Trucks & Trailers - On The Road Again... (For the first time)

Afternoon all!

So this weekend i'm picking up my Four Winns Horizon 180 in the Clearwater/Tampa area, hooking her up to my 2011 Frontier Crew Cab 4x2 and hitting I-75 South back to home in Naples. I have trailered a U-haul this or that for friends before, but never for this long, and a boat would seem to me to be a bit more "effected" by road conditions than a big box on wheels.

So i'm looking for any long route trailering tips and tricks, do's and don'ts or what have you. Florida is obviously pretty flat, so no worries there, and I am already taking the long way around and not going over the skyway bridge (for those who dont live in the area its a about a 5 mile bridge with a pretty steep suspension grade about the halfway point. I found online it says about 4%, but damned if it doesn't seem like you're driving at a 30 degree angle) which will add some time to the trip, but will make me more comfortable behind the wheel. Should i take the truck out of over-drive? or only worry about that in traffic? Cruise control "ok"? I did read that i should take all the covers off (bow, cockpit, and of course whole boat)

Thanks again!

Oh, and the boat is on a single axle trailer, no brakes... just to make it more fun.

You'll do fine and there's not a hint of straining for the tow vehicle. Covers off (and anything that can blow out). Check tire pressures before you start the trip, check trailer hubs after 30 minutes to confirm that they're fine.

FYI, here on THT, a "long haul", consists of 2000 mile trips. Your's is commonly referred to as a, "hop, skip and jump". :grin::grin:

:jk:

Glad to know that my "hop, skip and a jump" seems to be pretty routine, but can't help but be a bit nervous for my first one!

Thanks for the response!

...being nervous about a first-time event is like getting laid the first time; it'll be over before you start to worry about how things are progressing. :rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

I hauled my old 16' Hydra sports skiff(single axle no brakes) over the Skyway behind a 4 cylinder Honda Accord a few times(probably not a smart idea) without any problems. Your Frontier should have no problem with the bridge. I commuted over that bridge twice daily for 15 years and it's not that big of a deal. Save yourself some time and go over the Skyway.

Good luck on your trip!

boat us trailer insurance just in case

http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/425290-picked-her-up-made-home.html#post4602516