Your boat trailer is a crucial part of your boating setup, often overlooked until something goes wrong. Whether you’re trailering to a local launch or embarking on longer journeys, upgrading your boat trailer can enhance safety, convenience, and performance. Here are the top seven ways to upgrade your boat trailer, complete with specs and price ranges.
1. Upgrade to LED Trailer Lights
LED lights are a significant improvement over standard incandescent trailer lights. They’re brighter, more energy-efficient, and last much longer. Additionally, they are fully submersible, making them ideal for boat trailers that frequently get dunked into the water.
- Specs: LED lights are rated for around 50,000 hours, use less power, and are often designed to be waterproof. Many LED trailer light kits include taillights, side marker lights, and reflectors.
- Price: $50–$100 for a complete LED trailer light kit.
2. Add Bunk Carpet or Bunk Slicks
The bunks on your boat trailer are the padded supports that cradle your boat. Over time, the carpet covering can wear out, and your boat can start to stick, making loading and unloading difficult. Replacing the old carpet with new marine-grade carpet or slick plastic strips can make launching and retrieving your boat easier.
- Specs: Marine-grade carpet resists mold and mildew, and bunk slicks are typically made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which reduces friction.
- Price: $20–$80 for marine carpet rolls; $40–$120 for bunk slick kits.
3. Install a Trailer Jack
If you’ve ever tried to lift or position your boat trailer by hand, you know how strenuous it can be. A trailer jack helps you lift the tongue of your trailer with ease and can also provide stabilization when you’re parked.
- Specs: Look for jacks with a lift capacity of 1,000–2,000 lbs and a swivel function for easy stowing. Many come with a large wheel for better maneuverability.
- Price: $40–$100, depending on lift capacity and features.
4. Upgrade to Radial Tires
The tires on your boat trailer may not get as much attention as your boat, but they’re just as critical. Radial tires offer better tread life, smoother towing, and improved fuel efficiency compared to standard bias-ply tires. They are also less prone to heat buildup, reducing the chance of blowouts during long hauls.
- Specs: Common sizes for boat trailers include ST205/75R14 or ST225/75R15. Radial tires have steel belts, which provide better stability and traction.
- Price: $80–$150 per tire, depending on size and brand.
5. Add Bearing Protectors
Boat trailers are frequently submerged in water, which can lead to premature bearing wear and failure. Bearing protectors help extend the life of your wheel bearings by keeping them lubricated and protecting them from water and dirt ingress.
- Specs: Bearing protectors are usually made of stainless steel or chrome-plated metal and have spring-loaded seals to maintain constant pressure and lubrication on the bearings.
- Price: $20–$40 per pair.
6. Install a Winch Upgrade
Your trailer’s winch is responsible for pulling your boat onto the trailer. If your current winch is old, rusted, or just not powerful enough, upgrading to a new, more robust model can make the process smoother and safer. Consider an electric winch for hands-free loading.
- Specs: Manual winches come in various pull capacities (1,200 lbs to 3,500 lbs), while electric winches often come with a remote control and can handle 2,000 lbs or more.
- Price: Manual winches cost $50–$150; electric winches range from $150–$400.
7. Add a Spare Tire and Mount
A flat tire on the road can ruin your day if you’re unprepared. Adding a spare tire and a dedicated mount ensures you’re ready for any emergency. It’s a simple upgrade that can save you a lot of trouble down the line.
- Specs: Choose a spare tire that matches the size and load rating of your existing trailer tires. A spare tire mount should be corrosion-resistant and mounted in a location that’s easy to access.
- Price: $50–$200 for a tire and mount combo, depending on tire size and mount type.
Conclusion
Upgrading your boat trailer is an investment in safety, convenience, and performance. Whether you’re enhancing visibility with LED lights, making loading easier with bunk slicks, or improving road safety with new radial tires, these upgrades will ensure that your boat arrives at the water (and back home) without a hitch. With prices ranging from budget-friendly to premium, there’s an upgrade for every trailer and every boater.
Happy Boating!
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Read 7 Types of Boat Seats and How to Select Your Seating until we meet in the next article.