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Inspection, Service & Maintenance LANDING LEG OR JACK If a grease fitting is present, you must use a grease gun to lubricate the jack mechanism. Grease the gears in the top of hand-cranked jacks once a year, by removing the top of the jack and pumping or hand packing grease into the gears. LIGHTS AND SIGNALS Before each tow, check the trailer taillights, stoplights, turn signals and any clearance lights for proper operation. ! WARNING To avoid risk of collisions, all lights must work. WHEEL RIMS If the trailer has been struck, or impacted, on or near the wheels, or if the trailer has struck a curb, inspect the rims for damage (i.e. being out of round); and replace any damaged wheel. Inspect the wheels for damage every year, even if no obvious impact has occurred. TIRES Trailer tires may be worn out even though they still have plenty of tread left. This is because trailer tires have to carry a lot of weight all of the time, even when not in use. It is actually better for the tire to be rolling down the road than to be idle. During use, the tire releases lubricants that are beneficial to tire life. Using the trailer often also helps prevent flat spots from developing. The main cause for tire failure is improper inflation. Before each tow, check the tire pressure to make sure it is at the level indicated on the tire sidewall or VIN label. Tire pressure must be checked while the tire is cold. Do not check tire pressure immediately after towing the trailer. Allow at least three hours for the tires to cool, if the trailer has been towed for as much as one mile. Tires can lose air over a period of time. In fact, tires can lose 1-3 psi per month. This is because molecules of air, under pressure, weave their way from the inside of the tire, through the rubber to the outside. A drop in tire pressure could cause excessive heat build up. If the tire is under-inflated, even for a short period of time, the tire could suffer internal damage. High towing speed in hot conditions degrades the tire significantly. As heat builds up during driving, the tire’s internal structure starts to breakdown, compromising the strength of the tire. It is recommended to drive at moderate speeds. Replace the tire before towing the trailer if the tire treads have less than 2/32 inch depth or the telltale bands are visible. 153


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