Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Trailer Check-up - Make Sure Your Trailer is Ready for Summer Travel



Whether you have a cargo, motorcycle, car, utility, horse, equipment, or restroom trailer, proper maintenance and upkeep is needed to ensure that it performs reliably year after year. At TrailerShowroom, we have a wide variety of trailers to meet your needs, and we want to help you protect your investment by providing you with a checklist of sorts keep your trailer on the road and out of the repair shop.

Brakes

The brakes are obviously a critical component, and you want to have them serviced on regular intervals. If you have a disc brake setup, the drums, shoes, and related hardware need to be looked at; the rotors need to be changed if they are damaged; and the pads should be replaced if excessively worn. If you have a drum and disc brake hydraulic setup, you need to look at the wheel cylinders, master cylinder, and brake lines to see if there are any fluid leaks. It's also important to check for any rust. If you have an electric brake setup, you need to check the wiring, magnets, electrical connectors, and battery. You should also ensure that the emergency battery is charged completely and properly mounted.

Bearings

The bearings are also very important, so you want to disassemble them, clean them out, inspect them for damage, and repack them with fresh grease. Failing to service the bearings at least once a year could cause them to implode without notice, which would potentially be disastrous.


Electrical Components

Check the wiring to ensure that all of the trailer lights work properly -- and that includes the brake lights. The last thing you want is to have a problem with the lights when you're on the road, so be sure to give the wiring a once-over to see if there are any visible signs of damage. Fix as required.

Cleanliness Matters

Don’t forget to keep your trailer clean. When it comes to keeping your trailer clean, washing by hand works better than washing by a high-powered pressure washer that can damage the finish. You can use a simple soap and water solution, wash with a soft cloth, and then rinse.

Lubrication

Lubricate the axles and joints so that your trailer doesn't fail you. Also ensure that components like the springs, ball hitch, and winch are lubricated to keep your trailer rolling.

Tire Pressure

Make sure that your trailer tires are inflated properly. Overinflated or underinflated tires can potentially be unsafe, so ensure that yours are properly as per the amount recommended on the tires. If you follow these steps, your trailer will provide you with years of reliable service. So be proactive, stay on top of maintenance and upkeep, and enjoy your travels.

Resources:
http://onlinetowingguide.com/maintenance/trailer_maint.html
http://www.aa1car.com/library/trailer_brakes.htm












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