Trailer Tips and Techniques
With a boat trailer in tow, an operator
will be driving down the road with a vehi-
cle combination that is longer, heavier and
sometimes wider and taller than the tow ve-
hicle. This means the operator should make
a few adjustments to normal driving prac-
tices to compensate for the differences.
Here are a few tips:
• Use common sense. MasterCraft can-
notanticipateeverytypeofsituationin
whichdriversmayndthemselves.The
following recommendations apply to
generalsituations,butitisuptothein-
dividualdrivertoactorreactasagiven
situationrequires.
• Take a shakedown cruise. Before mak-
ing the rst major trip or rst trip to the
lake with a MasterCraft trailer, make at
least one short trial run to become famil-
iar with its handling characteristics. Be
sure everything is working properly.
• Slow down. There is less strain on the
tow vehicle, trailer and boat at moderate
to slow speeds. Also, many states have
lower speed limits for vehicles tow-
ing trailers. Driving at moderate speeds
will place less strain the tow vehicle and
the trailer. Trailer instability (sway) is
more likely to occur as speed increases.
Particular attention needs to be given
to slowing when traveling over bumpy
roads and railroad crossings.
• Allow extra time and space. You’ll
need more of both when passing and
stopping.
• Avoid sudden steering maneuvers.
These may create sway or undue side
force on the trailer. To control swaying
caused by air pressure changes and wind
buffeting when larger vehicles pass from
either direction, release the accelerator
pedal to slow down. Keep a rm grip on
the steering wheel.
• Allow considerably more distance for
stopping than you would if driving the
tow vehicle without the trailer. There
is considerably more weight to be ma-
neuvered, and even though your trailer
is equipped with a braking system, it is
highly likely that additional room will
be needed in order to execute slowing or
full stops.
• Check the rear view mirrors. If not al-
ready equipped with them, install outside
rear view mirrors on both sides of the tow
vehicle. Make it a habit to check the mir-
Page 7-26 2014 MasterCraft Owners Manual • MasterCraft Trailers
M A S T E R C R A F T T R A I L E R S
over the hitch ball and lower the trailer
with the trailer jack until it is all the way
down onto the hitch ball.
• Check under the coupling to be certain
that the ball clamp is below the ball and
not riding on top of the ball.
• Lock the coupler to the hitch ball. To
conrm that the coupler is locked onto
the hitch ball, lift up on the trailer jack.
If the trailer jack comes loose from the
hitch ball, unlock and go back to the
third step above.
• Be certain that the trailer jack is in the
fully raised and locked position.
• Attach the surge break-away cable to the
tow vehicle, making sure there is enough
slack for tight turns.
• Attach the safety cables.
• Connect the
trailer’s seven-
wire connector
to the seven-
wire connec-
tor of the tow
vehicle and
check the op-
eration of the
lights.
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