The ramp is fine. The trip home is the problem.
Most Townsville boat-trailer breakdowns happen between the ramp and the shed — wheel bearings that have given up after a saltwater dip, blown trailer tyres on a hot stretch of bitumen, or a tow vehicle that finally decides today is the day. Here is a calm rundown of the options when it happens to you.
Wheel-bearing failure
Saltwater is hard on bearings. The first warning is usually a low rumble that grows into a louder grinding sound, sometimes with a wisp of smoke from the hub. Pull over the moment you hear it. Continuing will destroy the spindle and turn a $40 bearing job into a $800 axle job — or worse, lock the wheel at speed.
If the wheel still spins, you can sometimes limp slowly to the next service station to assess. If it is grinding badly or smoking, stop, secure the trailer, and call recovery. Mention on the call that the trailer has a bearing failure so the operator brings the right kit (or plans for a tray pickup of the trailer if a wheel will not roll).
Blown trailer tyre
Trailer tyres age faster than they wear. Sidewall cracking, ozone damage and the heat of long-stay storage are the usual culprits. If you have a spare and you are off the road, change it. If you do not have a spare or the wheel has shredded the guard, call for either a roadside callout (jump, spare, plug) or a tow.
Tow vehicle has died
This is a common one. The fix depends on what you want done with the boat:
- Take the boat home. The recovery operator can transport the trailer (and boat) on a tray to your address. The dead tow vehicle is a separate tow, on a second truck.
- Leave the boat at a marina or trailer yard. The operator can detach the trailer at a nominated yard and tow the dead vehicle home from there.
Both of our recommended Townsville operators handle trailer and boat-trailer recovery. Confirm the trailer dimensions, tow-ball weight and whether the boat is loaded so the right truck is dispatched.
Heavy trailer outside standard tow rating
If your trailer is heavy enough that a normal tow vehicle would not safely move it, you are into heavy haulage territory. ABC Towing in particular runs the gear for that.
What to carry on a long trip back
A short trip from the Ross River ramp to a Townsville suburb is one thing. A long Sunday tow back from Cungulla, Bowling Green Bay or out toward Alva Beach is another. Carry:
- A spare trailer wheel, jack and brace (and check the spare is current).
- A bearing buddy and a spare bearing kit.
- A torch.
- Water.
- Your insurer's roadside number — and the recommended Townsville tow operator number for when roadside is not enough.
When to skip the DIY
Bearings and tyres on the side of the road in 35°C heat are not where most people do their best work. If anything is more wrong than a tyre with a usable spare, call early. Recovery is cheaper than a destroyed axle, and a lot cheaper than a write-off on the highway.
