In short: registration, insurance and roadworthiness test must be valid, and the permitted gross weight must be sufficient. Look at tyres, wheel bearings, brakes, lights and coupling beforehand.
Documents and weight
- The trailer is registered and has third-party insurance.
- The roadworthiness test is valid. In Germany the date is shown on the inspection sticker on the number plate.
- The trailer’s permitted gross weight is enough for boat, engine, fuel and equipment. You will find it in the registration document and on the type plate.
Tyres
Boat trailers often stand for long periods and cover few miles. Their tyres therefore age before the tread wears out.
- Check the tread and look for cracks and bulges on the sidewalls.
- The date of manufacture is the four-digit DOT code on the sidewall, for example 2321 for week 23 of 2021.
- If your trailer is approved for 100 km/h in Germany, the tyres must not be older than six years.
- Inflate the tyres to the pressure given in the owner’s manual.
Wheel bearings and brakes
Anyone who backs their trailer into the water to launch exposes wheel bearings and brakes to water and often salt. This is the most common weak point.
- Lift each wheel and spin it: it should run quietly with hardly any play.
- Check the overrun brake and handbrake and look out for seized brake cables.
- The breakaway cable must be undamaged.
Lights and plug
- Tail lights, brake light, indicators and number plate light must work.
- Light boards and cables suffer from water. Check the plug and contacts for corrosion.
- Tell us in advance whether your trailer has a 7-pin or 13-pin plug.
Coupling and jockey wheel
- The ball coupling closes cleanly and shows no excessive wear.
- The jockey wheel can be wound up and locked firmly.
Bunks and position of the boat
- Keel rollers and side bunks match the hull shape and are undamaged.
- Winch, winch strap and bow stop are in good order.
- The boat sits centred and firmly on the trailer and is secured.
What we check before departure
Before every delivery trip we look at the lights, tyres, coupling, breakaway cable and jockey wheel together with you and record the condition of boat and trailer in a report. If a trailer is visibly not roadworthy, we do not set off. Defects that cannot be seen in a visual check, for example in wheel bearings or axles, cannot be ruled out this way. That is why your own check beforehand is worthwhile.
Checklist
- Registration, insurance and roadworthiness test valid
- Gross weight suits boat and equipment
- Tyres checked, no older than six years with 100 km/h approval
- Wheel bearings quiet, brakes free, breakaway cable intact
- Lights working, plug type known
- Coupling, jockey wheel and winch in order
- Boat sits properly on the bunks