Pre-Wet Season Trailer Maintenance: A Step-by-Step Guide to Brakes and Electrical Checks

As winter approaches in Adelaide, ensuring your trailer's roadworthiness should be a priority.

At Basic Trailers, we believe that prevention beforehand is better than trying to solve problems after they occur, especially during the wet winter months. In particular, it’s important at this time of the year to focus on the braking and electrical systems.

In this blog, we’ll discuss the steps you can take to ensure these critical components are working at maximum capacity so that your trailer is safe to tow and is providing the high level of performance you need and expect.

Check your trailer regularly

Regular inspections are key to ensuring your trailer is safe and secure.

Before using your trailer, it pays to set aside some time to examine it for any visible signs of wear and tear. In particular, we would recommend always checking:

• Tyres: Take a look to see if there are any cracks or punctures, or whether there are signs of uneven wear. Also check that the tyre pressure in line with the manufacturer’s specifications.
• Tow coupling: Make sure there are no cracks or rust showing, as this can compromise the connection between your tailer and the towing vehicle.

Taking the time to conduct these checks before you tow will mean you can identify potential issues before they become problems that impact on your towing safety.

Maintaining your brakes

A properly functioning trailer brake system is crucial at all times, but especially during the winter when the roads are wet, and increased stopping distances are required.

There are some straightforward steps that we recommend in order to ensure your trailer brakes are operating at full capacity:

• Make a visual inspection of the brake drums, discs, pads and cables so that any potentially harmful wear and tear can be identified before they impact on your braking efficiency.
• Test your brakes before you hit the road in order to ensure that any potential issues are identified before poor braking becomes a danger to you and other road users.
• If your trailer is fitted with electric brakes, it is important that the brake controller in your towing vehicle is properly calibrated so that you enjoy a consistent braking performance.

Electrical system maintenance

During the darker, wetter winter it is important that your trailer lights are working properly.

Before you begin towing, we recommend checking all of the wiring on your trailer to see if there are any signs of wear or corrosion, or whether any wires have become disconnected. You should also check that connectors are securely attached and are clean and corrosion-free.

It’s also crucial to make sure that all trailer lights, including indicators, brake lights, hazard lights and number plate light are working. If any of these lights are out, you should replace them before you start towing.

Having properly functioning trailer lights will mean that you and your trailer are visible in even the worst winter weather conditions, and can travel in greater safety.

Ensure your trailer is properly lubricated

If your trailer is fully and properly lubricated, it will deliver longer and safer operating life by reducing friction and preventing the onset of rust.

We would therefore recommend regularly greasing the wheel bearings to ensure smooth rotation and prevent overheating, and applying lubricant to the hinges, tow couplings and other mechanical components to maintain ease of movement and prevent seizure.

Keep your trailer clean in winter

It is always important to prevent the build up of dirt and debris on your trailer, but this is especially the case during the winter, when soluble salts can lead to rust and corrosion.

That’s why when you’ve been towing your trailer on wet or muddy roads that you thoroughly hose it down and scrub away any areas where dirt and mud have built up as soon as possible.

If possible, during the winter you should store your trailer under cover so that it’s exposed to bad weather as little as possible.

Effective trailer maintenance delivers greater towing safety

In order to enjoy safe towing and longer, more efficient operating life, maintaining your trailer’s brakes and electrics at regular intervals is crucial.

At Basic Trailers, we are happy to provide you with advice and guidance on any aspect of trailer maintenance, including the brakes, electrical system and trailer parts.

Get in touch with us on 1300 770 770, or email us with your enquiry, and a member of our team will be happy to answer your questions.