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BOAT U.S. HAS TOP FIVE TIPS
FOR TRAILER BOATERS
The BoatU.S. Trailering Club has five hot tips to help prevent trailer
boat owners from becoming a roadside statistic this summer:
• Make sure your trailer tires are made for trailering. A “ST” designation on
the sidewall indicates “special trailer” used for boat trailers. These tires
have stronger sidewalls than “P” (passenger) and “LT” (light truck tires). Also,
never mix bias ply which is commonly used for short trips or when a trailer is
parked for long periods with radial tires which are preferred for high-mileage
trip.
• Tire inflation is the most basic maintenance issue. Tires should be inflated
before the trip while cold. Buy a spare tire but be sure to take a tire and rim
combo when shopping for your spare as not all spares are alike. Ensure your jack
can handle the trailer as well.
• A tire’s worst enemy is dry rot caused by the sun’s UV rays. If you store your
boat and trailer outside during the winter, remove the tires and keep them
inside if possible. Tire covers can also help.
• Moisture can also doom a tire, especially if the trailer sits idle for a long
time on grassy, damp ground. Again, removing the tire is best but parking on
plywood can also help. If parking on a hard surface such as concrete, ensure
that water freely drains away from the trailer after a rainstorm.
• Lastly, ensure that you know your boat and trailer weight, as overloading can
lead to premature wear and potentially dangerous blowouts. Of the thousands of
requests for roadside assistance made by BoatU.S. Trailering Club members in
2005, the most common call for assistance was for flat tires. The percentages
for all trailer breakdowns were: Flats: 47%; Bearings: 26%; Axle: 13%; Tow
Vehicle: 9%; Miscellaneous: 5%.
The BoatU.S. Trailering Club offers up to $150 paid per trailer breakdown
incident as well as a subscription to BoatU.S. Trailering magazine. The cost to
join is just $10 for BoatU.S. members.
For more information, visit http://www.BoatUS.com/trailerclub or call
1-800-245-6923.
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