Category Archives: boat towing

Boat Towing Safety Facts You Need to Know

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Although summer hasn’t technically come up on the calendar, the weather permits lake and river activities right now! Unfortunately, not everyone has the privilege of living right on the water, and dock boats, jet skis, and canoes right outside their backyards. No, for the in-lander community, we must hitch and haul our water crafts to our desired body of water. On the bright side, boat towing is a perfectly-manageable feat, so long as you do so safely. Now that it is time to transport your asset to the lake, be sure you have reviewed the most important boat towing safety facts and tips first.

Continue reading to learn what you need to know about boats, towing, and safety, including who to call when you need professional towing assistance.

Indianapolis Towing & Recovery 317-247-8484
Indianapolis Towing & Recovery 317-247-8484

Safe Boat Towing

Towing a boat with your car, truck, or trailer requires undivided attention and care to ensure driver and passenger safety, as well as, the protection for the vehicle, trailer, and load itself. Here are the most crucial reminders for taking your boat to the water:

⚠ Making Turns

When it comes to towing a boat, once of the most difficult and crucial points of training is learning how to make a turn. Driving in a straight path can seem easy enough, but taking that first left or right can have rookies stumbling over what to do.

The first important factor to remember is that the turn is going to require a much wider range. Keep checking your mirrors and be sure to accommodate enough space for the turn. If the turn is too narrow, you may have to find another path, or have friends get out and direct you through the turn manually.

⚠ Backing Up

When it comes to backing up with a boat in tow, ideally, you don’t want to ever do it. But if you must, visibility is the key factor. Before hitting the gas to back up, double check your mirrors. It may be helpful to get out of the vehicle before backing up, to assess the area and space available for driving. Once you have a very good idea of what is behind you, check your mirrors once more to be sure the back is still clear, then begin to move slowly and make small adjustments with the steering wheel until you reach your desired destination.

⚠ Braking

Last, always remember that your brakes will be affected when towing a boat or other water craft. Braking will be different because of the added weight to your vehicle. Be sure to accommodate space and time to allow for proper braking times. Just remember, the heavier the load, the longer it will take for your vehicle to come to a stop.

Need Some Boat Towing Assistance?

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for 24 hour roadside assistance and towing services in Indianapolis and throughout Central Indiana. We are fully-equipped with the right fleets to assist boats, cars, construction equipment, trailers, vans, semi-trucks, airplanes, and much more. Our friendly staff is waiting by the phones, ready to help you get back on the road, safe and sound. We operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year, so you can always count on us. Request a free estimate, today.

Indianapolis Towing & Recovery 317-247-8484

Safely Tow Your Boat to Winter Storage

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Indianapolis Towing 317-247-8484

Indianapolis Towing 317-247-8484

Now that summer has come to an end, we can expect cold weather to hit us soon! Fall is a good time of year to pull boats and water crafts off the dock and place them back into storage for the winter. Since it’s been a few months since the last time you towed your boat, it may be a good idea to review some helpful boat towing tips to ensure the safety of your truck, your riders, and of course, your beloved boat! Continue reading for tips on safely towing your boat back into winter storage.

Boat Towing Safety Tips

Whether you choose to use a car or truck, you should realize that once you connect the trailer and begin to haul your load, the vehicle will drive differently. It will respond slower to brake signals, accelerate slower, turn wider, and drive heavier altogether. Getting used to this feeling is part of the towing learning curve, and simply takes time. With enough practice, you will be able to maneuver and navigate a tow without any anxiety or hassle.
It is also important to remember how to back up properly when hauling a boat and trailer. It can be confusing knowing which way to turn the wheel and tires. Be sure to review the owners’ manual for these particular instructions, and practice a few times in an open space before the real reversing happens.

Here are some more tips to remember:

Be sure your load is balanced and the weight is evenly distributed on all sides. If you have loaded your boat up with a bunch of supplies and extra equipment, be sure to disperse them evenly for even weight distribution.

Always check the tongue weight to be sure you are not overloading the hitch. Use the ten percent formula: If a boat and trailer weighs 5,000 pounds added together, the tongue weight should be 500 pounds.

The towing vehicle, trailer, and boat should be nearly parallel to the ground.

Be sure all ratchet straps are secured. The trailer winch strap should be secured to the bow eye.

Check that all vehicle and trailer lights and signals are working. This includes turn signals, flashers, brake lights, parking lights, reverse lights, and more.

Always do a final walk-around inspection for loose straps and obstructions before getting behind the wheel. Pull over and do these every 50 miles as well.

Always have a spare trailer tire, as well as, a lug wrench, grease gun, and tire gauge in the case that you get a flat.

Call a licensed towing company for professional boat towing services for long distance towing or heavy boat towing.

Indianapolis Boat Towing

Zore's Towing Indianapolis 317-247-8484

Zore’s Towing Indianapolis 317-247-8484

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for professional boat towing in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our tow truck operators are highly trained, licensed, and experienced within the towing and recovery industry. We offer a wide range of towing services for all vehicles, boats, water crafts, equipment, and more. Call 317-247-8484 for free price quotes and information regarding boat towing services in Indianapolis, IN.

Popular Boat Trailers and Kits on the Market

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Indianapolis Towing 317-247-8484

Indianapolis Towing 317-247-8484

Summertime brings sun, fun, and laughter; and there is no better way to celebrate this time of year than with seasonal boating! Boats are a wonderful and entertaining asset for friends and family, so taking them with us on trips is certainly a must! Fortunately, anyone can tow a boat to wherever they’re headed! So long as drivers have the right towing accessories and setup, knowledge, and a little practice under their belts, they can tow their boats to any lake or ocean!

Although there is a first time for everything, it is best to have a little experience with towing before attempting a cross-country or extended road trip. One of the most important aspects to boat towing is the trailer. Choosing a quality trailer to tow your boat or watercraft is a sure way to provide safety and security for everyone on the road, as well as the assets in tow. Continue reading for some recommendations of popular boat trailer kits on the market, and who to call for professional towing advice.

Trailex SUT-220-S Boat Trailer

The Trailex Ultra-Light Duty boat trailer, model number SUT-220-S, comes with leaf springs that allow for easier travel. It is designed to carry smaller boats like canoes, kayaks, and similar types of watercrafts that measure up to 17 inches in length. Although a slightly-hefty initial investment, costing anywhere between $900 and $1000, this trailer setup is highly durable, carries as much as 220 pounds, and can be used as a launching dolly as well! Aside from leaf springs, it also comes with submersible lights, an adjustable v-cradle, and matching coupler.

Ironton Personal Watercraft and Boat Trailer Kit

Although this trailer requires assembly, it is a highly recommended choice for towing heavier watercrafts. With a maximum weight capacity of 600 pounds, the steel-made Ironton trailer allows people to tow jet skis and other personal watercrafts with ease. The come road-ready and cost anywhere between $400 and 600 dollars. Also comes with lights, fenders, and coupler.

Bear G3 Single Axle Boat Trailer

This highly durable steel-made model can carry a maximum load weight of 4300 pounds, making it perfect for medium and large speed boats. Works with drum brakes and comes with lights, protective fenders, coupler, adjustable winch, and non-adjustable bunks. You can expect Bear trailers to cost anywhere from one to two thousand dollars or more, depending on the retailer and model number.

Zore’s Towing

Zore's Towing Indianapolis 317-247-8484

Zore’s Towing Indianapolis 317-247-8484

Call Zore’s Towing at 317-247-8484 for professional towing services in Indianapolis you can trust. We are licensed and insured towing contractors that tow everything from boats to trailer homes, airplanes, construction equipment, and more! We offer the fastest and friendliest 24 towing services around, and at the most competitive prices too! Call 317-247-8484 if you need an Indianapolis tow truck or roadside assistance services you can afford.

Towing a Boat

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Boat Towing Services 317-247-8484

Boat Towing Services 317-247-8484

There are many people out there that live on the water and dock their boats and jet-skis directly outside their homes. Unfortunately, not all of us are this lucky! There is a whole other population of folks that have to hitch, tow, and haul their water crafts miles and miles to their desired lake-front locations. People who travel seasonally like this are most likely experts at boat towing; however, there are others that are just starting out, and require a little more guidance.

Once you learn the ins and outs of hitching a boat to a truck or trailer, read on to learn about towing a boat properly and safely for your next road-trip and water vacation.

Safe Boat Towing

When it comes to towing a boat, once of the most difficult and crucial points of training is learning how to make a turn. Driving in a straight path can seem easy enough, but taking that first left or right can have rookies stumbling over what to do. The first important factor to remember is that the turn is going to require a much wider range. Keep checking your mirrors and be sure to accommodate enough space for the turn; this means being aware of other drivers and vehicles, and knowing the amount of space given for the turn. If the turn is too narrow, you may have to find another path, or have friends get out and direct you through the turn manually. These helpful reminders can get you through this obstacle and reduce the amount of mailboxes and street signs you take out!

When it comes to backing up with a boat in tow, visibility is the key factor. Before hitting the gas to back up, double check your mirrors. It may be helpful to get out of the vehicle before backing up, to assess the area and space available for driving. Once you have a very good idea of what is behind you, check your mirrors once more to be sure the back is still clear. From here, begin to move slowly and make small adjustments with the steering wheel, until you reach your desired destination. Ideally, experts would suggest avoiding backing up altogether, but we know this isn’t always the case.

Last, always remember that your brakes will be affected when towing a boat or other water craft. Braking will be different because of the added weight to your vehicle. Be sure to accommodate space and time to allow for proper braking times. Just remember, the heavier the load, the longer it will take for your vehicle to come to a stop.

Indianapolis Boat Towing Services

Indianapolis Towing

Indianapolis Towing 317-247-8484

For more information about towing a boat and towing safety, call and speak with an expert at Zore’s Towing in Indianapolis, IN today. We have been Indy’s leading towing company for over 30 years. Trust us for accurate and professional information and guidance regarding proper towing. If you need a tow, we offer the most competitive boat towing rates in the city. Call us today at 317-247-8484, or visit our Indianapolis Towing Services website anytime.