Get to the side of the road and get to work getting more weight toward the front of the boat trailer. You'll find when you reach a speed around 25-35 mph, the swaying will stop if this is a low-tongue-weight issue. So, foot off the brake and stay in your lane, and let the rig slow down. It can be tempting to brake in an effort to reduce speed, but that can make your troubles all the worse as will trying to compensate for the swaying by turning the wheel. It's a frightening experience and the only way to remedy the problem is to slow down gradually while turning the wheel as little as possible. However, sometimes a shift in the load, gust of wind, fast-passing truck, bump in the road, or slight but sudden jerk of the wheel or tap of the brake can cause the trailer to sway or "fishtail" from side to side. Once you've determined your tongue weight and distributed the weight of your boat and load properly, and given the rig a road test, fishtailing should not occur. If the wind is really howling, you should consider pulling over at the next rest stop and tucking your rig among those of veteran truckers doing the same until the weather moderates. Unless you are ready for the sudden shifts, with both hands on the wheel and prepared to compensate by steering a bit left then a bit right during the passing process, it can be a startling event. When passed by a big truck on the left, first your trailer and then your tow vehicle may be pushed to the right by the vehicle's "bow wave." Once the truck passes, your rig may be sucked back to the left by the low-pressure zone that follows the vehicle. Large vehicles develop a wave of high-pressure air in front of them and a low-pressure area behind as they speed down the highway. Whether from an air wave created by a passing tractor trailer or a blow from Mother Nature, your rig's extended profile is larger and therefore affected more by any sudden shift in the wind. Wind is another factor that influences a towing rig far more than a vehicle alone. My advice: Don't pass unless the car in front of you is really going that slow. It's going to take you much longer to get up to passing speed, and you'll require more space ahead of the vehicle you are passing to safely return to the cruising lane - and more distance to slow down if needed during the maneuver. Passing also requires factoring-in the weight and length of your vehicle-and-trailer combo. Don't cut your steering wheel until your vehicle's rear wheels have passed the inside curb. When approaching a turn, position your tow vehicle on the outside of the lane to allow the rig to execute a wide turn. Because your trailer’s wheels are drawn closer to the inside of a turn than the wheels of your tow vehicle during the maneuver, the trailer's tires will hit or ride up over curbs - or worse - unless you compensate for the extended load by taking the turn wider from the start. Your extended two-piece rig will not corner as sharply as does the vehicle alone. Turning with a boat trailer in tow is different, too. When it comes time to slow for a turn, or stop for a traffic light, toll booth, or traffic, you need to have given yourself enough room ahead to do so without excessive, last-moment braking. That means giving yourself added space when accelerating to pull out into traffic or pass another vehicle, as well as added distance between your vehicle and one ahead of you when underway. That's why one of the most important considerations to keep in mind while towing a boat is that it will take you longer to accelerate and longer to come to a stop. Know Your DistanceĮven if the trailer is equipped with surge or electric brakes, stopping distances will likely be far longer and you will need to factor in how far it takes to slow or stop your rig on-the-road. The weight factor also contributes to the second difference you will note when towing a trailer: how much harder it is to slow the rig or bring it to a stop. The added weight of the trailered boat makes the rig heavier and therefore harder to get up to speed. The first difference you may notice when towing a boat trailer is how much longer it takes you to accelerate when compared to driving the same vehicle without a load in tow. The extra weight, length, and axle or two combine to make your rig a bigger threat to other drivers, and it's important that you recognize your limitations when towing the family boat. If you've double checked everything, and given the rig a "sea trial" run around the neighborhood and a leg on the highway at freeway speeds, you're clear to take to the road.īut there, you have additional responsibilities as you share the highway with fellow travelers. Hitting the highway with a boat trailer that has been properly matched with and secured to the vehicle goes a long way toward assuring a trouble-free trip (see video checklist details).
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