TRAILER VALET RVR

Jockeying a boat trailer around on the tail of a tow vehicle might be second nature for many boaters, but there are occasions when things get dicey, even for a veteran. Take, for example, backing down a narrow driveway with walls on each side that limit the swing of tow vehicle’s front end.

This is where the new Trailer Valet RVR series came in handy during our test. The compact, self-motorized and remotely controlled trailer bot features heavy-duty caterpillar tread for traction on asphalt, concrete, gravel, grass and dirt. A planetary gear motor offers plenty of lowend grunt.

A changeable tow ball on a pedestal secures to the trailer coupler. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery gives you 30 minutes of run time, more than enough to maneuver your trailer in or out of a tight spot or around a difficult corner. The remote gives you control from up to 40 feet away.

We tested the RVR5 ($3,400, trailervalet.com), which has a rating of 5,500 pounds, and it worked exceedingly well in moving our tandem-axle trailer with a 5,000-pound gross vehicle weight. There’s also the RVR3 ($2,100) with a 3,500-pound capacity and a bracket that attaches the unit to the side of the trailer, and the RVR9 ($4,100) with a 9,000-pound capacity. To learn more, visit trailervalet .com.