55
Equipment Operation
TYPICAL TONGUE SECTION
COUPLER
BRAKE
ACTUATOR
MASTER
CYLINDER
TONGUE
JACK
WINCH
STAND
BOW
CHAIN
Be sure to buy a suitable set of tie downs which can be
attached to the boats’ stern eyes and the eyelets provided
on most trailers. Tighten them securely and neatly fold
up the extra strap material and secure it with tape so it
doesn’t loosen and dangle on the road.
Check the trailer lug nuts for the proper torque. Use a
foot pound wrench and torque in a star sequence to the
correct poundage as recommended by the trailer
manufacturer. Torque the lug nuts at half the poundage
on all nuts. Then set the torque wrench to the full
poundage and fasten to the last foot poundage figure.
Check the trailer tires often for voids, excessive wear or
out of round tire conditions. If the trailer seems to vibrate
you may have a bad tire or one that is unbalanced. These
wheels can be rebalanced at most automotive or tire shops.
Never pull a boat on a patched tire. Buy a spare tire and
wheel and mount on the trailer. Most trailer manufacturer’s
sell a spare mount as optional equipment. As a tip you
can even mount the tire on a spare hub. This will speed
up the change time should a road tire blow out occur
since the entire wheel assembly is ready for installation.
DRIVING
Practice maneuvering the vehicle and trailer in a large,
empty parking lot or open space. If you practice slowly
and cautiously, you will soon develop a feel for
maneuvering the trailer properly.
Test your vehicle and trailer brakes before departure along
with the lights. Also, be sure you pack a tool kit with
extra bulbs, fuses and fluids.
Drive as smoothly as possible, anticipating your stops
and giving yourself plenty of room for turning and
stopping. Avoid any quick turns or sudden jerks of the
steering wheel.
Remember to maintain safe speed limits. It takes longer
to stop your loaded boat. Allow enough more room to
the front in bad weather.
Keep an eye on your rig through the rear view and side
mirrors. If your rear view mirror is obstructed, purchase
a set of side mirrors that extend out over the side of the
vehicle for increased visibility. It is a good idea to install
a set of round mirrors to the side mirrors as they help
identify blind spots.
Plan to stop periodically on your way to check the trailer
hitch for tightness, harness connector, tires, wheel
bearings. Also, check to make sure the cockpit cover is
secure and the load is balanced.
To Next Page
Loading...
