2016 OWNERS MANUAL / 0377
• Determine the combined weight of the boat and all contents of
the boat being loaded onto the trailer. The boat’s weight is listed
in the guide to individual models section of this owner’s manual.
(The total weight of the boat and contents may not safely exceed
the available cargo load capacity listed on the trailer tongue.)
• Walk around inspection: the majority of potential roadside issues
can be eliminated by a walk-around visual inspection of the trailer.
This should be done after hitching the trailer to the tow vehicle,
and again at each fuel or rest stop.
Make A Quick Visual Check Of:
• Coupler
• Safety cables
• Emergency brake cable
• Wiring connector
• Tie-downs
• Tires
Look For:
• Any obvious fluid leaks
• Unusually hot brakes or hubs
• Damage caused by road hazards
• Low tire pressure
Make a point to pay particular attention to the right (starboard) side
of the trailer, as this is typically where most road hazard damage
occurs.
These are some brief tips for maneuvering with a trailer attached to
a tow vehicle:
Backing Up
When backing up, place your hand at the bottom of the steering
wheel. To turn left, move your hand left (rotate the wheel clockwise).
To turn right, move your hand right (rotate the wheel counterclock-
wise). Back up slowly. Because mirrors cannot provide all of the
visibility you may need when backing up, have someone outside at
the rear of the trailer to guide you while backing up, whenever possi-
ble. Use slight movements of the steering wheel to adjust direction.
Exaggerated movements will cause greater movement of the trailer.
If you have difficulty, pull forward and realign the tow vehicle and
trailer and start over.
Parking
When parking, try to avoid parking on steep grades. If possible,
have someone outside to guide you as you park. Once stopped,
but before shifting into park, have someone place blocks on the
downhill side of the trailer wheels. Apply the parking brake, shift into
park, and then remove your foot from the brake pedal. Following
this parking sequence is important to be sure your vehicle does not
become locked in park because of extra load on the transmission.
For manual transmissions, apply the parking brake and then turn
the vehicle off in either first gear when parked uphill, or reverse gear,
when parked downhill.
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