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818 23rd St SE

Watertown, SD 57201

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Nearest Store Watertown

818 23rd St SE

Watertown, SD 57201

View Store Details

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Get Your Boat Trailer Ready for a Safe Season

When warm-weather recreation is calling your name, it’s hard not to answer. Especially if you have a boat sitting in your driveway. But, before you hit the highway with that watercraft in tow, we’ve put together a quick boat trailer inspection checklist to help you and your family get to the lake or river safely.
Boat Trailer Inspection Checklist

Print Checklist
- Let Les Schwab Check Your Boat Trailer Tires:
  
  Depending on where and how you store your boat and trailer in the winter, your tire condition can degrade due to sun and weather exposure. Even parking in one spot too long can cause flat spots on your tires. The Les Schwab experts will look at the overall tire condition, checking for cracks around the valve stems, top-off your tire pressure, and show you how much life is left on your boat trailer tires. If you need new tires, you’ll be in the right place.
  
  Les Schwab Tip: Wondering if your boat trailer tires should be inflated to the max PSI? In most cases your boat trailer tires should be inflated to the maximum-rated pressure for that tire. You’ll find that number on the sidewall. If you’re not sure, stop by Les Schwab.
- Get Your Boat Trailer Brakes and Bearings Checked:
  
  If your boat trailer has brakes, we’ll give them a once over to help you avoid lock-ups and ensure they work when they should. In many cases, inspecting the brakes often requires bearing service.
  
  Wondering how often you should grease your boat or watercraft trailer wheel bearings? It all depends on how your trailer is stored, how much time it spends on the highway, and how often it’s in the water. If your bearings fail, it can end the summer fun. If you haven’t had this done in a while, the Les Schwab team can help you repack or replace them. Because these types of trailers spend time in and out of the water, the bearings may require more attention than those on a standard trailer.
- Don’t Forget the Spare:
  
  Even if you never use your spare, hot and cold weather can cause your spare to degrade and become unusable. It will even lose pressure over time. Our team will check the spare so that a flat tire doesn’t derail your water adventures.
- Double Check the Hitch:
  
  Ensure the hitch ball is matched with the right coupler size on the trailer and always lock the hitch with a locking pin and key. Don’t forget to utilize the safety chains or cables when you’re underway and attach an emergency stop-cable (breakaway cable) for added safety.
- Test Your Turn Indicators and Brake Lights:
  
  Make sure your tail lights, indicators, running lights (if your trailer has them), and brake lights are working.
- Raise the Engine and Pull the Drain Plug:
  
  Anytime your boat is trailered, be sure the engine/outboard is raised so the propeller or skeg doesn’t scrape. And don’t forget to pull the drain plug and put it somewhere inside the cab of your vehicle. That way, if it rains while you’re driving, you won’t have to deal with standing water in your boat. Just don’t forget to reinstall it before you get back in the water.
- Secure the Bimini:
  
  Put the top down on your boat before you hit the road. Having it open can cause damage to the fabric, frame, and possibly your boat at the anchor points.
- Inspect the Tie-Down:
  
  Triple-check the bow eye attachment and the trailer winch for a good connection. You’ll also want to look at the transom straps for safety and ensure the straps are not rubbing the top of the hull.
Les Schwab Knows Boat Trailers

Your Local Les Schwab can help you get your boat trailer ready for a whole summer full of adventures. Stop by today for a quick safety check and any necessary repairs. Remember, everything we do is backed by our industry-leading warranty that doesn’t cost you anything.

Schedule an Appointment
How to Have a Happy, Safe Summer Road Trip

So you’re hitting the road for your favorite campsite, fishing hole, theme park or beach rental. Here are 17 summer driving reminders to keep you, your passengers and fellow travelers safer on highways and byways.
- Make sure your vehicle is safe and road-ready with this checklist.
- Buckle up every time.
- Put kids 13 and younger in the back seat. No exceptions.
- Inflate tires properly. Proper inflation is important for safety and can save you up to 9 cents per gallon through better fuel efficiency.
- If you’re hauling, use a safety chain for trailers and inspect your hitch whenever you stop.
- Check blind zones before backing up. Trucks, SUVs, RVs and vans are more likely than cars to be involved in backovers.
- Remember to add clearance for trailers, campers, bike racks and roof racks. It’s easy to forget your extra height or length.
- Add following distance. A fully loaded vehicle needs more stopping time.
- Add extra following distance for motorcycles. They can stop much quicker, in shorter distances.
- Slow down if there’s a sudden cloudburst to avoid hydroplaning.
- Never leave kids or animals in an unattended car, even with windows down or A/C on.
- Lock your vehicle when exiting.
- Don’t drive distracted. Don’t text or check your phone. Check out cell phone laws by state.
- Watch for pedestrians and cyclists on the shoulder. Warm weather means there are more sharing the road.
- Before driving, don’t take medications, alcohol or drugs that will impair you.
- Pull over if you get drowsy.
- If you get stranded without a roadside assistance policy, call an on-demand roadside service.
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Do You Know How to Drive If Your Tire Goes Flat?

When a tire goes flat or completely comes apart while you’re driving at highway speed, you can catch even the most experienced driver off guard.

Here’s what to do if it happens to you, along with a checklist for preventing flats.

How Can You Prevent Flat Tires?

Avoid tire failure by following these easy tips.
1. Check tire pressure monthly, including the spare.
2. Slow down if you have to drive over a pothole or other object in the road.
3. Don’t run over curbs or other foreign objects in the roadway, and try not to hit or rub the curb when parking.
4. Inspect tires for uneven wear patterns on the tread, cracks, foreign objects, or other signs of wear or trauma.
5. Remove any stones, bits of glass or other foreign objects wedged in the tread.
6. Make sure your tire valves have caps.
7. When carrying heavy loads, you should be extra careful about proper tire pressure. Overloading and low tire pressure can cause a tire to overheat, leading to tire failure.
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