Trailer Maintenance Tips

NOTE: This guide outlines basic maintenance procedures. These procedures should only be completed by someone experienced in mechanical maintenance and repair. Trailer owners are strongly encouraged to use their dealer for any repair - especially with the components that effect safety (such as brakes and bearings), we urge trailer owners to have that maintenance completed by their dealer.

Top Ten Tips | Maintenance Schedule | Before Towing | General Maintenance | Storing Your Trailer | Trouble Shooting

• Wash your trailer after dipping in saltwater. Saltwater is incredibly corrosive. Rinsing off the trailer will  greatly prolong your trailer’s useful life. This includes flushing your drum brakes.
  
  
• Check your tire pressure. Trailer tires are different from car tires so check the tire sidewall for correct tire pressure (often 50-65 psi - much higher than your tow vehicle).
  
  
• Check your tire tread. Use the penny test by inserting a penny into the tread. The tread should touch the top of Abe Lincoln’s head.
  
  
• Check the lights. Have someone depress the brake pedal and use the turn signal while you stand behind the vehicle and ensure the correct lights illuminate.
  
  
• Use tie down straps. These inexpensive straps help secure your boat to the trailer. Every boat should be secured with several tie-down straps. Your winch strap is not a tie down strap.
  
  
• Check to make sure all of your fasteners are tight.
  
  
• If you are storing your boat be sure to block and cover your trailer tires. Remember rubber degrades when exposed to sunlight and also rots when exposed to the ground. You may wish to shade your tires. Moving your trailer periodically or jacking your trailer off the ground will help reduce dry rotting of your tires.
  
  
• Use safety chains correctly. Chris-cross the chains below the tongue.
  
  
• Do not put too much weight on your trailer. Gear can add a lot of weight - even if your boat can handle all of the gear, look at the weight rating on your trailer and do not exceed the maximum weight.
  
  
• Grease your bearings. You can learn more about this procedure in this manual but remember if you do not have good grease in your hubs, your trailer cannot roll.