First time driving with a boat trailer, any tips?

Question

I'm about to purchase a trailer to carry my 12ft boat and I have never driven with a trailer. The boat is quite small so I hope it's not too much of a big difference. I know some basics such as making wide right turns, giving more time to acelerate and break, giving more space ahead, giving more space to pass, and also not loading the boat too much in the rear or front but rather balancing it. I plan on practicing in a parking lot (mostly reversing and turning) once i get the trailer but are there any other tips I could use? Where could I read up on this? I also need to know how to secure the boat onto the trailer as well as the trailer onto the vehicle. How much more difficult is it than driving regularly?

my tow vehicle is a 2002 Land Rover Freelander

Answer 1

Every one on this thread has been constructive and generall giving great advice. As stated make sure you have 150 plus lbs on the hitch ball to keep the trailer from bouncing off. Once you couple the trailer to the hitch ball (assuming you have the proper ball for the given trailer coupler), there is a clip that folds down to lock the ball into the coupler, here you can put a ring clip or even a tiny lock that one no one can uncouple your trailer for kicks.

Route the safety chains so that they cross under the trailer tounge and attach to the hitch on the opposite side. Once you have the elec connections made, check for operation.

When driving remember not to make continuous cyclic corrections to the wheel as harmonics will amplify the corrections at the tail of the trailer (wagging it).

When backing up hold the wheel at the bottom with one hand, now look over your shoulder while backing, move the hand in the direction you want the back of the trailer to go!

BTW if you can get a front mounted hitch ball, you can nose your trailer into the tightest parking spots with great ease, especially if you can see over the boat! If you can get a trailer with an extendable tounge, do so as it will allow you to float the boat off the trailer while keeping your vehicle well out of the water a great thing when the water is salty or the ramp is slick with algae.

As mentioned ratcheted straps are great as is safety tether at the front to augment the winch once boat is fully on the trailer.

If using trailer in brakish or saltwater, rinse it and the boat after each use to reduce rust.

Enjoy the water.

Answer 2

Yeah. What they said.

Good idea to practice backing in the parking lot but there is more to it. You have to unload and load the boat. Go to the lake and practice taking it off and on the trailer when nobody is around and when you look like a fool, nobody will notice.

Do what they said about hitch weight. If you don't have stops on the trailer, make some marks on it so you get it in the right place every time.

Last but not least. Your wheels get hot driving down the road at sixty for an hour or so. When you back it into that nice cool water the grease gets sucked out of your bearings. Check them and grease them regularly. The interstate is a bad place to have this kind of problem. Buddy bearings are the greatest thing invented since sex.

Answer 3

Sounds like you've about covered it all just go ahead and practice especially the backing and you should be fine.As far as securing the boat to the trailer one or two tie down straps should do it,for the trailer to the car you will need to get a hitch installed and trailer lights

Answer 4

What type of tow vehicle do you have? That's going to determine on if you will even be able to tow your trailer. You knocked out most of the basics, but also make sure to use safety chains cross the chains and connect them to the tow vehicle not to the tow hitch. Always check your lights and turn signals. Slow down and don't drive normal freeway speeds with that light of a trailer it will get pushed around especially in high winds or from tractor-trailers passing you. Which can cause you to loose control of your vehicle and/or loose the trailer.

Make sure that you have a tow hitch on your tow vehicle. Do not rely on a bumper to tow your trailer, most new bumpers are cheap plastic and aren't really meant to handle the stress of a trailer let alone protect the vehicle in a crash.

If you have further questions feel free to email me at [e-mail]

Answer 5

fairly easy u sound like u are already 3 parts of the way there relax go and learn to reverse and get youself some ratchet straps from were u buy the trailer or any auto parts place they are the best 4 secureing all sorts of loads not only boats a good set if looked after will last 4 ever and u will use them 4 everything

Answer 6

Make sure to position your boat on the trailer - and load the gear to give about 10 % of the total boat/trailer weight as down force on the tongue. you don't say how big your boat is - lets say it totals 1500 lbs (500 lb trailer and 1000lb boat for instance). you should shoot for 150 lb down at tongue. you can measur this on a bathromm scale. check your wheel bearings. some trailers have grease fittings - make sure they are greased and not sloppy loose (some bearings may be sealed and no grease fittings). many times you submerse the wheel bearings when launching/retrieving the boat. make sure bearings are greased after retrieving boat. stop occasinally and feel the wheel hubs for heat to make sure bearings are not burning up. happy trailering.

Answer 7

With a trailer that small you'll find that it will affect your normal driving very little. Backing it will be the hardest thing, short trailers are harder to back than long ones. When backing strait, use your mirrors don't look behind you. When you see the trailer start to one side turn your wheel to that side. It will get easier with practice. Just back slowly.

Answer 8

thats a pretty light boat you wont really notice the pulling
sensation as far as securing your boat to the trailer you need a strape that goes over the back just in front of the transom
trailer rail to trailer rail

Answer 9

Not that hard, really. Watch how you merge into traffic - hard to get used to that extra length. Also, the parking lot practice is a good idea. You have no idea how many people cannot back up with a trailer and you will need to do that when launching.

Answer 10

I could never get the hang of it. I was horrible at it.

One advice I will give. Dont forget that the trailer/boat is attached and drive thru a fast food drive thru and run over the curb. ha ha Happened to my hubby. It was funny.

~faith