What to Look for When Purchasing a Used Boat Trailer
- Wiring is one of the most important things to look for when you inspect a used boat trailer. The connections to the lights, as well as any mechanical parts such as the brakes, are vitally important to the overall safety of your trailer when you are towing the boat. While some types of wire repairs can be cheap (such as replacing the trailer plug), others can be time and money sinks. If the wiring is overexposed, badly frayed or in generally bad condition, the trailer might not be worth your money.
- When it comes to safely hauling your boat around, you need to know the structural integrity of the boat trailer is beyond question. While a degree of rust is to be expected on older trailers, and the superficial kind can easily be scrubbed off with cleaning solution and spare time, large sections of rust that have rotted out portions of the metal frame are a sure sign that the trailer is in no condition to be used without extensive repairs.
- Similar to checking for rust problems, if you are looking at purchasing a boat that has sections of wood included as part of the frame, it is important to ensure that rot has not set in. While wood trim is easy enough to replace and is largely about aesthetics, sections of framing that rely on wood for support need to be in good shape before you can safely use the trailer to tow a boat. Water damaged areas that are soft, and wood that has been damaged by insects, can be an issue if they are not easily repaired sections.
- The hitch is another integral part of the boat trailer, and is more than simply the connection that hooks up to the ball on the back of your vehicle or the fifth-wheel in the bed of your truck. While the connector piece is important in its own right, the entire hitch's strength and structural integrity are vital to your trailer's safety. If there is too much rust damage or the connector has not been oiled over time and is jammed or stuck, it may not be worth the trouble looking for a replacement part if your trailer is no longer in production.