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Boat Trailer Fitting Checklist

Updated: Nov 22

The great thing about fully adjustable boat trailers is that they can fit to just about any boat with a little elbow grease. The problem with fully adjustable boat trailers is that you have to make sure that any adjustments you make are right for your boat. Here's a checklist of things to consider when you are first fitting your trailer to your boat.


  1. Mark Your Boat's Position for Accurate Weight Distribution

    • If your boat is already on a trailer and has good weight distribution, mark the hull with tape just above the center of the middle axle (for triple-axle trailers) or between the two axles (for tandem-axle trailers). Note where the bunks need to be positioned from the rear of the trailer.

    • Note: If your boat isn't on a trailer, try to find reference photos of your boat's model and year on a trailer, and use them to mark the approximate position as described above.

  2. Adjust the Bow Stop/Winch Stand

    • Loosen the stainless steel bolts that secure the bow stop/winch stand to the tongue of the trailer. Before loosening, spray the bolt threads with WD-40 to make the process easier.

    • Use a 3/4” socket to reverse the bolts just enough to slide the bow stop/winch forward as much as possible.

  3. Lower the Target Bunks

    • Adjust the target bunks to their lowest setting by loosening the bolts holding the brackets to the crossmember.

    • Tip: Don’t forget to use WD-40 on the nuts and bolts to avoid seizing.

  4. Submerge the Trailer for Loading

    • Back the trailer into the water until the target bunks are nearly fully submerged Leave 1' of target bunks out of the water. That's when you know it's ready.

  5. Load the Boat onto the Trailer

    • Slowly drive the boat onto the trailer until it makes contact with the target bunks.

    • Release enough winch line to hook the boat to the winch and set the winch to the low gear setting.

  6. Pull the Boat Out and Check Alignment

    • Pull the boat and trailer out of the water until you can access the stern of the boat.

    • Bring the boat to a flat surface and ensure the weight is distributed evenly across all axles.

  7. Check Tongue Weight

    • To verify proper tongue weight, see if the hitch drops by 1.5" to 2.5" when the trailer is coupled. Block the tires and ensure the safety chains are attached to the tow vehicle. Disconnect the trailer coupler from the ball and measure how much the vehicle hitch rises when the trailer is removed.

    • Ideal Squat Distance: This distance should be around 2". Tongue weight should be approximately 10% of the total loaded trailer weight for smaller trailers and 6-7% for larger trailers.

  8. Secure the Bow and Fasten the Winch Stand

    • Move the bow stop/winch stand so the bow roller touches the boat, positioning the bow eye just behind and under the roller. Tighten the bolts and attach the winch strap.

    • Tip: The back of the boat can extend slightly beyond the bunks but should align with the back edge of the bunks in most cases.

  9. Attach Transom Straps and Safety Chains

    • Secure the boat's back (and front for larger boats) using ratchet straps, also known as transom straps. If the boat is 12,000 lbs and you have 4 tie down areas (2 in front and 2 in back), you will need each strap to have at least a 3,000 lbs working load limit.

    • Attach the any safety chains to the bow eye and, if needed, a vertical tie-down from the bow eye to the trailer tongue.

  10. Adjust and Tighten the Target Bunks

    • Snug the target bunks up to the hull from beneath and tighten the bolts.

    • Note: Target bunks should carry minimal weight; their main role is to guide the boat to the bow stop. Ensure about 2/3 of the primary bunks contact the hull and avoid placing them on a chine or any delicate areas. Adjust bunks inward to raise the boat or outward to lower it.


Very Important!


If you are using aluminum rims instead of galvanized wheels, you will need to retorque the lug nuts. Aluminum, while durable, has a tendency to need adjusting from time to time. When you first move theTorque the lugnets at the first 10 miles of travel, then more 15 miles, then 20 more miles. Don't forget to tighten all the fasteners from time to time. Don't neglect your trailer and you will get years out of it.


At WORD Boats Trailer Sales, we deal with aluminum boat trailers. No power boats, no jet skis, no pontoons. We focus on trailers because we feel that boating is supposed to take us places and we want to make sure that you feel confident getting there safely.


We've done the research. We know what's out there for boat trailers. We also know what seasoned boaters want out of their trailers. In our research, we found that the best boat trailers come from the East Coast. Specifically, from Venture Trailers in Baltimore, Maryland.


Venture Trailers is huge on the East Coast. Known for their highly engineered aluminum frames, affordable prices, and their commitment to Made in the USA, Venture Trailers has a solid reputation in quality and affordability.


We've done the math. Have Venture build the boat trailers with all of the added features, ship them across the United States, and maintain an inventory of double and triple axle trailers. Because we keep our costs low, we can sell them to folks in the Pacific Northwest at discounted prices.


WORD Boats Trailer Sales has been around since 2008, when local pontoon boat builder, Sandy Williamson, established a relationship with Venture Trailers, as he sourced his pontoon parts down the street from Venture.


As the 3rd largest seller of Venture Trailers in the country, WORD Boats Trailer Sales became known as not only for selling Venture Trailers but the go-to in the Pacific Northwest for finding top notch, specialized knowledge and service for seasoned boaters in the Pacific Northwest, Oregon, California, and Alaska.

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