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MasterCraft Trailers • Page 23

Always be courteous. 

Make it as easy as possible for faster-mov-

ing vehicles to pass you. Remain in the slower lane and be pre-
pared to slow down if they need extra time to return to their proper
lane.

Don’t tailgate. 

Allow at least one combined car-and-trailer length

between you and the car ahead for every 10 MPH you are traveling.

If a problem occurs, the general rule is to stay calm. Don’t

panic and don’t do anything any more suddenly or violently than
you have to.

A sudden bumping or fan-tailing may be a flat tire. Don’t jam

on the brakes or mash the accelerator to try to drive out of it. Stop
slowly and in as straight a line as possible. If conditions permit,
allow your rig to coast at a very slow speed and try to avoid braking,
except when your wheels are straight ahead and the trailer and tow
vehicle are in line.

If your trailer begins to fish-tail as you accelerate to highway

speed, back off a little and it should cease. If it begins again as
you accelerate, stop and check your load. If it is not evenly distrib-
uted side-to-side, or it is too far back so that the hitch load be-
comes too low, the result can be this condition. Re-distribute the
load forward and correct the improper loading before continuing.

Launching

Every MasterCraft owner

develops their own favorite
launching technique. Until
you do, here are a few help-
ful tips:

Check the ramp first.

Whether you’re launching
from an unimproved or sur-
faced ramp, check it out
before starting your
launching procedure. How
steep is it? Is the surface
firm enough to support the

Summary of Contents for Trailer

Page 1: ......

Page 2: ...nual accurate All in formation is based on the latest product information available at the time of printing Because of our policy of continuous product im provement we reserve the right to make changes in specifications and models at any time without notice and also to discontinue models The right is also reserved to change specifications parts or accessories at any time without incurring any obli...

Page 3: ...noreTN 37885 The maintenance service and repair procedures described in this Manual should be performed only by trained and authorized factory personnel or dealer technicians To avoid serious injury or damage to the boat or its components all stepsineachprocedureandallsafetyrecommendationsshould be strictly observed Failure to follow the procedures described will void any and all warranties and ma...

Page 4: ...warnings and cautions that appear in this manual can lead to serious illness injury or even death and or damage to your trailer or the property of others Beyond these warnings drivers have a personal responsibility to uti lize a common sense approach to the towing experience MasterCraft offers many proactive approaches to the towing experience but the consumer is ultimately responsible for a posit...

Page 5: ...he trailer thereby making towing difficult and or causing instability when towing which can be very dangerous to you and to other motorists You should NEVER tow with water in the ballast bladders or tanks Page 8 4 Serious injury or death or property damage can result if the total weight on your loaded trailer exceeds the capacity of the hitch on your tow vehicle Page 11 5 Failure to properly attac...

Page 6: ...tained in good working condition The loss of adequate braking could result in serious injury or death or property damage Page 19 12 Do not tow boat with wakeboards or skis left in board and or ski racks Doing so may create a hazard for or cause damage to vehicles following behind you as the boards and or skis may become disengaged while traveling or may result in damage to your vehicle or boat whi...

Page 7: ...ng Salt water is very corro sive even on galvanized trailers and can cor rode the brake system as well Exposure to salt water can also cause brake pads to stick and malfunction Check the braking sys tem in spring and fall along with the wheel bearings If you find anything that appears to be worn take the trailer to your Master Craft dealer for a check and possible repair Always approach the traile...

Page 8: ... this section of the manual is to help you do just that Please read and follow its warnings and instructions care fully Also because all trailers are not exactly alike be sure to read and comply with any warnings and additional information supplied by MasterCraft in your owners packet It s the best way to obtain peak performance Before towing this trailer be sure to read and familiarize yourself w...

Page 9: ... exceed the GVWR Be especially careful to avoid overloading your trailer by putting heavy baggage camping gear etc inside the boat Don ttowtheboatwithawater filledbladderforwakeboarding Empty the contents or the tongue weight will be incorrect Don t tow the boat with wakeboards left on the board racks Doing so may void your warranty and cause damage to your boat or to vehicles following behind you...

Page 10: ...ccident The most effective way to guard against fish tailing is to make sure the weight load on your trailer is properly distributed It is extremely important that a minimum of 5 to 10 percent of the total weight of your trailer should be felt at the trailer coupling ball when the tongue is parallel to the ground A bathroom scale can be used for this determination For example if the gross weight o...

Page 11: ... according to the Society of Automotive Engineers SAE J684 Standard Installing a light or heavy duty hitch can be a major undertaking The hitch and its installation should meet the SAE J684 Standard It is recommended that you have the job done by a profes sional Your dealer can advise you To ensure that the boat is riding prop erly on the trailer supports the trailer should be in a level position ...

Page 12: ... hole or ring on the right side of the hitch ball and the right cable should be attached to the hole or ring on the left side of the hitch ball This will prevent the trailer tongue from dropping to the road if the trailer coupler separates from the hitch ball The cables should be rigged as tight as possible with just enough slack to permit tight turns If for any reason you should find it neces sar...

Page 13: ...n of the winch strap Using one that is dam aged or worn can result in serious personal injury or damage It is not recommended to use the winch as the sole method for loading the boat onto the trailer However it is a satisfactory assistant in the event of engine power loss Check the winch straps frequently The strength in these can de teriorate from exposure to weather ozone and ultraviolet light I...

Page 14: ...k the fluid level Trailer Coupling Your trailer coupling is designed to have the required strength when a hitch ball is in its socket It is there fore necessary to exercise care when the trailer is disconnected from the hitch that the coupling is not sub jected to any impact Failure to properly engage the hitch ball in the coupler ball socket and to securely lock the coupler latch mechanism can ca...

Page 15: ...re in proper working order Lights A special wiring har ness for connecting the trailer lights to the light ing system of the tow ve hicle comes with your trailer Be sure the white ground wire from the con nector is attached to the frame so that the hitch ball does not have to act as an electrical connection Always have your light plug hooked up when backing your trailer Disc brakes will not releas...

Page 16: ...er Wheels and Hubs Because they are often exposed to water trailer wheels and tires require more attention than the wheels on your family car The three major items to check are lug nuts lubrica tion and the tire pressure Maintain the proper torque on the lug nuts attached to the wheel bolts Failure to do so may result in serious injury or property damage Your MasterCraft dealer can provide you wit...

Page 17: ... nuts wheel bolts When tightening the lug nuts use the correct sized wrench The wrong size can round off the lug nuts and render them useless If you lose a lug nut replace it promptly The correct size varies with different models so you should verify the in formation with your MasterCraft dealer Take special care to en sure that the replacement lug nut is the correct type While the threads of the ...

Page 18: ...Your best protection against wheel bearing damage from the wa ter is to always keep your wheel assembly properly lubricated Periodi cally view the site window located on the axle hub and determine whether the lubricant appears milky This would indicate water intrusion and the lubricant should be replaced Also check the seals for damage When on a trip make it a habit to check the wheel hubs every t...

Page 19: ...e when the tires are cold Tires heat up and the air pressure increases after traveling short distances Inflate tires to the proper air pressure as noted on the sidewall of the tires When your trailer tires become worn or damaged replace them with new tires Your MasterCraft dealer can help you For safety and convenience it is recommended that you always carry a spare wheel and tire Brakes In most s...

Page 20: ... through a hydraulic system much like the brakes on your automobile Try out your brakes before each trip On a regular basis have your brake linings inspected necessary adjustments made and any dam age or worn parts replaced Wet brakes usually do not hold especially well If your wheels have been in water several brake applications at slow speeds should dry them out Trailer Jack MasterCraft recommen...

Page 21: ... System is located on the winch stand Ask your MasterCraft dealer to demonstrate the proper use of the Boat Buddy System A separate winch strap is provided and should then be attached to secure the boat to the bow stop As noted previously it is very important to be sure that the tran som of your MasterCraft boat is resting fully and securely on the supports provided at the rear end of the trailer ...

Page 22: ...s below the ball and not riding on top of the ball Lock the coupler to the hitch ball To be sure it is in the locked position and securely in place lift up on the trailer jack If it comes loose from the ball unlock and go back to the third step above Be certain the jack is in the fully raised and locked position Your MasterCraft trailer has a surge brake away cable Attach it to the tow vehicle mak...

Page 23: ... the wind Be prepared for sudden changes in air pres sure and or wind buffeting when larger vehicles pass you from either direction Slow down a little and keep a firm hand on the steering wheel Conserve fuel Wind resistance against the boat and trailer can reduce your gas mileage significantly especially at higher speeds Avoid sudden stops and starts Even though your trailer has brakes a sudden st...

Page 24: ...ons permit allow your rig to coast at a very slow speed and try to avoid braking except when your wheels are straight ahead and the trailer and tow vehicle are in line If your trailer begins to fish tail as you accelerate to highway speed back off a little and it should cease If it begins again as you accelerate stop and check your load If it is not evenly distrib uted side to side or it is too fa...

Page 25: ...the water surface Thismayvarywiththeangleoftheramp Set the parking brake and shiftintopark automatictransmission or first gear manualtransmission Shut off the engine Unlock the Boat Buddy latch and winch hook then back the boat off the trailer To re load the boat on the trailer simply reverse the above procedures including setting your Boat Buddy latch to the proper position and drive your boat on...

Page 26: ... be sure the boat is still resting properly on the hull supports Remove the drain plug and elevate the trailer tongue slightly just an inch or two to al low water to drain out so the boat will be dry Tie the plugs to something obvious like the steering wheel so you will re member to replace the drain plugs before your next trip A good time to touch up rust spots nicks and chips is when the trailer...

Page 27: ...p for tie downs and winch extra lights wheel bear ings and road flares Some insurance policies do not provide coverage when towing a trailer Check your policy or call your insurance agent to be sure you are fully covered Trailering Check List Never tow this trailer before you check to be sure Coupler hitch and hitch ball are of the same size Coupler and safety cables are safely secured to the hitc...

Page 28: ...etc This trailer is manufactured to meet the applicable federal safety standards at the time of manufacture Check the local and state require ments regarding any additional equipment that may be required Note Trailer laws covering such things as brakes lights safety cables licenses etc will vary from state to state Be sure that your trailer is in full compliance with applicable state laws Your Mas...

Page 29: ...o gel coat should be addressed first to the Customer Services Representative at the MasterCraft authorized Dealership prior to communication with MasterCraft Review of any gel coat issues by MasterCraft will require digital or 35 mm photos or video images which clearly show the alleged conditions 1 3 Other Component Parts Excluding Engine and Transmission One 1 yearfromthedate of the original reta...

Page 30: ...anufacturer and if possible MasterCraft will provide the owner with a copy of the manufacturer s warranty k damage caused by use of any non MasterCraft trailer l damage caused by improper support of boat on davits hoist system or boat lift of any kind m damage to paints varnishes gel coat surfaces and colors chrome plated or anodized finishes floor and floor covers and any other surface coatings a...

Page 31: ...all be limited to the repair or replacement of the boat trailer or component part or the refund of the purchase price paid by the customer for the boat trailer or component part found to be defective within the applicable warranty period This shall constitute MasterCraft s sole liability and obligation in the event of any claim arising out of its performance or non performance of any provision of ...

Page 32: ...information regarding the nearest authorized MasterCraft repair facility please contact MasterCraft at the following address or telephone number MasterCraft Boat Company Inc Attention Warranty Customer Service Dept 100 Cherokee Cove Drive Vonore Tennessee 37885 1 800 443 8774 Subject to the terms of this Limited Warranty any covered boat or component part with a material defect in materials or wor...

Page 33: ...he trailer Check tire pressure Ensure the lug nuts are properly torqued This must also been done after the first 25 miles of towing and every 100 miles thereafter Verify the wheel jack is retracted and swung up prior to towing Verify the tow vehicle hasnot exceeded the load capacity prior to towing Verify the oil level is proper for the wheel bearings equipped with the oil bath system Check the gu...

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