How Regular Maintenance Can Extend the Lifespan of Your Trailer
Trailers, averaging 10 hours a day on the road, will face inevitable wear and tear on numerous components, which can significantly reduce their lifespan. Regular maintenance is crucial for ensuring optimal functionality of essential parts such as brakes, bearings, batteries, tires, safety chains, and the breakaway system. This regular upkeep not only prolongs a trailer’s life but also preserves safety and reliability.
Many owners often skip routine maintenance, seeing it as an expensive undertaking. Nonetheless, it’s vital to recognise that neglecting your trailer’s upkeep can lead to greater challenges over time, culminating in a total breakdown. You can locate trusted trailer suppliers who not only deliver exceptional maintenance services but also offer a range of high-quality trailers for sale in Adelaide at competitive prices, ensuring your trailer is and remains in top condition without breaking the bank.
They can replace worn-out parts or customise other parts that will propel your trailer’s performance. But before delving into maintenance tips that enhance the longevity of your trailer, let’s explore the benefits of regular maintenance.
Benefits of Regular Maintenance for Your Trailer
Maintenance is primarily based on the trailer’s cargo weight, mileage, and road conditions and many trailer owners will limit maintenance periods if the conditions are conducive. However, regular maintenance is crucial and here are a few reasons why you should prioritise it.
Extends Lifespan
Every trailer owner intends to use their trailer for years and make a return on their investment. On average, trailers last 10 to 15 years, but regular maintenance can extend their lifespan up to 20 years. And if you don’t adhere to regular maintenance, your trailer might break down earlier.
Saves Money
A longer lifespan means less money spent on trailer replacements and repairs. You’ll also save money on fuel because a well-maintained trailer is fuel-efficient and less prone to breakdowns. Regular maintenance lowers the overall operating costs, ensuring you reap maximum profit from your services.
Enhances Safety
Trailers spend weeks on the road, and keeping up with the maintenance procedure ensures every trailer part is road-worthy to limit the chances of an accident. You will drive peacefully, knowing all your parts are in the right place and are secured correctly.
In case you didn’t know, many states have strict laws for trailer owners, including a mandatory annual inspection. Regular maintenance ensures you stay in the clear all year round by avoiding penalties and other legal ramifications.
Maintains the Resale Value
If you intend to sell your trailer in the future, regular maintenance will ensure you don’t take a major loss when the time comes. Maintenance keeps the trailers in perfect shape for years, which is a great negotiation point during the sale process. Buyers looking for a second-hand car trailer for sale prioritise ones that offer easy fixes, optimal performance, and fuel efficiency.
The Best Trailer Maintenance Tips for a Longer Lifespan
Monitor and Adjust the Tires Regularly
Tires are a significant part of your trailer, maintaining stability and ensuring road safety. Check the tire pressure required (within the manufacturers guidelines) regularly as unstable tire pressure lowers fuel efficiency, causes uneven wear and tear, and can cause the tire to burst unexpectedly.
After long trips, the driver should conduct a visual inspection to identify anomalies like bulges, irregular tread patterns, and low pressure. These anomalies, if left unattended, can lead to costly accidents, breakdowns and/or repairs. A good trailer driver or owner will also rotate the tires after at least 6000 miles to facilitate even wear for stability.
Identify the Signs
Sometimes, you can easily detect when your trailer is due for maintenance. Understanding these signs keeps you ahead of the problem, which enhances performance. Look out for signs such as:
- Clicking sounds: These sounds indicate something is loose or broken. So, check for loose parts and axle issues before you start towing. Clicking sounds can also mean your brakes are faulty.
- Uneven wear: Trailers experience suspension issues, and uneven tire wear is the most prominent sign of suspension problems.
- Sagging trailers: If you notice your trailer sagging, you need to focus on the safety chains. Usually, broken or worn trailer chains will cause the trailer to sag and eventually detach at the coupler.
Grease All Moving Parts
Trailers are always on the move, so greasing all the moving parts boosts performances and limits breakdowns. You should lubricate moving parts like axles, couplers, safety chains, hitches, and springs. This is an easy process that you can complete before towing to not only extend the lifespan but also improve fuel efficiency.
Work with Qualified Maintenance Professionals
You can complete most of the maintenance on your own, but once in a while, you will need to liaise with a maintenance professional who understands the ins and outs of trailer safety and quality. =
Trailers are essential in various industries and jobs, so by maintaining them correctly, it extends the lifespan and efficiency, allowing you to profit from various services. Modern Trailers does a great job of offering high-quality trailers for sale in Adelaide while combining the best maintenance practices.
Keep your trailer running smoothly and safely. Contact Modern Trailers for expert maintenance and quality trailers today!
