Proper Trailer Markings?
 

How many of you have your trailers properly marked with reflective tape, marker lights, etc? Does anybody know for sure what this is? I pulled up the info below but I've never seen a boat trailer with all those markings. Yellow tape...never! I'm getting ready to add some reflective tape and was going to go with Blue & white instead of the std. red & white. Do you think I'll catch chit for this?

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/.../Trlrpstr.html

I would not add any. We don't do a heck of a lot of night towing. And if you ever have to take it off, its going to take the paint with it more than likely. If you sell the trailer, the new owner might not have any blue on his boat.

Keep the lights up to par, and maybe add a couple extra side marker lights, and call it a day.

So regardless of color (red or blue) you wouldn't add any?

Nope, skip it--either color. I briefly added some to mine. I thought it looked like crap, and promptly took it right back off. Then I had to get the damn adhesive off.

Not to start controversy, but I added the red and white DOT tape to the sides and back of my trailer and will put it on any trailer I own. My boat trailer is aluminum so no paint issues and it really makes the trailer stand out at night. I am in heavy highway construction and we have this tape all over our trucks and equipment. I would recommend staying with the DOT approved red and white however.
I have many friends who are cops and troopers and they have told me point blank that going the extra mile with safety precautions will help them look the other way if there are light issues or other bs things that happen en route.
Also, with all the lights down low, it can be hard to see a trailer at night. I can't tell you how many times I have had an empty boat or car trailer behind me that almost got run over by some idiot changing lanes and not seeing it behind me.

You are absolutely right Tom. If I spent a lot of time on the road after dark, I would do so.

Here's a pic.

Super advice.

While obeying the law is certainly important, avoiding accident and damage to your boat, vehicle and self are much more important. Tape is cheap. Conversations with insurance adjusters aren't.

I say go for it. I wish more trailers had more lights and markers on them. People changing lanes into trailers happens all the time -- and at night with a poorly lit trailer, it's not inconceivable at all to have trouble seeing a trailer in your mirror.

I also think that the front end of the wheel fenders should be lit up like a christmas tree - because it's the one immediately noticeable feature when looking in your mirror. The sides and beams are difficult to see.

I have reflective tape on my trailers for the added safety. I think that the laws vary from state to state, but I believe that most states require the reflective tape over a certain length. In the diagrams above, I think that the yellow and red markings might be areas for suggested light placement and color.

Here is the current boat trailer and the car trailer that we used to carry parts and all of our crap when we were racing.