PREPARING TO LAUNCH Although youve scoped the ramp, you are still far from ready to launch. TCI claims that by mounting the transmission cooler in front of the airconditioning condenser, the cooler will function to 100 percent efficiency. The additional braking and steering loads imposed by towing have less effect on them. You dont want them banging around at the end of their ropes as you tool down the highway!) The side supports should be firm against the bottom to prevent any possible side-to-side movement, but they should not bear significant weight. B a c king Straight If the area you are using doesnt have marked parking spaces, place a half-dozen gallon milk jugs filled with water in a pattern that outlines a 10-foot-wide parking space or the entrance to a driveway or boat ramp. If the road conditions are the least bit compromised, say from light rain or dirt or gravel on the surface, then leave at least 6 seconds between your car and the one ahead of you. Then, if for some reason, the boat needs to be winched back on the trailer immediately after it floats free, say the engine suddenly quits, you can quickly attach the winch strap or cable to the bow eye and crank it back onto the trailer. A boat trailer tongue must move freely forward and backward by as much as an inch for a surge brake system to function properly. You should then have enough clearance to place the jack beneath the trailer. 7 percent (490 pounds) or less, you wont overload the back end of the vehicle, and steering, handling, and front-end braking should all be OK. From the manufacturers weight-distributing rating of 7,300 pounds, we know that the vehicle has the necessary power and cooling capacity to pull the trailers 7,000-pound weight. Some concrete ramps are very slick from heavy use, algae, silt, or other deposits. If you back the trailer too deep into the water, the boat may not center itself on the bunks, because the hull will be floating above them rather than coming to rest on top of them. Add the companionship of friends and family, and you have a recipe for a rich, healthy lifestyle that you can pass on to your children and grandchildren. Establish hand signals for basic instructions: Come back. If not, is there a soft beach nearby where you can board passengers and where the boat can sit while you park the truck and trailer? But before you step the mast in the boat launchs parking lot, take a careful look around for obstructions. Hang fenders on the same side of the boat. The conundrum posed by boat trailers arises from the several factors that set them apart from other trailers. Refer to Chapter 5 for a complete checklist and description of procedures. This weight- distributing hitch is designed to allow the spring bars to slide enough for a boat trailers surge brakes to function normally while also distributing the trailer load evenly across tow vehicle and trailer. Do not use hitch extenders for towing on the highwaythey are for boat-ramp use only. On steel trailers, sand off any rust and repaint In addition, keep a small, all-materials fire extinguisher handy frame and brackets. The highway gearing causes the engine to lug or strain under the added load of a trailer, which in turn causes you to get deeper into the throttle to maintain cruising speeds. Get out of the tow vehicle (securing it again on the slope), walk down the dock to the dockline and pull the boat up to the dock. Newer automatics also provide low enough ratios in first gear to provide excellent grunt for pulling a loaded trailer smoothly up a steep boat ramp. 94 T H E C O M P L E T E G U I D E T O T R A I L E R I N G YO U R B O AT If you have the opportunity to practice with a trailer that has a different number of axles than yours, try it. Even a small kink in a wire stay will weaken it considerably. At least once a year, check that the TW is between 5 and 10 percent of the trailers gross total weight (GTW). With more than 50 percent of a front-wheel-drive cars weight over the front axle, that built-in stability no longer exists. For more information, please contact George Hoare, Special Sales, at [emailprotected] or (212) 904-4069. With an Extend-A-Hitch, you can add anywhere from 5 to 10 feet to the length of the trailer tongue once you get to the ramp. For towing larger boats (i.e., tow packages that weigh more than 6,000 pounds), you might look toward the heavier-duty (three-quarter and one-ton) GMs, Dodges, and Fords, including duallys. Learning these towing skills in a parking lot will take all of a couple hours, after which you can head out on the road. 5. Once you become proficient in trailering your boatand you willyoull be able to approach towing with confidence and enjoyment, not trepidation. WEIGHT-DIST R I B U TING HITCHES AND SWAY- CONTROL DEVICES Weve spent lot of time talking about weight-carrying hitch capacities with little mention of weight-distributing hitchesfor good reason. (pounds/ kilograms) 2,004/909 3,087/1,400 2,007/910 3,300/1,500 9.923/4,500 2,998/1,360 3,969/1,800 2,998/1,360 2,977/1,350 2,867/1,300 2,977/1,350 2,007/910 Max. It is designed for use on steeper boat ramps, where the trailer gets deep into the water quickly. 59 & 175 Ida Grove, IA 51445 800-859-3028 www.shorelandr.com SAILB OAT TRAILER MANUFACTURERS CastleCraft P.O. This is an extremely simple theft deterrent. They should be beneath the triangular lifting strakes. The solution to this aggravation is the swing-away or detachable trailer tongue. Global Economics Products include electric cooling fans, clutch fans, transmission coolers, engine oil coolers, power steering coolers, frame coolers, transmission pan coolers, and combination coolers. Attach the boom and bend on the sails. Lower the pontoon from its raised towing position as the trailer enters the water. Boat manufacturers that supply trailers as part of a package spend a lot of time making sure the trailers hull supports are a perfect match to the boats size and shape. Neither CH O O S I N G YO U R V EH I C LE Table 2.3 Engine Size (hp) 2 2.5 3 4 5 6 8 9.9 15 20 25 30 40 50 60 70 75 90 115 130 135 150 175 200 225 250 300 TYPICAL OUTBOARD ENGINE WEIGHTS BY HORSEPOWER (in pounds/kilograms) 2-Stroke Engines 28/13 28/13 45/20 60/27 75/34 77/35 106/48 204/93 189/86 219/100 228/103 303/137 298/135 350/159 431/195 461/210 475/215 479/218 479/218 479/218 543/247 (Peter duPre/Autoword) NOTE: Weights are approximate dry weights and vary by manufacturer. This will not only affect balance but also steering and stability. If the area is gateboats on roller trailers could launch controlled, you dont want to be locked in, ticketed, or towed themselves with no other help than gravif you return too late. 85 86 T H E C O M P L E T E G U I D E T O T R A I L E R I N G YO U R B O AT Make sure the bow is up against the bow stop and the winch strap and bow safety chain or tie-down straps are tight. Tailgating, even if it werent dangerous and illegal, is just plain discourteous and generally counterproductive anyway. But unlike launching, most of the work will happen before you retrieve the boat from the water. Again, check for a sufficient, cant bounce off of the hitch loop, and theyre easily retracted to keep them out of the but not excessive, amount of slack. They use a 2-inchsquare receiver tube and mount to the vehicle frame or unibody in at least six placesthree along each side. Use the tow ratings specified in the owners manual to make your determinations. A better alternative is to use shorter tie-down straps, one on each side, running from gunwales to either the trailer frame or special eyes bolted or welded to the trailer frame specifically for this purpose. There are a few disadvantages with tandem-axle trailers: They are far more difficult to push around by hand than single-axle trailers. You need to leave enough slack so the tow vehicle can pull the trailer around tight turns without tightening the chains. When youve backed down as far as you need, make sure you stay there. For example, if the GAWR on a single-axle trailer is 3,500 pounds, the axle should carry no more than that load, which includes the weight of the axle itself, the trailer, and the boat on the trailer. Unhitching the trailer is the reverse of hitching it. Retrieval with a helper is as follows: 1. help. 0 CH O O S I N G AN D E Q U I PP I N G YO U R T R AI LE R Triple-Axle Trailers The vast majority of first-time trailer boaters wont be towing a boat big enough to require a triple-axle trailer. ), and whatever gear and provisions are stored inside lockers and coolers. It can be extremely useful on a trailer for a keel sailboat. If the camper extends ments for each of the four official classes beyond the back of the bed, the trailer tongue may not reach the of trailer hitch, based on the weight of the hitch, and there may be no clearance for the boat trailer to turn trailer and its cargo (the gross towed without hitting the camper. RETRIEVING THE BOAT No matter how good or bad the day on the water was, first-time boaters rarely look forward to the boat loading process. y&U|ibGxV&JDp=CU9bevyG m& The problem with this, however, is that it is based on the manufacturers assumptions of how the boat is loaded and equipped. If the boat trailer is light enough, it may be easier to move the trailer the last few inches on its tongue jack instead. If you want to use a tire pressure monitoring system, youll have to buy one just for the trailer, since most are limited to just four tires, and the tow vehicles tires should probably take precedence. Release the tilt bed. 3. This device is a separate piece of hardware that is attached between the trailer tongue and the hitch to prevent or inhibit the trailer from swaying side-to-side. The hose has a stainless-steel outer braid with an aircraft-quality Teflon inner liner for high-temperature and abrasion resistance. If rusted, sand and repaint. Such mishaps are not uncommon with first-time owners of roller-bunk trailers. If you practice and hone your launching and retrieving routines on quiet weekdays, youll have the confidence and techniques to launch and retrieve smoothly and efficiently on your first busy weekend. weight of a loaded trailer. This is simply a piece of 2 4 lumber, or similar, to which you attach the trailers rear lights. (PETER DUPRE/AUTOWORD) This maneuver requires less time and distance than it would take otherwise, reducing your backing distance to the water and making you look like a THE ART OF TOWING 99 launch-ramp pro. And a rough ride for the trailer can mean a rough ride in the tow vehicle. Many stock fenders are not made for standing or stepping on. 250/114 186/84 210/95 over 30 ft. 60/27 21/10 (Peter duPre/Autoword) Table 2.5 MORE WEIGHTS OF BOAT GEAR & SUPPLIES (in pounds/kilograms) Accessory Electric Trolling Motor Fishing Rod and Reel Life Jacket VHF Radio and Fish Finder 36 qt. If the pump has a built-in gauge or an inflation setting, The air pressure specification on tow vehicle tires is not the recommended tire pressure for your vehicle. Our members actively participate in the boating community through education, vessel safety checks, and a cooperative program with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to update navigation charts. Fuel economy benefit: up to 3 percent Equivalent gasoline savings: up to $0.09/gallon Want to find out how much your annual fuel bill is going to be for the vehicle youre driving? Overload a hitch, for instance, and its mounting flanges could tear loose from the vehicle, or the cross tube or crossbar that supports the receiver tube could tear loose from the mounting flanges that anchor the hitch assembly to the vehicle frame. Most jacks that come with cars, trucks, and SUVs will not work on trailers, so buy a small, general-purpose, scissors-type jack and a lug wrench of the proper size to fit the trailers lug nuts. Rarely will the hitch be a heavy-duty Class V, which has a weight-carrying capacity of up to 12,000 pounds. (You can also use traffic cones or any other objects that you can see easily and that wont cause any damage if you run over them.) Use a pump to inflate the tire to the recommended pressure. Make big, wide ones at first, then tighter ones as time goes on. Extended-cab pickups have clear advantages over regular cabs, especially for young families. All rights reserved. The boats requiring a Class V hitch are typically big, overwide cruisers or offshore fishing boats that spend the majority of their time sitting in slips rather than on a trailer in the back yard. If the boat is tilted slightly down toward the bow, gravity will help. Electric boat trailer brakes operate off the tow vehicles 12-volt electrical system. Then get back into the truck and close the angle a few more degrees. Obviously, moving gear inside the boat is the easier approach, and moving heavy weights into or out of the extreme ends of the boat can have a dramatic effect. Each of these limits is important to vehicle durability and handling. Problems Low tire pressure affects your vehicles safety and performance, the tires longevity, and fuel economy. Tighten the strap or cable so that it pulls the bow forward and possibly downnever up. THE ART OF TOWING SECURING THE BOAT TO THE T R AILER 91 PRE-TOW CHECKLIST Phase 1 of our checklist included the necPhase 1: Tow Vehicle Check essary step of strapping the boat securely __ Tire treads OK to the trailer. Since a boat trailers TW pickup with a midsized SUV that could tow my 4,800-pound should be 5 to 8 percent of total towed boat/trailer package while giving me improved gas mileage. 2. 9. Remove the engines oil filter. This is printed on a sticker on the drivers side door pillar or in the vehicles owners manual. On a five-lug wheel: 1 3 5 2 4. The weight-carrying trailer-towing capacity is the more relevant one for trailering a boat with the hydraulic surge brakes that come standard on most boat trailers. If you want to tow a boat these days, you are probably going to be happiest with a full-size pickup, SUV, or CUV. External cooling, however, is only provided by the transmissions heavily ribbed case. If a potential thief cant see the target, theres no target. An electrically operated locker is now available as an option on some models of GM pickups and SUVs and will probably become an option on other brands. Hydraulic Surge Bra ke s The hydraulic surge braking system has been used on the majority of boat trailers for the past 50 years because it is reliable, simple, and effective. The operator slowly approaches the trailer, taking both wind and current into consideration so that the hull lines up with the center of the trailer. Class V Class V receiver hitches are available only as aftermarket add-ons because they arent recognized by SAE Standard J684 as an official classification. If you dont, get out that manual and read it. Although this is a straightforward process, it involves a number of details, which if overlooked, could result in serious problems: Check that the hitch, drawbar, and trailer ball are the proper ones for the boat and trailer you are towing. Here goes: 1. Especially with current, the moment your stern floats free, it will start to swing downwind/downcurrent. Kicking, feeling, or looking at the tire will not. When you step on the brakes in a tow vehicle, the trailers momentum causes the coupler to press hard against the hitch ball. A rule of thumb states that for every 10C (approx. Like the vehicles they are attached to, hitches have their own limits or ratings, and exceeding those limits can result in some very unpleasant towing situations. (HONDA AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY) CH O O S I N G YO U R V EH I C LE derived from rigorous testing, and you expose yourself to potential danger not to mention legal liabilityif you tow a boat that exceeds your vehicles rated capacity. Backing the trailer to the left is easier than to the right, because you can see the More often than not, especially at busy trailer from your drivers side window. Full-size CUVs that work well as tow vehicles for trailers up to 4,500 pounds include the Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave. Because light boards tend to beshall we sayunlovely, one usually finds them restricted to older trailers. Go back to the trailer to confirm how far you have to back up and if the hitch ball is inline with the trailer coupler. Attach the shrouds to the chain plates and tilt the mast up and forward on its hinge bolt. Youll have to upgrade to hydraulic-electric brakes. Good choices within the midsize SUV class include the Jeep Grand Cherokee/Commander, Dodge Durango, Ford Explorer, Nissan Pathfinder, Chevy TrailBlazer/GMC Envoy, Mitsubishi Endeavor, and Saab 9-7. If not, you can order them as an option. Fortunately, at that time I was driving a half-ton, four-wheeldrive Chevy pickup with good mud tires and a big Warn winch on the front bumper. THE TIGHT-S TURN Along with the essentials of being able to back a trailer in a straight line and at a sharp angle, another very useful skill is the ability to align the boat trailer with the ramp entrance in as short a distance as possible. Dips, bumps, and rough road surfaces have more effect on vehicle control when you are towing a trailer. Note that the GVWR may be lower than the sum of the GAWRs, since the safe operation of the vehicle depends upon more than just the carrying capacity of the axles. Keep in mind the jackknife angle and how sharp the trailer can turn without hitting the tow vehicle. __ Safety chains correctly installed (crossed, with hooks aligned Not able to slow quickly enough, the in proper direction) driver also swerved hard to his left in an __ Breakaway cable attached attempt to avoid the impending rear-end __ Tongue jack up and locked collision. __ Fan belt tight Those new to boating often assume __ Battery cable connections tight that attaching the winch strap to the bow __ Lights and turn signals working eye and setting the anti-reverse lock on the winch is sufficient to keep the boat on Phase 2: Trailer Check the trailer. For such a simple device, bearing protectors offer tremendous advantages, ensuring that the bearings have adequate lubrication at all times, excluding water and dirt that can cause bearing damage, and reducing maintenance. Boat length is not a reliable indicator of weight. But if your engine is burdened with a towing a trailer, your vehicle falls under what is usually referred to as Maintenance Schedule B in the owners manual, indicating severe use. Thus, it is not just prudent to change your tow vehicles engine oil every 3,000 milesmaintaining your warranty may require that you do so. For example, a full-size, four-door pickup traveling 60 mph (88 feet per second) on dry pavement typically stops in about 150 feet in an emergency braking situation. How steep is the ramp? Such a topic may sound boring at first, but understanding hitches and hitch ratings is crucial to everything towing related. (CEQUENT GROUP) Search out every wire-to-wire connection on the trailer, and put a heat-shrink cover over any connection thats bare or covered with electricians tape, duct tape, or a wire nut. These include cabin cruisers, sport yachts, and racing-style powerboats. Thoroughly re-grease the bearings and reassemble. Other ramps may be nothing more than gravel or mud. An unimproved boat ramp, consisting of gravel or dirt, can make for difficult launching. Go forward. Besides the bathroom scale, youll need a stout board, such as a 2 6, about 5 feet long; a block of wood the same thickness as the scales height; and two pencils or small metal rods: 1. Forget compact SUVs, CUVs, cars, or minivans for towing unless the boat and trailer are very light. If you are buying a tow vehicle for lighter towing dutiessay, for towing a boat/trailer rig weighing less than 5,000 pounds, a dozen or so times during the summera good choice would be a midsize (4.8- to 5.7-liter) V-8 engine with the best EPA rating. 7 Copyright 2008 by International Marine. The limit on the hitch may be higher or lower than the limit on the vehicleespecially if youre purchasing a used vehicle whose previous owner installed the hitch. Year 2007, How to Select, Use, Maintain, and Improve a Boat Trailer Running tires at a lower pressure could cause the trailer to sway. Park the trailer where it is out of plain sight if possible. Sit in the back seat for a short time while a friend drives. Whichever way you choose to monitor tire pressure, take another look at your door placard. While not difficult to learn, the special driving skills are essential. (ARB USA) The difference between an ARB Air Locker and a conventional locking differential is that the driver exercises absolute control over the Air Locker. Powered tongue jacks are a nice feature for use with big, heavy boats.
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