pump
Automotive hand pipes
Grease gun
These are just some of the essentials that should be in your toolbox. You can always add more.
The safety measure doesn't end here, though. When you stop for a break during your trip, you should always circle your trailer, checking your tire pressure, lights, and hubs. If you notice something strange, make sure to take care of it quickly. Checking your trailer early and often will help prevent more costly fixes down the road.
And remember! You can save money today by registering your boat and trailer with an LLC. At LLCTLC, we register your vessel right here in Montana, which means no sales tax on your life-changing purchase.