2020 Guide To Getting A Horse Trailer Service When You Need Repairs

Trailers, like any other automobiles, need regular servicing and maintenance to function properly. A horse trailer needs even better maintenance as you do not want your horses injured. Accidents will not only injure the horses but can be fatal and a danger to other road users. Getting a horse trailer service when you need repairs can be a daunting task. To make the process smooth at all times, it is necessary that you have everything checked beforehand. As a handy person, you may feel the need to carry out repairs on your own. This can be very risky as the trailer could crash on you if not lifted steadily off the ground. You may also end up damaging the trailer by drilling in the wrong places. Getting a horse trailer repair service can be hard especially if your trailer is much older than ten years and spares are hard to come by. In this article, we give you a step by step guide to getting a horse trailer service when you need repairs.

Plan for your servicing and repairs ahead of time

You cannot just book an appointment one day and get a full properly done repair service the next day. It is important that you plan ahead of time when exactly you need to carry out repairs on your trailer. Some horse trailer repair service providers may take your trailer in for servicing on short notice but what you need is a good job done so that you do not end up with a loaded trailer breaking down in the middle of a trip.

Keep track of your trailers performance regularly

You should track how your trailer is performing regularly. This could be after every trip or after every 100 miles. It is important to have the state of your trailer at the back of your mind.

Finding a technician

Finding a technician that deals with horse trailers specifically can be hard. You can find those who deal with camper vans alternatively. They deal with the same repairs and will be able to help you.

Prepare a preflight checklist

It is important to create a checklist of all the things you feel will need repair before making a trip. This will guide you on what needs to be repaired or service during your visit to the repair shop. Some of these include:

•    Tire and spare tire for wear –Check the tires for signs of baldness in the center of the tire or inflation in the edges of the tires.

•    Tire and spare tire for pressure –If the tires are on rubber torsion suspension, they may not appear flat. Always check the psi rating on the side of the tire to ensure you have the right pressure.

•    Brakes and brake adjustment –You can test the steadiness of the brakes by driving your rig and braking abruptly to test if they skid before you load the horses.

•    Breakaway battery-Check if the battery is fully charged before starting the engine.

•    Lights and turn signals-Check your brake lights, turn signals to make sure they are working.

•    Door latches, hitch bolts –Inspect your door latches and hitch bolts for signs of wear and tear.

•    Bearings-Ensure your service provider greases the bearings during your visit.

•    Windows- Check if the window move back and forth with ease

•    Lug Nuts –Ensure the lug nuts are tight as required.

Clean your trailer before and after every trip

Never park your trailer with urine and droppings on it. Droppings may cause your trailer to rust.

Conclusion

While horse trailer repairs can seem like simple tasks that you can do from home, this is the worst risk you can take. You could end up creating a series of unnecessary repairs while a technician can have them fixed professionally. Ensuring regular maintenance and repair is key all year round.