Your Boat Trailer Don't Forget It
By Adam Lenk, Thu Dec 8th

Anglers love their boats. In the fall and all winter long theycan be found in the garage waxing, buffing and maintaining theirbeauties in anticipation of a break in the weather. But whilemost boaters take the time to ensure that their crafts are inproper working order, many fail to pay attention to a vitalpiece of equipment: the boat trailer.

It is estimated that nine out of every 10 trailer malfunctionsand accidents are the result of neglect and inadequatepreventative trailer maintenance. It's not that people don'tcare whether or not their trailers are in working order; it'sjust that boat trailers are not that glamorous, and when putnext to the boat itself, they often take a backseat on themaintenance schedule.

The truth is that taking proper care of your boat trailer reallydoes not take a whole lot of time and attention. And taking aslittle as a few minutes each time you get ready to hit the roadcan save you from disaster. Just think about it this way, a boattrailer is the only thing between your precious boat and theroad. Shouldn't you take a few extra minutes to make sure yourboat is safe?

Here's what to check for:

Wheels and Suspension. Before taking off, make sure to checkyour tire pressure and that of the spare tire. Check the lugnuts to make sure they're tight. Visually inspect the suspensionundercarriage for signs of rust, pitting, or cracking. If yousee a problem, get it fixed right away or you may find your boatkissing the road.

Brakes. If your trailer is equipped with electronic trailerbrakes, make sure that they are working properly.

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When haulingheavier boats, your tow vehicle's brakes may not be enough tostop your boat.

Lights. Always keep a replacement supply of boat lights on handso that you can replace them during your pre-trip inspection ifthey are found to be not working. While a trailer light may notcost you your boat or your life, it will cost you money in finesif you are caught.

Transom Savers. Winch Straps and Transom Tie Downs. Alwayscheck these straps for signs of fraying or damage. Having all ofthese harnesses in proper working order can save your boat fromsustaining unnecessary shock during transport. This shock canlead to structural damage.

Wheel Bearings. Bearings need to be inspected and greasedregularly. Doing so can help you avoid trailer-relatedmalfunctions and allow for an easier tow.

Bunks and Rollers. Visually inspect the bunk and roller forscratching and gashing. Check the carpeting for tears and patchor replace when necessary. Also you must grease the rollersoccasionally to ensure smooth movement.

As you can see it does not take a great deal of time to give alittle bit of extra attention to your boat trailer. And doing socan save you a great deal of money, hassles and heartache in theend. Just finding one of these problems and fixing it early cankeep you from disaster and just may even save your boat.

In addition to keeping your boat safe, a trailer in properworking order also keeps other travelers safe. And that is thenumber one reason why you should not forget to inspect your boattrailer before each and every trip.

About the author:By Adam Lenk

For more information vivit http://www.boatingproshop.com