A trailer is a major financial investment, and whether you’re using it regularly or have it on hand for the occasional job, you’ll want to make sure that you are keeping up with your trailer’s routine maintenance to ensure that it stays in good working order for many years to come.
Equipment Trader has created a checklist to help you ensure that you are meeting all of your trailer’s regular maintenance needs.
Checks to Perform on a Schedule
Hinge Lubrication – Every Month
Hinges can become stiff over time, so it’s important to make sure that you are keeping all hinges properly lubricated. This measure will keep hinges from locking and becoming immovable over time and also greatly reduce the risk of rust and part failure. Proper care of hinges on your trailer’s doors and gates will keep it in good working condition and reduce the chances of time-consuming and costly repairs from neglect.
Brake Inspections – Every Six Months
Properly working brakes are essential to safety, and neglecting this component can lead to accidents and injuries. It is suggested that you do a thorough inspection of your trailer’s brakes every six months, and more frequently should you sense an issue. Parts to inspect are your trailer’s brakes themselves, brake pads, and the electrical system that controls your brakes. Check for wear, rust, and other visible damage; and address issues immediately. Faulty or failing brakes will not only affect safe operation, but can also cause damage to the tow vehicle and hitch assembly.
Tire Rotation – Every 5,000 Miles
It is recommended that you rotate your trailer’s tires every 5,000 miles of use. By rotating your tires on a regular schedule, you will avoid uneven wear and tear on your trailer tires. Uneven tread wear can lead to damage not only of your tire, but also of the cargo you are hauling.
Checks to Perform Regularly
Tire Pressure
Factors like temperature changes, long periods of sitting, and just regular use can all affect tire pressure so it is important to make sure that you’re keeping an eye on tire pressure levels. Low tire pressure starts by affecting fuel economy and traction, eventually leading to tire failure, which can damage both your trailer and cargo, and may also affect other road users, raising the possibility of liability claims. In addition to measuring tire pressure with a gauge, you’ll also want to do a visual inspection of your tires for nails, screws, and other road debris that might cause a sudden loss of pressure while underway.
Weld Inspections
A broken weld on your trailer can spell disaster, so checking your trailer’s welds every six months at the least will help you catch any minor issues before they become major problems. Things like the elements, regular wear and tear from use, and accidents and collisions can cause damage to your trailer’s welds. If you are concerned that you might have an issue with your trailer’s welds outside of your area of expertise, contact a trailer repair shop to make sure that your welds are strong and corrosion-free.
Wiring
Your trailer’s electrical system controls things like lights and brakes, and if this system is not properly functioning, you risk accidents and collisions. Performing a routine electrical system check every six months will reduce the chances that you’ll run into an issue with your lights, brakes, and any other electrical components that keep your trailer safe and visible on the road.
Safety Chains and Hitches
Safety chains and hitches can wear down over time. To make sure that your cargo is always safely and properly secured to your hauling vehicle, ensure that you are regularly inspecting your safety chains and hitches. Including your safety chains and hitches in your trailer’s routine maintenance greatly decreases your chances of an accident, and can also help you to avoid costly repairs from equipment neglect.
Pro Tips to Reduce Wear on Your Trailer
Always Distribute Weight Evenly
One way to reduce the wear and tear on your trailer is to always make sure that your cargo weight is evenly distributed and that the cargo is properly secured. By spreading the load evenly across the axles from front to back and side to side, you can prevent uneven, premature wear on both your trailer and the trailer tires. Securely attaching cargo prevents it from shifting during transport, improving safety and maneuverability, and also avoiding damage to your trailer and the goods you’re transporting.
Avoid Leaving in the Elements
A covered storage area is ideal, but you cannot always avoid keeping your trailer outdoors. When storing a trailer outside, a quality cover will help keep it safe from the elements, and reduce issues like rust and environmental or wildlife damage. Regular checks on a trailer stored outside will help you to stay ahead of any repairs or extra maintenance you will need to perform to keep your trailer in good working condition.
An Ounce of Prevention Is Worth a Pound of Cure
Inspections and maintenance take time and effort, but are well worth doing in order to avoid unexpected downtime, costly repairs, or a shortened service life on your equipment. Work with a checklist to ensure that nothing is missed on a walkaround, and address any faults promptly – it’s better to pull a trailer out of service for work in your own garage than to have it break down far afield where you’ll have to arrange for repairs and also complete the delivery.
By performing routine maintenance and staying ahead of any issues that you might experience, you’ll be able to keep your trailer in optimal condition, roadworthy, and ready to tackle the next job. Looking for a new trailer? Equipment Trader has you covered.
