Tech Topics: Properly setting up your Trailer Winch & Roller for Kawasaki Ultra Jet Skis [4K]

[@SuperSport2024]

I have sent this video to my salesman and he is going to show it to his manager. I meet with them Saturday. Hopefully this will get around and help educate dealerships on how to properly set up trailers with PWC before delivering them to customers. Thank you JD! You rock! 🤘🏼

[@JDsWaterWorld]

Thanks for sending the photos and giving me a good topic to make the video on! You know because I was one of the first to get my hands on the new skis back in 2022 I have had lots of time to figure out what works and what doesn't!

[@LifeBeginsOnTheWater]

Great information JD, thanks for sharing! Once again WavesRx saved the day with some great products for us Jetskiiers.

[@JDsWaterWorld]

They make products that seem to be JD proof!

[@JDsWaterWorld]

Only stuff that doesn't prematurely wear out on me!

[@garyshumate1362]

Thanks for the overlooked part of a jet ski trailer. I was glad to see i set mine up correct. The dealer either didn't care or didn't know what they were doing. My only suggestion is going over the proper placement of the bunks, my dealer had them set up on there ends instead of flat and were in the wrong position of the ski. Thanks again!

[@JDsWaterWorld]

I have seen them sideways on some trailers too.. next time I take my ski out, I'll do a video on bunk placement and provide the measurements I use on my trailer- good idea!

[@jerplane400]

Nice video JD. I got lucky that the dealer I purchased my ski from set up the trailer properly. Good thing as I had zero experience with all of it. Side note, Got my ski back from the local dealer for the wire harness recall and the broken audio controller. Fixed perfectly! I guess it paid to talk to the service manager ahead of time to agree on expectations before the work was done.

[@JDsWaterWorld]

Good to hear man! They should be able to give everyone that type of outcome and service! Give them a good review on Google etc so others know they can be trusted!

[@jerplane400]

@@JDsWaterWorld Thanks. Just finished the review!!!

[@newcombb]

The stainless strappino trailer straps are the best! Attach to your trailer and they stay in place. Awesome product!!

[@JDsWaterWorld]

I was sent a bunch of strapinno products and they all failed after just a few months of salt water use. They failed so miserably I pulled the video and refused to feature any more of their products on my channel. The ratchet spring assembly failed as it's got carbon steel components. Also their hooks are carbon steel with a rubberized coating- the hooks are not stainless. The Suncor products are designed for industrial marine use and are the only thing I've tried that didn't fail

[@Ultra310x]

Great video i always suggest the people put the safety chain option on cost is cheap but gives you extra piece of mind knowing if your strap would break you have that as a backup 👍

[@JDsWaterWorld]

Yes for less than $20 the chain is a good "oh shit" failsafe measure! I've seen winch straps break and boats / jet skis flop onto concrete boat ramp- NOt something I want to experience for myself!

[@exploringourwaterways]

Great info!

[@JDsWaterWorld]

I am trying to make more videos catering directly to questions that viewers are asking!

[@exploringourwaterways]

@@JDsWaterWorld thats awesome! keep the content coming.

[@itowmyhome797]

Thank you for this video. I brought home my brand new WaveRunner the incompetent dealership service department placed my ski on the trailer incorrectly, and crush the front roller. Be careful boys and girls. They just don’t care.

[@JDsWaterWorld]

With the Yamahas it's especially important to have the rollers and bunks set up correctly to avoid damaging the paint!

[@SteveAppel-r2o]

EXCELLENT VIDEO JD. It’s now almost midnight and I’m going to go out to my trailer with a flashlight to see if my ski is sitting properly on trailer. I purchased weeks ago but have not been able to get on water. Hopefully last owner has it trailered properly and not on bumper. However it’s my ski and I should have thought about this.

[@JDsWaterWorld]

Haha well luckily it's as easy adjustment on most trailers! And trust me, you are not the only one! I had to learn the best placement for my roller etc since when I got the ski it was brand new to the market..learned quickly the plastic bumper is not really "load bearing." Don't forget the rear tie downs either- important to keep ski on trailer if there's an accident

[@SteveAppel-r2o]

@@JDsWaterWorld good news is that ski is attached properly. Brand new Yacht Club trailer. The front looks very solid but the tire rims seem small :-) can’t locate the stamped info on weight /load. I know this trailer is more robust than for a spark but maybe not as sturdy as yours. Thanks again. Oh… guess what? I’m taking the beast out on my first ride after my purchase. Yay. Going over check list to be prepared.

[@mustangracer5124]

Roller above bow eye and below bumper.. winch strap pulling down if possiblebut level otherwise. I got a used waverunner with a bent winch mount from having the roller below the eye and the winch pulling up!

[@Razorpee]

This was the exact video I needed! My roller is set wayyy to high. And I have the WavesRx winch strap (JDWWRX15) but didn't know what that commector piece was for. I still need to install and the guide bolt that holds the winch in place seemd loose. Do you happen to know what size I should buy to replace the existing one?

[@JDsWaterWorld]

You know every winch is different so I don't know what size the guide bolt would be..can you just reuse the old one? I feel like it's either 1/4 or maybe 5/16 and if you replace it from your local hardware store make sure it's stainless steel or atleast galvanized

[@Razorpee]

Lol thanks for being so gracious in your responses to my idiotic comments. I tried to do it at the dock after dropping the ski in but the existing bolt looks like it needs to be replaced.

[@JDsWaterWorld]

Haha yeah the ones that comes with the winches are usually zinc plated and those don't last worth a damn for salt water use

[@cruzzindodge]

I remember im old kawi 750 sts only had a drop pin for the bow and i hated towing it around... idk if it was the ski or the trailer but it would feel like it was bouncing going down the road

[@jasonmekush5280]

from a former seadoo mechanic, you want roller Above skis nose. in case u hit brakes in emergency ski doesnt end up in your vehicles rear end. ive seen it several times.

[@JDsWaterWorld]

On these skis you cannot install the roller on the plastic bumper- but that's why we loop the winch strap under the roller- it pulls the ski downwards. Also having both tie-downs installed as I recommended to keep ski from moving forward!

[@stuartpeck26]

As you know JD, I have a 2023 Kawasaki STX-160LX. My 2nd ski. First one I got just to learn JetSki ownership before I bought a brand new ski. January 21, 2025 I will have owned it 2 years. Anyways, my trailer isn’t very adjustable which I honestly don’t mind. I made sure it had a 1,500lb winch on it so that’s taken care of. The way the bow stop is, I have to winch my ski on. If I try to drive on the trailer, I’ll stab the nose under it. There was one time I was able to drive on and that was when I went to a lake where the water levels were way up and the ramp was angled just right. Let me know if you want pictures of my setup. I’d be happy to share. Trailer is a 2022 Comfab. 2004 12F was on a 2004 Wesco and it was setup for launching off a beach (had sand tires). Never did launch it from a beach though just took short trips to the backwoods local boat ramp

[@joeyperez6993]

Same issue on my 2023 STX160x. Continental Trailer. You have winch it up and with a full tank or a lot of fuel its a pain in the ass to load and unload by yourself. Dealer said it was optimal but the stock winch/bow stop cant be lowered anymore. So its either switch to a new on or bare with the inconvenience

[@stuartpeck26]

@@joeyperez6993I really don’t mind winching mine up every time. Even my scrawny ass has the muscle to lift the bow of my ski off the rubber stop when unloading my ski from the trailer too

[@JDsWaterWorld]

Unless I back in very far I have to inch my ski a few cranks as well- the roller will press on the black plastic bumper for a moment on its way up

[@RM.Adventures_]

The trailers are set up with the max height on both the wench and bunkers.. ah.. there's the next video idea. "Properly setting up your Trailer bunkers for Kawasaki Ultra Jet Skis [4K]" LOL

[@JDsWaterWorld]

I see you making fun of my 4K tag lol but I personally will not watch any video on KZbin that is not in 4K lol sometimes the bastards downsample my uploads for some reason

[@RM.Adventures_]

@JDsWaterWorld I just copied and pasted the title and replaced the middle with bunkers. I believe the issue is that YT won't upscale your video to 4k anymore. You don't get the 4k unless your video is actually 4k else it will show HD

[@JDsWaterWorld]

No I shoot everything in 4k but for some reason some videos never process 4k after uploading..sometimes it takes a day after I upload for them to process 4k other times they never process more than HD. Something with the KZbin app

[@stevenzielke3242]

I’m annoyed that I can’t put my factory cover on without pulling the ski backwards on the trailer. These Kawi’s are heavy.

[@JDsWaterWorld]

Yes the pre-2022 Ultras the cover loops over the boweye- the 2022+ 310 and 2023+ 160 have a different cover that doesn't attach to the boweye

[@stevenzielke3242]

@@JDsWaterWorld I’m happy to know that they heard me cursing under my breath and improved the design 😁