Every hitch-up: the 60 second walkaround
- Coupler latched and pinned, safety chains crossed under the tongue
- Plug seated, then thumb the lights: running, brake, turn
- Eyeball the tires for pressure and the load for balance, heavy end forward
- Strap check at the first fuel stop; loads settle in the first ten miles
Every season: bearings, brakes, and bolts
Wheel bearings are the number one trailer killer. Repack or check them yearly, more often if you launch a boat or run long miles. A bearing that hums today strands you on the shoulder next month. Brakes on 7,000 lb axles need adjustment checks. Lug nuts get a torque check after the first 50 miles on new wheels and each season after.
Tires age out before they wear out
Trailer tires die of sunshine and sitting, not miles. Check the date code, keep them at full sidewall pressure, and replace at 5 to 6 years no matter how good the tread looks. Underinflation is why trailer tires blow, and blowouts take fenders with them.
Deck and steel care
Sweep the deck; trapped grit holds moisture against wood and steel alike. Touch up paint chips before rust gets a foothold, especially the bottom rails where gravel sandblasts the finish. On dump trailers, grease the hoist per the schedule and never leave a loaded bed up overnight.
Wiring stays alive with dielectric grease
A dab in the plug every few months prevents the green crust that causes most light problems. If a light acts up, check the ground first; it is the ground nine times out of ten.
When something does wear out
That is what the factory is for. Triple R parts and service stocks any part for a trailer, ours or otherwise, at 82 County Road 1111 in Booneville. Call (662) 728-7975 and keep it hauling.