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THE BEST
CLAIM SERVICEIN THE
INDUSTRY!
If you’re one of the many
millions of boaters who get to
the water via trailering, this
quiz is for you. How well do
you know your boat trailer
and trailering safety? It’s time
to get that rig on the road, so
here goes. —John Tiger
(Answers on page 16)
TRAILERING SAFETY
PHOTO: COURTESY RANGER BOATS
1. Your vehicle’s trailer
hitch should be capable
of towing:
A. Another vehicle.
B. Gross trailer weight
(GTW) exceeding
the total weight of
your boat, engine,
trailer and gear
combined.
C. Another buddy’s
trailer out of the
ditch.
D. Tongue weight (TW)
of approximately
10 percent of the
total GTW of your
towed load.
E. All of the above.
F. B and D.
2. What are the advan-
tages and disadvantages
of roller hull supports
versus bunks found on
boat trailers today?
A. Rollers tend to
make it easier to
launch the boat
from shallow and
otherwise difficult
launch ramps.
B. Bunks provide
more consistent
support because
they cover a larger
area of the hull.
C. Bunks can scratch
the hull, especially
if the carpet on
them becomes
loaded with sand
from launching.
D. Rollers can fail,
thereby causing a
danger of damag-
ing the hull if the
roller comes off its
spindle.
E. All of the above are
true.
F. Only A and B are
true.
- Proper boat tie-downs
should:
A. Be used only
when towing long
distances.
B. Connect the tran-
som eyes to the
trailer tie-down
eyes, or another
suitable strong
attachment point.
C. Be installed on
every trip, regard-
less of distance.
D. Be checked for
tightness at every
fuel and rest stop.
E. B, C and D.
F. A, B and D. - A trailer fishtailing at
speed could be caused by:
A. Tongue weight too
light for the towed
load.
B. Tongue weight
too heavy for the
towed load.
C. Improper loading
of the boat on the
trailer, causing
poor weight
balance and load
distribution.
D. A and C.
E. None of the above.
5. Trailer tires should be:
A. Checked for age
and weather crack-
ing on sidewalls
and uneven wear
on tread.
B. Checked once per
season.
C. Filled to recom-
mended air pres-
sure and checked
frequently during
your trip.
D. Checked often
during your trip for
overheating, using
your hand as a
gauge.
E. All of the above.
F. A, C and D.
Bonus: When stopping
for fuel during a trip, you
should:
A. Check tires and
wheel bearings for
overheating, using
your hand as a
gauge.
B. Check trailer
lights for proper
operation.
C. Check tie-downs
and tighten if nec-
essary; check load
for shifting.
D. Check winch strap,
emergency chain,
safety chains and
coupler integrity.
E. Park in front of both
fuel pumps to block
others from fueling
up behind you.
F. A, B, C and D.