Any advice?

J

jfrack77

New Member
Apr 13, 2011
13
Maryland
Boat Info
215 Express
Engines
5.0
Well,
It looks like i will be picking my boat up in the next week or two. I am a bit nervous, the trip is about 220 miles and i have never towed a trailer bigger then one for jetskis. My truck is an '04 Dodge Ram 1500, the boat is a 2000 215 express cruiser. Any advice? Do's and dont's etc etc?
 
Brake early...take your time...and enjoy the ride. I'm assuming this is a new (used purchase). Has the trailer been serviced (bearings, tires, etc)?
 
Thanks for the quick reply! Actually the trailer is the hold up, i am buying the wife off of my wifes cousin and he is looking for a new trailer. He wouldn't send me on my way with a trailer that wasnt up for the task :)
 
jfrack77 said:
Thanks for the quick reply! Actually the trailer is the hold up, i am buying the wife off of my wifes cousin and he is looking for a new trailer. He wouldn't send me on my way with a trailer that wasnt up for the task :)
Click to expand...

What is this? Some type of mail order bride set-up? :lol:
 
For starters do you know when the bearings were last re-packed? What kind of shape are the tires in and do you have a spare? When were the brakes last inspected and do they work?

My truck requires a drop hitch/insert to level the trailer. Yours may or may not. Also check the ball size. It will most likeky be a 2" but could be a 2 and 5/16". As far as towing is concerned, you will need more distance to accelerate and stop. You will also need to take wider turns. The longer trailer will be much easier to back up than the short jet ski trailer.

Good luck and take it easy.
 
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I towed a Cuddy Cabin from PA to Texas and white knuckled it all the way. I added a transmission cooler to the vehicle easy to do cheap and will extend the life of the transmission. Give yourself plenty of space between you and the car in front of you. Look into bearing buddies not only for this trip but for years to come, positive pressure inside the bearing assembly will keep water out while launching your boat. Don't be in a rush you'll be fine.
 
SeaRide said:
For starters do you know when the bearings were last re-packed? What kind of shape are the tires in and do you have a spare? When were the brakes last inspected and do they work?

My truck requires a drop hitch/insert to level the trailer. Yours may or may not. Also check the ball size. It will most likeky be a 2" but could be a 2 and 5/16". As far as towing is concerned, you will need more distance to accelerate and stop. You will also need to take wider turns. The longer trailer will be much easier to back up than the short jet ski trailer.

Good luck and take it easy.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. Right now, they are looking for a new trailer, that is what is holding up the transaction. I am so anxious to get this thing.. Ive lived VERY close to water all my life, and this will be my first boat. I will be sure to check all of those things before i make the trip for the sea trial.
 
dicor said:
I towed a Cuddy Cabin from PA to Texas and white knuckled it all the way. I added a transmission cooler to the vehicle easy to do cheap and will extend the life of the transmission. Give yourself plenty of space between you and the car in front of you. Look into bearing buddies not only for this trip but for years to come, positive pressure inside the bearing assembly will keep water out while launching your boat. Don't be in a rush you'll be fine.
Click to expand...

Man, that really gives me a vote of confidence. Heck, Norfolk to Baltimore is no where near PA to Texas!!!!! Wow!
 
dicor said:
I towed a Cuddy Cabin from PA to Texas and white knuckled it all the way. I added a transmission cooler to the vehicle easy to do cheap and will extend the life of the transmission. Give yourself plenty of space between you and the car in front of you. Look into bearing buddies not only for this trip but for years to come, positive pressure inside the bearing assembly will keep water out while launching your boat. Don't be in a rush you'll be fine.
Click to expand...

I feel you on that note. I bought my Pachanga in Maine and towed it back to Texas. Poor Titan lol. The worst part of the trip without a doubt was New York City with a 22' boat on the back and a motorcycle in the bed lol.

My advice, although it may have been said, is to watch your mirrors. I tend to watch the mirrors a lot. Once you get used to driving with a trailer, you wont look out your back window again even for backing up. And yes, Bearing Buddys are great! I used a whole tube of grease when I bought her just on the trailer wheels (tandem axle). Good luck!
 
Jay Gadsby said:
I feel you on that note. I bought my Pachanga in Maine and towed it back to Texas. Poor Titan lol. The worst part of the trip without a doubt was New York City with a 22' boat on the back and a motorcycle in the bed lol.

My advice, although it may have been said, is to watch your mirrors. I tend to watch the mirrors a lot. Once you get used to driving with a trailer, you wont look out your back window again even for backing up. And yes, Bearing Buddys are great! I used a whole tube of grease when I bought her just on the trailer wheels (tandem axle). Good luck!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info! Wow, Maine to TX? Sheesh. Was that your first time trailering anything that big? I think that is what worries me the most. I will definitely look into the bearing buddies.
 
I have a 21 foot jetboat we trailerd 4,200KM from Calgary to Loreto Mexico in December and back in April. In 1969 I learned to drive a real truck and trailer one summer with DND. Had not driven one since. What I found was best to go forward, Get good mirror extentions to see in the rear, You will use twice the gas you normally do, When fueling look for a gas station that you can drive through rather than have to back out of, Carry 5 gallons of gas in the boat or become an AAA member, After running for 10 miles get out and feel the bearing area on the wheels if you can hold your hand on them you should be OK, Make sure your trailer brakes work I was told and it did work for me disconect the trailer plug to your truck and back up your breaks should lock, Then connect the trailer plug and back up again and make sure the breaks do not lock, Watch your mirrors and keep off the white line on the sholder, Best not to try to pass anyone. We drove at 60 to 65 on the interstate and 50 on 2 lane in Mexico, Watch the trailer wheels when in an area with curve as you could bounce over them, make sure all your lights work including single, I found 99% of the people wouldlet you change lanes if you singled in advance, Make sure you have a spare tire and a wrinch that will take it off also get a jack for the trailer. I got a 2 ton hydrolic one and it was a lot better than trying to use the one on the SUV, Watch your engine temp if it is hot out.
 
jfrack77 said:
Thanks for the info! Wow, Maine to TX? Sheesh. Was that your first time trailering anything that big? I think that is what worries me the most. I will definitely look into the bearing buddies.
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I had an 18' Car Hauler, but its easy to see over the top of that, an 8' beam is harder to see around (Non-Big Tow Mirrors on the Titan), but you get used to it fast.
 
northern said:
I have a 21 foot jetboat we trailerd 4,200KM from Calgary to Loreto Mexico in December and back in April. In 1969 I learned to drive a real truck and trailer one summer with DND. Had not driven one since. What I found was best to go forward, Get good mirror extentions to see in the rear, You will use twice the gas you normally do, When fueling look for a gas station that you can drive through rather than have to back out of, Carry 5 gallons of gas in the boat or become an AAA member, After running for 10 miles get out and feel the bearing area on the wheels if you can hold your hand on them you should be OK, Make sure your trailer brakes work I was told and it did work for me disconect the trailer plug to your truck and back up your breaks should lock, Then connect the trailer plug and back up again and make sure the breaks do not lock, Watch your mirrors and keep off the white line on the sholder, Best not to try to pass anyone. We drove at 60 to 65 on the interstate and 50 on 2 lane in Mexico, Watch the trailer wheels when in an area with curve as you could bounce over them, make sure all your lights work including single, I found 99% of the people wouldlet you change lanes if you singled in advance, Make sure you have a spare tire and a wrinch that will take it off also get a jack for the trailer. I got a 2 ton hydrolic one and it was a lot better than trying to use the one on the SUV, Watch your engine temp if it is hot out.
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This is good stuff man! Thanks!
 
You will be fine. Just check everything before departure, then the first rest stop go back and check things again. Agree with the trailer stuff. When you stop, feel the hub with your hand and it should be cool or warm to the touch, not hot. After a while it will be second nature to you! Oh here was my trip:

http://clubsearay.com/showthread.php/27625-The-Big-Tow-From-NC-to-Portland-OR
 
I would add check the tie downs at every stop. Highway travel will loosen the tightest straps.

Rick........
 
Even with a new trailer - check the bearings. Once you have travelled a while the bearings can loosen a bit and need a bit more grease. If they were a bit loose to start with they may need adjustment when you get home.

My introduction to towing my Sea Ray was a bit of fun. It was purchased out of Las Vegas and then shipped to Australia. In order to fit it into the container the fenders, wheels, springs and axles were removed and the drawer bar was removed. These were all neatly placed on a pallet for me! When I picked it up from the container terminal the first job was to put the trailer back together and then drive 300 miles home. Unfortunately when the guys pulled the trailer apart in LA they damaged a brake line so the drive home was with no brakes.

The bearing buddies took a good load of grease on the way home and have been fine ever since.

Take it easy and get used to the boat on the back. On a clear (and quiet) section of road try some hard braking so you can get an idea of how the rig stops. If in doubt slow down and leave yourself plenty of room in traffic.

If you are not used to reversing then find a big open space and maybe some traffic cones and get used to what happens. You don't want to be learning how to reverse on the boat ramp.

Good luck and enjoy the boat (and driving!)

Cheers
 
I took my boat from Michigan to West Palm Beach FL with no issues (except a ground skeg....long story).

1) Make sure your captains seats is locked-down (it can swivel and hit your trim down button on the throttle).
2) If you have a cover on, make sure that the extra webbing in the straps are secure and tied in a knot or something. They tend to flap in the wind and will tear up quickly.
3) Make sure your engine cover does not 'fly up'. On the 220 SD, this is a major issue
4) Have an extra hub/bearing set
5) Have an extra tire as well as a jack and tire iron (make sure it fits the trailer lugs).
6) Have extra tail light bulbs.
7) Make sure you have your trailer registration handy.
8) Take your time.
9) Make sure the trailer's weight is 'balanced' (assuming you have stuff in the boat).
10) Bring a grease gun & tube of grease.
 
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Great advice from all the postings. When you finally get it home and are ready to go to the lake before you back up into the water unhook your trailer lights. The reason for this is that you can blow your fuses in your vehicle.
 
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