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The trailer is the extra carrier vehicle that is attached to the car, van, trucks, etc. Without a trailer, the vehicle will not be able to carry so much load. So, in summary, the trailer has wheels, but it doesn’t have an engine. In light of this, the trailer can only be functional when attached to a vehicle with an engine.
2. Importance of Regular Trailer Maintenance
There are different types of trailers designed for different purposes. Trailers can be classified according to their purposes or load capacity. We’ll take a look at some of them here. After reading this section, you’ll be able to choose the type of trailer you need for your specific needs.
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The thing about having a boat is that there are lots of water bodies you might want to use the boat on. But the problem is how do you get the boat to all these locations? Do you ride your boat all the way there? The answer is no!! You can’t possibly do that. This is where a boat trailer comes in. With a boat trailer, you can easily transport your boat across the land to any location of your choice. All you need to do is to hook the boat on the trailer, attach the trailer to your vehicle, and off you go.
So, a trailer boat is a specially designed trailer for boats that allows the easy movement of boats over dry land.
A flatbed trailer remains one of the most popular trailer types. One of the reasons it is so popular is how versatile it is. This type of trailer can transport almost anything, including lumber, wood, to steel coils. A distinctive feature of the flatbed trailer is that it doesn’t have any box covering. In light of this, loading and offloading are easy with this trailer.
You might have guessed this from its name. An enclosed trailer is a trailer that has a container over it to protect the load. The simple explanation is that it is a flatbed trailer with a box over it. This type of trailer helps provide more security for the trailer load. It protects the load from weather elements and other security threats. In addition, the enclosed trailer is great for transporting almost anything. Tools, musical equipment, office supplies, etc., can be transported with an enclosed trailer.
Another good thing about enclosed trailers is that you do not need to worry about getting tarps. That way, you’ll be reducing costs. In addition, you can get the best out of enclosed trailer spaces through the use of storage cabinets and shelves.
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Although manufacturers of trailers design them to be durable, proper maintenance still needs to be maintained. Besides, many trailer owners or drivers do not bother maintaining their trailers because of this reason. If you are among this pool of drivers, you need to change your ways and maintain your trailers. However, if you are still wondering why you should, this section is for you. Check out the importance of regular trailer maintenance here.
We’ll assume that you did not buy your trailer or truck for use over a short period. If we are right, then one way to ensure that your trailer stands the test of time is by performing regular maintenance on it. You should ensure that all the trailer components are in great condition. You should also change faulty parts as soon as you notice them. Failure to replace these parts immediately will definitely shorten the lifespan of your trailer. Besides, if you are using the trailer for business, trailer maintenance should be a priority as you do not want the trailer to disappoint you when you need it the most.
Like any other machinery or vehicle, maintaining the trailer can help prevent hazards. By carrying out routine maintenance of the trailer, you’ll be taking the right steps to protect the lives of the driver. Besides, if you employ a driver for your trailer or trucks, routine maintenance will help increase the driver’s morale, thereby increasing productivity.
You might be wondering how spending money and time on maintaining your trailer saves you money. Well, of course, you will spend a few bucks during maintenance. However, the savings come when you avoid paying huge maintenance costs due to lack of maintenance. Besides, many trailer owners revealed that they regretted not starting maintenance sooner as the costs they incurred later on could have been avoided.
Furthermore, fuel efficiency is one of the benefits of maintaining your trailers. Again, you can also reduce your insurance expenses when you show the insurer that you maintain your trailer properly.
It is well known that many trailer accidents happen due to vehicle part malfunction. Although terrible driving habits cause a good percentage of accidents, vehicle part failure is also one of the catalysts. When you perform regular maintenance, you’ll be able to detect the problems on time before hitting the road. Besides, routine maintenance checks also help to keep your vehicle road-worthy.
Have you decided to maintain your trailer? Here are some checklists to tick out to ensure you have done a great job.
Here are some things to do when trying to secure all connection points.
Ball Couplers: The trailer’s coupler is the point where the tow vehicle is connected or attached to the trailer. Ensure that the ball coupler is in the right condition. It should not be dented or bent.
Safety Chains: A safety chain is used to ensure that the trailer is still attached to the vehicle when the ball coupler fails. For clarification, safety chains act as the ‘buffer’ or first line of defense if the trailer detaches from the vehicle. Ensure that the chains are strong and firm. The chains should also never drag on the road. If you notice the chain is dragging on the road, quickly adjust the length. Also, inspect the chain links that have been dragged on the road to ensure that they still have sufficient strength.
Pintle: Before towing your trailer, use a thin layer of automotive bearing grease to coat the ring. This is to ensure smooth operation and reduce wear. In addition, endeavor to inspect the locking device that secures the pintle to the ring. You can also check the pintle’s manufacturer’s manual on performing maintenance.
Brakes: You need to keep your brake shoes and drums in optimum health to avoid a road disaster. It is advisable to have your dealer check them out once per year or after 12,000 miles. Also, you should adjust the brake shoes after the first 200 miles of use. Subsequent adjustments should come after 3,000 miles. Remember that you should not use pads or shoes with thin lining material because this can lead to brake damage. When this happens, you are at risk of a serious accident due to brake failure.
You need to check your wheel bearings regularly, especially if you use the trailer almost every time. You will find the bearings inside the wheel hub. Remember that you can’t just ‘see’ the bearings. You’ll need to take time out to open the wheel hub before you can inspect it. Besides, a damaged or worn-out wheel bearing tends to be one of the root causes of brake grabs.
For a proper maintenance routine, ensure that the wheels from the side aren’t loose. If you notice looseness, take out the dust caps, ensure that the grease is enough, and tighten any loose axle nut.
Another major cause of trailer accidents is poor tires. As a trailer owner, you need to ensure that your tires are in the right conditions at all times. It would be best if you kept the pressure at the optimum point at all times. In addition, ensure to check out that the tires are not worn out. This is because a trailer with a worn-out tire is harder to control, hereby being a recipe for a potential accident.
As a trailer owner or driver, you should always keep an eye out for your lights. A bad trailer light means you won’t see ahead of you at night. Besides, it is advisable to check out your trailer light every time you head out at night. Possible problems with the lights include wirings, burnt-out bulbs, etc. These are some of the things you need to check out.
Here are some of your trailer light maintenance checklists:
The major use of a jack is to lift and stabilize the trailer tongue or for lifting the trailer to connect and disconnect from the vehicle. There are majorly two types of jacks; top wind and side wind jacks.
Top Wind Jack: Under normal conditions, this type of jack does not require too much internal maintenance. If you notice that this jack isn’t winding up or down, then you’ll need to change the jack completely.
Side Wind Jack: You need to grease this jack regularly. It is advisable to do that at least once a year to get the best out of it.
Maintaining the trailer spring is quite easy. First, ensure you wash your trailers immediately after use. Next, coat the springs with a water repellent. This ensures that water doesn’t come in contact with the spring. By doing this, you’ll be increasing its lifespan considerably. Finally, apply rust inhibitors on the springs.
Here you have it on how to maintain your trailers. We are sure that you have learned a thing or two from this article. We assure you that following this guide will help prolong the lifespan of your precious trailer. Not only that, but some safety tips here will also help you avoid accidents.
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Tow-Max is a trusted supplier of trailer parts in China, known for its huge variety of products and one-stop services. We have been supplying customers from Australia, South America, the USA, and the Middle East. Our business partners are located in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Mexico City, Dubai, etc.
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