Now that we’ve covered the basics for towing Lowe boats, there are a few additional things you need to know to make sure all your trailering experiences are good ones. First off, remember that performing regular maintenance on your trailer is critical to make sure everything keeps rolling smoothly down the road. If you’re not already a trailer maintenance sharpie, be sure to check out our Maintenance for Boat Trailers blog. And if you launch your boat in saltwater remember to always give it a thorough rinse from the garden hose, afterwards.
As a responsible trailer boat owner it’s also important to be aware of — and beware of — invasive species. Species as varied as zebra mussels, mitten crabs, and hydrilla plants can attach themselves to your boat and/or trailer, and boaters launching in different bodies of water are one of the major ways these invaders can spread. To do your part, when you pull your boat at the end of the day be sure to fully drain all the compartments and remove any visible plant materials that may be stuck on the trailer or sitting in the livewell. When you get home give the boat and trailer a thorough wash-down, then let it dry for several days before launching in a different body of water, if possible.
Finally, remember good boat ramp etiquette, which will help everyone get along and make sure your day goes smoothly. Prep for launch away from the ramp so other trailer boaters can use it while you load your gear and run through the pre-launch checklist; as soon as the boat’s in the water move your truck and trailer out of the way and if possible, move the boat to the far side of the pier so someone else can launch; when you return to the ramp at the end of the day if it has a courtesy dock (a second dock next to the ramp for loading and unloading passengers) use it to drop off the driver of the tow vehicle; and move your rig off the ramp before prepping for the ride home.
With a boat on a trailer your horizons just became unlimited. And if you keep all these trailering tips and tidbits in mind, every time you hitch that trailer to your tow vehicle you know you’ll be in for a great day of fun on the water.