On the Road
Again
By Ron Anlauf
So you’re looking for your
first boat, and it’s a dandy. Or you’re thinking about trading
up and getting into a new model that will deliver more comfort
and fuel efficiency. One thing’s for sure, there is plenty to
choose from. When you add up everything that’s available ( along
with all the options ), the process can be a little mind
boggling and may require some intensive thought and study. With
most of the attention being focused on the details, it’s easy
for buyers to overlook one of the most important aspects of
their perfect rig; the trailer.
It’s
easy to overlook because there really isn’t a lot of glitz
associated with a trailer, it’s just something you have to have.
Although a trailer isn’t going to help you catch more fish or
smooth out a rough ride, it will get you to where you’re going
and back again ( if you’re properly rigged ), and do it time
after time. Getting to your destination and back again is
important, and a key component to a quality experience.
According to Lance Hendrickson from ShoreLand’r Trailers; “ One
of the most important things to keep in mind when looking at a
new trailer is making sure you don’t undersize it. Try to
envision everything you might bring along and add it all up and
should include gear, batteries, a full live well and a full tank
of gas.
Ron
Anlauf explains some of the pitfalls of buying a new trailer
An overloaded trailer can cause
uneven tire wear and may even result in a bent axle and may
seriously shorten the expected life of your trailer. Another
important thing to look at is the tires, and radials are a must.
Radials pull much more smoothly and not a place to try and
scrimp. You should also look at the finish, and you really need
something that will last. The longest lasting and most durable
finish is produced by using a powder coat paint process and can
help keep your trailer looking great for years to come.”
As simple as trailers may seem
there are a few options to consider when taking a look at the
undercarriage of your “perfect” rig. One of the first is a bunk
or roller option and is more of a personal preference, although
boat manufacturers may suggest otherwise. The general consensus
is that a bunk trailer will give a boat hull better support and
reduce fatigue and wear, thus increasing the useful life of your
rig. That may be so, but a bunk trailer takes more water to
unload than a roller does, and if you plan on using any
unimproved accesses a roller trailer may be the best way to go.
A boat on a bunk trailer has to
be floated off, and there aren’t any options. If you’ve backed
in as far as you dare and haven’t floated your boat you’re out
of luck. A roller trailer on the other hand can be unloaded
anywhere, including a perfectly dry cement parking lot or ramp,
so be careful. Don’t unhook your rig until you’re positioned to
drop the boat in the water, and keep an eye on anybody trying to
give you a hand as they may not understand the ramifications of
a bow clip that has been prematurely loosened.
The trend in walleye and bass
rigs has been the move to bigger and longer boats, thus
increasing overall comfort. The problem with this trend is the
space limitations that the common garage size presents. To help
overcome at least part of the problem manufacturers have
developed models available with swing away tongues, which can
reduce the overall length of your parked rig by up to two feet.
The swing away tongue is simply
a hinge and clip built in to the forward portion of the trailer
tongue that when released allows a chunk of the trailer to be
folded back and out of the way. The hinge and clip has no
adverse effect on the performance of the trailer and can make
the difference between getting the rig you really want or one
that simply fits.
Today’s bigger and longer rigs
have special requirements, including brakes that will help get
the whole thing stopped when you really need to be stopped.
Trailers with capacities of 3,000 lbs or more legally have to
have brakes, and are always a good idea. According to
Hendrickson “Make sure the trailer you’re looking at has disc
breaks as they require the least amount of maintenance and
provide the utmost in breaking power”.
Once you’ve put it all together
and are heading home with a brand new rig you might do yourself
a favor and schedule a little time getting comfortable with
backing it up. Sooner or later you’re going to have to back up,
and doing so for the first time at the public access is probably
not the best way to go. Even if you’re adept at backing up a new
longer rig is going to have different handling characteristics
and something you’ll want to get familiar with.
If you’re a novice, it’d be a
good idea to set up a practice course in a vacant parking lot or
in my case; an open field. By setting up a couple of cones and
learning to back your rig safely between them, you’ll save
yourself some time when it comes to the real thing. When my
son’s wanted to use my prized possession for the first time I
had them set up “the course” in our pasture and practice until
they became comfortable with the whole affair.
By practicing under these
conditions you can avoid the pressure of doing so in front of a
crowd of people that are impatiently waiting and hoping for you
to get it right. If you’re learning to back up for the first
time take it slow as a trailer out of control can quickly jack
knife and may result in a bent tongue. A bent tongue won’t trail
properly, and you’ll end up with tires that wear unevenly and
prematurely meet their demise.
If you take the time to learn
how to back up a trailer, you might as well go the extra mile
and learn to do so by using your mirrors. It will take more
time, but there are going to be situations where you simply
can’t see the boat or where it’s going by looking out the back
window. It will feel a little strange at first as the trailer
will react the opposite of what you might expect, but you will
get it right if you stick with it. See you at the ramp.
Ron Anlauf
