Every week I get a very good question about the frequency and maintenance of my trailer. The answer will vary depending on the amount of use and the climate in which the unit is operating. Here are some tips that I recommend my clients use as a guide.
You should always check your lights, lug nuts, air pressure, and couplers every time you hook up to your trailer. This will only take a few minutes, but it can save you a lot of time, money, and headaches when you’re on the go. To check the lights, simply turn on your headlights and hazard flashers. This will activate all the lights on the trailer except the reversing lights. You’ll need to enlist a friend to properly check your backup lights by turning on the ignition switch and with your foot on the brake, put the tow vehicle in reverse. This will activate the reverse lights if the trailer is equipped. The lug nuts should also be checked to ensure they are properly torqued to the correct specification listed in the trailer manual. Air pressure will vary with ambient temperature, so you will need to refer to the cold PSI rating on the sidewall of the tire for the proper air setting. Some couplers are adjustable and some are not, but always check to make sure they are properly locked and secure.
Trailers will have an idler hub or brake rim that will contain the bearings and seals. I recommend that you service these items every 5,000 miles or yearly, whichever comes first. If the shaft is the EZ-lube style, be careful not to over-grease, which could cause grease to leak out the back of the seal. When tightening the spindle nut, never tighten it to the point where the bearings bind or drag. All you want to do here is tighten this nut until you’ve removed any loose rods from the bearing.
If your trailer has braked axles, you must adjust the brakes each time the axle is serviced. This is most commonly done using a brake adjusting screw. This adjuster is accessed through a slot in the back of the vacuum plate. Remove the rubber plug to insert your tool. I recommend that you turn the adjuster until you hear the pad make very light contact with the drum. At this point, I back off my adjuster with a click. Always check your brakes simply by jacking up your trailer, spinning the tire and pulling on the safety cable. Make sure you have positive current to keep the battery detachable while being towed. If the tow vehicle does not supply this 12v power, the battery cannot be maintained and the breakaway system will not be operational.
Always remember to take a minute and walk around your trailer before you hit the road. This will allow you to not only see potential problems, but also check your upload.
A safe trailer is a good trailer…
