We are often asked for a condensed version of maintenance tips that every trailer owner should know. This is our list:
- Wash your trailer after dipping in saltwater. Saltwater is incredibly corrosive. Rinsing off the trailer will greatly prolong your trailer’s useful life.
- Check your tire pressure. Trailer tires are different from car tires – 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” – insert 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 tiedown 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 – 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. Cris-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.
As you do with your car, we strongly encourage trailer owners to carry some equipment in the event of an emergency. We always recommend that you carry a trailer kit. Contents can include a spare wheel and tire, lug wrench, wheel chocks, bearing grease, extra hub assembly, extra line (for the winch and tie-down straps), replacement light bulbs, wheel bearings and road flares (or road markers).