Boating Basics - How to Properly Hitch a Trailer

[@mattwaters6987]

Your the first person to explain why to cross the safety chains. Simple and to the point. Makes sense to me. Thanks for sharing this. Much appreciated! 😊

[@YhormTheSmall]

I'm about to go buy a boat in an hour and I'm here so I don't look like an idiot infront of this older gentleman lmao

[@Dealer6G]

it's 3am bought a boat yesterday and here so I don't look dumb lol.

[@countryboyoutdoors7963]

Thank you for this video, Gene. It means a lot to me because of an incident with the daughter of a couple we became friends with while stationed in Germany. We came back to Georgia, and they came back to Virginia. One summer day a few years ago, their daughter was driving with her little girl in the back seat behind a trailer. Little did she know the young man towing the trailer had no clue what he was doing. First, he had put a 2 1/2 inch receiver on a 2 inch ball, and the latch was latched but not locked. Second, the trailer had no safety chains, and last but not least, the trailer was loaded with cinder blocks BEHIND the axles. When he hit a series of bumps, of course the receiver unlatched completely and the tongue came off the ball. With no safety chains, it was on its own. The load being behind the axles, the trailer naturally flipped and the tongue of the trailer came through her windshield on her side. The worst part, she did not die at the scene, but was on life support. Her parents were forced to make the horrendous decision to let her go. I say this to maybe somehow show how important it is to hook up a trailer the right way. Please people, please take this serious. She didn't have to die. Our friends are raising her daughter now, and she is a wonderful young lady, but she will never know the love of her real mother. It's just not worth it to save a few minutes.

[@Flukemaster]

That’s horrible man. You’re right though. It’s something the be taken seriously

[@markfryar450]

Because of this guy i was able to hook up my trailer correct and move my lawnmower safely for the first time

[@christopherpettersen2359]

Thank you for sharing this information. I just started towing a boat and had an unpleasant experience. No damage or injuries, but not pleasant. Appreciate the information.

[@brianhershberger4429]

I've had my boat come off the hitch twice, (it's a pretty old trailer 2004) ; once in traffic and once pulling out of a parking lot. Both times met with mixed results. Fortunately both times no one was hurt and no outside physical damage. However there is the issue of the spot one my seat cushion from when I lost control of innards LOL, This is a much needed video so thanks very much. Here's hoping we never have it happen again. You are a wonderful teacher my friend. I've learned so much from you, Thank you.

[@davidbrewer6873]

5:00 this morning on the way to the lake, sparks, grinding, even a bit of flame. Wished I watched this video yesterday. From now on I'll use a lock instead of a pin and criss-cross. Thanks.

[@drewstuntz9052]

Growing up on a farm I’ve been hooking up trailers my whole life and I actually learned something from this. Thanks Gene!!

[@billyjin2062]

I don't even have a boat and I'm watching this lol

[@Hoax711]

Same! Gotta support Gene!

[@benlandry6373]

Gene is such a quality guy and makes such good content his videos are great regardless of the topic

[@stumpydlugi8723]

Get a boat then billy

[@Leotheconstructionguy]

Atleast if you ever have to tow any trailer now you know lol 😂

[@LennytheHeart]

I’m a rapper watching this lol

[@janesmith4645]

Excellent advice and well-presented! I especially appreciate the fact that you explain how this all works and why you do what you do. I'd gotten instructions on hitching up my pop-up camper, but never before knew why I was doing what I was doing. Now that it makes sense, I'll remember it better!

[@Flukemaster]

Thanks Jane

[@johnfahrlender2277]

Saved my day with this video today. Couldn't get it to catch 90 degrees. Took a break,watched the video and it worked!!! Thanks

[@tiredofit1429]

I came here looking to swap out my trailer tongue because I fight it every time I attach it. You shown me the "nose in" trick. I'll give it a try. Thank you

[@RhinoJoeOutdoors]

Pulling a trailer can be daunting if new at it. Glad to see this old school basic Flukemaster video!

[@osvaldoumana4494]

getting my trailer ready for my kayak.....and i am trying to get as much information as i can..... thanks a lot for ALL the fishing tips and now for these great video on how to avoid losing your trailer..... thank you...thank you...!!!!

[@LittleBouchet]

Excellent! Some good points I never thought of before. Also, I'll give the rest of you a little tip! Never load your trailer where the tongue is too light. I hit a rough railroad crossing once and instead of hitting the ground the tongue bounced up and slammed into the back of my tailgate. Tough lesson. Safety chains saved it from going into traffic. Still not a cheap fix.

[@Rique5011]

Just got my new truck. I can't wait! Thanks for the video, man. I enjoyed watching it. Very helpful.

[@brianmuth5364]

Thanks. Been towing for years and never knew about crossing the chains. Very helpful, you are appreciated.

[@papaduck2443]

I did not know about the 3 in 1 trailer lube but I am definitely getting some! Gene, this was a great video. Did I know all this stuff? Yes! Even though I have never had a trailer come off, I watched a guy in an oncoming lane have it happen with a big ol'camper about a 1/4 mile ahead of me and I just pulled over and waited. It was scary just to see it happen! This video is great because it keeps us reminded to be diligent in our safety protocal when towing any kind of load. The best accidents are the ones that dont happen. Thanks again for the reminder Fluke! Love your channel! God bless you!

[@chronocross7174]

I am getting a boat and trailer and learning all of this new, thank you.

[@XandolfTheCray]

Thanks for this video mate. I'm picking up my first trailer & jetski today! This helped :)

[@raymondromero4558]

I'm a smartass and asshole at the same time man, my pops was a bad teacher to me but I just shut up and listened so somethings stuck. From this video I learned something I learned about catching the tounge with the chains crossed ! Thanks bud I really learned a Error I've been doing for quite sometime now. That can be a massive accident at high speeds I've seen u joints brake and axle drop and flip trucks over ...

[@future62]

Internet is amazing, thanks so much for this super quick and informative video.

[@lcagee]

Let me add my 2 nickles. (Inflation). If you buy a used boat, and need to trailer it home, do this. After driving a few miles, pull over and feel your wheel hubs. If they are warm or hot, take it to a garage before getting on the interstate. This little test may help prevent your wheel from falling off on I75. Wheel bearings fail, especially on boat trailers.

[@MrTkeddo]

Hey thanks for the video we are trailer rookies in the U.K. and I’ve learnt a lot from KZbin tips , when we picked up the trailer it was a bit noisy which made the trip home a white knuckle ride 😱 I found out later that I was supposed to strip the paint off the tow all before use but I wasn’t sure if you grease the towball or not but your video has answered that question, many thanks 👍

[@mgomez5606]

I have never towed any trailer my whole life but may have to soon since we may move up state. TY for video.

[@larryclemens1850]

Tip about noseing was useful and not shown on other videos I watched. Thank you.

[@misschris325]

I'm gearing up for a solo, long-haul with a friend's trailer. I was so sure I knew what to do, but if looks and feels awkward- it's a little older than what I'm used to. Essentially, the idea is the same but I guess I'm a little nervous

[@restingsmirkface]

I've always heard to cross your chains... I've NEVER heard an explanation as to WHY Now I'll always picture the center catching the ground and terrible things happening - I'll never forget, and never try it "some other way". Thank you!

[@Ijuswannafish]

Easiest method I promise you. I just tried it and it worked like a charm.

[@davidshultz4986]

Always tighten that ball hitch nut . I got a small utility trailer rewired and took it for a drive heard a weird sound and looked back trailer came off hitch that god for trailer hook up chains thank God I was on a country road goin slow but not to fast

[@billbertagnoli4226]

Happened to me on I 75 in Northern Michigan. Heading To the UP to camp and fish. Looked back saw the bow Going up and down. Managed To slow down and save the whole rig. Dinged my tailgate Pretty good.😢

[@christinehill2648]

Thank you! You made it really easy to comprehend, straight forward too:)

[@victorhugomanriquevazquez4974]

Thank you, your video really help me, blessings

[@l337pwnage]

You have safety latches on your safety chains, so how they are hooked really doesn't matter. The theory goes that, without safety latches, hooking them up backwards reduces the chance of the safety hooks bouncing out of the holes they are hooked in. I believe this applies more to horizontal holes than vertical holes, like what you have. To simulate the theory, hook everything up, then quickly slap up on the bottom of the hook to simulate a hard bump and see if they bounce out.

[@davejackson4475]

Good advice. I had my horsebox unhitch whilst driving and fortunately was just before stopping at the lights and didn’t damage my Jeep or the trailer, just bent the electric socket back. I’m installing chains and a lock pin on the hitch so this can’t happen again!

[@phantomcruizer]

Excellent video! Thanks for posting 😎

[@staveman11]

Another tip, use some dielectric grease on you wire plug. Makes it nice hooking and unhooking and makes a better connection.

[@okiehunting2864]

Do you live on a dirt road? If so any issues?

[@staveman11]

Okie Hunting I am in the sawmill business. I have been using this stuff on all my trailer plugs for years. I go through mud and very dusty conditions regularly. I just get a small tube of it at NAPA and put it directly where the wire connections make contact with each other. Like across the face of the round plug. It doesn’t take much. I do it about 2 times a year. It makes plugging and unplugging much easier.

[@NANCYB004]

I Learned Alot from your Video Thank you

[@dennishorne2515]

Hugely helpful!! I’m not very familiar with this stuff so thx so much buddy 👏🏽🙌🏾

[@jersey4755]

Thank you for sharing this!

[@johngutierrez9225]

Great vid for an aspiring boat owner

[@mattwalshv1153]

Very informative! Appreciate it.

[@zaydenadler1717]

Thank you!/very down to earth and REAL!

[@Flukemaster]

Thanks Zayden

[@philpnavock3090]

This was good for me I just got a little trailer when this video came out perfect timing

[@BlueRidgeMarine]

Putting a small bar magnet on the trailer tounge ( glue it for aluminum) And you have a place to store your lock or pin. Its always there when you need it. Best-Fishes Fluke Master.

[@diRecTorUNBEKNOWNST]

4:53 Safety chains crossed, this why i came here thanks for explaination

[@markstivers3383]

OK Gene, I’ve spent every waking moment for months, trying to find you an acceptable replacement for your favorite Carolina/Mojo rig weights. My last suggestion had a liner, and was politely rejected. This time, I hope to do better: Phenix Vengeance Finesse Slider Weights. I fully expect your response, if any, will be that you’ve been using them all summer... Anyhow, stay healthy!

[@ericgrajeda2671]

Thanks for sharing ur experience on towing and where did u buy the Hitch lub gel to stop it from squeak. Equally important will hate and get nervous also if I heard all the time down the road. I believe it's much quite. However I see the chain drag on the road all the time would it be safe to criss cross until it not to loose...

[@MrHmongrice]

What's the typical height from ground to the ball receiver? What's the most common ball receiver for boat trailers? 2"?

[@djloungemonkey]

Love the video. But ive always been taught to hook the chain hooks upside-down so if the trailer does come off and it some how bounces the hook up it pulls the hook in tight instead of out of the hole.

[@MaryOKC]

I dropped the latch and thought it was hitched but I didn’t set the ball and first bump it popped right off even though I locked the latch down. I’m thinking maybe instead of the 2” ball I should get the slightly bigger 2.25” ball ?? I was fortunate my trailer tongue hit a road rubber mat while still in the camp ground.

[@rickcarroll7797]

I saw a u-haul fall off and do the fishtail thing on GA-400 about two weeks ago... His hitch had come out of the receiver... i dont know if he forgot the pin or if he forgot the safety pin on it or what... but it was very scary to see that thing fishtailing all over the freeway...

[@nelsonchavez1838]

Great video, I will buy a 10x5 utility trailer for my truck soon and this this really really helps! thank you good sir.

[@damirhasic4104]

GReat work thankyou

[@thomasellis7782]

No one has answered this question. Does the trailer tongue need to be level does or matter if its slightly elevated or?

[@adamheil3002]

Very helpful video!

[@Flukemaster]

Glad it was helpful!

[@eyadjaber9155]

Thanks for all.

[@JCunningham21]

I always though crossing the chains was so they didn't drag on the ground. Every trailer Iv seen the chains were to long to not cross them with out them dragging. Maybe thats to make you cross them to support the to tongue.

[@chrischambers6805]

Great advice. Thanks!

[@notsure8327]

Feel your hubs when you stop for gas on long trips. If your hubs are ever WAY hot, you have a bad bearing and you’re better off learning it at the gas station than at 70mph.

[@oscarortega6781]

Will the stock hitch of my 2015 tahoe be enough

[@calebthompson4104]

Second suggestion: You should always criss- cross your safety chains.

[@MatanuskaHIGH]

Does this also apply to retractable cable chains? Mine retract the slack and are built into the trailer system for my boat. I’ve always cross crossed chains to take up slack but haven’t been with these new retractable cable style.

[@l337pwnage]

@@MatanuskaHIGH I haven't seen what you have, but static chain slack isn't the only reason to cross them. One is the idea that the hitch will land in the crossed chains, that may or may not happen, but, it's a consideration. The other is the the geometry of how the chains move when cornering. For some trailers & vehicle combinations, the effect is minimal, for others, the effect is extreme where the geometry of crossing the chains reduces the play in them because the distance between opposite connecting points does not change as much as the distance between the same side connection points does when cornering. For boat trailers, maybe not a common issue, but, and this is my opinion, crossing works well on all trailers I've seen, even if it has a negligible affect on some trailers, so I just do it for all.

[@LOBINAPR1]

Gene, where can we buy the darn lubricant? I'm looking locally and can't find it! Thanks!🎣🎣🎣

[@blueaardvark1717]

I just had a 8 foot trailer come off after 23 years pulling trailers too dammm lucky no damage

[@TheAzurTim]

First time i drove trailer is with my friends car, it was firewood bandsaw and splitter, two ton maschine. Hitch decided to give up and drop down from weight (golf 6) and that thing came below car and slamed me from behind. Broke my friends car, and my confidence to ever drive anything connected to car

[@jeffh4505]

And test your lights every time you hook up.

[@MatanuskaHIGH]

That’s part of my routine. I find if I do exactly the same routine everytime I don’t forget anything and always check lights as they might work one day and not the next which happened to my truck before. Idk why it stopped the adapter for Chevy works in the new Tahoe but now stopped working in my truck although the brake lights on truck work etc.

[@rhin0shark2]

Did you pop before you locked and dropped it

[@atticussfinch9001]

Good video… thank you.

[@gastonfromhollywood]

Is it other more easy ways more automatically attachment? This is antique way

[@jimleone449]

Helpful - thank you!

[@_The_Seeker_]

I lacked both mother and father growing up, I need to learn these otherwise i’ll get eaten up by the old heads at work.

[@derekrolf4371]

Great video, thanks!

[@Flukemaster]

Glad you liked it!

[@larry8904]

In my opinion, you did not connect your chains correctly. Yes, you cross them, but yours are so long that the tongue would still hit the pavement. Try it by lowering the coupler onto the chains. The correct installation is to pass the hooks completely through the holes in the hitch, and then pull the correct slack out and connect the hooks directly into one of the links, open side down.

[@ladytrader7230]

My trailer bangs when I take off..Claude?

[@zackmorehouse]

Go dawgs and nice tundra!

[@facelaw674]

Where did u get that grease at

[@mannyfishing1816]

Great video

[@TappadaraWest]

Awesome Gene !

[@mikereinken1760]

Get iron Jaws trailer hitch safety it's a fantastic product I have one they work great

[@Flukemaster]

Mike, that thing looks awesome.

[@JCunningham21]

try to hit you trail brakes if if comes unhooked. That should keep it from hitting your truck.

[@jamesmoeller9366]

Fluke, I put the lock on the dash… If I see it, it ain’t installed! 😂😂😂 BRDT (been there done that)

[@jethrowomber]

Yeah be sure to check the nut on the underside of the latch. If it's not tight enough, it will pop off.

[@josephsalazar2465]

I'm new to fishing, and haven't caught anything yet. Been out 3 times here in the Nashville, TN area. Still learning, and I appreciate your videos. I go back and watch some from 2012, as I did earlier today. One question if I may, that is off topic. Is your video flipped? If not, you have you flag hung the wrong way. Sorry, I know, it's just the OCD in me and my 23 yrs of service. I couldn't stop staring at the flag. Now I'll sit back and wait for the haters!

[@khanyadlamini6038]

Thank you so much

[@toostoned4you186]

I don't even have a boat man 😂 but word.... jus learned how to do it

[@buljo5150]

Make sure that latch is down and locked. I forgot once while in conversation like he said and it did $3500 dollars worth of damage to the back of my suv. Expensive mistake. Also watch a video on load placement on trailers. Placing heavy weight on the farthest point back of the trailer will cause massive fishtailing.

[@gnargnar4976]

4:22 Proof that even Gene Jenson is able to pop it and lock it

[@JDMarshall-og9vb]

Motorcycle chain wax does the same Thing But the trailer hitch Lube probably a little bit cheaper.

[@greenpighunter6930]

I hate when my trailer jumps off the ball. It makes backing down the boat ramp very difficult and people stare. Like they've never heard metal dragging across pavement. What is this 2 & 1/4" ball you speak of Gene?😁 Oh yeah and don't slam on the brakes, ease to a stop.

[@jessecase5174]

nice

[@Jaco-b9f]

......he said balls😂

[@williamtellall]

Good video, but i wish the camera covers the product of discussion the whole time so we can see clearly how it works instead of the person the whole time.

[@LarryThompson-z3v]

Agreed

[@colesavage9219]

where’s the boat fishing vids??

[@fryeguy9939]

Yeah ... That was pretty basic ... The only thing new is spraying the ball and hitch .... I like to put a ball in the hitch with grease for winter and put a couple of plastic bags on to keep it dry during winter ... Maybe I'll use that spray instead 😉😉

[@ZeddZul]

Fish!

[@pastofino6375]

🙂

[@bms2550]

Ditch that “locking-pin” for a grade 8, 5/8” bolt…

[@kevinfraser6302]

What who greased the ball on a hitch sorry man but that’s a huge no no

[@mbiriviri]

If you want to be a teacher of safe trailering you might tell people not to drive 70 miles an hour with a trailer

[@Flukemaster]

Where I live if you don't go 75 on the Interstate you get run over.

[@ghorn3136]

If you are going to make a video pretending to “teach” others…. you should be certain of your comments. Your heavy duty ball for your bro-in-laws trailer is NOT a 2-1/4” ball.