When it comes to the trailer make sure it is in top shape and everything is stored securely. A friend of mine nicked a curb coming back from picking up a boat down there and it made his tires ride un even and it melted and wore all the treads off of one tire because of uneven pressure and he said they were both newish when he started the trip and when I looked at his boat I couldn’t believe he didn’t have a blow out because the right side tire looked awful and was warped and nearly slick. Not all tire are made for 80 mph or hours at a time of run time. I am planning one and I been googling miles and traffic times and good places to visit or eat. I am going to stop after about 4-5 hrs in Daytona because I’ve never drove on a beach and there’s some good places to eat lunch, and that way it is just another 4-5 hrs to key west. I used reviews on restaurants to try to find favorite local spots and pick what I wanted whether it was seafood, Spanish, Cuban, or any other. I heard Tia Cori’s is good Spanish/Mexican food mostly tacos. I also am going to get my fishing license then just to have a few things to do to get some relief from the drive. Florida sports fishing forum is there best fishing forum to use to get information and link up with people.
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Originally posted by TugtedLeave @ 0500 & was there before 1700. Would’ve been sooner but a fella who rode with us has a child’s bladder. We blew through the toll booths waiting on the bill in the mail. Never got one cause they couldn’t get the tag cause we pulled a boat.
21 Contender
I know this has been discussed before with yes/no on a trailer tag for your boat, but I truly believe this is one reason I saw Monroe Police pulling out of state vehicle’s pulling a tag less boat trailer from SC that was right in front of me coming back last year. He went right by me and pulled the guy that was in front of me…oh…by the way, I got a bill for the turnpike in the mail with the pic of my trailer tag.
John
Pathfinder 23 HPS
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Originally posted by 16bayfisherGreat thread! I’ve been wondering the same. It sounds like its not that bad. For those that have made the trip what kindof trailer tires are you running? Radials or regular trailer tires? Anyone have to change a tire along the way?
The roads in south Florida eat trailer tires for breakfast. Seriously though, I carry at least 2 spares, usually 3. I run Goodyear Marathons, but I don’t want this thread to turn into a “brand X tire is the best tire” thread. It’s not about the best tire, although I believe you should buy quality trailer tires, but more about taking care of what you got and being prepared. There are places where the nearest service is MILES away. Air pressure is critical as is lubrication (grease or oil bath). Check it regularly, spare(s) too. Carry an air pump and a grease gun or oil for the bearings. If your tires are on their last 1000 miles, I strongly urge you to replace them before you make the trip. Did I mention to check your tire pressure REGULARLY and that the roads in Florida are ROUGH on trailer tires? And I carry 2 hubs complete with bearings, grease, etc. ready to put on if needed. Beside the road is no place to have to repack bearings and hubs. Have them ready. Lots of newer trailers come with the spare tire(s) mounted on spare hubs. Long story but take it from me, make SURE that you have ALL the tools needed including the lug wrench and the tool to remove the spare. Check them ahead of time to be sure they are the right size.
A little preparation and pre-planning can save someone a lot of headaches. (Believe me, I know)
-The size of a fish is directly proportional to the time between when it’s lost and the story is told. - Me
-What’s the best eating fish, you ask? I’ve found that for a lot people, its the ones that they happen
Bowhuunter has some good point. I pull both hubs and clean and re-grease the bearings. I take a spare hub/bearings, spare tire, grease gun, etc… In 10+ trips, I’ve had one flat and had a seal go and was throwing grease so had to change hubs. Was done in about 20 minutes. I have radial tires on my boat trailer. The trailer I am hauling down this year will have 3 kayaks on it so almost no weight. Still did bearings/hubs and will still have spares. Preparation is the key.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?
I also carry 2 spare tires and 2 spare hub assemblies, already packed with new bearings and grease. And every tool, jack and chock block that I could ever need.
Being broke down even once on I95 at 3 AM with a really PO’d wife will convince you to carry a spare for everything, 2 of some things, and necessary tools to do whatever needs doing. I’ve been making that trip for 50 years with many different boats. Be prepared for anything.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
I’m driving from Columbia to Marathon this Tuesday, May 3. Planning to drive straight through and hoping it won’t be too painful. This will be the first time I’ve towed the boat down. Looking forward to the trip.
I mentioned this in another thread, but I travel with one of the digital laser infrared temperature guns. Easy to walk around during rest stops and check bearing temps and tire temps.
For you guys who did stop for an overnight with your boat and gear, where did you stay? Some motel and park close to the room or out front where lobby person can see everything? My biggest concern is something happening to my stuff on the way for a long trip, would be a real trip buster.
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Originally posted by SpudI mentioned this in another thread, but I travel with one of the digital laser infrared temperature guns. Easy to walk around during rest stops and check bearing temps and tire temps.
What is optimum temp? obviously the cooler the better but what temp should start to raise a red flag?
In the future, where every stranger poses a potential threat, knowing the predator mindset is the only safe haven.
Xpress H20B Bay Series
Yamaha 115 SHO
Sorry for the rant, but figured I may offer some insight.
I have trailered to the keys every year at least once a year for the last 26 years, most years with a multiple boats, never less than 2 and as many as 9. First and foremost, have the trailer ready. We use our keys trip as our spring prep for the season with the trailer. Clean and pack the bearings every year which includes new seals. Always take spare tires and hubs, single axles at least one of each, with tandem I take at least 2 of each. Be prepared financially to replace all if necessary and plan for the worst. Over the years we have had 4 blow outs but no hubs, one brand new tire only lasting 250 miles. We have broken the tongue of a trailer once, (**() Georgia construction, and have twice had trailers come off the ball because somebody loosened the nut to try and steal the trailer (once in the keys and once at Daytona). Roadside repairs suck, but be ready for it. If you have a tire issue, it is of utmost importance to repair the bad tire as soon as possible, (lost 2 tires on the same trip).
They will ticket you for not having tags, but generally will not pull you over for no tags. We have been ticketed twice, once with a rental tow truck with a bad tail light when we lost a transmission in a new truck with 3500 miles on it and once when we were involved in an accident (not our fault). Fine was around $50 the last time, so almost not worth the tag fee.
We used to pull an all night drive to arrive around 11 am, but age has us slowed down. We now day trip trailer to Florida City, around 9-10 hours, and over night. We are fishing by 10 am the next morning. If making it a 2 day trip, look for a hotel that has security hired for the parking lot and in my experience avoid the Ft. Pierce area or cheap hotels. Do not leave anything out in the open you are not prepared to loose. I keep my rods in a lockable rod locker and my buddy takes them to the room. We had neighbors that had their boat cleaned out while they were stopping for bait at o
quote:
Originally posted by archerquote:
Originally posted by SpudI mentioned this in another thread, but I travel with one of the digital laser infrared temperature guns. Easy to walk around during rest stops and check bearing temps and tire temps.
What is optimum temp? obviously the cooler the better but what temp should start to raise a red flag?
Ambient temp will make it vary, and road temp will make tire temp vary, but normally 98 to 110 for bearings, and tires will be 90+ with hot pavement. If tire temps are rising, I lower my speed some. You will be able to get a baseline for your trailer, and if one is higher than the others, you may want to give it some attention before it fails. The more tires and bearings on your trailer, the better comparison you will have.
In the future, where every stranger poses a potential threat, knowing the predator mindset is the only safe haven.
Xpress H20B Bay Series
Yamaha 115 SHO
Ambient temp will make it vary, and road temp will make tire temp vary, but normally 98 to 110 for bearings, and tires will be 90+ with hot pavement. If tire temps are rising, I lower my speed some. You will be able to get a baseline for your trailer, and if one is higher than the others, you may want to give it some attention before it fails. The more tires and bearings on your trailer, the better comparison you will have.
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Ambient temp will make it vary, and road temp will make tire temp vary, but normally 98 to 110 for bearings,
I don’t have a fancy heat gun, I just put my hands, (carefully!) on the hubs, wheels and tires every time I stop. 98-110 sounds good to me. If it’s much warmer than body temp it is getting too hot. If it’s too hot to put your hand on, it’s way too hot!
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
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I just put my hands, (carefully!) on the hubs, wheels and tires every time I stop.
Same here. Put one finger slowly. If too hot to stay on, too hot to drive and there’s something going on.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?
Be sure your 12V air pump wires are long enough to allow the hose to reach all tires. If there isn’t an outlet in your boat you may have to uncouple the trailer and move the tow vehicle…
Cordless impact with impact sockets to fit all trailer hardware saves a lot of time. Have a few spare acorn lug nuts so when one goes flying ya don’t need to cuss.
Multi axle trailers - cut a 6"x6" piece of wood with an angle on it to drive up on - saves jacking.
Hang something bright and reflective from your lower unit. Day & night visible. My Dad had his 13’ Whaler motor hit 2x on one trip! Fla to Mass. and he had a 24" sq. day-glow orange flag. Quality reflective tape on lower unit will show up really well in headlights.
Tape poly over forward facing seats and windshield - bugs @ night will splatter all over them.
HD ratchet strap - many uses.
Reels off rods, rods in tubes, reels in case inside truck, exposed electronics to cases and inside truck, 12 volt motorcycle alarm - motion detector type - someone climbs up ya call the law…
the list goes on…
We began stopping a few years ago after years of non-stop driving. Wow. What an idea! We leave Friday when we can, usually noon-2:00, sometimes later. We can get 8-10 hours of driving in, sleep for 6 hours (in a bed!), and be back on the road after a decent breakfast at 7:00 AM on Saturday. That pretty much leaves you all the time in the world to get to the Keys and be rested. You can stop wherever for lunch, tackle, groceries, etc., and still be there before most check-in times. You also get through the bulk of the traffic bottlenecks at this time.
We’ve always stayed at a Marriott hotel, because we can get a discount. They always seem to be in decent, quiet “business” areas close to the interstate with well-lit parking (of course we’ve scoped that out the best we can beforehand–google earth, reviews…). We’re usually not the only ones with boats, either. I’ve always taken the most I can out of the boat into the hotel room, and I haven’t worried about theft. It’s one of the risks, I guess.
I won’t travel down there again without stopping unless we could leave Charleston at say, 5:00 AM.
Lots of good info here! We usually stop in Ft. Pierce so we can jump on the Turnpike the next day, staying at a Marriott. I have never taken a boat but now I’m worried, we leave the 20th of May.
2014 Sea Hunt 225 F250xca
That’s a long day of towing. We’ve driven to Key West from Charleston, not towing, and stopped overnight.
I’ve towed across country and back with a camper - tried to limit the days to 8 hours max. I keep my speeds to 60-65 when towing, most map time estimates tend to use the speed limits, so a 12 hour trip per the GPS tends to be 13-14 hours when towing.
I don’t feel comfortable leaving the rig parked outside of a hotel, so I would probably pay a small fee for a state park campground and pitch a small tent, grab a few hours of rest…
For the camper I have 4 tires (2 spare), put new hub/bearing kits on before the long trip, keep one spare tire bolted directly to a freshly packed hub/bearings, and keep one spare greased hub/bearing assembly in a box.
-Check tire pressure daily, pressure kept at max cold setting.
-Couple pumps of fresh grease every 1000 miles or so.
-Carry a big can of fix a flat and a tire plug kit.
We tow across long stretches of desert or mountians, so I keep a dry box with all sorts of misc repair stuff. Fluids, tools, hose repair kit, radiator sealer…
Anything that can help you limp off the freeway to a service station - doing road side repairs on the freeway sucks.
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Originally posted by DG34YFBe sure your 12V air pump wires are long enough to allow the hose to reach all tires. If there isn’t an outlet in your boat you may have to uncouple the trailer and move the tow vehicle…
Cordless impact with impact sockets to fit all trailer hardware saves a lot of time. Have a few spare acorn lug nuts so when one goes flying ya don’t need to cuss.
Multi axle trailers - cut a 6"x6" piece of wood with an angle on it to drive up on - saves jacking.
Hang something bright and reflective from your lower unit. Day & night visible. My Dad had his 13’ Whaler motor hit 2x on one trip! Fla to Mass. and he had a 24" sq. day-glow orange flag. Quality reflective tape on lower unit will show up really well in headlights.
Tape poly over forward facing seats and windshield - bugs @ night will splatter all over them.
HD ratchet strap - many uses.
Reels off rods, rods in tubes, reels in case inside truck, exposed electronics to cases and inside truck, 12 volt motorcycle alarm - motion detector type - someone climbs up ya call the law…
the list goes on…
Great advice on the reflector on your lower unit. I can see that happening.
I keep one of these Viair pumps in the truck. It hooks to the battery and works great and can run off the boat battery too just incase.
http://www.amazon.com/Viair-00088-88P-Portable-Compressor/dp/B005ASY23I?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s02
Been a few times, but had the luxury of a 3/4 ton van with 3 drivers.
Always drove straight through because boat was loaded with gear