Pulling your boat down a dirt road?

[skyler0801]

I am going camping to a lake that has 25 miles of dirt road to get there... Will it harm the boat to make a trip like that? My parents pull it there wave runners, however those are no fun to me... what should i do to get the boat ready for a trip like that. I do have a custom fit cover made by tige

[Timmy!]

Your boat will be fine however you might want some mud flaps to keep the rocks from flying up and hitting the boat/trailer. Something like these:
http://www.rocktamers.com/default.asp

[skyler0801]

so should i put the tower down while going through the dirt road... I have tower speakers (bot5) they are pretty heavy

[skyler0801]

20130325_143201 (2).jpg

[kanesmith]

I dont know why you would put the tower down. It cant be any rougher than going across the lake on a rough day

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[giers]

We live 20 miles off the highway so have to pull on gravel. As Timmy said Rock Tamers are a must, but as important is to slow down. We leave our tower up but I do not have speakers. Dust in the boat is a bigger issue.
Good luck.

[skyler0801]

I don't want to spend that kind of money on larger mud flaps for a one time deal.. (family reunion) ... I don't use dirt roads otherwise.. any other ideas. my yukon has stock mud flaps and not very agressive tires. I think the cover should keep most of the dust out?

[skyler0801]

I'm trying to debate if I should just leave it home... it is a week long trip on the a very remote awesome lake. and i love to surf

[Ewok]

Depending on the weather it might get a little dusty inside even with a cover. Just bring a few extra rags to give the inside and outside a quick wipedown when you get to the lake and try like heck to get the boat dry before you head home so you have less dirt stick to it.

[Bruizza]

Bring the boat you won't regret it.

[Dandy]

It would look odd, but would be cheap and effective. Get a couple of old blankets and a roll of shrink wrap. Before getting onto the dirt, place the blankets around the front of the hull and use the shrink wrap to hold the blankets into place.

Another long term option, it would cost more but would protect always is to go to a sign shop and see if they have the 3M clear protective product that is installed on the front of cars for stone chips and have it installed around the front of the hull. I don't know if water is an issue for this product, the shop would know.

[skyler0801]

ya i planned on getting it detailed when i get back in town... thanks

[Stingreye]

I pulled my first boat down a dirt road. I would warn you that transom straps are not optional for a dirt road. I was travelling very slowly and the road actually bounced my boat and its 455 cubic inch engine a few inches where it was resting against the fender of the trailer when I got there.

I didn't have transom hooks on the boat so I got a huge strap that truckers use for their loads (I think I even got it at a Flying J) and used it to secure my boat to the trailer by running the strap 360 degrees around the boat. It kept it in place after that.

I towed without the cover and it was absolutely filthy! Wished I brought a shop vac and an inverter.

Hopefully the launch ramp isn't dirt..... I launched on a dirt ramp once and it was fine but made me nervous.

That all being said, if I had to brave a dirt road to get smooth water, I would do it every time! Sounds like an awesome spot!

[Booms]

Just slow down and cover the boat. I live off a gravel road, it is only .4 miles long to the pavement but I will only drive 15 mph or slower to keep the dust down. Dandy has a great idea with the blankets and shrink wrap for a quick and easy peace of mind. I would also take old towels with and use those to plug the tower cut outs in the cover.

[Wood]

We make two trips a year to a lake that is behind 10 miles of dirt. We use a inexpensive cover to cover our custom cover, glad wrap around the tower and take it slow. The swim deck cover works great as well as some compressed air to blow off the sea deck. The dirt road keeps the people away and the water smooth can't wait till next year.