Regular Maintenance For Your Horse Trailer
When it comes to keeping your horse trailer in good shape, preventative, regular maintenance is your best bet. After all, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! We here at Double B Trailer Sales want to help you get started, so we’ve put together a few tips on regular maintenance for your horse trailer below. To learn more, or to see the horse trailers we have for sale, contact our stores in Centerville and Hurricane, Utah, today!
Before a Trip
If a trip is coming up, there are a few things you’ll want to handle at least a week in advance.
Tires
First, check to make sure your tires are filled to the correct psi and are holding the air in properly using an air pressure gauge. If they’re too low or too high, you have an increased risk of a blowout, so adjust as needed. If they can’t hold the air, you may need a replacement.
Next, check the treads and sidewalls for signs of excessive wear or damage. If the tread is lower than your owner’s manual recommends, or there’s damage to the side walls like cracks or gouges, you’ll need to replace them before you take your horses anywhere. Make sure the tread is wearing down evenly on both sides, since uneven wear can indicate an alignment problem.
Brakes & Lights
Test your brakes by driving short distances and braking for different times and at different speeds. Take the trailer in for maintenance if there are odd sounds or vibrations. Then grab a helper and have them watch the brake lights, turn signals, and running lights to make sure they’re working.
Trailer Deck
Finally, check to make sure there are no sharp protrusions or rotting floors in the horse’s area of the trailer itself.
Before & After
Before driving off and when you get home, run one last set of checks to make sure that:
- Breakaway systems are properly connected.
- Safety chains are connected.
- Doors, ramps, dividers, and bars are secure.
- Wires are intact without debris.
Once you get home, clear out any waste your horse left behind before it can damage the floors. Remove any mats and wash the floors thoroughly, especially if:
- It hasn’t been washed for a few trips.
- You’re taking it to the store or for maintenance.
- It’s been exposed to salt or de-icer.
Every Three Months
Check up on hinges, doors, and dividers every three months to make sure they’re well.
Every Year
You’ll also need professional servicing every year or so, particularly for the brakes, wheel bearings, tires, axel attachment belts, and welds. An expert can catch a small problem before it becomes expensive.
Looking for a trusted service department for your annual checks? Contact us at Double B Trailer Sales and let our technicians take care of it, or if you’re on the hunt for a new horse trailer altogether. We proudly serve Salt Lake City, St. George, Ogden, and Washington, Utah—let us serve you today!