It’s not uncommon for someone to buy two jet skis and get a 2-place trailer (double trailer) to haul both around.
There will come a point where they only need to haul one of the two and the only trailer they have is a double. This brings up the question if it’s safe to haul one jet ski on a double?
Towing a single jet ski on a double-trailer is no problem.
I’ve done it countless times without issues, even on long trips.
Just remember to secure it properly, watch tire wear, and consider other important points we’ll discuss in this post!
See The Watercraft Journal towing one jet ski on a double just fine in the video below:
Double Vs. Single
Before we go too deep in this post, I feel I need to clear up the lingo.
A “single” trailer holds one jet ski and a “double” holds two.
They do make and sell a 4-place that holds 4 machines. A 3-place does exist but more rare to find, some just end up making custom trailers to fit that niche.
How To Tow With A Double:
Towing one jet ski on a double-trailer is the same as two. You won’t notice much of a difference when properly strapped down.
I suggest avoiding putting the jet ski in the middle of the double, as the trailer isn’t designed for that.
Tie IT Down
The most important thing about towing any jet ski on a trailer, especially if it’s one on a double, is that “you tie it down“. You need to have the bow latch hooked up and trailer straps on the rear. (Both ends need to be secured to the trailer!)
Jet skis can weigh from 400 to 1,000+ pounds, so use 1,000-pound straps (Amazon Link Ad).
Put two straps on each side-rear of the jet ski, especially for long trips. It spreads the load and offers backup if one strap fails (which saved me before).
The Trailer Will Be Balanced
With one watercraft on one side of the double-trailer, you would think it would be unbalanced, but it’s not.
All the weight is still supported by the two wheels, and going over any bumps won’t be any different.
If you ever get in the position for the trailer to flip, you were already screwed, no matter if you had one or two on the trailer.
Maximum Distance
I’ve personally towed a single watercraft on a double for “several hundred miles” with no issues.
Try to avoid the potholes and dips in the road the best you can, but you should be doing that any way, even if you had two jet skis on the trailer.
You still need to do your pre-check of the trailer like checking the air pressure in the tires, wear and tear, grease the bearings, check straps, and so on.
The biggest thing is checking the straps
If the straps are torn, replace them.
If they’re over 5 years old, especially the front bow strap, replace them! (Not enough people do this)
Straps are what keeps the jet ski on the trailer and makes it one with it.
If the strap is missing, the machine bounces around and could fall off if the road is bumpy enough.
The bouncing could also cause damage to the hull over time, so it’s important you strap the front and rear of your craft down when towing on your trailer.
Speed Limit
I don’t exceed over 65 MPH when towing any trailer. Others agree with me.
Most jet ski trailers don’t do well at speeds over 80 MPH, and I would not even get close to that.
I usually keep my distance from folks towing jet skis or boat trailers because many neglect their trailers. Dry rotted tires and ungreased axles bearings are so common from my experiences with dealing with people wanting to sell or trade units.
Negatives Of Single Towing
Towing one jet ski on a two-place trailer can cause uneven tire wear.
Swap the jet ski to the other side when coming back to balance it out, this also cuts down on bunk wear.
I do suggest carrying a spare trailer tire for most trips.