Boat Trailer Maintenance, Repair and Servicing

Hampshire, Surrey and Sussex

Boat Trailer Maintenance and Servicing Is Critical In The Marine Environment.

Southern Trailers carry out full servicing of all types of boat trailer and it is generally recommended that boat trailers have a full service every 6 or 12 months depending on the level of use. Having a trailer professionally serviced and taking note of the following information will significantly reduce your likely hood of having a trailer related accident.

Here's what to do:

Wash your trailer after each use, especially if it was in saltwater. Do this every time! Rinse every part of the trailer with fresh water, especially the suspension and behind the wheels. Flush out the brakes if your trailer equipped with a flush kit. Saltwater is very corrosive.

Protect

Protect your tailer hardware with Corrosion X spray (available at some boating stores.) Spray the nuts, bolts, leaf-springs, winch gears and all other hardware items.

Use tie down straps

These inexpensive ratchet-type straps help secure your boat to the trailer. Southern Trailers have great prices on tie-downs. Every boat should be secured with several. Tie down the transom and the bow (even if your winch strap is already connected.) Your winch strap is not a tie down strap. Your boat will tow better with the straps than without . Keep an eye on the news. You regularly see boats that have fallen off their trailers and onto the road. It's amazing.

Grease bearings

Do this every couple of weeks. Remove the hub cover. Locate the grease fitting--it's the "nipple" that fits into the female end of a grease gun. Squeeze grease from the gun until bearings are well lubricated (but not too full.) My dealer recommended using heavy duty DISC BRAKE grease on the trailer. Others have suggested using heavy duty marine grease. It's important that the grease doesn't degrade in water. Try out True Blue grease. Feel your hubs for excess heat when travelling . They should not feel any hotter than a cup of coffee. Use Bearing Savers or other such bearing-saving devices. Milky grease is a sign that it has been compromised by water. If this happens, repack all bearings.

Lubricate your Wheel Nuts

Doing so will help you to loosen them when change tyres. This is especially important if you are fixing a flat by the side of the road. Wheel nuts tend to rust easily. Use Copper slip to lubricate the threads to stop them seizing.

Check your tyre pressure

Trailer tyres are different from car/truck tires. Check the tyre sidewall for correct pressure and ensure the tread depth is not below the legal limit.

Check the lights

Have someone depress the brake pedal and use the turn signal while you stand behind the vehicle and ensure the correct lights illuminate.

Check fastners

Check fastners and all trailer hardware to make sure they're tight.

Do not put too much weight on the trailer

Gear can add a lot of weight - even if your boat can handle all of the gear, look at the weight rating on your trailer and do not exceed the maximum weight.

If you are storing your boat be sure to block and cover your trailer tyres

Remember rubber degrades when exposed to sunlight and also rots when exposed to the ground. You may wish to shade your tyres. Moving your trailer periodically or jacking your trailer off the ground will help reduce dry rotting of your tyres.

Make a trailer emergency kit

As you do with your car, carry emergency equipment for your trailer. Make a trailer emergency kit that contains a spare wheel and tyre, lug wrench, wheel chocks, bearing grease, extra hub assembly, extra line (for the winch and tie-down straps), replacement light bulbs, wheel bearings and markers.