Carting around jet skis or personal watercraft (PWC) as they are more generally described, can be a mammoth task if one is not equipped with the correct transport mechanisms to facilitate this.
Although they are meant for the same purpose, jet ski trailers are not universal. Several factors must be taken into consideration when shopping for a trailer to ensure optimal performance and safety when towing a jet ski.
Elements such as where you will unload the personal watercraft, the space available for storage of the trailer, the weight of the jet skis you will transport among other determinants will influence this choice.
Why Is A Trailer Important?
A jet ski cannot simply be dumped into the bed of a truck or just hitched directly to the back of your vehicle and hauled to your destination.
Of course, it might not be necessary for you to purchase a trailer at all, but this depends on where the personal watercraft is stored or boarded away from your home.
Several options are usually available at marinas or docks where jet ski owners may rent space for their PWC for easier access and necessary storage. If this is the case, it would just be a matter of getting the jet ski out of storage at the marina and get it immediately into the water, no trailer required.
A means of transporting the jet ski is of import if it has to be moved from another location out to the water.
How To Choose A Trailer
Personal watercraft trailers are sold separately from the jet skis themselves, which means it is an additional expense to purchase this essential accessory.
They come in a variety of weights and sizes and are made from different materials which have some bearing on the amount of weight it can tow.
How many jet skis you plan to tow and also where the trailer itself will be stored also plays into the size of the trailer to purchase.
In terms of carrying capacity, the trailer has to be one that can ably transport your jet ski at capacity – whether it is one or multiple PWCs.
On average, single trailers can tow up to about 2,000 lbs. while the double-width can trawl up to 4,000 lbs.
In terms of material, steel and aluminum are the most common varieties and they offer varying degrees of quality and price points.
Galvanized steel has a better chance of withstanding rust, which is likely if the PWC is being used frequently in saltwater; and steel overall is cheaper than aluminum.
An aluminum jet ski trailer like this one calls for a larger investment but it is lighter, more durable, and can haul more weight than its steel counterparts. This could be important when considering how much weight your vehicle is able to tow.
The stability of the trailer, as well as ease of maneuvering once hitched to the vehicle, should also be taken into account when shopping for a trailer.
Other Implications
In addition to all the practical aspects, one also must be aware of the legal implications in transporting a jet ski on a trailer that is hitched to your vehicle.
As you will be sharing the roadway with other motorists, personal and third-party safety must be considered so significant efforts must be taken in ensuring that the trailer is road-worthy and that the lights and brakes are in working order.
All regulations and guidelines outlining the safety and security when connecting a trailer to the vehicle as well as securing the jet ski to the trailer should also be observed.
The bottom line is that you must choose a trailer that suits your particular needs consider the type of jet ski and the type of vehicle which will tow the trailer.
The mechanism of securing the PWC to the trailer and the overall towing weight will also factor greatly when selecting the best one for your jet ski, so there is no one size fits all in this scenario.