Getting Gas with a Boat Trailer
Gas Station Safety and Common Sense
When you’re towing even a small boat trailer, many of the dynamics of driving change to some degree. That includes something as routine as visiting the gas station. It will pay you dividends in terms of safety and hassle elimination to keep a few things in mind when you’re visiting the gas pump while towing your boat on your way to a well-deserved vacation or a weekend at the cabin. The tire experts at Treadworld put together these tips to help you stay focused when you need to add fuel when you have your boat trailer in tow.
Boat Trailer Safety at the Gas Station
Use common sense and exhibit some patience. That, along with some experience will help you avoid backing up boat trailer issues and other hassles associated with gassing up. As with most anything, the more often you take your boat trailer with you to the gas station, the easier and the more second-nature boat trailer safety will be—helping you avoid disaster and getting you happily on the water faster.
Gas Up Your Boat Near Your Launch Site
As you know, towing a boat trailer and boat adds length and weight to your vehicle. The more weight in the tow, the more your vehicle engine has to work, having a negative impact on your gas mileage. So, if possible, gas up your boat nearer to where you’re going to launch, rather than at the start of your trip, to minimize the weight you’re hauling. This can significantly lighten your load because fuel weighs around six pounds per gallon. With a 100-gallon tank, that means you could be towing an extra 600 pounds—which is enough weight to have some impact on your accelerating, braking and mileage.
Don't Top Off Your Tank. Avoid Gas Blowback
Don’t fill the tank to the brim—aim for 90% full—because gas can expand once it gets out of the cool ground, and temperatures rise. In fact, a good rule of thumb is…when your tank gets about half full, slow down the flow of gas so as to reduce the chances of gas blowback, which is gas spewing back at you at the end of your fill—which generally occurs because tanks typically can’t vent displaced air as fast as modern pumps can pump fuel. If you have two or more tanks, distribute fuel equally so as to facilitate balance.
Consider the Layout of the Gas Station in Advance
When you’re gassing up your vehicle with boat trailer for your trip, ideally you want one with a favorable gas pump layout that will allow you to drive in and drive out, without backing up. Sure, there are some that are experts when it comes to how to back up a boat trailer. But it can be time-consuming, and it can be stressful maneuvering around gas pumps and other obstructions, not to mention other customers who always seem to insist on crowding you even when there’s room at other gas pumps—so who needs the hassle?
Boat Trailer Safety First
When you’re adding fuel to your vehicle, or your boat, clear the area of anyone not involved in the fueling because frankly, you don’t need any distractions. Get your boat as level as possible. Never use hands-free clips, and don’t walk away to multi-task by getting snacks or ice during the fill-up. Instead stay focused—the most important part of the safety equation is YOU. Obviously, no smoking in the area. There are plenty of examples online that can show you why smoking in the vicinity of gas pumps is a particularly bad idea. Keep the nozzle in contact with the edge of the fill to prevent build-up of static electricity to prevent sparking—which can also have a bad result. Don’t use your boat’s gas gauge to assess how full the tank is—turning on the vessel’s ignition switch to view the gas gauge can also cause sparking.
While You’re at the Gas Station, Check Your Boat Trailer Tires
When you’re filling up either your towing vehicle or your boat, take the opportunity to check the boat trailer tires and your vehicle tires. You want to be to be certain they are properly inflated to maximum PSI (pounds per square inch) since PSI that is too low or too high can lead to blowouts on the road. Also look for signs of wear, cracking on the tread surface or bulges in the sidewall that may have developed during your trip.
When You Need Trailer Tires, Look No Further than Treadworld
If you’re not sure you have the best trailer tires for you, or you’re looking for replacement trailer tires or boat trailer wheels and tires, count on us here at Treadworld to provide you with the trailer tires you want, in a wide range of styles and a huge selection of sizes. All our RubberMaster Trailer Tires are manufactured to strict tolerances from top rubber compounds, then triple-tested for quality, balance and uniformity before being X-rayed to be sure they’re perfect. Easy ordering, fast shipping plus your satisfaction is guaranteed with our no-hassle Ultimate Advantage Warranty. Don’t hesitate to contact our tire experts via live chat or email with any questions you may have, and to get the ideal trailer tires —or the perfect ATV tires, UTV tires, lawn and garden tires, and many others—from our extensive selection.
