Trailring my skip20 500 miles -questions

[ranchero]

I'm trailering my boat from N cal to SD for summer. I'm growing more conscientious about safety and doing things right at my ripening age. Also, I want to make sure I can fish when I get down there, not work on an outdrive that got damaged from the ride.

I was going to leave the kicker on- and in the down position. I trailer all the time with it like that. Main reason i selcted that bracket. I see those pvc-looking tubes on I/O rams sometimes, do i need some for trailering this far?

I was just going to leave oudrive up and maybe turn to one side, and tie the back of the boat down to the trailer. Pull over evry 2 or so hrs to inspect- that's about it.

[FishAbility]

i towed my 20 wellcraft from SD to TAHOE, man what a ride that was... tie the boat down, and do it well, buy GOOD straps, and have someone else to help with the drive. just my .02.

[@-EZ]

Long drive:
Tire pressure
Wheel bearings
Brakes
Functional lights
Strap her down good.
Ensure the kicker is locked as the concrete highways create a lot of bounce
Outriggers should be removed during transit. The stainless male inserts will eat up your gelcoat bouncing.
Any form of additional support for the outdrive is a plus. Helps relieve pressure/stress.

Good luck and enjoy the drive.

[Fishrdan]

Al, You mentioned the PVC looking tubes for the outdrive rams, good idea. I'm too cheap to pop $30 for them so I cut a peice of 2x4 that wedges up in between the drive and gimble housing, keeps the outdrive in the up position for trailering. Looks like this but a bit shorter...

[dru]

My advice is to pull the outriggers in a little



Seriously though, extra tire/rim with jack would be good to have...

[shinerunner]

Keep your grease gun handy, air up tires to max rated inflation drive 55

[rrhookup]

I towed my Farallon 25 from LA to Tahoe (approx 500 miles one way) last summer and the previous ten years towed a 20 ft Trophy to Tahoe.

Some tips that made life easier during my tow:
perform your annual trailer maintenance before the trip.....
check tire air pressure
check trailer brake lights
check truck mirrors
repack and/or r&r with new bearings
carry ample spare parts
working spare tire
extra wheel bearings
proper set of tools
wheel blocks
brake fluid
HD bottle jack
portable air compressor
spare grease
grease gun
*tie down straps are a must (bought two HD nylon webbed 10k lb rated straps w/ ratchet from Home Depot)
-tie down bow and stern to trailer with HD straps
-tie down OD to swimstep to limit vibration
-tie down bow chain with added safety strap (yep overkill I know)
On my old trophy I pulled my kicker off while towing and stowed/strapped to the cockpit on a foam pad
remove as much fuel/water to reduce towing weight
drive 55 mph max and drive in the second or first lane. It'll take you another few hours but so what....
every two-three hours stop and check all running gear
load up the Ipod with some good tunes for those long straight boring highway stretches.
take it slow and have fun.

I've had a tire that failed just as I was nearing Bishop. An easy r&r of the tire
Last year I had a bearing fail/smoked on the way down from Tahoe to Gardnerville on a Sunday. Limped along at 5 mph the last mile to a repair shop and had it replaced within three days since I didn't have spare bearings! Lesson learned - I now carry a four sets of extra bearings!

[ranchero]

thanks folks- i like the list. I'm replacing the disk brakes and actuator- and whatever lines need replacing as soon as ups drops it.

I guess I will use common sense as suggested above- tie every damn thing down- stern and bow-which is also chained and winched. Carrying all necessary tools, jack, air gauges, spare tire, greese-gun, tire iron...lots of tools, fishing gear- some spare marine engine parts and alot of fishing gear.

[Saluki]

Do some checking on roadside trailer and or tire service vehicles on the route.

Between Orange County and San Diego 760-450-8473 for a really good 24 hour tire service.

and

949-842-2897 for a really good trailer repair service.

[fishnazzi]

TRANSPORT BOATS FOR A LIVING.......PULL THE KICKER WILL RIDE REAL WELL ON THE DECK OR ANY WHERE JUST NOT ON THE TRANSOM BRACKET......CONFUSED IN SOME PICTURES YOUR OUTDRIVE IS UP SOME DOWN...........FOR TRIP UP WITH A BRACE UNDER (AGAIN OUR INTERSTATE SYSTEM WELL..................SUCKS...POTHOLES GROOVES ETC) MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE HAD THE WHEEL BEARING SERVICED THAT THE BOAT IT SELF IS READIED AS GOING INTO A STORM.........60 MPH WINDS BUMPY SEA THAT THE CONDISH JUST FROM THE ROAD NOT INCLUDING SIDE WINDS OR ANYTHING ELSE.........PS CHECK CONDITION OF WINCH STRAP,BOAT SAFTEY CHAIN,TRAILER ,SAFTEY CHAIN AND FOR SUR MAKE SURE ALL THE LIGHTS RALLY WORK!!!!

[captaindorado]

N Cal To SD is so much easer than SD to any were in Baja. The guys that posted on here know there stuff. Great info gang!!!!!!!!!!

[ronburgundy]

Maybe service the tow vehicle, make sure it's ship shape.