Ready for the Long Haul?

With a few good warm days over the last week, some pollen starting to fall, longer days, and Marion Square packed with bikini clad College of Charleston girls, I would say spring fever has hit most of us. While we all realize we are a long way off from those hot summer days, many of us just cannot wait and are itching so bad we are willing to make a haul to the Sunshine State for some warmer weather and hot fishing action. Weather you are looking for some good Reds and some Gator Trout in Mosquito Lagoon, or some Sailfish Action in Fort Pierce, or perhaps an even longer run for some early spring bonefish in the Keys you had better make sure your rig is road worthy.

My wife and I along with another couple trailered to the Keys last May and as I was running 75 mph at 3 am on I-95 in Miami a few checklist items were running though my mind. These were the items that I had packed for the long haul:

  • Spare tire – It is such a simple necessity that it is often overlooked! If you do not have one, buy one and if you have one make sure it is inflated.

  • Lug wrench – Again so simple, but often overlooked. Your tow vehicle may not have the same size lug nuts as the trailer so you had better check.

  • Jack- Is the tow vehicle equipment compatible? Ensure that the jack will go low enough to fit under the trailer spring if there is a blow out, and of course high enough to get the spare on.

  • Spare spring – Ever try to find a spare leaf spring on I-95 at 3 am? If you performed your yearly maintenance this should not be an issue. But if you were trying to get by one more year before changing them, you will want to carry along a spare. May as well pack the extra bolts required at the same time, because if the spring snapped due to wear I will guarantee you will ring off the mounting hardware. While you are at it you better make sure you have the spare tools required to do the fix on the roadside.

  • Flashlight- Throw one in the tool box. Working on a trailer on the roadside is tough enough in the daylight, at