TRAILER SPRING COMMISSIONING

It’s time to get the boat ready for launch. Did you get your trailer ready too? Let’s see how well you’ve paid attention to all of our tips and advice in past issues and on boatingmag.com, and whether you can make the grade. ÑJohn Tiger

1. To ensure your trailer tires are road-ready, you should:

A. Refill the tires with helium. B. Check tires for excessive tread wear. C. Buy whitewalls. D. Check tire sidewalls for weather checking and rot. E. B and D F. None of the above 2. You should check your trailer’s bunks or rollers as follows: A. Get brighter-colored outdoor carpet to cover the bunks. B. Put Rhino Liner on the bunk wood. C. Ensure the bunk wood is not rotten. D. Ensure the rollers rotate freely and are not excessively loose. E. C and D F. None of the above 3. Before trailering your boat to the ramp, it’s important to check the coupling/hitch attachment. These checks should include:

A. Be sure you’ve inserted the hitch pin and clip into the correct hole in the hitch-receiver tube.

B. Check the coupler latch to ensure it closes properly over the hitch ball.

C. Ensure the coupler is locked to the ball with a securing pin or lock. D. A and B E. All of the above 4. Your trailer lights flash intermittently as you drive. What’s the problem? A. Nothing, that’s normal. B. The wiring harness is chafed and only getting intermittent contact. C. The white ground wire is not connected to the trailer frame, so the only “ground” is through the coupler/hitch-ball connection. D. B and C E. All of the above

5. As you hook up to your trailer, you notice the coupler won’t latch properly on the hitch ball. What could be the problem?

A. The ball is the wrong size for the coupler.

B. The coupler latch is damaged. C. There’s dirt or other debris up inside the coupler.

D. All of the above E. None of the above 6. You leave the house for the water and hear a screeching sound from the trailer. What’s a likely cause? A. The boat fell off and is dragging on the ground. B. The trailer brakes are frozen in place and dragging on the wheel drums. C. The boat propeller is turning in the wind as you tow. D. Bystanders are squealing in delight at the sight of your boat. E. None of the above