Owning a horse trailer greatly accentuates the pleasure of horse ownership. With trailer ownership comes the freedom of exploring new trails, spending hours in the saddle with friends, saving money on farm calls by hauling to the vet's office, and the thrill of competition. Purchasing a trailer often involves a considerable investment whether it is the basic two-horse bumper pull or the loaded four-horse gooseneck with full living quarters. Simple preventative maintenance will protect your investment and freedom of mobility for a number of years, as well as provide a measure of safety for you and your horse.
Poor maintenance can become a horse owner's nightmare. Flat tires, broken springs or spindles, frozen bearings, and broken axles can ruin an outing or can cause an accident. Severe injury or death can result from a horse stepping through rotting floorboards. A broken weld on a trailer tongue can cause the trailer to detach from the towing vehicle. A damaged door latch can release the trailer door while traveling down the road, releasing the horse to fall out of the trailer backwards.
Maintenance checks fall into two categories. The easiest of these are the checks that should be performed each time the trailer is used. These routine items include:
• Checking tires for tread wear, adequate tire pressure, and any signs of dry rot cracks. Inadequate tire pressure is often the cause of blowouts. Don't forget to check the spare tire, too. The minimum amount of tread needed is one-quarter inch.
• Removing the mats after each use and cleaning the floor by sweeping or hosing. Make certain that the floor is completely dry before replacing the matting.
• Checking the floor for signs of weakened areas or rot. Even aluminum floors can corrode and weaken.
• Checking all lights and replacing the non-functioning bulbs. Remember to also check the interior light.
• Looking for any screws, bolts, or nails in the interior that have worked loose due to vibration. Remove and replace as necessary.
• Inspecting the hitch welds, safety chains and snaps for wear or breakage.
• Greasing the hitch ball as needed to prevent rust and corrosion.
· Making sure that your jack, safety triangles, and wheel chocks are packed and are in good working order. Being caught on the road at night with a flat tire and without a way to fix it is not a picnic!
|
|
This trailer latch is in good operating condition.
Photo by Brenda Baldwin© |
A reputable trailer repair shop should perform yearly maintenance. The cost of this service is minor compared to repair costs as the result of equipment failure. One such scenario would be not packing the wheel bearings on an annual basis and having the wheels freeze. The approximately $75.00 basic maintenance cost will then translate into a $400-500 repair job on a two-horse trailer, plus the towing cost of the trailer and the inconvenience of being stranded on a busy highway with two horses.
It is also not advisable for the trailer owner to take on the task of lubricating or packing the wheel bearings on his own. Severe problems can also arise by not using the proper grease designated for high temperatures or by applying an excessive amount of lubricant and ruining the brake linings, causing brake failure.
The checklist for annual shop maintenance includes:
• Greasing all of the hinges, springs, latches, etc.
• Inspecting ramp hinges and springs for cracks and wear.
• Inspecting the wiring for damaged insulation and loose connections.
• Inspecting the frame for corrosion or cracks.
• Inspecting spring shackles for wear.
• Replacing or repairing rusted or corroded metal.
• Pulling the wheels and checking and repacking the bearings.
• Inspecting the braking system and emergency breakaway cable, pin, battery, and control box.
• Replacing any questionable flooring. Applying a weather sealer annually will help extend the life of the wood flooring.
This is truly one case where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Before you load your horse for the next trip, think about protecting your trailer investment.
MORE PICTURES .... CLICK HERE!
