Should you tow with or without cover?

[dh009]

Does anyone know a good source for shipping covers for a 2012+ x30 with ZFT4? After getting stuck in a few downpours during long tows I’ve decided it would be worth a try.


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[Thrall]

That's impressive. Why in the world do you tow your boat that fast? Seems to me that is asking for trouble: cover scratches, tire blowouts, blown bearings, errant deer, etc. Trailer ST tires are rated for 65 mph.

(I know this sounds like rants from an old man. But hey! Get off of my lawn!)

Yeah you pretty much sound like a geezer saying that...
Why? Why not? It's not like I said 120. But d@mn, states like Kansas, OK, ID, MT get awful boring and flat in spots. 60 mph feels like you're in reverse!
And I embellished a bit. It wasn't 1200 mi at 80mph. Some was slower and I'm sure some was faster. He!! 80 ain't even speeding in some states.
I think it was the head winds on the trip from CO to WA that did it though. More so than just highway speeds.

[Thrall]

Oh and SD is a pretty long flat and boring drive too.
Cover scratches are an issue.
Why would bearings be a problem? Do car bearings blowout at 80 mph?
Tires? Meh, newer ones are rated for that speed.
Deer? lol. I'm not doing 80 through the woods in the dark....

[jgraham37128]

The new shipping covers are now shrink wrap so the dealer now cuts them off. I also have a shipping cover and never use it but I won’t be getting rid of it just in case I decide to travel with it one day and then for sure would only use the shipping cover for towing.

Yes, the over the tower cover by far is the best!

[JohnE]

Yeah you pretty much sound like a geezer saying that...
Why? Why not? It's not like I said 120. But d@mn, states like Kansas, OK, ID, MT get awful boring and flat in spots. 60 mph feels like you're in reverse!
And I embellished a bit. It wasn't 1200 mi at 80mph. Some was slower and I'm sure some was faster. He!! 80 ain't even speeding in some states.
I think it was the head winds on the trip from CO to WA that did it though. More so than just highway speeds.

On my 5 round trips to NC (~900 mi each way) I'd tow at 75 for long stretches. And it isn't even flat or boring.

[MC25]

On my 5 round trips to NC (~900 mi each way) I'd tow at 75 for long stretches. And it isn't even flat or boring.

On my TN adventure, we did 75 most the 1800 mile round trip

[93Prostar190]

Long trip or bad weather, cover is on ... and whenever possible the Saran Wrap around the rub rail and deck.

When possible no cover.




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[88 PS190]

Why would bearings be a problem? Do car bearings blowout at 80 mph?
Tires? Meh, newer ones are rated for that speed.
Deer? lol. I'm not doing 80 through the woods in the dark....

Car bearings are different than trailer bearings... trailer bearings should be better than car bearings actually in terms of durability, but the submergion and lack of service combined with the fact that MOST single axle trailer aki boats are pretty close to 3500 gross and most single axles are 3500 lb axles = the issue.

Properly serviced dual axle rigs leveled properly should do just fine, single axle rigs near 3500 lb should slow down.

[Miss Rita]

They say that if you over-inflate ST tires by 10 PSI they are good for another 5-10 mph. I pump mine up to 60 psi, and I don't hesitate to drive 70 mph on flat smooth roads.

There are so many stories about trailer tires blowing out it makes me just a little nervous. I've had blown tires and bad bearings; don't want to do that again. Every summer I see a few boats on the side of the road with tire/bearing trouble.

I hit a deer once while pulling a boat, it went under the truck and trailer, a total of four axles. The animal didn't suffer.

Eighty MPH is just too fast for me. To each his own; be safe!

Do I have to remind you to get off my lawn?

[CantRepeat]

I never tow with a cover on.

[MC25]

I never tow with a cover on.

Is this a metaphor?

[bturner2]

If so I never tow with a cover on.....

[JohnE]

They say that if you over-inflate ST tires by 10 PSI they are good for another 5-10 mph. I pump mine up to 60 psi, and I don't hesitate to drive 70 mph on flat smooth roads.

There are so many stories about trailer tires blowing out it makes me just a little nervous. I've had blown tires and bad bearings; don't want to do that again. Every summer I see a few boats on the side of the road with tire/bearing trouble.

I hit a deer once while pulling a boat, it went under the truck and trailer, a total of four axles. The animal didn't suffer.

Eighty MPH is just too fast for me. To each his own; be safe!

Do I have to remind you to get off my lawn?

Years ago there was a bulletin from Goodyear on the Marathon tires saying just this. Add 10 psi if you are going to tow at speeds over 65 (iirc). I ran my marathons at 65 psi. I won't maintain 80 mph, but don't mind drifting near there at times. But to me, the longer the trip, the more reward by averaging better mpg. For a 2 hr trip, there is no need to push it to save 5-10 min. On a 900 mile trip, I cut off better than an hour by pushing it a little.

[88 PS190]

They say that if you over-inflate ST tires by 10 PSI they are good for another 5-10 mph. I pump mine up to 60 psi, and I don't hesitate to drive 70 mph on flat smooth roads.

There are charts - its generally as pressure goes up speed rating goes up but load rating goes down - this is because the flexing of the tire causes heat - if you stiffen the tire it flattens less on the road contact patch and the sidewalls don't bulge so far which reduces heat build up.

However it also means that the tire is less capable of absorbing impacts - pot holes - turtles - and more at risk of sidewall bubbles.

Always a trade off.

[Mastercraftdave]

I always tie with my snap cover on the boat. Doesn’t cause any scratches and protects the inside from rain and dirt.

Snap on cover is the way to go IMO.




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