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Preventative Maintenance For Your Boat Trailer Made Simple
by Tim Wilson
From "Lifelines - Spring 2001"
Maintaining your boat trailer is as important as keeping your boat ship shape. Many times we neglect to give the attention needed to the equipment that will carry that boat to and from the water, our trailer. Problems of lack of trailer care leave boaters stranded or faced with problems that can turn into a nightmare.
Care for your trailer is more basic than that of your boat. It doesn't involve an engine, outdrives, bilge pumps or many of the other working parts of a boat. It does however take a few minutes to check and maintain certain parts of the trailer to keep it in running order. A small problem today on a trailer can be an expensive problem tomorrow. According to trailer experts like Lana Wallace of Junction Marine, a boat trailer dealer in Wilmington, North Carolina the greatest maintenance priority is "To rinse the trailer after every use."
Even many parts of a galvanized trailer can sustain rust after constant dripping in and out of the water. Too many times boaters get home after a day of boating and unhook the boat and trailer and think the boating experience is over.
This is the time to make sure your trailer is rinsed with fresh water making sure that you reach the out of the way places like the underside and the springs. Wheel bearings are also important when it comes to the total care of your trailer. Make sure the wheel bearings are properly greased. Constant use in saltwater will have a damaging effect on bearings and wheel hubs. Poorly maintained wheel bearings can result in locked wheels that will require extensive and expensive repairs.
Items like "Bearing buddies", available in most marine retail stores, can provide some protection to your trailer's bearings from both saltwater and dirt. While checking your wheel bearings also take a look at your trailer tires. Trailer tires may incur dry rot or cracking over the winter due to lack of use.
Check air pressure and for cracks on the sidewall of the tire. Don't take a chance, changing a trailer tire on the side of the road is dangerous and many times requires a professional road service because of the weight of your boat and trailer. and remember many standard car jacks will not work on boat trailers.
Suspension springs also require close attention. As a trailer gets older, the springs tend to wear. Eventually these springs will need to be replaced.
Also check your trailer's electrical system. The trailer's wiring, bulbs, fuses and connections are always coming in contact with the corrosive saltwater and are quick to short out and fail. When this happens it can become unsafe for travel especially at night. A helpful hint is to unhook your electrical plug to your trailer prior to putting your trailer in the water. This will make sure that no shorts occur when water comes in contact with the electrical system when the power is going through it.
Care of the trailer hitch and safety chains are also important. Rusted safety chains can let go and cause significant damage. Lubricate all the moving parts of the trailer hitch. Rust can accumulate and cause these parts to freeze up requiring replacement. A spray lubricant works best and can also protect your trailer's parts from the salt.
Last, but not least, check your license tag and any required state stickers. Many times the nuts and bolts that hold a license plate on the trailer become rusted and the tag may fall off.
Also, if a trailer is not often used, the tag expiration may be overlooked. The same is true for the state inspection stickers. Don't ruin the day with a ticket from your area law enforcement.
Maintaining your trailer is part of maintaining your boat. A small amount of time spent each boating trip can save a lot of time and money in the future. With basic care your trailer can provide you and your boat years of service.
by Tim Wilson
From "Lifelines - Spring 2001"
Maintaining your boat trailer is as important as keeping your boat ship shape. Many times we neglect to give the attention needed to the equipment that will carry that boat to and from the water, our trailer. Problems of lack of trailer care leave boaters stranded or faced with problems that can turn into a nightmare.
Care for your trailer is more basic than that of your boat. It doesn't involve an engine, outdrives, bilge pumps or many of the other working parts of a boat. It does however take a few minutes to check and maintain certain parts of the trailer to keep it in running order. A small problem today on a trailer can be an expensive problem tomorrow. According to trailer experts like Lana Wallace of Junction Marine, a boat trailer dealer in Wilmington, North Carolina the greatest maintenance priority is "To rinse the trailer after every use."
Even many parts of a galvanized trailer can sustain rust after constant dripping in and out of the water. Too many times boaters get home after a day of boating and unhook the boat and trailer and think the boating experience is over.
This is the time to make sure your trailer is rinsed with fresh water making sure that you reach the out of the way places like the underside and the springs. Wheel bearings are also important when it comes to the total care of your trailer. Make sure the wheel bearings are properly greased. Constant use in saltwater will have a damaging effect on bearings and wheel hubs. Poorly maintained wheel bearings can result in locked wheels that will require extensive and expensive repairs.
Items like "Bearing buddies", available in most marine retail stores, can provide some protection to your trailer's bearings from both saltwater and dirt. While checking your wheel bearings also take a look at your trailer tires. Trailer tires may incur dry rot or cracking over the winter due to lack of use.
Check air pressure and for cracks on the sidewall of the tire. Don't take a chance, changing a trailer tire on the side of the road is dangerous and many times requires a professional road service because of the weight of your boat and trailer. and remember many standard car jacks will not work on boat trailers.
Suspension springs also require close attention. As a trailer gets older, the springs tend to wear. Eventually these springs will need to be replaced.
Also check your trailer's electrical system. The trailer's wiring, bulbs, fuses and connections are always coming in contact with the corrosive saltwater and are quick to short out and fail. When this happens it can become unsafe for travel especially at night. A helpful hint is to unhook your electrical plug to your trailer prior to putting your trailer in the water. This will make sure that no shorts occur when water comes in contact with the electrical system when the power is going through it.
Care of the trailer hitch and safety chains are also important. Rusted safety chains can let go and cause significant damage. Lubricate all the moving parts of the trailer hitch. Rust can accumulate and cause these parts to freeze up requiring replacement. A spray lubricant works best and can also protect your trailer's parts from the salt.
Last, but not least, check your license tag and any required state stickers. Many times the nuts and bolts that hold a license plate on the trailer become rusted and the tag may fall off.
Also, if a trailer is not often used, the tag expiration may be overlooked. The same is true for the state inspection stickers. Don't ruin the day with a ticket from your area law enforcement.
Maintaining your trailer is part of maintaining your boat. A small amount of time spent each boating trip can save a lot of time and money in the future. With basic care your trailer can provide you and your boat years of service.
