Towing your boat long distance – Do’s and Don’t

[kennedy]

Going on a vacation and taking the boat, we really do not do a lot of long distance towing – can I get a reminder of the do’s and don’ts when traveling any amount of distance with your trailer and boat – just a check list so I am good to go!!

[wolfeman131]

Have a spare ready, be sure you have a lug wrench that fits the trailer bolts, have a jack that will work, throw in some wood blocks for leveling the jack and maybe even change a tire in your driveway so you know what you're doing without idiots zipping by you at 80 mph.

Do a precheck on your brakes, lights, chains/cables, tires, etc.

[E4NASH]

Have a spare! Can't say that enough!

[rsinger]

Tape off the paddle wheel. I read somewhere this could cause premature failure of the speedometer.

Oh crap. Took my boat on the water for the first time this year, since bringing it from Kansas. That's why the speedo isn't working.

Gee thanks for solving my problem.....

[wolfeman131]

Nice catch on the paddlewheel!

Don't tow with a factory cover on. It will flap against the gel coat & leave marks.

[rsinger]

I've also ratchet tied the back of my platform to the bar across the stern, pulling the back of the platform up a bit. My platform has a tube running along the perimeter of it, which is the anchor point. It helps stem avoidable vibration on the platform mounts. Those torsion axles are really stiff. I doubt anyone else does this, but it's just a thought.

Or you could take the platform off if you have somewhere to stow it.

[kaneboats]

I've also ratchet tied the back of my platform to the bar across the stern, pulling the back of the platform up a bit. My platform has a tube running along the perimeter of it, which is the anchor point. It helps stem avoidable vibration on the platform mounts. Those torsion axles are really stiff. I doubt anyone else does this, but it's just a thought.

I loop an extra tie down strap through the mounts underneath the platform and cinch it down to the trailer. It takes all the slack out of the platform mount holes and pins so it doesn't rattle. I have a designated strap for this b/c I tow about 40 min. each way every time we go out.

Also: Make sure your lug wrench fits the trailer lugs. Take them off, grease them and put them back on before you go. Make sure you can actually get your spare off your trailer mount. Make sure you have a jack that works with the trailer. Check your trailer brakes too.

[moombadaze]

dont think its been mentioned yet--set the air presure as per the sidewall, dont forget the spare

[mmandley]

Everyone is on top of the trailer but lets talk about the truck pulling the boat.

Don't use Overdrive unless you are on flat ground, going up hills put it in what ever gear you have under OD, this will depend on your tow vehicle.

If you tow through a lot of hills, take it out of OD before you go down the hills, keep it in a gear low enough your not getting pushed down the hill by the boat and not riding your brakes the whole way down the hill.

Make sure your oil, trans, coolant are in great shape before towing.
Make sure if your truck has over 80K you have replaced the serpentine belt, and the coolant hoses are in good shape.
Have the brakes looked at by a shop that does free brake checkes.
If you have Drums on the rear get them adjusted before the trip
Make sure you have a Good spare on your truck for the truck with the right stuff to change it
If you plan to tow at night make sure all the lights are working on the truck and trailer
Bring a decent flashlight

All this has to tow with how fare you have to travel but personally this is the short version of my check list before i tow long distance, such as this summer in Sept i will be towing the boat over 3K miles to and from AZ and honestly its not the trailer and the tires i worry about, its my Rig and how hard she has to work to pull that big ass Bestia up and down the mountains lol.

[slicks]

What about the top? I have the Z5 and dont want to damage it. Should I collapse the tower?