If it is outside of these parameters, trailer sway is a distinct-and dangerous-possibility. Tongue Weight Matters Tongue weight should always be between 10 and 15 percent of the total boat-and-trailer package (gross towing weight, or GTW, which is the GCVW minus the tow vehicle's weight). Obviously this can change, depending on factors like the boat's load and where it sits on the trailer. Tongue weight is just what it sounds like: the amount of weight bearing down on the tongue of a trailer. Accessories like weight-distributing hitches can change the capacity. Wait a sec-if hitches are measured by class, why are we using qualifiers like "about," and "up to"? Because these figures aren't as cut-and-dried as one might hope. This, however, is reserved for very large loads and should only be considered by experienced towers. Beyond that, you may need to have a "fifth wheel," which usually sits inside the bed of a monster-sized pick-up.
A Class II hitch is good for up to about 3,500 pounds, Class III goes up to 5,000 pounds, Class IV goes up to 12,000 pounds, and Class V can tow as much as 18,000 pounds.
Hitches that are Class I (commonly called "bumper hitches") aren't really appropriate for much more than a small sailing skiff, dinghy, or jon boat that weighs under 2,000 pounds. Towing Hitches: A Matter of Class Hitches are rated by class, and depending on how heavy your boat and trailer are, you may need a Class I, II, III, IV or V hitch. This includes items like extended towing mirrors, transmission coolers, and of course, the tow hitch itself. Obviously, the tow vehicle will also need a set of towing accessories (commonly called a "tow package"). So break out a calculator, add up the weight of your boat, trailer, and vehicle, and make sure the vehicle you're considering has a GCVW in excess of that figure. Every tow vehicle is going to have a stated maximum GCVW. This number is the weight of your loaded vehicle, along with the total weight of your trailer and boat. As far as weight goes, it all boils down to gross combined vehicle weight (GCVW). In a nutshell, you need to consider the weight of your rig, the type of terrain you'll be navigating, and just how important your own personal comfort is. In the video What to Look For in a Tow Vehicle, we cover all the bases and walk you through the things you need to think about before making your choice.
#Pull the pin challenge 26 how to#
An Introduction to Boat Towing If you’re starting from scratch, the first thing you need to know is how to pick out the best truck or SUV to haul your boat down the road. And we’ve filmed several videos and written many articles that will help you ramp up your trailering skills. Photo of a Ranger Tug by Neil Rabinowitz Never fear, new trailer boater-helping you understand the ins and outs of different types of boats and boating is why we’re here. There is one big challenge, though, particularly for those new to trailer boating: learning how to tow a boat in the first place.Īre you ready to launch that new trailer boat rig? If not, read on.
#Pull the pin challenge 26 full#
Plug in the lights, and run a full check to make sure they're all working.If your trailer has brakes, attach the safety line to the tow vehicle.Cross the safety chains, and attach them to the truck.Close the latch and insert the safety pin.Align the hitch and ball, then lower the trailer hitch down over the ball.Finally you can often save money by keeping a boat on a trailer. Third it's easier to keep your boat clean and prevent marine growth on the bottom from decreasing your boat's overall efficiency, performance and even lifespan. Second, launching at ramps close to different fishing spots gives you a wider variety of potential fish species to target in different habitats. First you're not stuck at one boating location every time, and instead can take your boat to new and far-flung cruising grounds to explore. Trailering your boat to and from the water has a number of advantages over leaving your boat in the water at a marina dock slip or mooring all season (or year).
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