In our previous blog we took a look at some of the most important and simple maintenance tasks that you can perform on your trailer, whether you have an aluminum boat trailer or galvanized trailers from LoadRite Canada. For instance, it’s important to wash your boat trailer after use, but it’s equally important to dry it before putting it into storage. You’ll also want to check the electrical connections often, spraying them with electrical contact spray in order to keep them rust-free. (And after you do, check the brakes and lights to make sure they’re working.) And if you’re leaving your boat trailer and/or boat out in the elements, make sure to cover it up. Some should be checked yearly, while others should be checked every time you head out to the water.
Those aren’t the only parts of your boat trailer you should be concerned about. No matter how well our large and small boat trailers are made, wear and tear on the paved and unpaved Canadian roads can cause every trailer to need some maintenance. Let’s take a look at a few more aspects of your trailer you’ll want to keep an eye on.
Check the Winch
The winch is incredibly important to keep an eye on. After all, though our winches might make it easy to haul your boat out of the water, they’re still under a lot of stress. While you shouldn’t rely only on your winch to hold the boat in place during transport, it will still be under some stress.
That’s why you should check your winch periodically to inspect it for fraying or any other sort of damage. Be sure to pull it all the way out as long as it will go to inspect it; otherwise you might miss something. If it is damaged in some way, makes sure to get it repaired or replaced as quickly as possible. Working with a damaged winch is not only dangerous but can be beyond frustrating if your boat is in the water and you’re unable to get it up on the boat trailer.
How do cables and straps get damaged? Sometimes it’s the environment, such as a jagged rock or a tree branch. Other times it might be part of the dock that frays it. No matter what, though, be sure to get it taken care of.
Get Bunks Replaced
Rollers and bunks are another incredibly import part of your boat trailer that you don’t want to ignore. After all, they’re carrying all of the weight of your boat, and if one is somehow damaged you should take it to a repair shop immediately. Damaged bunks and rollers can not only damage your boat, but they can also make transport incredibly dangerous. Sure, having a bunk drop your boat on a back road can be annoying, but having it drop your boat when you’re heading down the highway can be downright deadly.
Here at LoadRite Canada, we want you to be as safe as possible, and doing some basic maintenance can keep your trailer in the best condition possible. Check out our trailers here!