The excitement and adventure of a boating trip is something that every boater looks forward to—especially when it includes exploring new waters. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of vacation preparations, but it’s important to prepare as much for safety as you do for enjoyment.

Safety isn’t just crucial on the water but also on the road. With proper preparation, this can easily be achieved; we’re here to lend a helping hand.

In this blog, we’re going to cover how to prepare your boat for the road trip, ensure your trailer is road-ready, vehicle preparation, packing essentials, and some bonus road trip tips.

Preparing Your Boat for the Road Trip

Whenever you bring your boat to new waters, it’s crucial to thoroughly clean it. This prevents accidentally introducing invasive species into different bodies of water. Ensure all of your standard boating equipment is packed and ready to go. This includes your safety kit, life jackets, anchors, and ropes. Checking to ensure they are in good condition is a good practice that you should adopt as part of every outing on your boat, especially before heading out on a long trip.

Ensuring Your Trailer is Road-Ready

When trailering your boat long distances—or any distance—ensuring your trailer is road-ready is key to a safe drive. Investing in a spare tire and a patch kit is a great way to ensure you can get back on the road quickly and safely if anything should happen. Prior to leaving, don’t forget to check your tire pressure to reduce the risk of having to pull over.

Check your trailer’s bearing buddies. Ensure the wheel bearings are properly lubricated, and the bearing buddies are properly installed. You can watch our bearing buddy installation and greasing tutorial here.

Conducting a brake and light check prior to leaving is a key component of reducing risk on the highway.

Having a basic tool kit easily accessible while on the road will be paramount in fixing any road bumps that may arise. Items that you might consider keeping in your tool kit include:

• Multi-screwdriver
• Allen wrench
• Hammer
• Wrenches
• Pliers

For a full list of additional items you might consider adding to your tool kit, visit this blog.

Vehicle Preparations

Preparing your vehicle for trailering your boat long distances is not too different from any other road trip. Before heading out, verify that your vehicle, trailer, and boat insurance are up-to-date and will cover you during your trip.

Ensure regular vehicle maintenance has been done leading up to the trip. It is also a good idea to check the vehicle’s condition prior to heading out. This includes checking the brakes, lights, and tire pressure. These are all key components to your vehicle being able to safely tow your boat any distance.

While driving, it is also recommended to keep all of your necessary documentation within reach. Should anything happen on the road, you don’t want to be stressed trying to locate these documents. Keep them all together, in an easy-to-access area of your vehicle.

Packing Essentials

Pack for your typical weekend on the water—with maybe a few extras just to be safe! Here’s our list of boating essentials:

• Dry bags
• Sun protection (sunscreen, hats, UV-resistant clothing)
• Life jackets
• Safety kit
• Anchor
• Ropes

On the Road

While road-tripping, stops to break up the long drive are already essential, but trailering a boat makes it even more crucial! Take these opportunities to give your boat and trailer a quick look-over, ensuring that everything still looks good and safe.

Increase your road trip safety by checking the weather before leaving, and at your different pit stops. Being aware of the kind of weather you will be driving in is key to safety.

Additionally, you can protect your boat and motor with accessories like the TowBetter Rock Shield, a Motor Support, and TowBetter Auto Retractable Tie Downs.

Ready for the Road (Trip)!

Safety, both on the road and on the water, is paramount in having a successful getaway. Taking the time to thoroughly prepare for your trip means you’re less likely to forget anything. This makes for a smoother, more enjoyable trip all around.

Remember, always have a backup plan and be prepared for the unexpected!