Checking Your Horse Trailer for Safety

A horse trailer inspection is a valuable process. It helps you catch issues before they snowball into more severe or more expensive issues. They also help keep you and your horse safe on the road. We've created the following guide to this process below. If you have any questions or want to look at models for sale, visit Double B Trailer Sales. Our friendly staff is happy to assist! We proudly serve all of Utah. One of our locations is near Salt Lake City and Ogden, Utah. The other is near St. George, Washington, and Cedar City, Utah.

The Floors

The continual exposure to manure and urine takes its toll on your floors. Over time, they can begin to rot. This wear and tear can eventually damage your floor to the point that your ability to safely transport your horses gets compromised. A key part of horse trailer safety is regularly inspecting the floors.

If your floors are wood, get a knife or flathead screwdriver and stick it into the floor. You'll know your floors need replacement if the floor gives way too easy or feels too soft. Don't forget to check the edges of your floor where liquid pools.

If your floors are metal, head over to the sides of the floor. Push down. If the flooring gives, it's time for a replacement.

The Hitch

A key step of your horse trailer inspection is looking at the connection point between your tow vehicle and your precious cargo: the hitch. You'll want to manipulate all moving parts and ensure everything moves easily. If you notice any resistance, you'll want to take it into a professional. It's likely needing a replacement spring or new pin. You'll also want to inspect the underside for any cracks. Finally, move the jack handle back and forth. When it functions well, it'll be solid. If it has too much movement, you may have worn gears internally.

The Tires

Part of horse trailer safety involves having sturdy and functioning tires to get you to where you need to go without incident. Tires face a fair amount of wear and tear. If you let your trailer sit too long, the weight of it pushes down on tires and causes wear. If you use your trailer on the road too often, this use also causes wear. Regularly looking at your tires helps you stay proactive and catch issues early.

Start by measuring the air pressure and tread levels. They should be within your owner manual's recommendations. Next you will want to look for any cracks on the tread and sidewall. These are red flags for dry rot that has damaged the rubber. If you spot tires wearing down at uneven rates, you may have a misaligned axle or unbalanced tire pressure.

Electrical

Your lights are a key part of your horse trailer safety. You need to be able to signal to those on the road when you are going to make a turn as well as slowing down your speed. Get a buddy to help you test your brake lights and turn signals. They can let you know if the light doesn't come on when you engage them. If you have a burnt out bulb, be sure to replace it before your next trip.

We hope you found these horse trailer inspection tips helpful! If you have any questions or want to look at models for sale, visit Double B Trailer Sales. We operate one dealership near Salt Lake City and Ogden, Utah and one near St. George, Washington, and Cedar City. We proudly serve all of Utah.