T-H Marine Boat Trailering Essentials

T-H Marine Boat Trailering Products Resources and Information

In operation since 1975, T-H Marine is now widely recognized as one of the leading manufacturers of boating products. Browse PartsVu’s selection of certified T-H Marine trailering products and make sure your boat stays secure during transit. Looking for helpful tips for maintaining and operating your boat trailer correctly? Check out this post over on our blog: Use Ratchet Straps and Other Boat Trailering Tips.

Browse PartsVu’s broad selection of marine products and accessories, shop the full line of T-H Marine boating products, or shop T-H Marine boat trailering essentials by category, including: 

• Winches, Trailer Straps, & Winch Hooks
• Trailer Jacks & Spare Tire Carriers

T-H Marine Boat Trailering Essentials FAQs

How do I break out my boat trailer for the season?

1. Test your trailer lights (including brake lights and turn signals). Replace trailer lights, bulbs, and/or lenses as needed.
2. Check the inflation on your tires before hitting the road. It is best to check tire pressure when the tires are cold.
3. Check the tread on the tires. Try sticking a penny upside down in the tread. If the top of Lincoln’s head is visible, it’s time to start shopping for some new tires!
4. Check the tires for cracks on the sidewalls.
5. Check your boat trailer brakes (if this applies to your trailer). Try driving it around for a few minutes, coming to several stops. If the hubs or rotors are hot after this test drive, the brakes are working. Listen for any abnormal noises while driving the trailer.
6. If your trailer has a brake battery, hook it up to a charger to make sure it’s working.
7. Check and lubricate the trailer wheel bearings.
8. Check the lug nuts (before every trip) and see if they need to be tightened. Tighten them in a star pattern.
9. Check the boat trailer winch strap and tie-downs for wear. If they’re fraying or torn, it’s time to replace them. Dry rot frequently happens with these creating potentially dangerous situations. When in doubt, replace. Read this article to learn more about how to properly secure your boat on your boat trailer.
10. Clean the trailer winch with some solvent-based cleaner and a cloth. An old toothbrush can be used on the smaller parts.
11. Lubricate the boat trailer winch after it’s dry. Use a brush and cover all parts with a light coat of winch grease. Be careful to not apply lubrication to the strap or other tie-downs.
12. Lubricate the tongue jack. This quick video will walk you through the steps.
13. Make sure your trailer hitch lock is working so no one else drives away with it while it’s parked!
14. Check safety chains to make sure they are intact and crisscrossed under the tongue.
15. Inspect the boat trailer wiring harness and spray the contacts with dielectric grease. This will help combat corrosion.
16. Check boat trailer rollers if you have them for rust, breakage, or cracking.
17. Make sure the bunks are tight and that the carpeting on them is not deteriorating.
18. Be sure the hitch latch is securely closed. This should be easy if the ball is the same size as the coupler.
19. Before each and every trip, make sure the pin securing the ball mount to the receiver is intact.
20. Make sure your trailer registration is current.

How do I use ratchet straps on my boat trailer?

It is important to consider the size of your load. Load safety standards are in place from various government entities, but for boats, the general consensus is that at least three tie down points should be used for smaller vessels, and boats above 10,000 lbs. require a minimum of four tie down points. Quality straps are rated with a working load limit (WLL) and break strength tag or decal. Generally speaking, WLL is one third of break strength, so a 2” wide ratchet strap rated at 10,000 lbs. break strength only has a working load limit of 3,333 lbs. This allows a safety factor so that as you slam on the brakes and G forces are applied to the boat, the strap is able to hold back that 3,333 lbs. To allow that safety margin, federal rules require four of the 3,333 lbs. WLL straps to secure a 10,000 lbs. load.

The theory that your boat is heavy and will stay on the trailer is false. Trailers often have carpeted bunks to reduce friction, and the small metal “bow stand” that your winch is mounted to will break or fold during heavy braking or a crash impact. Your winch strap is probably looking a little faded and weak anyway.

Since the next thing in front of your boat is your tow vehicle (with you in it), PartsVu encourages you to take adequate steps to prevent your boat from jumping onto or over your vehicle. Owners with roller trailers should be especially aware of the opportunity for problems as those trailers can load and unload very easily both forward and aft. In most cases, ratchet straps are superior to cam-buckle straps or rope because you can ratchet them to proper tension. Simply cut your ratchet tie down straps to the proper length to eliminate excess webbing and make installation easier in the future after the first use.

Most boats have metal tie down points like bow eyes and stern eyes as a part of their construction. For vessels that do not, finding a suitable method of securing the boat could include going up and over the gunnels, or looping through cleats. Properly matching the hook for your ratchet strap to the mounting point on your vessel will prevent fiberglass damage. Most big-box retailers do carry ratchet straps, but their twisted wire hooks are not suited to the bow eyes and stern eyes of most vessels. PartsVu uses a flat snap hook that easily clips onto bow eyes and stern eyes without contacting the fiberglass. It also works well for securing race cars, equipment, and bulky items in the bed of your truck. These straps have a WLL of 2,000 lbs. each, so you can use multiple straps on each attachment point to properly cover heavier loads.

We also offer a smaller size all stainless strap for smaller boats. This stainless strap is also ideal for securing motorcycles, ATVs, and personal watercraft. Additionally, avoid straps with nylon webbing which become significantly weaker when wet and will stretch when damp.

It is also important to know that ratchet straps do have a life expectancy. The webbing degrades from exposure to sun, and the hardware will age from saltwater and the environment. While you would not intentionally dunk your ratchets in the ocean, the boat will be wet when you load the trailer, and drips on the straps are a fact of life. As a rough rule, nylon will generally last about five years, and the ratchets and snap hooks should be treated regularly with a good corrosion inhibitor like Boeshield T-9.

Do I need special lights for my boat trailer?

As per the law, trailer light requirements are defined based on the trailer size. Hence, trailers that are 80 inches wide or less must be equipped with tail lights, stop lights, turn signals, side marker lights as well as side and rear reflex reflectors, while boat trailers above the range of eighty inches must have additional lighting for better definition and determination of their shape at night.

Are submersible trailer lights necessary?

For trailering and launching a boat, submersible trailer lights are necessary for the simple and perhaps obvious reason that the rear of the trailer, including your clearance lights, will be partially underwater.

You may be asking yourself why this is even a discussion point. The trailer lights and trailer light kits you can find at most hardware, home improvement, or farm and fleet type stores can cause confusion. It is important to realize that these products are general trailer lights that are not submersible. They are great if you are hauling a utility trailer, a trailer with snowmobiles, or other non-marine applications where submersible lights are unnecessary.

For a boat trailer, non-submersible trailer lights will not be long for the world after one or two boat launches.