How to trailer a boat

Learning how to trailer a boat can be intimidating. You’ll gain confidence quickly by learning the nuances of how your tow vehicle and boat trailer react separately and together.

As you practice, ask yourself the following questions:

What effect does your trailer have on your tow vehicle’s acceleration, braking and steering?
What line do the trailer’s wheels take as you round a corner?
How do the tow vehicle and trailer react going over bumps and dips in the road or to a sudden gust of wind?
Does the trailer respond quickly to changes in steering while you’re backing up?
How sharply can you turn before the trailer tongue puts a crease in your tow vehicle’s rear bumper or bodywork?

Initially, trailering a boat is anything but intuitive. With practice, however, you’ll develop a feel for all these factors, and just like driving a vehicle without a tow, towing will become intuitive.

Develop a pre-tow routine

Like a good pilot, a driver who plans to tow a boat trailer needs to know that everything is in order before starting the engine. This involves using a systematic pre-tow routine and checklist every time you hook the trailer to the hitch. The more systematically you approach this task, the less likely you’ll be to miss something.

The procedure has three stages: 1) Check the tow vehicle, 2) check the trailer and boat, and 3) connect your tow vehicle to the trailer. This takes less than 10 minutes to complete, but it can eliminate most trailer problems on the highway.

How to trailer a boat safely using a pre-tow checklist

Stage 1: Tow vehicle check

Tire treads OK
Tire pressure appropriate for towing*
Hoses checked for leaks
Fan belt tight
Battery cable connections tight
Lights and turn signals working

Stage 2: Trailer check

Transom straps tight
Outboard or outdrive up and locked
Trailer tire inflation and condition OK
Lug nuts tight
Springs and hangers OK
Winch strap or cable tight; bow against stop; bow tie-downs tight
Safety gear secured in boat

Stage 3: Tow vehicle and trailer connection

Hitch and ball sizes match
Ball tight and lubricated
Trailer set on hitch; coupler latched
Locking pin in coupler
Wheel chocks removed
Trailer and tow vehicle parallel and level
Safety chains correctly installed (crossed, with hooks aligned in proper direction)
Breakaway cable attached
Tongue jack up and locked
Electrical connection made and checked
Brakes checked
Mirrors adjusted

*Be sure tires are inflated to the pressure indicated on the doorjamb or in the owner’s manual. Don’t inflate the tires to the pressure indicated on the sidewalls: This is the tire’s maximum pressure, not the recommended pressure for your tow vehicle.

Do a complete run-through of your checklist to make sure you haven’t missed anything.

Check the brakes as soon as you begin to move the rig and before you’re in traffic. You should be able to feel the trailer brakes engage when you apply the tow vehicle’s brakes. You’ll feel a momentary light jerk followed by the tow vehicle slowing down with a little less nosedive than it does when there’s no trailer behind. This basic tow vehicle check shouldn’t take long to finish. If you find anything wrong during this check, fix it before you set out. –Bruce W. Smith from “The Complete Guide to Trailering Your Boat,” a United States Power Squadrons Guide