American Bass Anglers, Inc. Draw Tournament Circuit, Virginia Districts
Trailer Care
Any trip we take with our boat usually involves lots of planning, whether it is a short trip to the local lake or a cross country excursion. We study all we can find on the lakes, track fishing reports, order maps, talk to friends that might have fished the lake and do hours of homework. We order all the "right stuff" from "1-800-more tackle". Our wives are convinced we are obsessed and our credit card balance might attest to that. The boat is ready, and the reels are cleaned and lubed and re-spooled. Come on departure time!
All the right tackle and the best-kept boat are great, but have you paid any attention to that trailer lately? Hopefully these few tips will make for an enjoyable trip.
I can't help but reflect back to a championship we had on the Hudson River. Three friends of mine traveled together to that tournament. They blew out a bearing and destroyed a trailer tire, for which they had no spare, and that was just on the trip to New York. Needless to say they missed one day of practice getting there and had the added "on the road" expenses that gave the whole trip a bad taste.
The boat is the business end of the package, but the trailer is vital to your success. A little preventive maintenance beforehand can make a huge difference in how enjoyable your trip is.
Start with the general condition of the trailer. Is there any rust that needs attention? Rust weakens the frame and road vibration aggravates the weakened areas. One of the best preventive measures comes when you buy the trailer. If given the option, buy a channel frame trailer. Tube steel frames are offered by many manufacturers, but they hold water inside the frame and that leads to premature rusting.
Move on to the electrical. Are all your lights working properly? There's no need to get stopped by law enforcement for faulty lighting. Replace bad lights before you set out. If the lights are dim or sporadic, the problem is usually a short or a bad connection, possibly a break in the wiring. These occur in many cases where the wire passes through the frame to get to the light. The most common cause of light problems is corrosion at the ground connection.
Bearings are the one major failure that can really ruin your day while on the road. Do you carry a spare set? Could you replace them if necessary? I carry a spare set with me if for no other reason than to have the parts available for whichever mechanic I ask to do the work. Check your hubs for excess heat early in the trip and at each fuel stop. What about the brakes, are they working? You shouldn't see any corrosion on the discs, if you do, then something is not working correctly. Have you checked the fluid level in your trailer brake system? What about the springs? If they appear to hang at an angle below the axle, you might need to have the bushings checked. On the road, a broken spring or fastener is as bad as burning up a bearing, it can take days to get it fixed.
The final check is your tires. Check all of them for pressure and tread condition. It might be safer to move that worn tire to the spare before the trip. Check for lug nut tightness. They tend to loosen, especially with aluminum wheels.
Just a minimum of time spent checking the trailer can make the world of difference on your trip. By doing these preventive steps, you can get to and from your destination trouble free - See you there!
