Just like your vehicle, each trailer has a maintenance schedule that you should follow for proper operation. But if you can’t track down your trailer’s service manual, you should service your trailer
at least every six months
. However, there are some features that manufacturers recommend checking more often.
Do you have to service a trailer?
When trailers are left to stand you still need to service the trailer
as brake parts, bearings and couplings can all corrode or seize through lack of use, tyres can perish and electrical s can corrode and stop working.
How do you do maintenance on a trailer?
What should I service my trailer with?
- Electric Brakes (magnet) – Check wear and current draw.
- Electric Brakes (controller in tow vehicle) – Check power output (amperage) and modulation.
- Tires – Thoroughly inspect tread and sidewalls. …
- Electric Brakes – Check operation.
How often should you repack RV trailer bearings?
RV wheel bearings should be repacked with grease
once a year or every 10,000 to 12,000 miles
, whichever comes first. If you travel frequently, this is a useful metric to go by, even if it means having your RV wheel bearings repacked a couple of times each year.
How often do you grease RV trailer bearings?
When Should You Grease Your Bearings
With a larger travel trailer, you should grease your trailer wheel bearings
every 10,000 miles or once a year
, whichever comes first. If you have a smaller travel trailer, however, you’ll need to grease your wheel bearings every 2,000 miles.
Do trailers need a spare TYRE?
Do I need a spare tyre for my caravan or trailer?
It is highly recommended that you carry a spare tyre for your caravan or trailer
as it is unlikely that your car’s spare will be a suitable replacement if you encounter a puncture on the road.
When towing a trailer you must make sure that?
When towing a trailer, you must make sure that:
The trailer has a safety chain securely attached to the vehicle’s bumper
. The trailer has a safety chain securely attached to the frame of the towing vehicle. The trailer hitch is equipped with a fail-safe latch.
Can you use car Tyres on a trailer?
The law in the UK relating to trailer tyres
In actual fact,
the same laws apply to trailer tyres as regular car tyres
. Cars and light trailers up to 3,500kgs must have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm across the centre three quarters of the tyre and around the entire circumference.
Do trailers need greased?
Pretty much any part of your trailer that’s designed to move in some form or fashion or comes in contact with other parts should be kept lubricated to prevent corrosion and friction
. Features like a winch, ball hitch, springs and tongue jack all require lubrication and you should keep them greased throughout the year.
Do both trailer axles need brakes?
With all of this in mind,
we always recommend adding brakes to both axles of a tandem axle trailer
. This is simply because it’s going to provide you with much better stopping power and will also keep the one set from wearing down quicker.
How do you service a trailer axle?
- Step 1: Take off the wheel. …
- Step 2: Remove bearing cap. …
- Step 3: Free the hub. …
- Step 4: Remove the bearings. …
- Step 5: Check parts for wear. …
- Step 6: Clean, pack bearings. …
- Step 7: Start the assembly. …
- Step 8: Install the hub.
Can you over grease trailer bearings?
They keep grease packed into the hub. munchy wrote: More grease is never the right answer.
Overgreasing can actually cause the rollers/balls to slide over the bearing surface rather than roll over them
.
How do I know if my trailer bearings need grease?
Keep your hand on the wheel and spin it.
If you feel any motion that is not smooth, hear any noises, or if the wheel does not spin freely
, the wheel bearing is defective or needs lubrication.
How do I know if my trailer bearings are bad?
How often should I grease my trailer axles?
If your trailer’s axle(s) are equipped with a grease zerk on the ends, the bearings must be greased
every six months or 6,000 miles
to ensure functionality. To apply the grease, remove the rubber plug from the axle end and place the grease gun on the zerk. Pump grease until new grease begins to appear.
Are bearing buddies worth it?
I would recommend them as a good investment on any trailer, marine or otherwise
. In marine use, Bearing Buddies should be pumped with grease until full, before and after each submersion. Any evidence of water being ejected means the seals are bad and should be replaced before any extended mileage on the trailer.
How often should you grease buddy bearings?
Every 3,000 to 3500 miles or annually
, whichever comes first. Manufacturers recommend to remove old contaminated grease from the hub and repack with new grease instead of just adding more.
What side of a trailer does a spare tire go?
Essentially, you can install a spare tire carrier anywhere it will fit. I recommend placing it
on the tongue as far back from the coupler as possible
without interfering with anything. This will push its weight as far back as possible on the trailer.
How often should you replace caravan tyres?
Caravan tyres need regular replacement, even if they look like they’re in good condition – The Caravan Club recommend changing them
every five years
and should never be used when more than seven years old. TyreSafe have also created this useful tyre safety video with tips to help your caravan tyres last longer too.
Are trailer tyres different to car tyres?
There is no basic difference between a car tyre and a caravan tyre
. Both can be either cross-ply or radial-ply, but it is illegal to mix the two on the same axle. The load index and speed rating also have a significant bearing.
When turning left while towing a trailer the driver should?
What action should a driver take when turning left while towing a trailer?
Proceed farther into the intersection than normal
. When towing a trailer and driving with passengers, where should the heaviest passenger sit?
Do you need trailer brakes to pull a trailer?
Trailer Brakes
In California,
brakes are required on any trailer coach or camp trailer having a gross weight of 1500 lbs.
or more. Usually the braking capacity on tow vehicles is good; however, it may not be good enough to safely stop the several hundred to several thousand additional pounds that your trailer weighs.
Can I use cruise control while towing a trailer?
Yes, you can use cruise control when towing in tow/haul mode in many cases
. However, your truck will likely do whatever it takes to maintain the assigned speed.
