Boating World

Happy Trailering

Don't let trailering troubles get you down. Here are some quick fixes to common trailering dilemmas.

May 1, 2003

You've all seen him. That red-faced guy at the launch ramp that can't seem to get his boat smoothly into the water. Or the "you-kiss-your-momma-with-that-mouth?" guy on the side of the road with an overheated transmission on his station wagon attempting to tow a 30-foot deckboat. Don't be that guy. Here are some foolproof ways to help prevent and fix your trailer troubles.

Trailer Sway

Nothing raises the blood pressure quicker than an out-of-control trailer - and for good reason. Serious trailer sway can lead to serious accidents. A trailer oscillating in and out of other lanes of traffic can hit other vehicles, or cause them to collide with each other as they swerve out of your way. It can also cause the boat and trailer to flip, and in some cases, the tow vehicle itself.

Several factors can cause trailer sway. Wind or the buffeting effect of a passing vehicle can generate temporary sway. Another common cause is improper weight placement.

Regardless of the cause, your reaction to trailer sway is key to avoiding an accident. Trailer sway is often accentuated when going downhill, so anticipate it. A natural impulse when a trailer begins to sway severely is to hit your brakes and bring the vehicle to a quick stop. Don't! This can actually make matters worse. If you hit your brakes when the trailer is swinging to the side, it can cause you to jackknife, wherein the trailer swings to such an extreme angle that the back of the trailer is now ahead of the tongue in relation to the vehicle. Instead of panic stopping, reduce your speed gradually by feathering the brake pedal (especially if you don't have ABS brakes on your tow vehicle) or applying gentle pressure, gradually increasing pressure until you stop. Also try to hold the steering wheel steady; trying to counter-steer inevitably compounds the dilemma. And, if your trailer is equipped with electric brakes (a rarity on boat trailers), engage the trailer's brakes first without hitting the tow vehicle's brakes. This can often bring an untamed trailer under control. Finally, don't speed up in an effort to accelerate out of the problem. This usually makes the trailer sway even more.

Many hitch manufacturers make sway controls bars to help eliminate trailer sway, or at least keep it from getting out of control. These are usually sturdy bars that attach to the drawbar and trailer tongue. They are not very expensive, and having them installed may make your life a lot less stressful.

Trailer sway should settle out fairly quickly. Persistent trailer sway could be the result of an improperly loaded trailer. In some cases the boat simply may not be setting as far forward on the trailer as it should be, as evidenced by a gap between the boat's stem and the trailer yoke. You could put the trailer back in the water and crank the winch to close the gap. Or you could simply drive on the road at a slow speed and hit the brakes hard, which will generally solve the problem much quicker. Then be sure to tighten the bow strap. Don't get carried away with this technique, however, by driving too fast or hitting the brakes too hard.

The way you stow gear in the boat when trailering can be a factor, too. Consideration to how much boat fuel you are carrying and its location, as well the addition of an auxiliary motor and other added gear, is also important. Towing experts have long suggested having a tongue weight that is 10 to 15 percent of the total towed weight. (Tongue weight is the amount of weight your trailer puts on the hitch ball when hooked up.) However, boat trailers can generally get by with a bit less tongue weight. Some sources say 5 to 8 percent. It is best to check with your trailer manufacturer to be sure. Not enough tongue weight can lead to trailer sway.

To determine if your trailer is properly loaded, use Sherline's Load-Master tongue weight scale, which is a portable scale available from Draw-Tite and other distributors. Once you obtain your weights you can adjust the stowed gear accordingly to achieve the proper ratio.
 
Poor Steering

Sometimes a tow vehicle develops poor steering control when a boat trailer is attached. This may be due to too much weight being placed on the hitch, which has the effect of pushing the rear of the vehicle downward and lifting the front so that the steer wheels don't have the traction they need. The vehicle can feel "squirrely" as a result.

In such cases you should consider using a weight-distributing hitch. These specialized hitch assemblies reduce tongue weight by transfering some of it to the trailer and tow vehicle axles. Weight-
distributing hitches can be easily adjusted to achieve proper tongue weight and level trailer alignment by changing links in its support chains. Another benefit of a weight-distributing hitch system is that it increases the tow rating capacity of most vehicles when used in lieu of a conven-tional weight-carrying hitch.

You can also improve steering by using suspension enhancers that help support the rear of the vehicle. A wide range of helper springs, air suspension systems like those offered by Air-Ride, and beefier shock absorbers are available from a host of manufacturers.
 
Poor Traction At The Launch Ramp

If you find that your tow vehicle has trouble pulling your boat and trailer out of the water, there are a couple of things you can do that might help. One is to simply drive the vehicle out at an angle rather than going straight up the ramp. An angular departure of approximately 60 degrees can make a big difference in tire traction, allowing you to get the boat and trailer moving forward. Once you get decent traction and some momentum, you can straighten the tow vehicle out and drive straight up the ramp. But don't stop until you crest the hill.

If you're launching with a tow vehicle equipped with rear-wheel-drive, the wheels may spin if you are using a weight-distributing hitch. The reason is that the hitch system is designed to lessen the amount of weight on the rear axle by transferring some of it to the vehicle's front axle and the boat's axle(s). Hence the name weight-distributing hitch. And on steep or slippery launch ramps extra weight on the drive axle is a benefit. In such a situation, temporarily remove the spring bars from the weight-distributing hitch, and you'll instantly have better traction. Of course, the best time to do this is while you are in the staging area, before launching.
 
Transmission Failure

One of the first things to go out on a vehicle regularly used for towing is the automatic transmission. This is where the mechanical "grunt work" associated with towing takes place. Ironically, the transmission is often the most overlooked part of the towing system - that is until it quits working.

If your vehicle purchase included a towing package, which is often optional, it may have come with a transmission oil cooler. If it didn't, you should consider getting one, especially if you are towing anywhere near the vehicle's maximum tow rating. The reason is because the No. 1 cause of transmission failure is overheating. A transmission cooler usually mounts in front of the engine's radiator and works on the same principle. Another way to keep your tranny running cooler is to use a deep sump pan that increases the volume of transmission oil circulating through the unit. And, step up the frequency of having the transmission serviced with oil and filter changes.
 
Poor Vision

One of the first things you'll notice when trailering is that your rear vision
is hampered. The wider your load, the worse your vision. Larger trucks and SUVs generally come with larger side mirrors because it is expected that the vehicle will be used for towing more
frequently. However, even these may seem inadequate at times. A larger mirror will help, but a large mirror that extends farther out from the vehicle is even better. Buy a set; there are plenty to choose from. Some are made to be installed permanently, while others are designed to attach and detach as needed. Some units even have power slide-outs that let the mirror extend when towing and retract when not. For added safety you might want to consider mirrors with built-in turning signal indicators. Another huge help to seeing better, especially when it comes to eliminating blind spots, is to add small convex mirrors to your existing side mirrors. They are inexpensive, attach easily and are one of many ways to take some of the challenge out of towing.