Trailer Tie Downs

[cjromero77]

I was wondering if there are specific tie downs for securing the boat to the trailer. Right now, all I have is the winch in the front. Nothing to tie the boat down in the rear in case the winch gives. Not that it will, but I've had a few problems and I don't care for the unexpected to happen.

Chris

[emily]

I was under the impression that rear tie down straps were kind of used for a long haul. I don't use them cause my ramp is just around the corner from my dock, but maybe if I hit the hwy I'd think twice.
just my opinion.

[tigeone]

Ya,get them

Well if you are going on short trips ,if you have a heavy boat it`s not that big of a deal.If you live in an area where you go over a lot of railroad crossings it would be a good idea to get them.Go to a boat shop and get them,they make some really nice ones.

[jciscott]

tie downs

I added a short chain with a BIG snap hook on the front of the trailer. When I get the winch snug, I snap on the safety chain. This saved me once when the winch let go pulling out of the ramp.
Judging by how hard it is to get the boat off the trailer if it is not in the water far enough during launching, I have never worried about it falling off the dry trailer, but the critical point is when the trailer is moving and the boar is still floating ....

I have not messed with rear tie downs since my 16 foot Bayliner, 3 boats ago.....

[delongheavyhaul]

my opinion

just my opinion, the more ways you tie your load down, the better off you will be! i have the strap on the front, and always have one on each side in the back. my trailer has tie downs attached to it that retract. only takes 2 seconds to put them on. the safer the better!

[NICKYPOO]

I always use tie downs. It takes 2 seconds to do and its the right thing to do. I've had friends who have never used tie downs and have never had a problem. As for me though, the time it takes to put them on / take them off is well worth the piece of mind. You never know when you might have to jump a river crossing with your truck and boat.

[joe8395]

I think If a 4000#+ boat finds its way off a dry trailer there are bigger issues to be worried about and those nylon straps aren't really going to do anything to keep your boat in place.

But your right...safety first.

[raythompson]

I have towed a boat for 21 years thousands of miles and have never once used trailer tie-downs and have never had a problem. They used to be required with boats that did not use drive on trailers. They basically kept the boat from shifting sideways on the trailer. With drive-on trailers, especially ones that are custom fitted to the boat, there is no need to tie the boat on the trailer.

I would argue that the only reason to have a front strap is to pull the boat out of the water without it slipping off the trailer. Once out of the water the friction between the hull and the supports is more than enough to keep the boat on the trailer. Try moving the boat by hand on the trailer. Even with several people it is very difficult.

If you were to exert enough force on the boat to dislodge it from the trailer then you have bigger problems. You are probably going to upset your vehicle anyway. I would rather the boat go it's own way and reduce the mass that is going to be pushing my vehicle all over the place.

Bounce a boat hard enough on a trailer to lift the boat and have it shift on the trailer and you are probably looking at some significant damage to the suspension system on the trailer.

Yes, it certainly does not hurt to use tie-downs. But they are not necessary. Modern trailers are just too well designed.

[Tequilasun]

I just talked the Missouri Hi-Po and they said boats on our roads need to have 2 tie downs, with the winch being one. But highly suggested that both transom ties were on the boat if you ever got pulled over *hint *hint


I have heard that this was the law in MO, before, just wanted to check. Might fall under the gray area of "unsecured load" in your state.

I don't use mine very often though..guess I'll start

[raythompson]

Originally posted by draginass
I have heard that this was the law in MO, before, just wanted to check. Might fall under the gray area of "unsecured load" in your state.

It varies by state. In TN you do not have to have a license on your trailer, but your lights on the trailer have to work. I did not have tie-downs when I was in Texas as they were not required and TN is the same way.

I would check with your state. It would be difficult to define tie-downs for a boat. Is it a rope over the top, a strap in the back and front, what size strap, etc.

I seriously doubt that any trooper would pull you over for an unsecured load unless your boat was really ****-eyed on the trailer. Remember also that the trailer guides act as a security to keep the boat on the trailer and may qualify as securing the load.

[Tequilasun]

I completely agree. My thoughts were that if they pulled you over for something else, they might tack that on...as they are sometimes known to do.

Generally when I disagree with their diagnosis of my suppposed traffic infraction

[rgoranson]

Trailer Tie Down?

I thought it was interesting that most of the people on this post do not use tie downs. On this site, there was a poll that said 61% of the respondents use tie downs. I would like to use tie downs for longer trips, but my boat has the tie down hooks above the swim deck. I don't know how to tie the boat down with this setup. If anyone has any pictures of their tie downs on their boat, I would appreciate it. Going around the swim deck wouldn't secure it properly. Just curious how others tie to the trailer.

[TeamAllen]

I don't have any pictures, but they go in the space between the swim step and the hull.

[yllis]

I have been reading this post and wondering to myself about a couple of things. I agree completely with safety first, in fact in WA state, we have to have not only the previously mentioned safety chain at the front but straps on the back. We always haul no matter how far, with the safety straps attached securely, even if it were not the law.

99.9% of the time, the straps are never needed much like insurance. But the one time we need them, it would be best to have them on. I think many people would be surprised how much a boat can move on a trailer just during normal driving.

The example of pulling the boat up the lauch where the safety chain caught the boat from falling off when the winch malfunctioned. If the winch goes out while driving (stranger things have happened) it would not take much to slide the boat off and onto the asphault.

Or let's say you have to swerve to miss something in the roadway which flew out of another vehicle (unsecure load). The forces on the trailer could easily be enough to move the trailer. Gravity and friction will only work to a certain point.

I think when you look at all of the reasons why we DONT strap our boat down it is simply rationalizing risky behavior. Just because nothing has happened to us doesn't justify this rationalilzation.

One last thougth, do you wear your seatbelt?

My 2 cents

Yllis

[delongheavyhaul]

i have the front strap, the safety chain, and on the back 2 tie downs. my dealer told me to connect them underneath the platform. where the supports for the platform mount to the boat. i personally did not think that would be best, but my dealer assured me they are strong enough. i have hit some pretty big bumps, and so far so good.