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Steve Fennell
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Steve Fennell
Inspect all the major components (even the spare) before your trip.
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Steve Fennell
Be sure to understand the importance of proper PSI.
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Steve Fennell
Tire care is essential to ensure safe travels.
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Steve Fennell
Wheels bearings should be replaced/re-packed every year.
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Steve Fennell
All trailer lights should be in good condition.
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Steve Fennell
Always travel safe and sure.
Words by Steve Fennell
The Shuswap offers of some of the most beautiful scenery in Canada and traveling here with a boat in tow makes it all that much more exciting. Yet, towing 3,000-plus pounds of boat and trailer means some pre-trip trailer maintenance is necessary. A broken trailer on the road is never fun and can leave you at a dead stop when you least expect it. Here are a few tips to ensure safe travels:
- Inspect Everything
Towing hundreds of miles on highways can take a toll on trailer parts. Giving your trailer a good inspection before, after and even during a trip means a piece of mind and safe travels. Here are a few starting points:
- Always inspect for stress cracks, rusted fasteners or loose nuts/bolts.
- Closely look at the leaf springs. Cracked, corroded or even rusted leaf springs can cause major issues.
- Is the coupler in good condition and does it fit snugly over the hitch ball?
- Make sure the tongue jack is properly lubricated. Many trailers have grease fittings for the rack and pinion inside. If there’s a lock pin with a spring-loaded ball, make sure to properly grease that as well.
- Safety chains should be in good condition and securely fastened.
- The bunks and carpeting need to be in good condition.
2. The Importance of proper PSI
According to Shoreland’r Trailers, signs of low PSI includes wear on the inside and outside edges of the tire. The exact opposite happens when there’s too much PSI as the tire will have wear on the center of the tread. To correct both instances, follow the manufacturer’s recommended suggested PSI rating. If the PSI on a tire is low or too high, adjust it to the manufacturer’s PSI rating.
3. Essential Tire Care
There are many types of trailer tires with bias ply and radial being the most popular. While bias-ply sidewalls have a stiffer design (designed to aid with trailer sway), they are more economical and suited for shorter trips. Radial tires cost more, yet they tend to reduce heat buildup, offer more load capacity and create less road noise. Regardless, it’s always important to practise proper tire care including:
- Never let the tires sit on the bare ground when not in use.
- Periodically inspect the tire stems.
- Use tire covers when your trailer is sitting for long periods in the sun.
- Always check for tread depth and monitor the treads.
4. Inspect for Bad Wheel Bearings
According to Shoreland’r, wheel bearings should be resealed/repacked once a year for optimum performance. If they aren’t, they can generate excessive heat, thus ruin the bearings, the wheels and even the axles. Replace your bearings when:
- Grease forms on the outside of the wheel hub. This means grease that was lubricating the bearings has seeped out and the bearings need to be re-greased.
- You hear squeaks or grinding noises.
- The wheels don’t spin freely.
5. Be Sure Your Trailer is Lighted Properly
According to British Columbia Ministry of Transportation, all trailers by law are required to have:
- Stop, turn and tail lamps, a license plate lamp and at least one red reflector at the rear of the trailer.
- Trailers with an overall width of 2.05 metres (ft) or more, or a gross weight in excess of 1,400 kg (3,086 lbs.) must be equipped with at least two amber reflectors mounted on the side of the trailer near the front, two amber reflectors mounted on the side near the end and two red reflectors mounted on the rear of the trailer. All lamps must be SAE- or Department of Transport- approved.
Many trailers have the wiring for lights running through the trailer tubes or securely tied down on the exterior of the tubes. Also be sure:
- There are any burnt-out bulbs.
- The wires or connectors are not cracked or damaged.
- There are no cracked or loose lenses.
- You have a functioning fuse in your tow vehicle. Electricity runs from your tow vehicle to the trailer. When the fuse fails, so do your trailer lights.
6. Final Reminders
Trailer safety is especially important to remember after a long winter. So, always double check to make sure:
- Tie-down straps are securely fastened.
- The trailer brakes are in good condition.
- All the electrical is properly connected.
- Gear in the boat is evenly distributed for a balanced load.
- You’re carrying vital spare parts, necessary tools and a spare trailer tire(s).
Recognizing repairs will provide trouble-free experiences on the road. To find out about road conditions in the Shuswap anytime of the year visit www.drivebc.ca and for additional BC traffic and trailering laws do a quick search at www2.gov.bc.ca.
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