Towing from Ohio to Florida advice

[Occifer]

Hi Everybody,
Come June I will be towing my 96 Speedster from Ohio to Florida. I have no worries with my tow vehicle (either a Pathfinder 4x4, or Tacoma 4x4 . The trailer is a standard single axle trailer made by shorelander. My two biggest concerns are...

*Will the single axle 'bearing buddy' trailer be alright for a 15 hour straight drive??? (I have new rubber, a spare, and fresh hub grease.)
and
*Will the OEM cover be okay to use for traveling if I get some aftermarket highway straps for it..I want the boat to be covered during its journey.

Thanks for any advice fellas

-occifer

 

[Dr Honda]

it should be fine, as long as the tires on the trailer are rated for the weight.

Make sure you have the tools with you to change the hub and/or tire if needed. (and rubber gloves) AND... make sure you have the tires up to max allowable pressure. It's not the best for tread wear... but it will help keep them cool.

 

[RFoster130]

What he said. Just make sure the bearings are good and grease them before you leave. I bought my boat in PA and drove it 10 hours home without a problem. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Occifer]

Thanks for the input fella..Just finished greasing the bearing..Bearing Buddies looking good. How about the cover..Are highway straps a must for the OEM cover?

 

[LouDoo]

It's all downhill so you should be fine going down, however going back it's all up hill, look at the map. Personally I would tow with out a cover.

Lou

 

[Seadoobuddy]

I would think about a spare tire for the trailer too....just in case.

 

[ocod]

I would pack an extra race hub with bearings already packed.

 

[RFoster130]

No way do I ever tow my boat without the cover BUT I do it because the seat cushions in these speedsters aren't secure and will blow out. I've seen it over and over on here. They are hard to find and very expensive. Arent your seats bolted in ? With that being said, I towed mine from PA to KY with the oem cover. It was torn up and didn't fit so well anymore. By the time I got home it was flapping in the wind. I threw it in the trash. I then bought a poppy cover. It fits like a glove and I won't tow the boat without it. I tow it 300 miles each way to the lke a few times a year and never have a problem.

 

[RFoster130]

Hey sdb, do you ever really read the threads. Post 1 stated he had a spare.

 

[steven63]

One thing I would add is after the first 1/2 hour of towing, stop at a rest stop and feel the hubs with your bare hand. If they are hot that's a problem. If they are warm it's fine. Do this every 2-3 hours thereafter just to make sure.

 

[crisso]

If you tow without the cover,spray a heap of Armourall over the front of everthing.It stops bugs and all sorts of shit sticking to the boat and trailer.Stone chips will be your only worry.It washes off when you get there and is not silicon based.I have towed a boat across Australia and back.(same as crossing the USA and back).Do everything that the other guys suggested and also take a spare tyre as SDB said.