Trailer Cover

[mike1trim]

Just bought my first boat.
Do you tow your trailer with the cover on or off?

i thought that the guy i bought it from said to tow it with the cover off.

Thanks for the help

 

[barbosam]

Re: Trailer Cover

Its usually best to tow with it off. Covers can tear pretty easily with the wind and can even cause some damage to the boat as it rubs against the boat while shaking in the wind. There are covers rated for trailering but they are not immune to these problems and are very expensive. Its also good to let the boat air out and dry off a little with the cover off on your way back.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Trailer Cover

If it's not raining, I generally try to tow with it off. That said, there are trailerable covers and mooring covers. Then with in trailerable covers, there are all kinds of quality levels. Mine is a fitted custom cover, reinforced in all the right places, and doesn't flap much at all when on the road. Still, I feel better with it off if possible.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Trailer Cover

FWIW, My wife and I at times take the boat on camping/fishing trips in which we load up the boat with bulky gear. Tent, sleeping bags, pillows, tackle boxes, rods and other simular things. We then use a trailerable cover and tie it down very well. Really helps to keep those things in the boat. When we are just going down the road to a ramp it's usually left uncovered.

 

['78 Crusader]

Re: Trailer Cover

I always tow with the cover off.

 

[pheasanthunter]

Re: Trailer Cover

We have two covers. One we use when storing that ties down very tightly so the wind doesn't blow it around. It is made for my specific boat. I would never pull my boat with it on. It doesn't flap in normal wind but would beat the tar out of the boat going down the road.

The other cover we have was custom made by an upholstery shop that snaps on and fits extemely tight. I tow with it on and it doesn't flap at all. It is a 2 piece cover, one half for bow and other half for cockpit. We live right next to the lake we normally boat on and I will take it off at the house and leave it then put it back on when we return. If I am going to a lake farther away we will travel withit on. I paid almost $800 to have it custom made.

 

[mike1trim]

Re: Trailer Cover

Thanks for the responses. Looks like I'll tow with it off. I will have golf clubs and some baggage. I wasn't thinking of tieing that stuff down. I wouldnt think it would bounce that high up to get out of the boat?

 

[JimS123]

Re: Trailer Cover

NEVER tow with the cover off. Buy a trailering cover and it should be no problem. Trailing Off will get the boat dirty, stuff will blow out and birds will poop on your stuff. Additionally, the extra sunlight will rot the seats prematurely, or if it rains all the stuff will get wet.

When we aren't going boating and have nothing better to do, we take a drive along the road to the Lake. All the cooler tops, PFDs and other related stuff brings us beer money on Craigslist!

 

[RIDEPATE]

Re: Trailer Cover

NEVER tow with the cover off. Buy a trailering cover and it should be no problem. Trailing Off will get the boat dirty, stuff will blow out and birds will poop on your stuff. Additionally, the extra sunlight will rot the seats prematurely, or if it rains all the stuff will get wet.

When we aren't going boating and have nothing better to do, we take a drive along the road to the Lake. All the cooler tops, PFDs and other related stuff brings us beer money on Craigslist!

X2 I never tow with out the cover, that is, a good expensive cover, not one from Wally-World for 129.00. It also reduces the drag when towing on long-distance pulls thus increasing gas-mileage big-time. Now , if I'm going local 6 miles down the road, I don't bother, I generally pull between 60 to 80, so yes I need a cover. Do that with no cover, you'll leave interior pieces along the highway...........

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trailer Cover

Towing with a quality, tight fitting cover will not only aid fuel economy but it can prevent stuff flying out of the boat. Virtually any cover can be trailered but you need to make sure it is secure and does not balloon or flap. Flapping will destroy it in just a few miles.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Trailer Cover

Depends on the cover. I tow without at 70 mph and nothing ever blows out because I keep everything stowed. Of course I keep it stowed when on the move on the water too. I like for the boat to dry out after a day at the lake then re install the cover when I get back home and put away all the carry-ons.