Annual trailer maintenance?

[WBusa]

Hi, folks. I'm pretty new to the world of owning a trailer and would like some advice concerning annual trailer maintenance. My wife rides in the sheriff's mounted posse, so we own a verrry old, small, no-name, twin-axle, tag-along, two-horse trailer, which we use maybe six times a year on round-trips of about 50 miles tops. Last year I re-wired it because the old wiring was falling apart, and installed a new breakaway box that automatically re-charges its battery every time the trailer is hooked up (the old box had to be plugged into a wall to be recharged). My wife is an expert trailer driver, having been doing it for about forty years now, but like I say we've been trailer OWNERS for only a year. Since the trailer is old and used there's no owners manual, and I don't even know its brand. It passed inspection just before we bought it last year.



Having an accident or a mechanical failure while trailering horses is my idea of the ultimate nightmare, so I want to stay on top of preventive maintenance. What do I need to check/do regularly regarding tires, wheels, bearings, axles, brakes and hitch (and anything else?), and how often? I'm pretty handy and have a good collection of tools (hey, I manage to keep my '95 Ram on the road); is this all stuff I can do, or are there some jobs that should be left to the pros? Thanks!

 

[KBalzuweit]

Repack the bearings, check brakes, and make sure there is no dry rot on the tires would be good start. Other than that since you just did the electric just a good look around, look for cracked welds, springs, etc...



Karl

 

[WBusa]

Repack the bearings

Yep, this is definitely high on my list. However, I've never done this before (on my truck I let my mechanic deal with it), so I'd have some questions:

1. What's the recommended grease?

2. How often does this need doing?

3. Are there any good how-to instructions anybody can point me to?

 

[RustyJC]

Does THIS help?



Rusty

 

[KBalzuweit]

If you are unsure or just do not want to do it, Camping World or any other rv or trailer dealer will do it. I think the last time in Camping World the sign said $119. 95. Good info Rusty. Karl

 

[WBusa]

Does THIS help?Rusty

More than just helps, Rusty... its just the sort of thing I was looking for. Thanks! (Gosh, I love TDR)

 

[AfterBurner]

I am assuming it has a wood floor??

if you have matts covering the floor you might not be able to see rotting boards. make sure you check it. You want to talk about a nightmare... A horse trapt in a trailer with no floor trying to run 70mph down asphalt is a nightmare.

 

[WBusa]

You want to talk about a nightmare... A horse trapt in a trailer with no floor trying to run 70mph down asphalt is a nightmare.

Man, that's so sad its funny. Yes, we're good on all the non-mechanical, animal-related aspects of trailer safety. I re-floored the thing when I bought it. But thanks... for sure, somebody out there is pulling an old horse trailer with a balsa-wood floor under some really good looking mats; happens all the time.

 

[gonzo2]

Hmmm, I wonder how good the E-Z lubes are for keeping the grease out of the brakes. I got them on my new trailer and have been nervous about pumping them up for that very reason.

 

[PatrickCampbell]

Does THIS help?



Rusty

Rusty, do you this file? The link seems to be no longer valid

 

[DaveK98]

I'd be careful with those e-z lubes, heard about people pumpin too much grease in and going all over the drums.



I've got the never lube dexters on my trailer and would like to remove everything soon to check out the brakes and make sure there isn't too much weaping from the sealed bearings.

 

[Sojourner]

I'd be careful with those e-z lubes, heard about people pumpin too much grease in and going all over the drums.

I've got the Dexter EZ lube setup on my axles, and due to the way they're constructed the only place the excess grease can go is out the exterior of the hub so that when you're pumpin' the grease in you can see it come out around the area of the hub that holds the grease zerk.



I find this arrangement pretty handy - before departure I give each hub just enough of a shot of Lucas HD grease to show explusion and I know they're good to good. (I just inspected them and the grease in the bearings was in excellent condition and bearings didn't need cleaning and re-packing. )

 

[Dieselnerd]

EZ Lubes are a real problem. If you follow the procedure in the Dexter manual you will get grease on your brakes, it's a sure thing! You are not supposed to be able to pump in too much grease since the procedure is to pump until all the dirty grease comes out and it's clean. The problem is the seal (Big $$ seal, about $50 per wheel) doesn't work the way it should. Pressure builds up while on the road and grease gets past the seal. If you clean out the hub under the rubber plug it usually works OK, it helps to pop the plug at rest areas to let the hot air out too. I finally stopped using the grease gun on my previous trailer and started repacking them the old fashioned way by hand. One of the things I looked for when I bought my latest trailer was Never Lube axles. Dealer also said EZ Lubes are big problem for them getting grease on brakes. Poor design and one of the reasons Dexter developed the Never Lube, too many complaints on the EZ.