When it comes to boating, most people tend to neglect one of the most important assets associated with their boat. That is their boat trailer!
Ask your self this. If your boat trailer is in poor working condition & you want to take your boat out fishing with family and friends, do you want to spend more time at the ramp trying to launch your boat? or spend more time out on the water?
I think we all know the answer to this questions.
By properly maintaining your boats rollers, bunks, skids, brackets, accessories and hardware, you can rest assured for a quick and easy launch and retrieval which will cause less stress for you at the ramp and allow you to focus more on boating. Follow these top 10 tips to help ensure your trailer is in top working condition.
Kev’s Top Tips to Maintain your Boat Trailer
- Check and re-grease your boat trailer’s wheel bearings. This will help ensure your boat, when in transit you have no issues with your wheel bearings, and will also help maintain the life of the bearings.
Re-tension your trailers wheel nuts. There is nothing worse then driving down the road and your trailers wheel nuts are loose. This is not only very dangerous, but can also cause serious damage to your boat, car, your self and other people out on the road! Please check your wheel nuts regularly.
- Inspect your trailer for cracks or severely rusted areas that may have become potentially brittle. This includes your springs and axles. Each time you take your boat in and out of the water, you are introducing your trailer to the salt water of the sea/bay. Make sure you give your trailer a proper clean after each use to avoid rusting and corrosion and help add to the safety and lifespan of your trailer.
- Ensure that your trailer light circuits are functioning correctly – this can be done using a KT LED Trailer Plug which contains an in-built LED Circuit Tester.
- Check your boat trailer rollers, brackets and split pins for cracking or breaks. It is important that your rollers are spinning freely and are clean of any grease or product that may be stuck between the spindles and the rollers. Clean hardware will allow for a quick and easy launch and retrieval.
- Check your trailer winch is in full working condition. Check the condition of your winch strap and lubricate the gears if necessary. This step is very important. You don’t want to have your boat half way on your trailer and the winch strap breaks. Not only will this cause major damage to your boat and trailer, It can cause serious damage to anyone assisting in retrieving your boat. And if there are people around you at the ramp, it can be a tad embarrassing!
Inspect your boat trailers lights or lighting board. make sure the wiring is in full working condition. This is important as it allows other road users to know exactly where you are going and planning on doing out on the road. It may also be illegal to tow your trailer without lighting.
- Check your boat trailers brakes. If your trailer has a braking system, perform regular checks to ensure they are in full working condition. Not only will this help avoid injury it will help keep you safe on the road.
- Make sure your boat is secured on your trailer. Make sure your winch strap is connected to your boat at all times when in transit and ensure your boat has tie down straps at the rear for extra strength and safety to ensure your boat will not come loose when driving.
- Check your boat trailer’s wheel pressure and tread wear. having low tyre pressure and no tread on the wheels can be very dangerous, especially in wet and slippery conditions. Always have new tyres on your trailer for easy and safe towing.
Finally, If you constantly use your boat in salt water, after every use make sure you give your boat and trailer a thorough clean using fresh water. This will help keep your prized toy in great working order and give you many years of enjoyment.
By following this quick checklist for your boat trailer, you will be ensured many more years use which will not only save you money in the long run, but allow for many more great memories with your family and friends out on the water.
Enjoy your next boating trip and make it a safe one!
Outback Kev, signing out until next time!
This ‘World First’ KT 50 Amp Trailer Plug and Socket serves a similar purpose to the popular Anderson Plug or Heavy Duty Connector; however no crimping or soldering is required during installation.
Installation is as simple as loosening 4 screws in the wire entries, stripping cable approximately 10 mm and feeding into the positive and negative wire entries. Tighten all screws securely insuring no wires are exposed outside of the wire entries. Replace outer casing and tighten the 2 screws. All wiring instructions are provided with the product.
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