Nigh of usa dream about keeping a PWC or gunkhole at our waterfront dock, just the reality for most of us is trailering, loading our prized possession onto a wheeled cart and towing it to the h2o. Another reality is that, while many of us tin can recite the spec listing about our craft, we know little about the trailer. In the long run, that could exist a big error.

So, I've put together some information, an "everything you wanted to know about gunkhole and pwc trailers…but we're afraid to inquire" sort of matter. Here, in no particular order of importance, is what you might want to know about your trailer.

Size — It'due south obvious a trailer should fit your boat. For trailerable boats (those nether 8′ 6″ in beam, take into business relationship two measurements — length and weight.

Length should be measured from the farthest point at the bow  to the cease of the hull's running surface. In full general, trailers are typically nigh 2 feet longer than the boat itself. Practice non use LOA (which can be influenced by extended swim platforms) every bit an indicator of boat length, as a trailer just supports the hull's running surface.

Weight ways more only the manufacturer's spec sail claims. You need to know your craft's moisture weight, as it accounts for fuel (8.v pounds per gallon), h2o (6.v pounds per gallon), and other items similar the batteries, gear, and add-ons brought aboard. Boats under 3500 pounds can typically be hauled with a single-axle trailer; those over 3500 pounds are best carried by a tandem-axle model.

Frame —The frame of a trailer gives it its structural integrity. Frames are typically made from steel or aluminum.

Tubular steel offers excellent force, every bit well as protection for wiring and restriction lines, which can be run within the frame. Steel can besides be painted to match the color of your boat or tow rig. Steel, nevertheless, can rust, a fact which volition affect not only the await of your trailer, only also its structural integrity over fourth dimension.

Steel is most ordinarily painted, and can be colour matched to your gunkhole for that custom look. Painting is also relatively cheap. It does, nonetheless, crave more perioidic maintenance to go on looking fresh, as any metal that starts to rust volition quickly affect the pigment.

Pigment tin can as well scrap, or dull over time. Galvanized trailers offer far superior corrosion resistance, but exercise not offering the potential for color. Metallic is dipped into a bath of liquid zinc at 500degrees C, a procedure known as hot-dip galvanizing, and come out with a protective coating of silver-colored zinc. The finish offers a superior layer of protection, and is nigh a must for saltwater boaters.

Aluminum trailers are made from aluminum I-beams, which offer a superior strength-to-weight ratio compared to steel, but offering less protection than tubular designs. Wiring and restriction lines should be run in conduit and secured to the inside of the structure for protection.

Axles — Tandem axle designs are best for loads under 3500 pounds; above 3500, a tandem beam design is all-time.

Suspension — Wheels can exist linked to the trailer frame by 1 of two main suspension methods – leaf bound or torsion beam. The nigh traditional form of suspension, leaf springs consist of a serial of curved, slender steel plates, placed atop each other, which flex to blot daze. Torsion axle intermission uses a torsion bar equally the weight-bearing leap. A soild metal bar is attached to the trailer frame; the opposite end featues a lever attached to the beam. Stupor absorption is provided past the bar's torsion resistance, typically condom cords located inside the axle housing.

Hub Bearings — Hub bearings are typically protected past grease, packed inside the hub and forced into the bearings to foreclose friction and estrus build-upwardly. An alternative organization is oil bath lubrication, which uses a reservoir of oil to continually coat the bearings equally the rotate.

Spring-loaded bearing protectors, like the Begetting Buddy, protect the bearings and keep grease contained, while allowing piece of cake visual inspection of the grease level. Manufacturers claim the spring pressure also prevents water from entering the hub when submerged. A grease fitting allows more grease to be added without removing the hub.

Bunks vs. Rollers — Trailer bunks provide back up forth much of the entire length of the hull. Bunks are typically fabricated from wood, covered in marine-grade carpet. Composite bunks are also available. Rollers typically provide easier loading and launching, particularly on gently sloped launch ramps, simply ofttimes exercise not back up the hull every bit well as a comparable bunk. Rollers may also dimple the hull. Check with your boat manufacturer, as they often suggest a certain blazon of trailer for all-time support.

Brakes — Laws vary by land, but typically brakes are required for all wheels on any trailer that grosses in excess of 3000 pounds. Hydraulic surge brakes are the most common trailer option in canoeing, partly considering they are far more tolerant of water than their electric alternative. Hydraulic surge brakes are activated by the change in momentum caused past the tow vehicle as it decelerates. The trailer's momentum pushes the brake housing forward, which ultimately forces restriction fluid out of the master cylinder and into the cycle cylinders, activating the trailer brakes. Surge systems can exist used with either drum, or disc-mode brakes.

Drum brakes work by forcing a pair of brake shoes against the side of an enclosed drum. Drums feature more than parts, are typically harder to service, yet are relatively inexpensive. They may also exist better for lighter trailer loads, every bit they don't require the higher pressure level of disc brakes, and oftentimes accept more area on the pads. Many brake experts fence drums are better whe the Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) is under 3000 pounds. The primary disadvantage to drum brakes is that they incorporate h2o, possibly resulting in far faster corrosion and failure.

Disc brakes employ hydraulic pressure level to strength a pair of brake pads to squeeze against a rotor, located behind the wheel hub. Discs are generally less complicated internally, require fewer adjustments, merely more expensive up front. Disc brakes likewise feature no enclosed parts, making them far easier to rinse off at the end of the solar day with fresh water and less likely to endure from rust and corrosion.

Trailers with drum brakes should have a hose connectedness to let flushing the restriction's internal surfaces with fresh water. Essentially a system of tubing plumbed to a hose connection affixed to the trailer, a flush kit gets fresh water into areas that would ordinarily exist inaccesible to a hose, and greatly reduces the risk of rust and corrosion over time.

"Breakaway" Brake — Trailers requiring brakes must too be fitted with an emergency brake activation system in the issue of a breakaway. On hydraulic systems, brakes are typically triggered by a small cablevision that runs from the trailer coupler to the tow vehicle's hitch; this cable activates the restriction's master cylinder when pulled.

Winch — A trailer winch allows the gunkhole to be pulled up onto the trailer with relatively little effort, and also serves equally a tie-down betoken for the bow one time the boat is in identify. Typically winches are mechanical, requiring a handle to exist cranked to wheel the strap or cable onto the winch barrel. Electrical winches are also available. Winches should only be used to pull the boat the last few inches into position, and not to pull a boat entirely out of the water.

The winch postal service should be adaptable on two planes; forrad and dorsum as well as up and down. Forward and back adjustment is essential to position the gunkhole properly on the trailer and to achieve the required natural language weight. Up and downwards aligning is necessary so that the winch postal service roller contacts the gunkhole in the correct position for support, besides equally to act every bit a stop when you drive the boat onto the trailer.

Condom Cable — Safety chain or cable is designed to run from the trailer tongue to the tow vehicle to prevent accident or injury in the unlikely consequence your trailer comes off the tow ball. Chains should exist crisscrossed under the coupler, short plenty to grab the tongue earlier it hits the pavement in the event of a failure, and characteristic beefy S hooks to secure to the cable attachments provided on the vehicle or hitch.

Tongue Weight — Tongue weight can be divers equally the downwardly weight the trailer and its contents place upon the hitch ball. Equally a dominion of thumb, tongue weight should not exceed 10% of the gross trailer weight, the weight of the trailer itself with the fully loaded boat in place. As well picayune tongue weight and the trailer will sway from side to side, or surge forward and backward. Too much tongue weight and the tow vehicle will suffer impaired handling, as well as excessive vesture on the rear tires over time.

Tongue Jack — A tounge jack allows the tongue to be easily lifted and lowered on and off the hitch ball. Jacks typically feature a bicycle at the base to allow the trailer to exist moved about and positioned above the hitch ball. Jacks tin can also feature a solid human foot pad to prevent the trailer from rolling.

Grommets — Look for rubber grommets anywhere wiring or brake lines pass inside or through the trailer frame. They'll forestall the lines from being chafed or cutting past the blank metal of the frame, preventing a troublesome short or loss of restriction fluid.

Lights — LED lights are considered a vast improvement over low-tech, incandascent bulbs as they offer a far longer lifespan, can be sealed from water intrusion, utilize less energy, and are, on average, far brighter than incandescent bulbs.

Load Guides — Made from either PVC pipage or padded boards, load guides help position the boat properly on the trailer, will not mark the boat'due south hull, and also serve as a visual reference of the trailer'due south rear corners when bankroll an empty trailer downward a launch ramp or into a parking space.

Load Index — Make sure your trailer tires are rated to behave the load of your fully loaded gunkhole and trailer. Await at the tire's Load Index, the concluding prepare of numbers post-obit the tire'southward size description. This number indicates the maximum weight a tire tin support. Typically ranging from most 80 (a 992 pound load capacity) to 110 (2337 pounds), make certain the cumulative total exceeds that of your load. That letter of the alphabet that follows the load alphabetize? It's the tire'southward maxiumum speed adequacy, typically between an R-S (106-112 mph) on well-nigh trailer tires.


Written past: Jeff Hemmel

Jeff Hemmel writes for boats.com, Boating, PersonalWatercraft.com, and Powersports Business. The onetime Senior Editor at Watercraft World, Jeff is a multi-time award winner as well as a 2008 inductee into the IJSBA Hall of Fame. His first volume, "The Anti-Pirate Potato Cannon...and 101 Other Things For Immature Mariners To Try, Do, & Build On the Water," received a statuary medal in the 2010 Moonbeam Children'south Book Awards.