Transporting a boat is an entirely different ballgame from transporting a car.Transporting a boat is an entirely different ballgame from transporting a car. The most recent move from Beaumont, Texas to Eastover, North Carolina is an illustration of this fact. In this case, the boat moved on its tandem-axle bumper pull trailer all the way to the distance of 1,087 miles. The cost of moving was $1,895. When a boat is moved on the same trailer as the boat is loaded at the launching ramp, the entire combination acts as a single unit, and therefore, the planning of such move becomes different than that of normal vehicle transportations.
The move followed the Gulf and Southeast freight routes and joined southeast Texas with Fayetteville of North Carolina. The route follows heavily used interstate highways, and thus, finding the appropriate carriers did not take long time. The most important thing in transporting a boat on a trailer is the preparation and securing of the boat and not driving.
What “Boat on Its Own Trailer” Actually Means
What comes to mind when thinking of boat transport? Usually, a ship transported on its own through flatbeds. This kind of transport was different in that way; the ship remained attached to its tandem-axle trailer and moved together as one unit.
Unlike the regular trailers that ride on a single axle, the tandem axle trailer moves on two axles. Therefore, it allows four tires to take part in bearing the load of the boat instead of only two. This trailer is also known as a bumper pull. This is a type of trailer that is attached to the ball hitch of the truck at its rear.
Bumper pulls are the most common types of trailers used for boat transportation. They attach and tow quickly but sit high up on the road compared to gooseneck. The carrier chose a truck capable of hauling the trailer with ease.
Why the Trailer Type Shapes the Whole Job
A trailer is the backbone of the entire operation, which is why a thorough check of it is performed at the very beginning. In particular, a carrier is interested in good tires, functioning lights, a proper coupling and a trailer body that will not break down after 1,087 miles of hauling. Worn-out tire and dry bearings may result in roadside problems, so an early check saves everybody from trouble.
Tandem axles are helpful in this process as if one tire blows up, there are still other three to support the load. This makes the driver’s task easier in terms of stopping safely. Tandem axles of the owner’s trailer were an additional guarantee of a safer transportation of the boat.
Moreover, it is important to distribute the weight properly in advance. The boat should be positioned right on the bunks or rollers, it should rest well against the stop with the correct tongue weight. Shifting boat will definitely spoil the handling of the trailer, so it is the main goal in the entire process.
The Route
The transport took a straight route from Beaumont through the southern states. Once out of Beaumont, the rig hooked up with Interstate 10 heading east and then got onto Interstate 12 that ran across the top of New Orleans before getting back to Interstate 10 to travel towards the Gulf Coast states.
From there, the journey headed to Interstate 65 northbound towards Montgomery, then eastwards to Interstate 85 through Atlanta until the Carolinas. Finally, the route took onto Interstate 95 and some local roads to Eastover which lies southeast of Fayetteville.
That was the itinerary in short:
Beaumont, TX → I-10 East to I-12 through Louisiana
Mississippi/Alabama → I-65 North towards Montgomery
Georgia → I-85 North to Atlanta
South Carolina → into North Carolina
I-95 → area around Fayetteville → Eastover
These routes remain heavily freighted, and therefore, the driver had a consistent schedule. Consistency is of particular importance in transporting an oversized load because a trailer carrying a boat can be higher and wider than a regular car.
Transport Summary
- Origin: Beaumont, TX, 77707
- Destination: Eastover, NC, 28312
- Cargo: Boat on a tandem-axle (dual-axle) trailer, bumper pull
- Trailer type: Bumper pull, tandem axle
- Distance: 1,087 miles
- Price: $1,895
- The route: Beaumont, TX → I-10 → I-12 → Louisiana → I-65 North → Montgomery, AL → I-85 → Atlanta, GA → Carolinas → I-95 → Eastover, NC
