How to maintain your trailer

Trailers are one of the most useful allies for any driver, as they allow transporting a large amount of luggage or an extra load with great ease without affecting the driving. But for this to happen, the trailer must always be in optimal condition. In order to ensure this, it is important to perform regular maintenance on the trailer.

Factors that most influence the maintenance of your trailer

Whenever a trailer is used, it should be understood as another component of the car. Therefore, the maintenance of the trailer must undergo the same maintenance tasks as those performed on the car itself.

The wear of the parts depends greatly on the frequency of use, the driving style, and the terrain conditions. As with vehicles, not all components wear out at the same rate, with the tires and brakes being the ones that suffer the most and should be replaced sooner.

Wheels

The trailer’s wheels are the component that wears out the most over time and will most affect driving. The aspects to pay the most attention to during their maintenance are the pressure and the wear. In the case of pressure, you need to ensure they are at a level appropriate for the weight and size of the load being carried on the trailer. Likewise, it is advisable to inflate the tires regularly to reduce wear and fuel consumption.

The wear of the tires is indicated by the tread pattern. If they are very worn, it is best to replace them as soon as possible to reduce the chances of a blowout on the road.

Brakes

Although not all trailers come with brakes, as they are designed for heavier loads, if your trailer has them, it is important to check their condition. The brakes are also known for being a component that wears out faster since they are under a lot of stress. To reduce this, it is important to adapt the load to the specific characteristics of the trailer.

Other components to check when maintaining your trailer

Although the components mentioned earlier are the ones that suffer the most, there are other elements that should also be checked to ensure the trailer is in optimal condition.

Hitch head

The hitch head should be checked every 10,000 km or once a year. During this inspection, you need to ensure the condition of the part. If it is very worn out or how well it is lubricated.

Wheel bolts

Use and vibrations can cause the wheel bolts to loosen, so it is important to check them regularly and tighten them whenever necessary.

Greasing the bearings

It is advisable to check the condition of the bearings once a year to assess their wear level and lubricate them with clean grease to reduce wear.