There are two gears on the Trailer Valet and they are selected by affixing the removable handle to one of the two available receiver positions. The top is the low gear and provides more power for moving the trailer, but at slower rates of speed. This gear is so powerful that it is possible to move not just the trailer at low speed but my ten year old was able move both the boat and truck (in neutral) together backwards and forwards.

A ten year old is able to move both the boat and truck with the Trailer Valet's robust gearing

High gear allows for faster movement when less torque is required, for example when moving a boat down an incline like a driveway. In these circumstances I was able to still maintain control of the trailer and was even able to stop the trailer mid-driveway by simply flipping down the auto brake which locks the wheels firmly in place. This patented drive system uses a heavy duty gear chain that is connected to an axle in between the two wheels.     

The Trailer Valet drives the wheel with this chain attached to the axel

Once you have guided the Trailer Valet onto the hitch there is a rotating handle at the top of the device that is used to both raise and lower the height of the device and trailer tongue. This handle moves in a circular direction that is perpendicular to your body versus up and down like a traditional jack. I found this motion to be a little unnatural at first and was not able to apply as much leverage as I normally do when cranking on a normal jack. I also found that at the upper range when there was more pressure on the jack the crank did feel heavier and harder to turn. Lowering the jack is easier and I was able to rotate the handle quickly and lower the receiver right over the hitch as desired.

Raise the brake lever and the Trailer Valet is free to move

On surfaces like concrete, tar and pavers the Trailer Valet performed beautifully but as the grade increased so did the traction requirements. I found I was able to move my trailer up and down gravel and larger rock surfaces on flat terrain but at steeper 25-30 degree inclines even the two rubber tires did not provide enough traction and would spin when cranked, even under low gear. If you have a normal driveway the Trailer Valet gets the job done but moving up an incline still requires some muscle, and while certainly much easier, and safer, than trying to push a trailer up a driveway it isn’t as easy as simply cranking effortlessly away on the handle.

Instead of bringing the hitch to the receiver we can now bring the trailer to the truck

Over the last few months I have been impressed by this device and it has held up well. If you park your boat on a flat surface or have a wide open space in which to park your trailer this device will not provide much value for you, but for those anglers that have to maneuver their trailer into tight spaces or have to contend with an incline the Trailer Valet not only helps reduce hookup time but makes the entire process safer and frustration free.  

This took a little getting used to, rotating the lever in a circular motion on top is what controls the height of the device and trailer tongue

Durability: The Trailer Valet is built to last and though we did observe some rust after half a season on certain edges on the mounting clamp this did not affect performance of the total package in the slightest, but is something to watch in terms of long term durability. If you own a saltwater boat there has to be extra attention paid to making sure the receiver and all the mounting hardware is properly rinsed after each use.

There are two positions for the cranking handle, the upper position is low gear and the bottom position is high gear

The company does sell extra mounting clamps which can even be put on a second watercraft for $79.86 each, effectively making the device interchangeable among different boats. We didn’t have any issues with the tires going out but in case they do become damaged the company also sells new pairs of the 9” tires and inner tubes for $49.98. It is good to know the company does have these replacement accessories available as long term maintenance with any trailering device is an important factor for consideration.

After half a season of use we observed no rust on the actual device but some on the mounting clamp

Next Section: How will you use it?