| Safe Towing Tips for 'Trailer Sailors" |
| Your Boat Trailer |
| Your boat trailer is an important part of your
boating equipment. All too often, a trailer does not receive the
attention that it demands and deserves. After selecting the
appropriate trailer for your boat and tow vehicle, proper maintenance
and continual care when hitching and towing are necessary. If care
and maintenance are neglected, you may be endangering the safety of your
boat, your car, your family, yourself and others. |
| Selecting the Proper Trailer |
| Two important needs should be considered in
determining the proper trailer for your boat: the boat's needs and
your needs. First, the trailer would "fit
the boat", allowing equal distribution of the hull weight. The
trailer should be long enough to eliminate any overhang of the boat
transom but short enough to accommodate a propulsion unit of the boat in
its fully extended or "down" position. The trailer should be
designed to carry the total weight of the hull, engine, equipment and
extra gear normally carried.
Second, a boat which will always be hoisted in and
out of the water does not need a trailer as elaborate as the types of
trailers used for launching. Shallow sloping shores or unimproved
launch sites may call for a "tilting", "breakaway", or extending-tongue
trailer. A trailer that meets your boating needs makes launching and
retrieving easier and safer. |
| Hitching Up |
| Trailer hitches come in a variety of shapes and
sizes. Most boat trailers connect to a ball hitch that is bolted
or welded to the towing vehicle. Clamp-on bumper hitches are not
recommended for heavy loads or continual towing. The weight a
loaded trailer places on the hitch of the towing vehicle is called the
tongue weight. Special heavy-duty equalizing hitches are
recommended for trailer tongue weights of 250 lbs or greater.
Improper installation of heavy-duty equalizing hitches on trailers
equipped with surge brakes can cause brakes to lock - follow
instructions carefully. The trailer hitch itself should match the
size of the ball hitch. NEVER use a ball hitch that is too small.
It is recommended that the coupling hitch on the
trailer have a lock or similar device to prevent it from vibrating
loose. Periodically lubricate the hitch for longer wear and
quieter turns. The trailer must be equipped with at least one,
preferably two, safety chains strong enough to control the trailer if
the hitch should come loose or break. The chains should be
securely attached to the towing vehicle at a place separate from the
ball and bracket. The chains should be long enough to allow
turning but not long enough to drag on the ground. |
| Loading the Trailer |
| The weight of the boat, equipment, and additional
gear should never exceed the manufacturer's rated weight capacity.
Proper distribution of the load is vital importance.
Too much weight on the hitch will cause "tail
dragging" of the towing vehicle, impair steering and raise the beam of
your vehicle's headlights into the eyes of oncoming traffic.
Too little, or negative, weight on the hitch will
cause the trailer to sway or "fishtail".
The solution to proper distribution of the load is
to adjust the wheel carriage either forward or back. If the
carriage cannot be adjusted, relocate movable gear. If this fails
to corr3ect the problem, consider another trailer of a different design
or consult a trailer specialist who may recommend corrective measures. |
| Towing |
| Under California law, it is an infraction to tow
a vessel containing a passenger, except when engaging in launching or
retrieving the vessel. Extra caution is
necessary when towing any trailer. The heavier the rig, the more
time it takes to accelerate, pass, and stop. A long rig requires a
larger turning radius. Curbs and obstructions should be given wide
clearance. Most boats on trailers obstruct the rear view of the
driver. In this case, a rear-view mirror on each side of the
towing vehicle is required by law. The trailer boater should be
familiar with traffic and highway laws relating to the towing of
trailers. contact the local California Highway Patrol office for
further information.
If you are unfamiliar with your trailer or haven't
towed before, spend some time practicing un a place that is spacious and
free of traffic. Take a friend along and practice accelerating,
braking, turning, and backing. Learning to back a trailer can be
confusing at first. A helpful hint: while grasping the
bottom of the steering wheel, move your hand in the direction you want
the trailer to go. Place some markers out for spacing and practice
parking, and if possible, simulate a passing situation so you get an
idea of the time and distance required.
Test the brakes before getting on the open road.
Watch the trailer rear view mirrors and listen for unusual noises.
After 5 or 10 miles of towing, stop and check the
trailer, hitch, chain, tires, lights, wheel bearings and gear in the
boat. On a long-distance tow, repeat this inspection about every
100 miles. |
| Launching and Retrieving |
Launch facilities are often crowded and busy.
Occupying the ramp for preliminary launching steps is discourtesy to
waiting boaters. The following tips are offered to ensure safe
launching and retrieving.
- Before you leave home make sure accessories
(blower, bilge pump, lights) are in good working condition.
- Prepare the boat for launching in an adjacent
parking area (or at the top of an uncrowded ramp). Remove all
tie-down straps, disconnect trailer wiring plug from vehicle.
Keep winch line connected until just entering the water. This
will prevent the boat from coming off the trailer in the event or an
emergency stop while launching. Load safety equipment and gear
into boat. Check drain plugs.
- Don't let the noise and confusion of a busy
ramp rush you. You will make fewer mistakes if you proceed
with a careful and deliberate launch.
- Back the trailer to the left if possible.
this will allow for better launching visibility.
- If you must leave your vehicle on the ramp,
set the transmission in "park" or first gear, set the parking brake,
and block the wheels.
- If the launching facility has a floating dock
you may wish to secure a line at the boat of the boat and assign
someone to stand on the dock while you "float' the boat off the
trailer.
- In retrieving your boat, make sure the boat
is properly placed on the trailer. If the boat has an outboard
engine, or an inboard/outboard (I/O) unit, raise it before placing
the boat on the trailer. Pull the trailer up steadily to
prevent spinning the wheels.
- Never allow a person to stand in line with
the winch cable when it is loaded or is taut.
- Before entering a roadway, make sure lights
are connected and working, the tie-down straps or clamps are in
place, and the lower I/O unit or outboard is in its trailering
position. Double check your hitch and safety chains.
Remove or secure gear inside the boat to prevent damage from
shifting or to prevent lightweight items from blowing out.
|
| Lights |
| California law requires a trailer to have two red taillights on the
rear that may be combined with the stop and turn signals. Trailers
over 80 inches wide require clearance lights and rear brake lights
visible for 500 feet. a car towing a heavy trailer must have its
headlight beams adjusted to compensate for the upward tilt.
If the
lights will be submerged, waterproof light fixtures should be u8sed.
Water promotes contact corrosion and may cause the lamp to crack and
short out the entire lighting system, so it is a good idea to carry
spare lamps. The wire coupling to the towing vehicle should be
high enough to stay dry, or be disconnected when the trailer is
launched.
Never rely on the trailer hitch for electrical ground connection.
Four-pole connectors should be used. |
| Wheels |
| Tires should be inflated to the manufacturer's
recommended pressure. Carry a spare tire and wheel, and a jack
that fits the boat trailer. If the wheel
bearings are submerged, waterproof bearings and caps should be
considered. If water gets into the hub, lubricating grease will
wash away and the bearings will eventually burn out or seize, causing
damage and creating a safety hazard. Waterproofed bearings should
be inspected prior to each boating season and periodically during the
season. Non-waterproofed bearings should be checked more often.
Carry a spare set of wheel bearings, seals, and
grease.
Special care should be given when traveling with
small-diameter wheels on unimproved roads.
Trailers over 3,000 pounds gross weight (combined
weight of boat, trailer, and gear) must have a braking system.
If a trailer has electric or other power brakes,
the braking system must be operated from the towing vehicle and the two
vehicles must be able to stop within 40 feet from 20 M.P.H. |
| Frame and Roller or Pads |
Rust should not be allowed to accumulate on the
trailer frame and roller parts. If rust forms, remove the rust and
repaint with an antirust paint. Some trailers offer galvanized or
powder coated options to prevent rust. Rollers should roll freely
and should not have cracks or flat spots. Pads should not have
cracks or flattened areas. Rollers and pads can be adjusted both
up and down, and forward and backward to provide the best support.
For most hulls, the vital support points are:
- Just under the bow
- The line of the keel and the planking on each
side
- Where the bottom meets the side and where the
interior weights are concentrated
- The transom
|
| Towing Vehicles |
| Most vehicle are limited in towing capacity.
They are designed to carry people and small loads only. Towing
heavy loads places extra demands on the engine, transmission, brakes and
other systems. The essentials for any
vehicle used for trailer towing are:
- Adequate power to merge with traffic and
climb with a load
- Heavy-duty engine cooling system.
- Properly running transmission, possibly
equipped with a transmission cooler.
- Brakes with premium lining.
- Heavy-duty springs or air shocks to
strengthen suspension.
- Heavy-duty shock absorbers.
Towing "packages" are available through
most automobile dealers and should be
considered for towing heavy boats. A towing package includes such
things as non-slip differential, heavy-duty cooling system, heavy-duty
flasher, oversize battery and alternator, heavy-duty suspension, special
wiring, special rear axle ratio and larger tires and wheels. |
| Storage |
| If the boat is stored outside, the drain plug
should be removed and the trailer and boat tilted slightly to allow any
accumulation of water to drain. If a boat
cover is used, it should be tailored for the boat. Water can
"puddle" on and improperly fitted cover. The weight of puddled
water can rip the cover or allow the cover to slip off, funneling the
water inside the boat. A top drawstring can pull the cover high to
prevent puddling. A bottom drawstring with tie-downs and weights
placed along the bottom will keep the cover from whipping in the wind
during towing. tires may be covered during storage to eliminate
sun damage but covers should be removed during wet weather to prevent
damage from dampness. |
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