travel, hotel and booking Information

Towing

Author: Tony Smith
Each spring, a fishing buddy of mine drags his creaking body from a four-month hibernation atop the Barcalounger directly to the local softball diamond, where he proceeds to sprain, strain, pull and tear all his moving parts within a few innings. And every spring I have to listen to him snivel for a week afterward that he should have loosened up a little before trying to stretch that double into a triple or make a leaping, over-the-fence grab. He's only flesh and bone, I know, but if your boat trailer could talk, I'll bet it would whine the same tune.
The fact is, springtime is the right time for a thorough checkup, no matter how fit your trailer might be or what kind of winter it's had to endure. Frozen ball bearings, crusty joints and weak winch straps aren't uncommon after a long hiatus, and they can spell disaster once in tow. Even the most cursory maintenance can help to quell trailer adversities and may mark the difference between a day on the water and a day at the repair shop.
Here are a few basic guidelines to keep you rolling along smoothly and help prolong the life of your trailer and hitch. Most can be done with little effort and provide an extra margin of safety and comfort when it's time to hook up and head for the lake.

Grease Is the Word
Think about the wheels of your trailer. They are smaller in diameter than those on your tow vehicle, and that means they spin faster. Let's say you're traveling along the interstate at, say, 60 mph. Not too fast, right? No, but the wheels on your trailer are spinning much faster. What's wrong with that? Well, if the bearings are riding on last year's worn-out grease, they will heat up to about the temperature of the sun's surface. When you arrive at the lake, you immediately back the trailer - with its red-hot bearings - into the cool springtime water, and crrrrraaaaack! The bearings splinter into a thousand pieces.
You can see why it's important to use quality, marine-formula bearing grease and install a vinyl cap to keep the lubricant in and the dirt out. Too much grease also can muck up the situation, so check your tire faces for telltale signs of splattering. If you have any doubt about the condition of your wheel bearings, it's better to just replace them and avoid a real hassle out on the road.

Roll With It
The rubberized keel and bow rollers are named such for a reason - they should circulate freely to help load and launch a boat. Clean dirt out of the rollers and apply a penetrating lubricant to each roller axle to ensure they spin freely. Also, use the same technique to deal with the trailer-jack shaft and landing wheel, and inspect the assembly to see if it's bent or rusted. Bunks should be checked for carpet wear, warping and corrosion to ensure your boat sits properly and doesn't suffer ugly - and costly - gouges to the gel coat. Again, the little things can add up to cause problems that are bigger than the sum of their parts.

Those Are the Brakes
The last thing you need when that guy in front of you screeches to a halt at a yellow light is a trailer with suspect brakes. Refill and bleed them with new fluid from a sealed container at the start of the season and visually inspect for rust or corrosion. Also, make sure the breakaway system is in good order. For trailers without a braking mechanism, you should inspect the brake lights (including trailer plug and fuses) to ensure that no tailgater suddenly parks his vehicle in your fishing cockpit.

Cable-Ready?
A snapped winch cable can cause a lot of damage to a boat, not to mention to someone standing nearby when it pops. To combat this particular calamity, pull out the entire length of cable - not just the first several feet - to check for dangerous frays, rust and kinks. Replace it immediately if you find any! Lube the winch axle while in the area, and make sure the winch lock is not weak or stripped. Also, check the safety chains and hitch coupler for rust, road wear and overall abuse. These components, more than any others, should be kept in the best working order if you expect to see a boat in your rearview mirror every time you look back.

Spare Yourself the Trouble
Long, cold winters can wreak havoc on tire belts and sidewalls, causing them to expand and separate. Run your hand along both sides of the tires to check for cracks, bubbles and bulges. On the outside, inspect each tire for abnormal tread wear and always keep each filled to the recommended pressure. The spare tire should be ready to go in a pinch, and some even suggest carrying a spare bearing and cap assembly. Also, make sure your jack is strong enough to lift both your trailer and your boat in the event of an emergency.

[ Comment, Edit or Article Submission ]