Malibu Boats Wakesetter 20VTX 2018, Owner'S Manual

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PRE-TOW CHECK LIST
• Verify the coupler, hitch and hitch ball are the correct, specified size and
fit.
• Be certain the safety cables and breakaway cable are correctly attached.
• Check that tie-downs and the winch strap are secure.
• The wheel lug nuts are properly torqued.
• The tires are inflated to the air pressure level stamped on the sidewall.
• The trailer lights are operating properly.
• The brakes are functioning as designed.
• If the boat is equipped with a tower, it must be either upright and locked,
or lowered and secured. If the tower is upright, you will need to determine
that the total height of boat, trailer and tower will be able to clear power
lines, bridges, overpasses, or any other impediment.
• The total load does not exceed the GVWR.
UNDERWAY
Towing is more challenging than driving down the road in a single vehicle. Therefore, you would be well-advised to
practice, practice, practice
before undertaking a genuine tow to a body of water for an outing.
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 trac-
tor-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 consid-
erably 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 tow-
ing. 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!
Launching and Re-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.
First, you should examine the ramp. Some are unimproved, while others are paved, and many are something in-between. You will
also need to know how steep the ramp is as that affects how far you will need to back the trailer into the water. You need to have
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 up, is important, too. Consider that
the land may also be slippery if wet, which can affect control over the rig.
Before backing into the water, double-check that your boat is ready for launch.
This includes ensuring that the drain plugs are
installed to avoid swamping and potentially flooding the boat.
Then you should release the tie-downs except the winch.
Slowly back the trailer and boat into the water. If possible, have a second person standing by (but never directly in back of the rig)
to help guide you. When backing up, note that the trailer will go in the opposite direction to the direction in which the tow vehicle
steering wheel is turned. Perhaps the easiest manner to back up is to place a hand at 6:00 (the lowest point on the steering wheel).
Moving the steering wheel right (counter-clockwise) will then turn the trailer to the right. If your hand or hands were higher on the
Malibu Owners Manual • 2018 • Trailers • Page 5-12