Long Distance Boat Towing

[Muttley]

Lots of great advice I won't repeat. One I didn't see:

Whenever you stop, touch the hubs on the wheels. If it's really hot, you have a problem.

Other than what others have said, gas up & p before you go.

[thatsmrmastercraft]

Originally Posted by Muttley

Lots of great advice I won't repeat. One I didn't see:

Whenever you stop, touch the hubs on the wheels. If it's really hot, you have a problem.

Other than what others have said, gas up & p before you go.

Good point on hub temps. Any time I tow the boat and stop, I make sure to walk around the back end of the boat and check tires, hubs, trailer connector, wiring connection and safety chains.

[AZDave]

Not quite ready to sell it yet...I got a new spare, have another spare, 2 year old tires, tie downs, jack and a lug wrench. The weather forecast is good. Just getting 12 foot bunks and another crossmember, not a fun boat trip. Temp here is in the 20's at night, so I think this is a good time to finish this project.

[zsqure]

Watch out for semi tire caps that have peeled off the tire. I was in the wrong lane at the wrong time. Kicked it up. Hit the fender, lucky it glanced off and there were only black marks that I was able to rub off.

[thatsmrmastercraft]

Originally Posted by zsqure

Watch out for semi tire caps that have peeled off the tire. I was in the wrong lane at the wrong time. Kicked it up. Hit the fender, lucky it glanced off and there were only black marks that I was able to rub off.

There are alligators everywhere.......not just down south.

[Bouyhead]

We tow my buddies boat from NY to FL & back every spring. We do all the stuff that was mentioned earlier but instead of spare bearings and races he carries a spare hub assembly.

[wheelerd]

My experience has been that an automotive scissor or bottle jack is often not hefty enough for a boat or travel trailer. With a vehicle you're typically just lifting one corner. With a trailer you're lifting the whole side of the unit, ie. much more weight.

I carry one of these in my Yukon since I often tow a 28' travel trailer as well.
http://www.basspro.com/Quick-Change-.../product/9071/
You just wedge it under the axle, pull forward a bit, and the jack rotates under the axle and lifts it up. I place a chunk of old carpet between the jack and the axle so it doesn't scratch the axle.

[FrankSchwab]

I've seen those, but was never sure they actually worked. Have you had to use yours?

[wheelerd]

I've never needed it on the road but I've tried it out at home to make sure it worked. On soft ground I would image that it might need something under it like a chunk of 2 x 4 or plywood since it has a small footprint.

[Voodoo]

Originally Posted by wheelerd

My experience has been that an automotive scissor or bottle jack is often not hefty enough for a boat or travel trailer. With a vehicle you're typically just lifting one corner. With a trailer you're lifting the whole side of the unit, ie. much more weight.

I carry one of these in my Yukon since I often tow a 28' travel trailer as well.
http://www.basspro.com/Quick-Change-.../product/9071/
You just wedge it under the axle, pull forward a bit, and the jack rotates under the axle and lifts it up. I place a chunk of old carpet between the jack and the axle so it doesn't scratch the axle.

I guess things weigh differently in Canada (sun angle, gravitational force, maple syrup ratio, or some such thing), but my Craftsman $19.99 2 ton bottle jack somehow manages to lift my boat and trailer, which have a combined weight of 2700 lbs -- it's a mystery to me, eh.

voodoo