What You Need to Know Before Picking Up Your Venture Boat Trailer from WORD Boats Trailer Sales

We believe that the boat trailer is the most important thing keeping your boat safe on the road. So with anything important, there may be a little homework before you pick up a trailer from us. Picking up a boat trailer is an exciting step toward enjoying your time on the water, but it’s important to ensure everything is prepared in advance.

1. Make Sure Your Vehicle Can Handle the Load

First and foremost, your towing vehicle needs to be equipped to handle the trailer's weight. Knowing the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is key. Here’s a simple breakdown to help:

• Compact Trucks: Can typically tow around 5,000 lbs.

• Midsize Trucks: Capable of towing between 7,000 and 8,000 lbs.

• Full-Size Trucks: Can tow up to around 13,000 lbs.

• 3/4 Ton Trucks: Able to tow up to 20,000 lbs.

You can usually find your vehicle’s GVWR in the owner's manual or on the driver's side door frame. It’s crucial to check this rating before purchasing a boat trailer to avoid towing with an undersized vehicle.

If your boat trailer is 1,000 lbs and the fully loaded weight of your boat is 6,000 lbs, the amount that your tow vehicle can tow should be 7,000 lbs.

2. Have the Correct Ball Size

Not all tow balls are the same, and you need to make sure your ball size matches your trailer's weight capacity.

• Trailers under 7,000 lbs: Use a 2" tow ball.

• Trailers over 7,000 lbs: Use a 2 5/16" tow ball.

Having the wrong ball size can result in serious towing hazards, so be sure to check this before arriving. If you need one, let us know and we will install a new one.

3. Set the Right Ball Height

Proper ball height is essential to ensure your trailer rides flat behind your towing vehicle.

Here’s a guide:

• For trailers under 6,500 lbs: The ball height should be 24" above the ground.

• For trailers between 6,500 and 15,000 lbs: The ball height should be closer to 27".

• For trailers over 15,000 lbs: The ideal height falls between 25" and 29".

Remember, when the hitch is first attached, the tow ball will sink by about 2 inches. Adding the boat will cause another 1.5 inches of drop. A level trailer is safer and easier to tow, so getting this measurement right is key.

4. Electrical Connection

Our trailers use the 7-pin round connector located on the back of the tow vehicle. Check to make sure that each of the 7 pins are not bent over, otherwise, the connection will not work.

5. Retorque Your Lug Nuts

Trailer wheels are different than normal vehicle tires. For it's maiden voyage and when wheels are taken off and put back on for service, the trailer wheels will need to be retightened. Here’s what you should do:

• After 10 miles, use a 13/16" lug wrench to retorque the lug nuts to 110 psf.

• Check them again at 25 miles.

• And finally, check once more at 50 miles.

Don't have a torque wrench handy? Use a 4-way lug wrench with a 13/16" socket and give it a good tightening.

6. Be Prepared for Payment

When you come to pick up your trailer, please note our accepted payment options and any associated fees:

• Cashier's Check or Personal Check: No additional fees.

• Credit or Debit Card: A 2.99% surcharge will apply.

• ACH Payment: A 1% fee will be added.

Being ready with your payment method will help make the pickup process smooth and efficient.

7. Licensing Your Trailer

To apply for your trailer’s license plate, we will need a few key documents:

• A photo of your Washington Driver's License.

• You will also need to pay Tacoma sales tax if you're picking up from our Pierce County location.

For out-of-state buyers, please provide a recent utility bill from the same address and be prepared to sign some additional paperwork.

8. Delivery Options

If you can’t make it to our dealership, we offer delivery services for your convenience:

• Within 2 hours of the dealership: We charge $3 per mile to deliver it directly to your location.

• Further distances: We can arrange for a shipper to deliver the trailer.

• Shipping to Alaska or Hawaii: You’ll need to set up shipping through AML or Sampson Tug and Barge. We will provide the dimensions of the trailer to assist with this process.

Now what?

All trailers depart from our dealership with standard settings and need to be adjusted by either us or you to fit the boat they will carry. If you provide us with the boat's specifications, we can make certain setups and adjustments before the trailer leaves. However, please note that the axle placement relative to tongue weight, bunk height and width, bunk position relative to the transom to bow eye fit, winch stand assembly position, and tongue jack placement may still require adjustment even if specifications are provided.