Boat Trailers serve two purposes for boat owners. The primary use, or the function that the trailer spends most of its time doing, is serving as a storage facility for the boat when out of water. The secondary use, which serves very little time by comparison, is to transport the boat to the water. When buying a trailer it is important to select one that will perform both of these functions well.
The following things should be considered when buying a boat trailer:
- Don't overload it: make sure your trailer has a load capacity greater than or equal to the weight of your boat. Also make sure that your car has the power to pull the combined weight of the boat and the trailer. This information should be on the trailer and in your car and boat manuals.
- Trailer Wheels: The bigger the tires the less distance they will have to rotate. There won't be as much heat or tread wear on the tires, and you'll also get more life out of your wheel bearings. Just make sure the trailer is still horizontal when connected otherwise your load will be uneven and the tires will wear faster. The safest option is to buy a trailer with the same size tyres as your car.
- Drive on Trailers: Trailers that can be lowered deep into the water will make loading and unloading the boat a lot easier. You will only have to winch the boat up a few inches, as opposed to up an entire trailer which doesn't have this capability.
- Water Type: If you're going to be launching mostly into salt or fresh water then you are going to need a trailer specifically designed for that type of water.
- Rust: Most boat trailers are weatherised and protected from rust. If you are in doubt however, it would never hurt to have it rust coated. You want to protect your boat as much as you can. The only thing between your boat and the ground is your trailer. So, it is essential you take good care of your boat trailer too.
- Spare Tyre: Better to be safe than sorry.
