Boat Trailer

Driving tips

By Valerie Ashton

Driving while towing a boat trailer is a whole different experience from driving your car. You’re pulling a lot of weight behind you, and things like turning and backing up with a boat trailer will require additional skills. After a few times, driving your car while towing your boat will be easy, especially if you follow these general tips for driving with a boat trailer:

• Make sure you have the right vehicle. Check the towing capacity vs. the weight of the object. Don't ignore the hitch capacity, either. If your car is not powerful enough to pull the boat trailer, you'll need to use a different vehicle. As a general rule, if you are towing a long boat, it will be easier to have a long vehicle pulling it. Turning while towing a boat trailer will be easier with a longbed truck than a compact car, even if you meet the necessary towing capacity.

• Don’t drive too fast. Read the recommended speed for driving while towing your boat trailer, and don't exceed it.
• Have a spare tire. Many boat trailers do not come with a spare tire, but you it’s one of the most important boat trailer accessories you can purchase! You can get a used one if from a tire store if you’d like to save money. Buy a U-Bolt from your marine store to easily attach the tire to the trailer frame.
• Keep your top down. If you have a bikini top or other custom boat shade cover, make sure the top is down before you tow your boat. Although these covers are designed to cruise the water at a speed of 30 mph, driving down the freeway with the top up could be risking a disaster.
• Secure your boat’s contents before driving. The suspension in your boat trailer is much less than in your vehicle, so things will bounce around significantly more in the back of the boat than in the backseat of your car.
• Check brake lights and blinkers every time. Even if you don't have a buddy with you, you can turn on your blinker and walk back to see if it's blinking. Tip: Waterproof your boat trailer lights or purchase waterproof or submersible boat trailer lights. You can buy them on eBay or at local marine boating supply stores.
• Get a mirror extension if you need one. If you have a long boat that creates a blind spot, get a mirror extension for your side mirrors. This could be the best investment you'll ever make, if it prevents an accident.
• Practice backing up. Backing into the launch ramps at your ocean or lake is completely unlike backing up a car. Before you show up to back the boat in for the first time, practice. You can drive to the launch ramp at an off-time, or just practice backing up in an empty parking lot.
• Get insurance. You can get boat trailer insurance through U.S. Boats, which may be cheaper than your auto insurance. Make sure you have enough coverage for your trailer and your vessel.
• Use bearing buddies. If you are shopping for a trailer for your boat, you may want to get a boat trailer with bearing buddies. Bearing buddies keep water and dirt out of your hubs and bearings, preventing bearing failure and helping your trailer last longer.
• Take care of your boat trailer. If you launch your boat in the ocean, and don't return for 8 hours, the saltwater from the ocean will be corroding your boat trailer the whole time. Have whoever launched the boat rinse the trailer before you go out for the day. Your boat trailer will last years longer if you take proper care of it.

Reading up on boat trailers on the Internet or through boat trailer magazines, like Trailer Boats, can help you stay up to date on what your boat and trailer are worth, as well as how to take care of them. If you decide to sell your boat later, you will get the best prices if you keep your boat maintained. You can add to your trailer's value by getting boat trailer accessories at your local marine boating supply store or online.

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