Trailering Checklist

Here's a quick trailering checklist:

• Insert hitch into receiver and cotter pin it in place
• Lower the trailer onto the hitch ball
• Close the hitch latch 
• Lock the hitch latch with a cotter pin
• Raise trailer tongue jack (the swivel wheel) and secure it in place
• Connect safety cables or chains (from trailer to truck)
• Connect the emergency brake cable
• Connect the lights
• Check that the winch strap is tight
• Check that the boat safety chain is in place (boat to trailer)

Now walk around the boat and check the following:

• Turn the vehicle lights on and make sure all the trailer lights work.
• Rear tie downs secure (boat to trailer).  Use one tie down on each rear corner.
• Kick tires (a soft tire is flat)
• Boat cover is secure 
• Boat doors are shut
• Bimini is down and in the radar (trailering) position
• Check Bimini boot is zipped shut
• Ladder is secure
• Lower motor all the way down (put transom saver in place if you use one)
• Double check all the hitch connections:
• Latch is shut 
• Latch is cotter pinned
• Safety cables/chains are connected to tow vehicle
• Brake cable connected to tow vehicle
• Lights hooked up

 If you need mirror extensions on your tow vehicle, attach those before you leave.

Whenever you pull over, it's good to feel each hub on your trailer.  They will be hot, but if they are so hot they burn your hand, something is wrong.  A good rule of thumb is to compare all the hubs with each other.  If they are all approximately the same temperature, all should be fine (I mean, what are the odds?).  If one is hotter than the others, you may have a problem brewing with that hub.  

If you ever see ANY grease on your wheel, this is VERY bad.  You should never have any grease on your wheel.  If you do, some is getting out of a hub that normally should be waterproof.  If grease is getting out, water is getting in at the boat ramp.  Your hub will be shot soon if not already.