Safety Tips for Hauling a Boat Trailer

A boat is a big investment and, in turn, it will also be precious cargo. It's important to know all the safety precautions before going on a trip with your boat. Don't get in a hurry and rush through your safety check routine either. Keep in mind that the priority is always to keep you, your truck, your trailer, and your boat safe. So, if you want to get everything to your destination without a scratch, here are some safety tips for hauling your boat trailer.

1. Pre-Tow Safety Inspection

First and foremost, you want to make sure that your trailer is hooked up properly. Make sure that your lights are plugged in correctly and that they are working. It's better to be safe than sorry, especially when you can foresee a problem without leaving yet. Don't forget to check your hitch to make sure your latch and safety pin are securely in place. Also, always make sure the brake safety cable is correctly secured, along with all other safety chains.

2. Check Your Boat

A lot of people seem to forget this step because it's not as high up on the list of safety hazards compared to your vehicle. Take a second to step into your boat before you leave so that you can check for any loose items that might fly away while you're driving down the road. How many times have you seen life-jackets that got swept away lying on the highway? You don't want to lose any of your stuff or create hazards for other drivers. Any loose items should be stored away or secured to the boat.

3. Evenly Distribute Weight

This is a big safety tip when it comes to boat trailer hauling. If you have a lot of heavy gear, make sure that you put it in the middle of the boat, right over the axis. It's important to have the weight evenly distributed throughout the load or else it will cause the trailer to sway. This is an issue that a lot of new boat haulers come across. Your load can affect the overall weight distribution, and your cargo can mess up the tow. These can all be extremely dangerous.

4. Drive Extra Carefully

Make sure to take turns really wide to ensure that you have enough road space for your boat to follow behind you and leave more than enough space between you and other cars so that you have plenty of time to slow to a stop if you needed to. If you start to feel your rig being pushed sideways by the wind, simply take your foot off the accelerator instead of pressing the breaks. This will limit the effect. When you get to your destination, don't take your safeties off until your boat is down the ramp and in the water.

Boat trailer hauling safety tips are always important. By keeping things safe, you can also keep it fun! Always remember your safety tips and do not hurry. Boat hauling can be dangerous if you don't take the right precautions. Keep yourself, your truck, your trailer, and your boat safe at all times.

If you just got a boat (or if you're thinking about it) and you need a boat trailer, Tropic Trailer has plenty of choices for you!