Below are a few helpful tips for maintaining your trailer. This is not a comprehensive user manual, but it could help to avoid recurring problems & safety issues.

Daily Checks

These checks should be made before every journey with your trailer. Because there is no MOT for trailers, their road-worthiness is your responsibility.

Wheels

The wheels should be free of any squeaking and damage.

Tyres need to be correctly inflated, we recommend a minimum of 1.8mm of tread (1.6mm being the legal limit for car tyres).

Wheel nuts need to be set at the correct torque to avoid uneven wear & wheel wobble.

Tow-ball & Breakaway Cable

Any play on the tow-ball can lead to "shunting" and damage to both the trailer and towing vehicle.

Your breakaway cable is your trailer's lifeline, should it become detached while driving. Any excessive wear or damage to this cable could result in a serious accident.

Lights & 12v Connector

All lights fitted to the trailer must be in good working order.

Number Plate & Load

It sounds simple, but if you use more than one car with your trailer, make sure that the correct number plate is fitted.

The load on your trailer is your responsibility, it needs to be securely fastened and within your trailer's weight limit.

It's worth noting that insecure load carries a maximum of £2500 fine and 3 penalty points. For more information, the link below has an informative article on load securing:

Mileage Checks (roughly every 500 miles)

As well as the daily checks, it's highly recommended that you inspect your trailer at regular mileage intervals, or after heavy loads are carried. Weather, road conditions and harsh driving can all contribute to wear on trailer parts. These periodic checks must also include the items that are checked with each use.

Bearings

Play in bearings are a good indicator that they are coming to the end of their life. It can be serious if a bearing does fail, and can even lead to a wheel falling off! Bearing failure can also start a chain of problems which can lead to axle damage and suspension issues.

Brakes

Brakes and brake cables wear with use, but when left for long periods can cause the brake shoes to rub, increasing wear and increasing the amount of fuel used to tow the trailer. If you're worried that your brakes aren't functioning properly, give us a call and we can check them over for you.

Bodywork & Accessories

Trailer doors can see a lot of use, as well as pressure from straps, all of which can cause wear/damage to both the hinges and the doors themselves. One thing to look out for is when the doors feel loose when secured, this could be a simple fix of changing the latches or tightening the centre pillar.

Straps & Securing

Check straps for any fraying, cuts or uneven wear. Ratchet mechanisms need to be kept free from dirt/debris and lubricated to keep the moving parts working freely. A strap box can be fitted in front of your wheels for when they're not in use.