In a previous blog we discussed some of the most important trailer maintenance you can perform yourself when dealing with your boat trailer or equipment hauler. You can tighten any bolts that come loose from road vibration, and check your tail lights every time you hook up the trailer to your vehicle. Of course, you should keep your tires as well-maintained as possible, because thin or cracked tires can lead to unfortunate and catastrophic accidents.
But those certainly aren’t the only types of boat trailer maintenance you’ll want to take care of. Here are a few more aspects of your equipment hauler, jet ski trailer, or boat trailer that you’ll want to keep an eye on.
Keep It Washed, Keep It Dry
One of the most important aspects of trailer maintenance is keeping it washed. Some people think that you only have to wash it after the trailer has been in saltwater, but to truly keep it in the best condition you should wash it every time it’s been in water. This is true whether you have a galvanized boat trailer or an aluminum boat trailer.
Also, drying the trailer is imperative. If you wash it off at the boating location, driving it home will most likely provide all the drying you need. But if you wait to wash it off until you get home, make sure to take it for a drive so that it can dry off properly. Why would someone wait until they get home to dry it off? Well, it’s not just water that can cause components of a trailer to wear, but also dirt, dust, and other road grime. It’s always good to get that off in order to keep your trailer in the best condition possible.
Keep Electricals Rust-Free
At least once a year you’ll want to spray the contacts on the tail lights with electrical corrosion protection spray. Many of these are coming into contact with water, so it’s a good idea to use some of this spray to prevent rust, thus ensuring that the parts of the plugs are properly contacting each other.
Paint
Your trailer is going to get scratched. This is usually the cost of driving one around, whether you’re on a bumpy road or one that is kicking up rocks. Maybe a branch reached out and left a nasty scratch on your frame. It’s going to happen
The good thing is that aluminum is aluminum all the way through, so you don’t have to worry about that rusting. And zinc galvanization is “self-healing,” so most scratches aren’t bad enough to expose the steel. But there’s a good chance that you want your boat trailer to look it’s best, so you might want to keep a can of paint around to touch up those scratches and make you trailer look good as new.
Brakes
While the replacement of the brakes is better left to a professional, you can still keep an eye on them. Check the brake lines to ensure that they’re not frayed or leaking, and ensure that they’re properly connected. If you notice any problems, take the trailer to a professional for proper repair.
Cover It
Of course, one of the most important things you can do for your boat trailer is preventative: cover it. In most cases the boat, if it’s covered, will protect most of the trailer. But if you overwinter your trailer outside, make sure it’s covered as well as possible to protect against snow drifts. It’s also important to cover it if the boat is left on the water for more than a few weeks and the top of your trailer is exposed.
Most boat trailers don’t require much maintenance, and what they do require is pretty simple. LoadRite Canada’s boat trailers hold up well, and we’d love to show them to you. Check out our two retail trailer yards right here.