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.
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