How To Maintain Your Used Trailer In Winter

During winter, used car trailers can become damaged by the elements and poor maintenance. There are ways to combat these effects through careful preparation and a little bit of elbow grease. Damages to your used car trailer shorten its longevity and reduce any resale value but, most importantly, can make the trailer too dangerous for use. Buying a used enclosed car trailer means you accept the responsibility of maintaining it, both for your own safety but also the safety of other road users.

The trailer should be cleaned thoroughly at the start and end of the winter season. This is to ensure that dirt, grime and salt build-up does not lead to severe corrosion. Pressure washers combined with non-caustic cleaners are the most suitable for cleaning a used car trailer. It is advised to use the pressure washer at a low power to avoid further damaging the trailer or paintwork with the force of the water. The specific places to pay special attention to include underneath the tire flaps, the trailer’s undercarriage and the rims and tire tread. With your used enclosed car trailer, maintain the paintwork and make sure the finish has not suffered any external damage which would reduce its value. Some trailers have weatherproof coatings and resins coating their surface, but these should still be inspected for any damage or chips that might hinder their waterproof properties.

The tires should also be maintained during the winter season. The most important thing to do is to check the tire pressure as it can be impacted by significant changes in temperature. Should you not maintain your tires well enough, your used car trailer could get damaged or cause an accident. Tires should also be regularly checked for dry rot and other forms of deterioration. Replace your used car trailer’s tires as soon as they become damaged.

Make sure all the moving parts of the used car trailer are thoroughly lubricated. Pay careful attention to any areas showing increased wear or rust. make sure to listen to the sounds made by the trailer. Any grinding or scratching sounds suggest that moving parts are not functioning correctly and could be starting to cause long-term damage.

Preventative measures to protect your used car trailer from any damage due to winter conditions tend to be more successful than reactionary ones. Wash your trailer and completely dry it before putting it in storage to avoid any mould growing. Nothing is more important than protecting your used enclosed car trailer’s tires over winter. Take these steps to ensure that they are ready for use in the spring: inflate tires to the recommended cold weather PSI. For every 10 degree drop in temperature, you lose 2% air pressure so take this into consideration and give them a boost before storing. It is advised that you place your used car trailer on concrete to avoid contact with snow or water to avoid wheel damage. The key thing is to keep the tires out of sunlight as frequent exposure to direct sunlight means huge changes in temperature, causing damage over time. Keep them indoors or cover them up.

Used car trailers require a small amount of regular maintenance in order to keep them in their best working order. One of the most important things to check before storing them for the winter is that the breakaway brakes are fully operational. Similarly, inspect the breakaway battery is fully charged with clean connections and remove from the trailer for safe storage. The breakaway function is designed to bring the used car trailer to a stop should it break away from the tow vehicle as you are moving. The battery should be kept in a dry, secure location and fully checked before being put back into the trailer.