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Trailer Check List

We have just compiled this as a quick check list to act as a reminders for you

• Wash your trailer after each use, especially if it was in saltwater. Rinse every part of the trailer with fresh water, especially the suspension and behind the wheels.  Flush out the brakes if your trailer equipped with a flush kit.  Remember saltwater is very corrosive.          

• Grease bearings. Do this every couple of weeks.  Remove the hub cover.  Locate the grease fitting--it's the "nipple" that fits into the female end of a grease gun.  Squeeze grease from the gun until bearing are full (but not too full.)
  We recommend "Aqua Slip Waterproof Grease" which provides a high resistance to salt water corrosion and water washout, as well as allowing good sheer stability over a wide temperature range. <click here> to order (£4.95 per 500g tub.)
  Feel your hubs for excess heat when travelling.  They should not feel any hotter than a cup of coffee.
  Milky grease is a sign that it has been compromised by water.  If this happens, repack all bearings.
  Repack wheel bearings every six month as part of scheduled maintenance. 

• Lubricate your wheel nuts so that you will be able to loosen them to change tyres.
  How frustrating is it when you get a puncture and you can't get the wheel nuts undone !!!!  Wheel nuts tend to rust easily, frequent applications of WD-40, penetrating oil or silicone spray work well.  But if a garage has put a tyre on for you  just check that you can undo them.

• Check your tyre pressure. Trailer tyres are different from car/truck tyres.  Check the tire sidewall for correct pressure (usually 50-65 psi.)

• Check your tyre tread for wear, make sure you are within the legal limit ie for light trailers not exceeding 3500kg max gross weight the minimum requirement is at least 1.6mm throughout a continuous band in the centre ¾ of the tread and around the entire circumference.

• 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.

• Check fasteners and all trailer hardware to make sure they're tight.

• Towing Hitch - The lever type is currently being used in production.  It has a lever on top of the coupler that engages & secures the trailer to the hitch ball. 
  1.  Visually inspect hitch, ball and coupler for signs of wear or damage.  Replace any parts that are worn or damaged before towing.
  2.  Be sure the hitch is secured to the hitch ball and the lock lever is down and tight and locked.  When properly engaged, the tongue jack will not be able to lift the trailer off of the hitch ball.
  3.  Verify that the ball is properly inside the hitch and the hitch is not sitting on top of the ball.
  CAUTION. Use only the ball diameter indicated on your coupler - any other ball diameter will create an extremely dangerous condition that may result in separation from the hitch or ball failure.

For travelling Europe the AA have a pretty good run down of the different countries requirements
<have a look>

As you do with your car, why not carry emergency equipment for your trailer.  
Make a trailer Emergency Kit that contains
a spare wheel
,
bearing grease,
extra hub assembly,
extra line (for the winch and tie-down straps),
replacement light bulbs,
road safety triangle
wheel brace
wheel chocks

<you will find most of these parts here>

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