How to Find the Right Boat Trailer for Your Boat

Select the right boat trailer for your boat.

Choosing a compatible boat trailer requires research and careful comparison to avoid a safety hazard. Selecting a boat trailer that's too small for your boat could result in a potentially dangerous situation while hauling your boat on the road. Not only does an improper boat trailer risk public safety and damage to your boat, but you could also put too much strain on your vehicle and end up with serious mechanical damage.

Instructions

1. Read the weight capacity label on your boat. Select a boat trailer with a weight capacity strong enough to support your boat. The weight capacity rating for a trailer is known as the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). Boat experts suggest the boat and gear should not exceed 85 percent of the trailer's GVWR, according to Boatus.com.

2. Check the towing capacity label for your vehicle. You can find the label on the inside portion of your open vehicle door. Add the weight of the trailer and boat together and make sure the combination does not exceed your vehicle's towing capacity. Exceeding the towing capacity could result in transmission problems.

3. Consider your boat-launching habits and needs. Boat trailers come in roller and bunk models. Select a bunk trailer if you plan to load your boat in deeper water at the boat launch. The bunk trailer allows you to float your boat over the top of the trailer for deep-water loading. The roller model allows loading in shallow water, and drive-on roller models allow you to drive your boat into the rollers on the trailer.

4. Buy a tandem-axle boat trailer if you own a large boat. Tandem-axle boat trailers handle better on the road, preventing fish-tailing and lack of control. The extra wheels on a tandem-axle trailer also provide safety in the event of a tire blowout.

5. Visit your state motor vehicle department's website to see if your state requires brakes for a boat trailer. Some states require boat trailers with a GVWR rating of 1,500 pounds or more to have brakes on all wheels. Surge and electric brakes are the two types of boat trailer brakes. Boat trailer brakes automatically activate when you brake your vehicle.

References

• Boatus.com: Boat Transport and Trailering
• American Boating Association: Boat Trailers, How to Choose the One that's Right for You