Malibu Boats 21 VLX, Owner'S Manual

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2020 Malibu Boats LLC • Owner’s Manual • Page 208
Malibu Trailers cannot anticipate every possibility that will arise, and
assumes no responsibility for the operation of your tow vehicle and/or
trailer, but the following are some recommendations that can enhance
the towing experience and better prepare drivers:
Drive sensibly. You will have a substantially greater length and weight to
maneuver. This means you need more time and space to accelerate or to stop.
Weather conditions are amplified. Wind especially can create more challenges
in maintaining control.
Use those mirrors. Most tow vehicle manufacturers recommend adding
over-sized mirrors. Some legal jurisdictions require it. Regardless, the better
you are able to see, the more control over the total rig you’ll have. Larger
mirrors can also assist you in keeping an eye on the trailer and boat to be
aware of how well they are moving down the road.
Allow extra room when making turns.
You will quickly learn that turns,
especially right turns, take more space. You’ve seen this with tractor-trailer
units and other tow vehicles.
Think twice and allow extra room when passing other vehicles.
It will
take longer to accelerate to passing speed, and you will need considerably
more room when moving back into the driving lane. Passing on grades is
not recommended as it is more difficult to maintain overall control. It may be
necessary to downshift gears in the tow vehicle when passing, too. Avoid road
shoulders, especially narrow ones. If you go off the paved surface, especially
at highway speed, you may lose control or even jack-knife the rig.
Use common sense! All the potential issues that cause potential problems
when driving a regular highway vehicle are exaggerated when towing. Avoid
tailgating, jack-rabbit starts and stops, or any maneuver that exceeds the
capabilities of your rig. Any time your rig fish-tails, stop and determine what
the cause is. Often is it shifting weight, particularly within the boat or on the
trailer. Re-adjusting the towed items may take a few minutes but can save
your life and others!
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-
LoAdIng
ThE BoAT fRoM
ThE TRAILER
Releasing the boat from the trailer requires skill as well. Conditions
may vary from location to location, too. It is important to pay attention to
surroundings and plan the release to avoid damage to the boat, trailer and
dock/ramp.
See the information in this section of the Owner’s Manual regarding the
optional depth alarm. That functionality can make loading/unloading your
boat considerably easier.
For boats not equipped with the depth alarm, you should first examine
the ramp. Some are unimproved, while others are paved, and many are
something in-between. You will also need to know the ramp’s steepness as
that affects how far you will need to back the trailer into the water. You need
confidence that the ramp surface will support the weight of the trailer and
boat as you ease back, and that you will not bog down in the water or on the
land surface. Sufficient width, especially if you are inexperienced in backing