Maintenance Keeps Your Precious Cargo Safe
During transport your horse’s safety depends on the condition of your trailer. It is extremely important to make sure that all the components of your trailer are functioning properly. Take the time to regularly inspect your trailer. A few hours at the beginning and end of trailering season and a few minutes before each trip you make, can give you the peace of mind that your horse is as safe as possible.

Article Sub Sections:
— Your First Trip of the Season
— Every Trip
— Your Last Trip of the Season

Your First Trip of the Season
Once a year you should carefully inspect your trailer for any damage, wear, or potential problems. If you trailer isn’t used year round, you should do this inspection before your first trip of your trailering season.

• Check the underside of your trailer for cracks in the frame or axle brackets and look for rusting components.
• Check under the front of the trailer and make sure all bracing and struts are well attached.
• Check the suspension system for damage.

• Take off all wheels and hubs or brake drums.
• Inspect brake linings, brake drums, and armature faces for scoring or other damage.
• Remove any rust from the braking system.
• Use a high temperature brake lubricant to lubricate all moving brake system part.
• Use an ohmmeter to make sure the brake magnets register at 3.2 ohms.
• Break-Away Brake System – Your rip cord needs to be long enough to not snag on the surrounding parts of the hitch when turning but short enough to pull out of the break-away switch before the loose trailer can pull the safety chains tight.
• Ensure electric brake controller is properly adjusted and maintained. Check the power output and modulation.
• Engage your electric brake with the hand control while pulling forward. If the brake system is working correctly at least one wheel on each side of the trailer will lock up and leave a drag mark.
• Make sure grease seals aren’t nicked or showing excessive wear.
• If you are not well acquainted with brake systems, have your brakes inspected at a qualified service center.

• Check tire pressure and inflate tires to the stated capacity on the sidewall of your tire.
• Check the sidewalls of tires for dry rot cracking.
• Tires need a minimum of ¼” of tread.
• Look for grease leaks around the wheel hubs.
• Re-torque all wheel lug nuts, hanger bolts, shackle bolts, and U-bolt nuts according to recommended torque values.
• Inspect wheel rims for cracks and dents.
• Twice a season your must clean and re-pack wheel bearings. It is also a good idea to carry along an extra bearing and the tools to replace it.
• Don’t forget to check the condition of your spare tire also. 

• The hitch or the bumper (if the hitch is attached to the bumper) should be securely attached to the vehicle frame.
• Make sure there are no tweaks or bends in your hitch or your bumper.
• The hitch mechanism should not be rusty, deeply scored or cracked.
• The attachment hardware at the end of the safety chains should be solid, free from damage and operate easily.
• The trailer ball should be smooth, free of excessive rust or scoring. It should also be securely attached to the hitch and the proper size for the trailer.
• Lubricate the hitch and make sure its parts work smoothly.

• Check brake lights.
• Check your tail and marker lights while your turn signals or flashers are on. If the tail and marker lights dim you probably have a bad ground connection.

• Make sure the support members have not been kicked out of alignment.
• Check the inside of the roof for broken bolts and rivets.
• Check the floors of hay mangers for damage.
• Check for worn vinyl pads.
• Check mats for torn edges. They can curl up under the horse’s feet, especially when wood shavings accumulate under them.
• All tie rings, center dividers, chest bars, and butt bars should move easily and release quickly. Inspect the welds attaching these components for cracks. If you are able to open any cracks in or near these welds by lifting the dividers or twisting the tie rings, have the weld repaired before loading your horse.
• Inspect the tack room for leaks.
• Check the pressure gauge on the fire extinguisher. Have it recharged if the needle is outside of the green portion of the gauge.

• Get on top of your trailer and check the roof seal all the way around the trailer.
• Check the trailer exterior for loose, missing, or broken screws, bolts, and rivets.
• Check for damage to brackets, latches, tie rings, and fenders.
• Fenders should not be bent and should be solidly attached.
• Check that all latches hold properly.
• Lubricate all hinges and latches.
• Lubricate the gears on top of the drop leg jack.
• Check your trailer’s electrical cable for wear and clean the contacts in the trailer plug with WD-40 if necessary.

• Look for rust and holes inside and out.
• Feel the both the outside and inside of your trailer for sharp edges.
• Inspect all welds.
  

• Check your tire pressure and inflate as necessary to maintain the stated capacity on the sidewall of your tire.
• Check the trailer for bees and wasps.
• Make sure all lights are functioning properly
• Check wheel mounting nuts and bolts with a torque wrench
• Be sure that brakes are synchronized and functioning properly.
• If you have a hydraulic breakaway system, check the fluid level.
• Your break-away brake system battery must be fully charged before you leave and the breakaway switch lanyard must be attached to your tow vehicle.
• Safety chains should be crisscrossed and securely attached to each side of the trailer tongue and the towing vehicle.
• Before you pull onto the road check, the balance of the trailer and make sure the rig is level.
• Secure all doors, windows, and dividers.
• Pull to the end of the driveway, get out and double-check everything one last time.
• Check the hitch, safety chains, and lights every 100 miles.
  
  

Our Last Trip of the Season
Before storing your trailer for the off-season make sure you take care of the following items.

• Take the battery out of the emergency breakaway system and store it inside. Charge it every 90 days thereafter.
• Use jack stands to take the weight of the trailer of the tires.
• Lubricate all moving parts that will be exposed to the elements.
• To protect your light sockets from the elements coat them with silica gel.
• Close all vents and windows.
• Wash your trailer inside and out. Remove floor mats and wash underneath them. Be sure the floor and the mats are completely dry before you replace the mats.  If you sprinkle baking soda between the floor and the mats, it will not only control odor but it will also protect your floor by neutralizing the corrosive acids in urine and manure.
• If you have a living quarters be sure to drain the fresh water tank, holding tanks, and water heater. After completely draining the system, close all faucets and drains and replug the water heater. Put one cup of RV antifreeze in each sink and the shower drain.