Fastest Ways to Destroy Your Boat Trailer

Are you beating up your boat trailer? Americans can be tough on their toys. While it's easy to turn a blind eye to maintenance needs, ignoring wear and tear will ultimately immobilize your boat and put an end to fun on the waves. Give your trailer a little TLC, avoiding the hassles of unnecessary boat trailer repair by avoiding these destructive habits.

5 Ways You’re Destroying Your Boat Trailer

1. Using the wrong trailer for the job.
   While a smaller, cheaper trailer can be tempting, using the wrong sized trailer for your boat increases the likelihood of premature wear and accidents.
   
   
2. Skipping the post-excursion cleaning.
   Saltwater, sand, and debris can corrode your boat trailer, making it essential to wash down your trailer after every outing. Rollers and runners can stick, steel can rust, and aluminum crack with neglect. Wash your trailer and check it for wear regularly, right after launching your boat, for an unencumbered view of all components.
   
   
3. Toting your boat on worn tires.
   Tires are one of the top reasons for mobile trailer repair calls. Toting a trailer on cracked or bald tires, with uneven tread, improper pressure, or bulging sidewalls is dangerous, and can lead to a blowout. It only takes a few minutes to verify tires are inflated to manufacturer specifications.
   
   
4. Neglecting your wheel bearings.
   Operating on worn, hot wheel bearings can rob your boat trailer of years of life. Your trailer wheel bearings should be checked annually for heat damage and wear. When in doubt, take your trailer into our shop for trailer bearing repair and maintenance. We’ll make quick work of replacing or repacking wheel bearings, so you don’t get stuck roadside.
   
   
5. Bouncing around on a worn suspension.
   Rusted or worn leaf springs and suspension components create a harder ride. As you bang along down pothole-ridden roads, this takes an increasingly harsh toll on your trailer, and the boat resting atop it.
   
   

Taking Care of Your Trailer Doesn’t Have to Be a Hassle

We know your busy and the last thing you want to do is spend your free time fumbling through trailer maintenance. That’s why the Ainsworth trailer repair shop offers fast, affordable trailer repairs. Our "express lanes" ensure maintenance and repair work is performed in hours - not days - so you can get back to enjoying your precious time off.

Contact Ainsworth Trailer Repair for a trustworthy repair maintenance and estimate today.

This article was previously published at: http://www.trailerrepairdenver.com/boat-trailer-repair/fastest-ways-destroy-boat-trailer/

Top Causes for Boat Trailer Breakdowns

How likely is it that a boat trailer breakdown could leave you roadside? After a spring like we’ve had this year, everyone is itching to get out on the water this summer. Fortunately, some may not make it to their marine escape. Every year, our  boat trailer repair service professionals handle hundreds of calls, responding to roadside breakdown issues. Most of the top offenders could have been avoided with a quick visual inspection and routine maintenance care. What are the most common issues that could leave you stuck roadside on a busy highway?

Watch Out for these Common Boat Trailer Issues

●       Tire troubles
Tire issues cause the vast majority of roadside issues we see at Ainsworth. Underinflated tires won’t make it far, running hot and wearing down quickly, resulting in blowouts. The pros at our trailer repair shop know a  quick check with a tire gauge is an easy way to avoid low tire pressure troubles. Tires that have sat all winter are also a common issue, and more likely to blow than the tires on a frequently used trailer. Exposure to the elements destroys tires. Those with cracks and dry rot should be rapidly replaced. A spare tire is also essential, helping you make it to your destination and avoid a costly flatbed tow.

●       Wheel bearing and hub issues
The need for repacking/replacing wheel bearings depends on trailer use. To avoid the need for trailer bearing repair, check them at the start of each season. Bearings that are hot to the touch after driving several miles are on the verge of failure. Left unattended, they can get so hot they melt the hub. Hot bearings also cause cold water to be drawn into bearings, particularly those lacking grease. Though tempting to procrastinate, bearing maintenance is more easily attended in a garage or shop than on the side of the road, so addressing this in advance is a wise move.

●       Axle problems
Boat trailers are infamous for rusty axles and U-bolts. It is essential to check your boat trailer for rusty components each time you use it. After you’ve launched, when the entire trailer is visible, is a prime opportunity. Trailer axle repair is much easier to manage than accident damage. All it takes is a pothole hit at just the wrong angle to break a rusty axle, send your trailer out of control, and cause an accident.

●       Tow vehicle breakdown
Failure to maintain tow vehicles is another common cause of roadside breakdowns. Overheating in hot weather is especially common. Check your oil and coolant levels prior to departure, examining hoses for softness and bulging. Most importantly, know surpass the tow limits of your vehicle, keeping to 85% of rated capacity.

Get Back on the Road Fast

Whether you need mobile trailer repair services, or in-shop preventive maintenance, our trailer repair professionals can get you back on the road fast, providing fast, quality repairs in hours, not days. Our A+ BBB rated services are trusted by drivers nationwide, from local boating hobbyists to experienced fleet managers.

Don’t let neglected trailer maintenance ruin a day on the water. Get fast, affordable maintenance and repair. Contact Ainsworth Trailer Repair to schedule service in one of our trailer repair “express lanes” today.

This article was previously published at: http://www.trailerrepairdenver.com/boat-trailer-repair/top-causes-boat-trailer-breakdowns/

Essential Tips for Towing Your Boat

Are you heading out on your maiden boating voyage? You may feel more than ready for this adventure, but towing your boat could come as a surprise. Whether you’re carrying your craft with a sports car or diesel pickup, hauling a boat will dramatically change your tow vehicle’s handling. Fortunately, with a little knowledge, you can avoid incidents that lead to vehicle, vessel, and boat trailer repair.

8 Tips for Towing Your Boat Safely

1. Distribute vessel weight evenly on your boat trailer to ensure balance.
   A balanced load offers better handling. Be sure to distribute the weight evenly, both side to side and front to rear. Don’t forget to consider equipment stored on your boat which could affect balance as well,  such as fuel, water, and cargo.
   
   
2. Don’t overload the trailer hitch.
   Your tow vehicle and trailer should both be nearly parallel to the ground. This geometry will ensure you are not overloading the hitch. To verify, check tongue weight, ensuring it bears only about 10% of overall trailer weight. For instance, if both boat and trailer weight 6,000 pounds, tongue weight should be approximately 600 pounds.
   
   
3. Always secure your boat.
   Your boat should always be secured tightly to your trailer. Use ratchet straps, tightening firmly with the winch strap attached to the bow eye.
   
   
4. Perform a walk-around inspection before leaving.
   You’d be surprised how easily a strap can come lose in transit. A popular rule of thumb for boat trailer safety suggests stopping to check after 1, 10, and 100 miles of driving.
   
   
5. Verify proper trailer light function.
   Ensure trailer lights are working before beginning your journey, using them even in daylight hours for added visibility.
   
   
6. Always carry a spare.
   Don’t leave home without a spare that fits your trailer, a lug wrench that fits your wheels, a tire gauge, and a grease gun for attending to boat trailer wheel bearings. These essential tools can help you avoid the need for mobile trailer repair.
   
   
7. When towing, allow extra time for stopping.
   Your boat adds quite a bit of overall weight, requiring a considerably longer braking distance. To ensure safety and avoid accidents, allow ample time for stopping. Pay close attention to the road and surrounding traffic, avoiding sudden stops, starts, and turns that could impact stability.
   
   
8. When going downhill, use low gear.
   Using a low gear when descending a hill helps control your speed without overheating your brakes.
   
   

Don’t get carried away by a wave of excitement. Avoid boat trailer repairs with proper planning. Get where you’re going safely with the help of the Denver trailer repair experts at Ainsworth Trailer Repair today.

This article was previously published at: http://www.trailerrepairdenver.com/essential-tips-towing-boat/