This page covers what's specific to Tracker boats. For the full walkthrough of all four solo loading methods, power loading, and ramp etiquette, see our main guide: how to load a boat on a trailer by yourself.
1. Which Tracker boats this covers
| Tracker line | Hull | This guide applies? | Automatic latch? |
|---|---|---|---|
| BASS TRACKER and PRO TEAM bass boats | Aluminum, Mod V | Yes | Some models. Check the compatibility checker for your hull |
| Deep V fishing boats (Pro Guide, Targa) | Aluminum, deep V | Yes | Yes. Sport Model, Model RT or Model T, depending on the bow eye |
| Jon boats (Grizzly, Topper) | Aluminum, flat bottom | Depth and wind sections, yes | No. Use the winch or tie-off methods |
| SUN TRACKER pontoons | Pontoon | No | No |
2. Why a Tracker loads differently
Three things set a Tracker apart from the generic advice you'll find elsewhere.
- It's light. A BASS TRACKER Classic XL weighs 780 lb dry. That's far lighter than a fiberglass bass boat of similar length. A light hull floats in less water and carries very little momentum, so wind and current push it around. It will also slide back off wet bunks more easily in the minute before the bow is secured.
- It usually sits on a Tracker-matched bunk trailer. Tracker builds its own trailers in Ozark, Missouri, matched to each boat model, with carpeted bunks and load guides. Because the bunks are already fitted to the hull, depth is the main thing you control.
- It has one of two bow eyes. Trackers from roughly 2020 on use a thick aluminum bow eye. Earlier ones use a standard U-bolt eye. That matters for which winch strap hook sits well on the eye, and which automatic latch fits (see section 5).
3. Trailer depth for a Tracker
The general rule is 1.5 to 3 feet of bunk above the waterline. For a light aluminum Tracker, start at the shallow end of that range: about 2 to 3 feet of bunk showing. The hull floats in less water, so it doesn't need much trailer submerged to float onto the back of the bunks. Extra depth just lets it drift.
- If the boat won't float onto the back of the bunks, back in a few more inches.
- If it floats crooked or drifts sideways between the load guides, you're too deep.
- On a Tracker-matched trailer, the load guides should line up with the widest part of the hull as the boat comes on. If the hull rides up onto a guide, you're too deep or coming in off-center.
4. Loading a Tracker solo, step by step
This is the drive-on method, which suits most Tracker bass and deep V boats. On a calm day at a ramp with a good courtesy dock, you can also walk the boat on with a bow line. That's covered in the main guide.
- Prep in the staging lane. Pull the winch strap out a few feet and lay the hook on the winch post where you can reach it from the trailer tongue.
- Tie the boat off at the courtesy dock with a bow line and a stern line. A light Tracker will swing on a single bow line in any wind.
- Back the trailer to your tape mark and set the truck's parking brake.
- Read the wind before you untie. Plan to approach heading into the wind or current, whichever is stronger.
- Line up straight from well back and come in at idle. Aim at the upwind bunk. A light hull will drift down onto center.
- Let the bunks carry the bow up to the winch post. Leave the motor in gear at idle to hold it there. A small outboard pushing a light hull needs very little throttle. If you're adding more, you're too deep.
- Shut down and secure the bow right away. Walk over the bow onto the trailer tongue and hook the strap and safety chain. On a Tracker, this is the step not to linger on.
- Winch it snug, pull out, and strap down clear of the ramp.
5. Which bow eye does your Tracker have?
Look at the metal loop at the very front of the hull, just above the waterline.
| What you see | Which Trackers | What it means for solo loading |
|---|---|---|
| Thick aluminum bow eye, part of the hull, heavier-looking than a bolt-on loop | Roughly 2020 and newer | Fits the Model T automatic latch, which includes a stainless steel protector for aluminum eyes. No drilling. |
| Standard U-bolt bow eye, a round stainless or steel loop bolted through the bow | Roughly 2019 and older | Fits the Sport Model automatic latch. |
The 2020 switch is approximate, so go by what you see on the bow rather than the model year. Not sure which you have? Our compatibility checker walks you through it.
6. Using an automatic bow latch on a Tracker
Automatic bow latch: the Ramp N Clamp
An automatic bow latch replaces the bow roller on your Tracker trailer's winch post with a spring-loaded clamp. When the boat comes up the bunks, the bow eye enters the clamp and it closes on its own. That covers the moment a light aluminum boat is most likely to blow back off the trailer: the time between reaching the winch post and hooking the strap.
Full disclosure: we make it. The Ramp N Clamp has been patented and in the market since 2012, and it's built from marine-grade stainless steel in Tea, South Dakota. It costs $299.99 and takes about five minutes to install.
- Roughly 2020 and newer (thick aluminum eye): Model T, with the included stainless steel protector so steel never rubs the aluminum eye.
- Roughly 2019 and older (U-bolt eye): Sport Model.
- Handles: the automatic short handle resets itself after every launch. The manual short handle lets you pre-set the clamp before launching. The long aluminum handle auto-resets and releases once the boat is floating and you pull the handle.
You'll still hook the winch strap and safety chain before you drive on the road. The latch is for loading, not for towing without a strap. Details and pricing are on our Tracker automatic boat latch page.
7. When a latch is the wrong answer for your Tracker
- You have a flat front Grizzly or Topper jon boat, or a SUN TRACKER pontoon. Flat-front and pontoon hulls don't work with the Ramp N Clamp.
- Your Mod V bass boat isn't on the compatible list. The clamp works on some Mod V hulls but not all. Run your model through the compatibility checker before you buy.
- The boat already loads crooked on its trailer. Get the bunks and load guides adjusted first. A latch won't straighten a boat. It just holds it where it lands.
- The trailer isn't the one the boat came with, and the bunks don't fit the hull. Fix the fit first.
- You launch twice a year. With a depth mark and the steps above, the free methods work fine for occasional use.
8. Tracker troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely cause on a Tracker | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Boat drifts sideways between the load guides | Trailer too deep for a light hull | Back in less. Aim for 2 to 3 ft of bunk showing. |
| Boat blows off the bunks while you walk to the bow | Wind, and a light hull with nothing holding it | Stay in gear at idle while you walk forward, use a bow line, or fit an automatic latch. |
| Hull rides up onto a load guide | Off-center approach, or too deep | Back off, reset shallower, and aim for the upwind bunk. |
| Bow stops short of the winch post | Trailer too shallow, or dry bunk carpet | Back in a few inches more. Wet or replace worn carpet. Add bunk wax. |
| Strap hook doesn't sit well on the bow eye | Thick aluminum eye on a 2020-or-newer Tracker | Use a hook sized for the eye. If you add a latch, it's the Model T with the stainless steel protector. |
Video transcript
0:00 Introduction to the Boat2Trailer automatic boat latch
We're going to show you just how easily you can launch and load your Tracker boat with the Ramp N Clamp automatic boat latch from Boat2Trailer.
0:06 How to launch a Tracker boat with the Boat2Trailer clamp
To launch, start by backing your Tracker down the ramp and stopping near the water's edge, just before the trailer enters the water. With the trailer still on dry ground, you can undo the winch strap and safety chain from the bow eye. You may now flip the short manual handle to the up, or release position for launching. Now back the trailer into the water. Once the boat enters the water and pressure is created away from the clamp, the bow eye releases and the boat can float off freely. After releasing the boat from the trailer, flip the short manual handle to the down, or catch position for loading.
0:57 How to load a Tracker boat with the Boat2Trailer clamp
When you're ready to load your Tracker, park your trailer in the water at a depth of 2 - 3 feet of bunks out of the water to allow the bunks to contact and center the boat. Pull forward onto the trailer. The bunks will center the hull and raise the bow to a position where the bow eye can enter the polyurethane channel before locking with a click. That click is your confirmation the clamp is latched. Once secured, pull forward out of the water, just enough to access the clamp. Attach the winch strap and safety chain to the bow eye. Now your Tracker is fully secured for travel.
1:31 How to install the Boat2Trailer clamp and eye protector
To install the adapter, line it up around your bow eye, and secure it so the adapter is flush with the bow in front of the aluminum eye. The eye adapter will give the clamp a surface to latch onto. Now remove the roller from your winch stand. Line up the Ramp N Clamp within the roller bracket. If there's a gap between the clamp and your roller bracket, you can use the included washers or spacers to fill it in. Insert the bolt, with a single washer on each side. Tighten down the nut, making sure the clamp is able to pivot, but holds its own weight when standing freely. If you adjusted your winch stand, you may now move it back to lock the bow eye. Resecure the winch stand, and your Ramp N Clamp is ready to go.
Frequently asked questions
How do I load a Tracker boat on a trailer by myself?
Back the trailer in until about 2 to 3 feet of bunk is above the water, idle straight on into the wind, and let the bunks carry the bow up to the winch post. Shut down and secure the bow right away, because a light aluminum Tracker can blow back off the bunks in the time it takes to walk forward.
How deep should my Tracker trailer be in the water?
Start with about 2 to 3 feet of carpeted bunk above the waterline. A light aluminum hull floats in less water than a fiberglass boat, so it needs less trailer submerged. If the boat drifts sideways between the load guides, you're too deep.
Why does my Tracker blow off the trailer in the wind?
Tracker aluminum boats are light, so wind and current move them easily, and they have little momentum to carry them straight onto the bunks. Approach heading into the wind, aim for the upwind bunk, and secure the bow before you leave the helm.
What kind of bow eye does a Tracker boat have?
Tracker boats from roughly 2020 on have a thick aluminum bow eye. Earlier models have a standard U-bolt bow eye. The year is approximate, so check the eye itself. For an automatic bow latch, the thick aluminum eye takes the Ramp N Clamp Model T with its stainless steel protector, and the U-bolt eye takes the Sport Model.
Does an automatic boat latch work on a Tracker?
On Tracker's deep V boats and some of its Mod V bass boats, yes. Check the Boat2Trailer compatibility checker for your model. An automatic bow latch such as the Ramp N Clamp clamps the bow eye as the boat reaches the winch post, which holds a light hull in wind. It doesn't fit flat front Grizzly or Topper jon boats or SUN TRACKER pontoons.
