MAINTENANCE

By Scott Sittler

Knowing how to tow your trailer safely is only part of being a responsible trailer owner . Making sure your trailer is well maintained is an essential step in keeping it fit for towing . Neglecting routine trailer maintenance can lead to dangerous issues and increase the risk of accidents . Additionally , it can result in costly repairs and reduce the trailer ’ s lifespan due to preventable wear and tear .

While you should always consult the owner ’ s and axle manuals for your individual trailer , there are some general maintenance guidelines all trailer owners should be aware of to maintain and operate your trailer safely .

Tires

Your trailer ’ s tires help carry the weight of your cargo . Inspect them regulary often for wear and replace them as needed . Waiting too long to replace your trailer ’ s tires can lead to a number of issues and even create dangerous situations .

You should inspect your tires before you use your trailer , every time . As you inspect your tires , keep in mind the following areas that need to be inspected for indications they should be replaced . down and facing you . If you can see the top of his head , you need to buy new tires . Remember to include your trailer ’ s spare tire in your regular inspections !

Cracks , punctures and other damage Remove foreign objects such as nails as soon as you notice them in a tire . If you notice a crack or if your tire is punctured , it may be repairable by plugging the hole and patching the area inside the tire that surrounds the hole , depending on the location . If this doesn ’ t resolve the issue , or if your tire ’ s sidewall has been punctured , it will need to be replaced .

Keep an eye out for damage and deformities such as bulges , cuts and flat or bald spots , and replace your tires if you notice any of these . Remember , any attempt to repair trailer tires should be done by a tire professional .

Valve stem While checking the tires , inspect the valve stem for cracks as well . A cracked stem can cause a slow leak and increase difficulty of inflating the tire . If a tire cannot be properly inflated due to cracks in the valve stem , it ’ s time to replace the tire .

Age Age is also a factor to consider when determining if your trailer ’ s tires need to be replaced . Each tire manufacturer will likely have different recommendations on the service life of a particular type of tire , but statistics suggest the average life of a trailer tire is approximately five years under normal use and maintenance conditions . You should consider replacing tires after three years , even if the tires appear to have adequate tread depth . Consult with your tire dealer if you have questions regarding the life expectancy of your trailer ’ s tires .

Tire tread Look at tire treads for signs of uneven wear patterns , such as more wear on one side or maybe just in the center . As a general rule of thumb , your tires should be replaced when the tread is worn down to 2 / 32 of an inch . Tires do have built-in tread wear indicators to help you see when it is time to replace them . The indicators are the raised sections with intermittent spacing in the bottom of the tread grooves .

When these indicators appear even with the outside of the tread , it ’ s time to replace your trailer ’ s tires . You can also check tread depth by placing a penny in the tread with Lincoln ’ s head upside

Trailer maintenance is important , it ’ s simple , and it ’ s too often overlooked .

26 OPE + September 2024 www . OPE-Plus . com