Am I about to have trailer problems....?

[Erehwemos]

My trailer (eighteen month old Ifor 505) has been stood still for a couple of months, as we've just not done anything over the winter.

Now, I am fully aware of the fact that they should never be parked with the handbrake on. I have little to do with the hitching/unhitching process; Mum and my so-called-technically-minded brother deal with that, whilst I sort Ellie out. My brother likes to think he knows best on all matters, and in the past we have had massive fall outs about him saying that the handbrake needs to be on, and me telling him that it 100% should not.

I went up to get something from my trailer the other day, to find that the handbrake was indeed on. I immediately released it, but the fact is I have no idea how long it has been on for - he may have left it on since we parked the trailer two months ago, or he may have put it on a few weeks ago when he went into the trailer to search for something. Should I be preparing myself for something bad to happen!? I am hopefully using the trailer next Sunday, but have asked OH or Mum if they could have a minute to to hitch it up for me beforehand, 'just to check that everything is ok.'

Has anyone else ever left a handbrake on, and if so, did the trailer survive? OH has told me horror stories of brake drums etc needing to be taken apart and stripped down....I'm cacking myself now!!!!

 

[rema]

I never leave the handbrake on but the wheels on my old 510 still stuck tight,so i do think you can do right from wrong on the handbrake thing.Just have a rubber mallett handy to give the drums a good wack.My new 511 was stood for a month or so and we hitched up and went so maybe Ifor have realised that there is a problem with sticky wheels and sorted it out.

 

[perfect11s]

If you can move it ok then dont worry , if one or more wheels are stuck try reversing it to free them, if still stuck pull it forward and then hit the wheel center (not the plastic cap) with a big hammer

, if that fails someone needs to strip the brakes ..

Oh and yes you are right the hand brake should be off during storage with wheels chocked

 

[Erehwemos]

Thanks Rema!

There was a time before when the wheels stuck fast - the handbrake hadnt been on at all then, so I know what you mean about there being no real right from wrong! We just drove through it that time, and they released themselves.

Its just OH's tales of rusting drums and corrosion that have panicked me - or is he just talking bollox?

 

[rema]

I think alot of it has to do with the brake piston,Thats the black rubber cone thing just before the hitch inside that is the brake piston which puts on and releases the brakes.Maybe next time you park it up just pull forward a few inches before you unhitch so the rubber cone is fully extended.I think if the trailer was stood for a LONG time you might have problems with rust and corrosion which would mean a complete overhaul of the brakes.

 

[skye_and_i]

when you reverse the trailer the brakes automaticaly come on ever so slightly so if you dont pull forward a foot or two after you have reversed it then the brke shoe's are left in contact with the drum and tend to stick on. old trailers didnt have these auto reverse brakes, you had to engage a small piece of metal to stop the hitch engageing the brakes when going backwards. most modern trailers have auto reverse. so it doesnt matter if youve been good and left the hand brake off if you still reversed it into place and didnt pull forwards afterwards. if you plannning on useing it next weekend then check thigs are ok this weekend! hope that all makes sense

 

[Erehwemos]

Yep, perfect sense! Thank you; will try to pull it out tomorrow to check that its ok

 

[Baileyhoss]

if your brakes are stuck on,

yank the handbrake on the off a few times.

and/or

reach round the back of the wheel with a hammer and gently tap the brake drum (this is the same affect as bashing the wheel nuts, but you'll be less likely to scratch the wheels).

and/or

when your trying to move the trailer, get a person or two to go inside and jump up and down (tell them to hold tight to the bars though)

then

once you get it going take it for a good run empty, brake harshly and throw it about a bit to make sure they are well and truly released and working.

It'll be fine, don't stress, might be worth getting it serviced at that age anyway if it hasn't been already.

 

[wench]

little hint that I found out yesterday when my trailer didnt work - dont rely on anyone else. they will let you down