Boat Trailer Accessories Owners Wish They'd Added Before the First Launch
Essential Tips
- Prioritize guides that keep the boat centered: Choose upright loading guides or carpeted guide boards that rise above the fenders so you can see them in your mirrors even in low light. They should be tall enough to stay visible in choppy water and sturdy enough to resist bending when the hull rubs against them.
- Invest in secure tie downs and safety chains: Look for transom straps and bow straps with strong hardware and easy to operate buckles so you can cinch the boat snugly without fuss. Pair them with properly rated safety chains and hooks, and check the working load ratings instead of only the stated maximum.
- Upgrade to better lighting for visibility: Opt for sealed LED trailer lights and extra marker lights along the frame so the trailer outline is obvious in rain and at night. Add reflective tape along the sides and rear so other drivers can see your rig clearly from different angles.
- Choose jacks and wheel chocks for stable parking: A quality tongue jack with a wide wheel or foot plate makes hitching and unhitching smoother on soft ground. Combine it with solid wheel chocks, not small blocks, so the trailer stays put on slight slopes while you load gear or prep the boat.
- Utilize locks and storage that simplify ramp days: Use coupler locks, hitch pin locks, and spare tire locks to deter unwanted tampering when your rig is unattended. Add a weather resistant trailer mounted storage box for straps, tools, and spare bulbs so every launch day essential lives on the trailer, not scattered in the truck.
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