Need To Haul Your Boat To The Water? 3 Tips For A Safe Towing Job
The only problem with owning an oversized boat is that you have to transport your boat to the water if you want to enjoy it. When it comes to towing your boat, there are a few tricks and tips that you need to know to ensure a safe towing job.
#1 Check the Towing Capacity of Your Vehicle
First, you need to check the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating or GVWR, which will let you know the total weight that you can pull with your vehicle. You should never pull more weight than your vehicle is designed to tow. The towing weight limit is not just about the sturdiness of your vehicle; the towing weight is determined based on an analysis of multiple components, such as the strength of the engine, brakes, and shocks. If your boat's weight exceeds the towing capacity of your vehicle, you need to find a different way to tow your boat to the water.
#2 Pack Your Boat Carefully
Be careful as you pack up your boat. Make sure the items you are adding to your boat allow your boat and trailer to stay within the maximum load capacity for your vehicle. If you add too many items to your boat, you could exceed the load capacity of your vehicle, which is not safe.
As you add gear to your boat, make sure to add the gear so that the weight is evenly distributed. Place the weight on both the left and right side of the boat. This will help keep the weight evenly distributed during the towing process, and it will be helpful when you get to the water as well.
#3 Carefully Inspect Your Vehicle & Trailer
Before you set off down the road with your boat behind you, you are going to want to carefully check your vehicle.
Start by making sure that the tires on your vehicle as properly inflated to the right air pressure rating. Do the same with your trailer. Make sure the tires on the trailer are still in good shape. Check the speed ratings on your trailer tires; you don't want to go over this speed while pulling your trailer.
Make sure the lights work. Work with someone and turn on the turn signals, brakes, and tail lights, making sure that they light up on both your vehicle and the trailer.
Finally, check the brakes on both the vehicle and the trailer, making sure they are in good condition.
When it comes to towing your boat down to the water, you need to have a vehicle that is up for the job. If you don't have a vehicle that is up for the job, you can hire a boat hauling company to transport your boat for you.
For more information, contact a boat hauling company.