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I took a 5000 mile round trip towing. Before starting to tow jack up each wheel and spin it, check for smooth bearing operation and check play in the bearings. Assuming the boat has surge brakes you can test the brakes before towing. With a wheel jacked up put your receiver ball into the boat trailer hitch. Most receivers are 10-12 inches long and give you the leverage to test your boat surge brakes. Have someone push down on the receiver actuating the trailer brake. The wheel brake should smoothly lock as the pressure is applied. One person spin the wheel the other apply the brakes. If there is air in the brakes you will feel the spongy pressure as you push the receiver down. If you are able to push it all the way down without hard resistance your trailer brakes are not working.
You can bleed the system quickly this same way with two people if needed. It seems trailers with quick release swing away tongues get air in the system easily.
Check your air pressures in all of your tires, Tow rig, boat trailer and spares. Tires low on air will heat up and blow out.
Every time you stop for any reason make it a habit to walk around the rig and touch all of your tires. You will feel a temp change if any tire is heating up and find trouble before it strands you.
On my return home one tire started running warm, I had picked up a slow leak. We found if we stopped every 3 hours and added air to this one tire it stayed cool as the rest of my tires. We opted to finish the trip this way and fix it at home. Wish we had investigated sooner because the problem turned out to be a loose valve stem. A minor and easy fix if I had just checked. But we did get home safe adding air every 3 hours.
Travel safe and enjoy the new toy.
You can bleed the system quickly this same way with two people if needed. It seems trailers with quick release swing away tongues get air in the system easily.
Check your air pressures in all of your tires, Tow rig, boat trailer and spares. Tires low on air will heat up and blow out.
Every time you stop for any reason make it a habit to walk around the rig and touch all of your tires. You will feel a temp change if any tire is heating up and find trouble before it strands you.
On my return home one tire started running warm, I had picked up a slow leak. We found if we stopped every 3 hours and added air to this one tire it stayed cool as the rest of my tires. We opted to finish the trip this way and fix it at home. Wish we had investigated sooner because the problem turned out to be a loose valve stem. A minor and easy fix if I had just checked. But we did get home safe adding air every 3 hours.
Travel safe and enjoy the new toy.
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