Trailering Clips
What Are Trailering Clips and Why Do You Need Them?
If you own a sterndrive boat, trailering clips are one of the smallest — and most important — accessories you can keep on board. Trailering clips are designed to support a stern drive unit in the trimmed-up position while your boat is being towed or stored on a trailer. Without them, the full weight of the drive assembly rests entirely on the hydraulic tilt and trim system, which was never engineered to bear that kind of sustained load.
The problem is easy to overlook but costly to ignore. Every bump and dip in the road creates a weight surge that cycles stress through the hydraulic cylinders, o-rings, internal seals, and valves. Over time, this wear accelerates seal failure and can compromise the entire trim system — a repair that far outweighs the cost of a simple clip. Trailering clips transfer the stern drive's weight from the hydraulic rams to the transom bracket, where it belongs during transport.
How Trailering Clips Work
Installation is straightforward. With the drive trimmed up to the trailering position, the clips are snapped or slid onto the hydraulic cylinder rams to act as a solid spacer and load-bearing support. Most clips are sold in pairs — one for each trim cylinder — and can be trimmed to length to accommodate different ram sizes. Before launching, they are simply removed and stowed, making them a no-hassle ritual for any sterndrive boater.
When shopping for trailering clips, consider compatibility first. Most clips are designed to fit specific hydraulic ram diameters, so cross-referencing your engine and drive model (such as MerCruiser Alpha or Bravo series) is essential. Look for materials that resist UV exposure, gasoline, oil, and saltwater corrosion, since these clips spend their lives in a demanding marine environment.
Top Brands in Trailering Clips
T-H Marine is a well-regarded name in marine accessories, and their trailering clips are a proven solution for sterndrive protection. T-H Marine's trailering clips are formulated to resist UV rays, gasoline, oil, and other marine chemicals, and they fit all sterndrives with 3/4" hydraulic rams — including popular MerCruiser Alpha and Bravo series drives.
Quicksilver brings OEM-grade confidence to the trailering clips category. As the premier supplier of Mercury Marine original equipment parts and accessories, Quicksilver's clips are engineered specifically for MerCruiser stern drives. Their clips are made from a bright red/orange composite plastic — a practical design choice that makes them easy to spot and remember to remove before launching.
A Small Investment in Long-Term Protection
Few marine accessories offer a better return on investment than trailering clips. Whether you're making a short run to a local lake or hauling your boat across multiple states, a quality set of clips safeguards o-rings, seals, and valves that can be expensive to replace. For any sterndrive boater, keeping a set of trailering clips in the boat or tow vehicle is simply good seamanship.