At every three months or 3000 miles, you should inspect your tires.
Look them over for cracks, splits, tread depth, bulging sidewalls and
foreign objects. Get your tire gauge out and check for correct tire
pressure. Inspect your wheels for missing or broken lugnuts, Also look
close for cracks in your wheels. Make sure they are clean so you can get a
good look.
Pull your rubber mats out and clean them with soap and water and hang
them up to dry. While they are drying, take a close look inside at your
flooring. Large animals such as your horses or steers or other cargo can
put a real strain on your trailers floors. Re-install your mats when they
are dry. Now is a good time to spray your hinges and door mechanisms.
Inspect the interior for broken or damaged parts such as dividers. Look
for sharp objects. Don't forget to log your maintenance.
When you reach six months or 6000 miles, it's a good time to rotate
your tires and do a good inspection of them. If in doubt, replace. Nothing
is more inconvenient than a tire failure when you are on the road. Check
your braking magnets for wear and current draw. Test the electric brake
actuator in your tow vehicle for amperage and output. If these checks are
beyond your scope, find a qualified trailer service department. Don't
forget to perform all the steps listed in the 3000 mile/three month
maintenance and log it.
It's best to time your twelve month/12,000 mile maintenance to fall just
before your busiest season, usually in late spring. That's usually when
the stock shows, rodeos, boating, landscape services and cargo hauling
start to build up. This maintenance is the most important.
Let's start at the front of the trailer. Check your jack or drop
leg for wear and tear and grease the gears. Give a good look over of the
hitching mechanism. Inspect all wiring for wear, cracks and continuity.
You might want to give a close look at plugs for dirt inside. Get
underneath the trailer and check the undercarriage for damage and wear.
Look over the suspension and grease applicable items. Check all weld
seams, rivets, bolts and fasteners. Test axle attachment bolts for
tightness. Perform all the steps outlined in the previous maintenance
schedules for the three/3000 and the six/6000 mile schedules. This time,
while you have the mats out, take a much closer look at your flooring. If
your trailer has wooden floors, examine the sealant. If you haul
livestock, you can expect some damage from urine. It may be necessary to
strip and reseal. If you haul gas or chemicals, even more serious damage
can occur. Flooring failure can be disastrous.
Check all windows and vents to see they operate properly. Lubricate the
mechanisms. Again, check the interior for any damage and sharp edges or
objects. If you have feeders for livestock, check for damage.
While performing the brake and wheel inspection, is a good time to closely
inspect your wheel bearings. Especially if your trailer has been in water.
Wheel bearing failures are probably the single biggest reason you see
trailers on the side of the road. If you have sealed bearings, check for
free running and corrosion. If needed, replace. You can't service sealed
bearings. If you have unsealed bearings, inspect and repack. This is
especially important if the bearings have been immersed in water.
After you have completed all your cleaning and maintenance give yourself
a pat on the back. In the long run, you will save money. Your trailer will
last much longer and give more dependable service. And most important, you
will be much safer on the road. Remember, If any of these steps in your
maintenance are beyond your knowledge and scope, seek out a qualified
trailer service department. Better safe than sorry.
Again, this is a general outline for servicing your trailer. For a more
complete instruction guide, contact your trailer's manufacturer for
replacement instructions and a list of dealers in your area.
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