Life is a Highway
Nothing strikes fear into the heart of a trailer boater like seeing someone’s pride and joy sitting on the shoulder temporarily abandoned. And nine times out of 10, the towing tragedy resulted from the failure of one of two items: Tires, or wheel bearings. Rule number one: carry a spare. If you don’t and your vacation gets ruined by a blow-out, you have no one to blame but yourself. But carrying a spare is not enough. You also need to check your tire pressure before you leave. Improper inflation not only leads to excessive tire wear, it will also lower your fuel economy - and every gallon of gas you pour into your truck is one gallon less for your boat budget. And before you change a tire on your trailer, do yourself a favor and make sure you know where the trailer manufacturer recommends you place the jack. Sad but true: years ago I had a blow-out on my 16’ center console’s trailer, jacked it up in the wrong spot, and bent the trailer. For the rest of the time I owned the rig long-distance tows were out of the question, because tires wore out in hundreds of miles, instead of thousands.
Bearings are the other big trip-killer. Before you depart town, pop open the bearing covers and give them a nice, healthy squirt of grease. That may not be necessary with the new oil-filled models, but if you own one of these rigs remember to move your trailer a foot or two once every two weeks, or condensation will collect on the bearings and corrosion can set in. Quick and ugly bearing failures are sure to follow.
Destination Unknown
Quite often folks make it to the inlet intact, then blow out a bearing shortly after beginning the return trip home. What gives? Metal, when you don’t treat it right. The problem here arises when an anxious angler trailers directly to the ramp, and dunks the boat immediately. Hot metal meets cool water and bam—cracks form where you really don’t want them. Prevent this fiasco by allowing a good 10 to 15 minutes of cool-down time, after an extended haul. And remember that excessive heat is also one of the first signs of bearing failure. When you stop for lunch or fuel, the first thing you should do after shutting down the truck is walk back to your trailer and feel the bearing housings. If one’s fire-hot, you’re about to lose it. Guys who are handy with a wrench should carry spare bearings and the tools to change them, and guys who aren’t should carry a cell phone and one of those Boat US trailering club cards with an 800-oh-s*@! number on the back.
The next most common trailering problem has to do with lights. The blue ones that flash in your rear-view, commonly because the ones on your trailer aren’t working. Simply put, do a full light check before you pull out of the driveway. And if you still have those old bulbs on your trailer, swap ‘em out for LEDs. These aren’t nearly as finicky and corrosion-prone. Speaking of those old-style bulb lights, if you must continue using them remember to pull the plug on ‘em before you dunk the trailer. Otherwise, there’s a good chance they’ll pop when you step on the brakes, and get them nice and hot… as cool water gushes into their housings. Speaking of water: while it’s bad for your lights, it’s also good for your trailer. Freshwater, that is. When you get home make sure you grab the hose and give the wheels, brakes, and frame a healthy soaking down with the fresh stuff.
So—you’re all jazzed up to hitch the trailer, head for the shore, get out there and try something new? Just make sure you follow the tips you read here, and all will be well. Now hit the road, and enjoy some high adventure!
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