Understanding How Trailer Maintenance Functions

Your trailer has clearly seen better days. Just look at it over there—are those weeds creeping around its tires? Hold on, is it missing a tire? Let's face it, my friend: Your trailer is falling apart.

You once adored it. You got it as a birthday gift years ago, and you thought it was the most stunning, practical, and coolest thing ever. Now it stands there like a forgotten, rusty relic in the driveway. It’s time for you and your trailer to reconnect and give it the attention it needs again.

Sure, you could hire a professional. Many business owners make a solid income by taking care of others' trailers. But why not spend a pleasant afternoon getting your trailer back in shape yourself? It will take some effort and time, but with our guidance, you’ll have your trailer road-ready in no time.

In this guide, we’ll explore various ways to keep your trailer well-maintained. You'll find out what products to use when washing it. We’ll show you how to keep essential parts lubricated, and we’ll walk you through tire maintenance and light system inspections. Soon, you’ll be able to restore your trailer to its prime. Turn to the next page to begin.

Washing a Trailer

To start, let’s give that old trailer a good wash. Keeping your trailer clean is important, especially if it’s an enclosed model. These trailers often come with an auto-grade finish that includes multiple layers of paint and sealant. For these, use warm water and a soap specifically designed for automotive finishes. If your trailer doesn't have an auto finish, regular soapy water will do. Use a standard hose for rinsing; high-pressure washers can damage the finish and harm the trailer's body. Take your time cleaning the reflective plates and lights so they shine bright. Don’t forget to rinse the undercarriage, as road dust can build up and cause wear on moving parts.

If you own a boat trailer, it’s essential to wash it after each use, particularly if you use it in saltwater. Saltwater speeds up corrosion, so pay close attention to the wheels, suspension, and brakes. Saltwater can leave a residue on these parts after evaporation, and that residue can seriously damage metal components.

While washing, keep an eye out for rusted spots or areas. Sand these down with sandpaper or steel wool. After washing and allowing the trailer to dry, touch up any rusty areas with rust-resistant paint. Once the paint has dried, apply a generous coat of wax on the trailer's painted metal surfaces. Even if there wasn’t much to touch up, waxing is essential. It may seem like an extra step for all but the highest-end models, but it’s great for protecting metal parts from the elements and preventing rust.

As you’re washing, you may notice that trailers can be quite tall, which can make cleaning a challenge. Don’t worry though, there are plenty of tools designed to make the job easier. Telescoping wash brushes and chamois can help you reach those high spots. A sturdy, non-slip step ladder with good treads on each step can also make a huge difference.

Now that the old trailer is looking all shiny, it’s time to get down to the next task: greasing and lubricating it properly. Turn to the next page to learn how to keep your trailer running smoothly.

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How to Keep Trailer Parts Properly Greased

Dirt is one of your trailer's worst enemies. When dirt and dust particles get into the moving parts of your trailer, they cause friction and wear. Keeping your trailer’s components well-greased will ensure the joints and axles move smoothly. Before you hit the road again, give it a quick greasing session.

Basically, any moving part of your trailer or any component that comes in contact with others should be regularly lubricated to prevent corrosion and reduce friction. Elements like the winch, ball hitch, springs, and tongue jack all need proper lubrication, so be sure to grease them throughout the year. Make lubricating these parts a key part of your routine, especially before heading out on long trips.

Lubricating all moving components is crucial. A key part of this process is maintaining the wheel bearings, the cylindrical rings that connect the wheels to the axles and allow for smooth rotation. Since wheels are vital for your trailer’s function, it’s essential to take care of your wheel bearings. Given that the wheel bearings and axles are metal-on-metal, keeping them well-greased helps prevent friction and potential damage to the wheels.

Wheel bearings contain inner bearings that allow the entire assembly to move smoothly. Part of trailer maintenance includes cleaning and lubricating the wheel bearings on each wheel. While we’ve provided an extensive guide on properly cleaning your wheel bearings on the Lots More Information page, here’s a quick overview: It might seem tedious, but maintaining your wheel bearings is absolutely crucial.

Start by removing the tire and any hardware securing your wheel to the axle. Once the wheel is off, you’ll find the wheel bearing in the wheel hub, and it should come off easily once the hardware is removed. To clean it, soak the wheel bearing in gasoline to loosen dirt and old grease. Then, remove the old seal and the inner bearing. Clean both the inner bearing and the wheel bearing thoroughly.

Once everything is dry, reinstall the inner bearing and seal the wheel bearing. Add grease gently to avoid damaging the seal, and wipe off any excess. Now’s a great time to grease the axle as well. After you’ve reassembled the wheel bearings and wheel, move on to the next wheel.

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Maintaining Your Trailer Tires

Since your trailer’s performance is closely tied to its tires, it’s crucial to maintain them properly. This is especially true for large trailers, where the added weight the tires carry, even when the trailer is stationary, can cause the tires to wear out much faster than the tires on your towing vehicle.

If your trailer has been sitting unused for a while, it’s likely that the tires need inflating. While regular use of your trailer will naturally cause air loss in the tires, they also lose pressure when left idle. Tires will always leak air over time, so keeping an eye on your tire pressure is a key part of trailer maintenance.

The reason why maintaining proper air pressure in your trailer’s tires is so important is straightforward: Driving a fully-loaded trailer with under-inflated tires is a serious hazard. The friction between the rubber and the road can lead to tire degradation, which can ultimately result in a blowout. The last thing you want while towing at high speeds is for your trailer to have a blowout. Even if a blowout doesn’t happen, tires that are too flat from poor inflation can cause instability, leading to dangerous swaying.

Before inflating your trailer tires, be sure to check the manufacturer’s recommended inflation pressure, usually listed in the owner’s manual. Take note of whether your trailer requires higher pressure when carrying heavy loads. If that’s the case, make sure to adjust accordingly when inflating your tires.

Before hitting the road, inspect your trailer’s tires for signs of wear. It’s generally advised to replace trailer tires every three to five years. When purchasing replacements, make sure the new tires match the ones currently on your trailer if you're not buying a full set. If you can, it’s worth the extra money to replace all the tires at once. Even good tires have some wear, and putting a new one on can affect the trailer’s handling. Some tire manufacturers create special tires designed for trailers. Bias ply tires, for instance, are stiffer than the radial tires used on most cars and trucks. This added stiffness helps reduce swaying since these tires don’t flex as much as more flexible auto tires. When storing your trailer, cover the tires with a tarp to shield them from the sun, which can cause cracking and splitting.

So you’ve gone ahead and replaced your trailer’s tires, got them properly inflated, and now you’re almost ready to roll. Your trailer’s in great shape now. The next step is to make sure your trailer’s lighting system is up to par. Read the next page to learn more.

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Inspecting Your Trailer’s Lighting System

Have you ever driven on a dark highway and passed another vehicle that had no lights on? You probably thought the other driver was inconsiderate—and you’d be right. Driving with faulty or no lights is dangerous, and that applies to cars, trucks, and trailers alike.

Maintaining your trailer properly means ensuring that the lights are in good working order. This is crucial, as most states have regulations requiring trailers to have functioning brake lights, tail lights, turn signals, and license plate lights. The wiring for these lights should be bundled together as part of your trailer's electrical system. Typically, all the wires come together at a central plug that connects to a socket powered by your towing vehicle. While maintaining your trailer, inspect the wiring on both your trailer and towing vehicle to check the insulation. Look for any signs of corrosion, wear, or cracking. If you find any damage, wrap it up with electrical tape to protect it.

With your towing vehicle's engine off (and lights in the off position to be safe), clean the electrical connectors. Remove any dirt or grime that may have accumulated. After cleaning, apply a small amount of dielectric waterproof grease. This special grease doesn't conduct electricity and keeps moisture out of your connections. You can also apply this grease to light bulb sockets and any other places where moisture could infiltrate your electrical system.

Now that you’ve taken steps to prevent electrical issues, your lighting system should be in good shape. However, it's essential to verify that everything is working. This can be tricky if you're working alone, as you need one person to operate the lights and another to check that they’re functioning properly. For lights like turn signals, you can leave them on and walk to the back of the trailer to inspect them. Brake lights, on the other hand, require a little more effort. It’s a good idea to recruit a friend, family member, or neighbor to help you with the task—it will go much faster and smoother with some assistance.

Test each light in the system one at a time. Start with the tail lights and license plate lights, then move to the turn signals, and finally the brake lights. Ask your helper to confirm that each light is working before you proceed to the next. Replace any burnt-out bulbs and address any larger electrical issues before hitting the road with your trailer.

Well done! Your trailer is now in excellent condition and ready for the road with just a little time and effort from you. Now, it’s time to set off on your next adventure.

For additional details on towing and other related subjects, head to the next page.

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